The worst medical aid in South Africa, by far!

Utter Shock!

We had joined Medshield medical aid with a broker, I had cancelled our medical aid with momentum under the assumption and advise that this was the best step for our family. The broker firstly submitted our application through on the wrong date. Our cover was meant to start from the 1st of October, he submitted our application on the 15th. So we had no cover because the Broker submitted our application incorrectly. From here things got worse. We were then placed on a 3 month waiting period which was not disclosed to me on the application or process. They keep changing the objectives on this by saying it’s because we broke our cover which we didn’t, it was because of there broker that this had happened everything was submitted correctly. And then it went to we had a waiting period because of our daughters gastro bug that she had earlier in the year with our prior medical aid and does not require any further treatment. So with all of this the management agreed because of there error we would remain on a wait period for our benefit cover I.e doctors visits, subscription Medicine and they would cover us for any PMB cases or medical emergencies. On Saturday the 1st of January I slipped down stairs and my knee is completely immobile, I cannot walk I can’t even put one bit of pressure on it without massive amounts of pain. I went to the triage the doctor sent me for X-rays and wanted to admit me to the hospital because it is severe damage to my knee and can cause massive issues if not attended to urgently, to discover that med shield will not cover it and has not removed my waiting period for accidental or emergency cover. The hospital asked me for a 18k admission fee which I didn’t have they said I then needed to go home with pain meds and call first thing on Monday morning to the medical aid so that they could admit me. The doctor didn’t even want to send me home and made this very clear but I had no option because no one could get hold of anyone at Medshield as they only operate from Monday to Friday every week. I have sat at home in extreme pain to the point of tears because the pain medication is not helping. I contacted Medshield this morning got passed around to about 3 different people, authorisations wouldn’t help me, membership wouldn’t help me and the last lady I spoke to was so rude that I actually got so angry asked her to transfer me to the managers that I was in contact with she said no they don’t answer calls, which is a lie because I have spoken with them on the phone numerous times before this. I am actually in utter shock that I am being treated like this, and it was told to me by the managers that we would be cover in this instance. Since we have joined there has been issues non stop, your company is lying to consumers and not doing your jobs properly which then effects the clients. I would never in my life joined Medshield if I knew they were going to behave and treat customers like this. It is absolutely disgusting to think that you get away with this treatment. Here I sit in so much pain and no one will help me, not one of you can pick up a call. I should have been admitted on Saturday, instead I have been at home in insufferable pain and still everyone can turn a blind eye to ill treatment and rude consultants who do not help and who are not willing to see the incompetence of staff who have now managed to completely ruin my views in your medical aid moving forward.