POLMED/MEDSCHEME BAD SERVICES

Thandie thank you for your response. I sincerely h0pe that Polmed does what is supposed to do.

Thank you. Much appreciated.

I just received the year end newsbrief from Polmed. I'm actually trying to still get what the Principal Officer is saying.
1. Our finances is very good.
2. Changing the logo?? Why and at what cost
3. Telling us we are so important that we will continue to receive the best efficient service. Uh so we have been receiving such good services we are ranked 10th as one of the worst medical aid.
4. Benefits are going to be less. How does that make us important to receive the best health care services. 1 MRI per family. Is this supposed to be a Christmas message or is this an April fools newsletter.
5. In essence in 2020 we will be worst off. Why is Polmed/Medscheme trying to copy Discovery methods of managing our plan. If we are the most important line of law and order in this country what does it says that Polmed do not want to provide us with good services but rather have our benefits to be less as she said cost containment. If we are so financial viable and strong why all the scaling done of our benefits.
5. I appeal to all our members to use whatever means to call for a urgent Special AGM so we can challenge them. My aim is to try and reach all our members so we can voice what we need.
6. POPCRU/SAPU//COSATU are you aware the manner in which we are been treated. I foresee members struggling in the new year.
So let's use the term that we be United and at the special AGM call for the resignation of the board members we elected. They are receiving huge bonuses.

Thank to Themba for the assistance

Once again I must resort to placing POLMED in a negative light. I want to emphasise that I have had 2 strokes which has resulted in me been semi- paralysed. I requested as I am not able to move about without the use of a wheel chair. Due to side effects of the stroke I suffer from dizziness and cognitive behaviour is around 70%. I had a fall from this and resulted in me going twice to the emergency section as I suffered a severe sprained ankle which has damaged tendons and muscles. I'm going to see an Orthopedic surgeon in the week. Once again no payment was made although I was sent a special case card. All ex gratia forms were sent in. I spoke to Themba who assured me that POLMED cared about its members and especially those who are diagnosed with disabilities. I'm on pension but although I have these case cards I must still pay. These incidents and constant pain is from a debilitating illness. Now I must receive notice that POLMED will not be paying for the treatment after been assured of my current illness has been escalated to an escalation agent to deal with my case. I'm not supposed to be stressed or agitated. Kindly see Dr Khalfeys report. So if I get sick or end up in hospital or see a specialist surgeon I'm supposed to be responsible for this when POLMED didn't use the proper codes and used up my funds instead of using the hospital benefits. So I await to see what POLMED is going to do in paying Rondebosch Medical Clinic. I was assured that further treatment arising from the stroke will be covered but seems it's not. POLMED do what you agreed to do.

PolmedBoard Prinsipal officer. I am still awaiting for feedback that was telecommunicated with me to discuss the relevant issues raised Confirmation was to be done and meeting appointment to meet in early February. My claims have not yet been finalised. Your Communicaton officer has explained bit no really feedback. I had to undergo emergency surgery as blood cloted in my lame left leg. I eagerly wait a response.

Kindly note no one has made contact accept an agent and couldn't provide me with accuracy the reason for my complaints.

It seems that POLMED just keep up with the promise of undertaking that all my accounts will be settled but nothing has been done. The board is responsible but it seems that they do nothing to assist the frustration of officers who protect and serve. I will be raising this matter with the Minister.

To the Honourable Minister General Bheki Cele.


I'm now forced to write to the Minister in respect of the medical aid for police officers POLMED. POLMED is now abusing it's members ie our "men in blue". The current board has changed its benefits so many times that hospitals and doctors actually behave in the manner that we dont want to treat POLMED members. I'm a victim of this type of treatment.

Mr Minister shouldn't the SAPS members get the best medical attention and treatment and not to worry that they must fork out money to pay the hospital or doctors as POLMED doesn't cover them. Our officers should not be shouldered with this worry of been handed over to collection agencies as they need to focus on their task of doing policing. It's a shame that benefits are limited at all times. I believe that all police officers should receive the best medical aid in the country as they are the dividing line between law and order.

POLMED has money to change its logo and pay board members who are not really interested in representing our police officers.

Why should they have to worry? The board is also making changes without the consultation of its members. It is so difficult to contact the principal officer or the POLMED board. Why do they hide their contact from us as I wouldn't be using this forum or other forums to complain.


Mr Minister it's time that government ensures that POLMED becomes one of the best medical aid and not be as one of the worse medical aid. In a recent study of medical aid's POLMED was in the top ten as one of the worst medical aid. Imagine that GEMS is actually better than POLMED.


This is why members have a high rate of stress and cannot focus on the job as you are constantly hounded to pay up or you will be handed over and then your name is placed as a debtor you are then unable to buy a car/house etc. This is also one reason that officers leave the organisation.


