Andre R

Bonitas Medical Aid Is an Expensive **** Disguised as a Hospital Plan

Avoid Bonitas Medical Aid if you actually expect cover when you need medical treatment. I’m paying around R5,500 per month for the Bon Essential Select hospital plan for two members, and the service has been absolutely terrible. On two separate occasions, both myself and another adult dependant received treatment at private hospitals, and the claims were either rejected or not properly covered. I’ve now been left with a bill of almost R3,000 after receiving treatment in a private hospital — despite supposedly being on a hospital plan. So what exactly are members paying for? The entire claims and pre-authorisation process is a disaster. Endless ICD codes, technical medical admin, complicated processes, and constant back-and-forth with their departments. As a patient, you’re expected to somehow understand and manage all of this yourself while dealing with a medical situation. It’s ridiculous. Their customer service is equally bad. Every call turns into another frustrating process where you’re told something isn’t covered, or you need more codes, more forms, more approvals, more admin. For the price they charge, the service and cover are unacceptable. A