I've served my country with distinction and long before Social Crime became a "buzz word" I implemented it and sent up my dissertation. Please look at the Sedibeng Municipality where I established the first Community Safety board which is in good hands of Mr Peter Kele. So when I look at the problems of policing ensure that our officers get the best and be the number one medical aid. Yes we might have some officers who might abuse the benefits but deal with those dont punish the rest of them.


Mr Minister make POLMED a great medical aid and not a restrictive one.


Sincere Regards


Shabir Laing (Retired Colonel)

To The Principal Officer / Communication Manager/ Rep of The Principal Officer Polmed Medical Aid. Re Complaint which has not yet been resolved. To first quote "Our Investment Our Health Our Future" For who was this written for the organisation or its members.
Please note that the third MRI Scan done by Dr Morton & Partners which revealed that I suffered a stroke ie Pontine Infarcation has not yet been resolved. The last message was all claims related to my stroke was paid as of 12/12/2019. As a member of Polmed it is really aggrevious that this Matter has not been settled. After speaking to the escalation department and your Communication Manager Thembelani and further communication with the Neurosurgeon Dr. A.White and promises that the matter will be settled is just empty promises. I'm still awaiting for the Meeting from which a gentleman called from the Principal Officer of Polmed and indicated I will have a chance to speak to her. This has not materialized. Is my life not important. How many times and forms and motivations were sent to no avail. Why can't Polmed pay the Radiologist. If it was not for the Scan I would be far worse off or my family will have been without a son and Father. This is just pure callousness on the part of Polmed. I'm on pension and receive a pension but I must now receive summons to pay Dr Morton and Partners. I can barely survive in this times with the pension I receive. Yet you as Polmed have no hesitation in paying for branding and unnecessary things to say Polmed is good.Also using a middleman as Medscheme to dictate as to what benefits we can utilise. Each year the benefits are lesser and lesser but our subscriptions increase and I'm not subsidise by the Government Pension fund as I pay the full amount from my pension. So what is so important that SAPS members lives are not meant a thing in Polmeds eyes. Growing the coffers of Polmed for whom to benefit and certainly it's not us as members as previously mentioned it seems the top officials are benefitting from these "saving" ie our financial situation is very good but let's penalize and restrict our members benefits. So to the gentleman who called do you feel happy that you lie for your bosses. Do any board members have checked and are they concerned that their members are been treated and traumatized by the actions of people who need to authorize aspects of these medical conditions which is a life or death situation. I have to resort in using this forum as I've just been informed it was declined as a PMB for the second time. I'm not supposed to be stressed or get agitated as I go in a semi coma state. This can land me in hospital and cost more than just paying the Radiologist. The bean counters ie your accountants can see that this makes better financial sense. I'm bedridden still in recovery from the stroke and still giving me stress. POLMED Management and Board do you want to have blood on your hands as you are stressing me greatly and it's a cost that you will have to bear if something happens to me. Discovery as already felt that our highest court in our country recently ruled against them and had to pay out the family of the late member as they wanted to save on cost and not authorizing his treatment. It's not a threat and should this bring about me having a second stroke because of the stress you as Polmed is placing on me.

Good Morning, I didn't answer my phone as you as POLMED puts in a state where I become agitated and cannot speak as this is one of the side effects of my stroke. All that is needed that Dr Morton and Partners be paid . Kindly furnish the reasons why it's not yet been paid when there is a sound and strong medical reason for the third MRI scan ie discovering I had a stroke. All that has to be done is that the payment must be made and not some doctor that sits in the office making an I'll informed decision about my condition and refusing to pay it. Last year I suffered two serious illnesses ie failure of my major organs and then the stroke and later on the removal of blood clots that developed in my legs. I've requested that I need a wheelchair and require additional physiotherapy and occupational therapy. I cannot speak properly. My left leg is lame and my right hand continues to shake. So it seems that whatever I've requested was not processed as the "doctor" of POLMEDs opinions are final and in fact not based on medical grounds for paying the claims. It's quite obvious that the member as a patient suffers whilst POLMED is more interested in saving money. We are in a good financial state so why the Radiologis cannot not be paid is beyond me.

Polmed please remove the long winded info about the six questions we must answer. All that was needed that you can do it when membership is renewed. Some of us are pensioners and we can I'll afford the luxury of staying so long on answering questions before we can get to answer our queries. It's a marketing ploy and money is made by keeping us long on the line.

Shaun re Principal Officer.

I engaged with you regarding my complaint and meeting the Principal Officer. I posted a private reply on Hello Peter and its past the month in which I should have met. Please do me the courtesy of contacting me to either say the meeting is postponed or there will be no meeting. it just shows the the thinking and attitude that POLMED is rotten and disrespectful from the top.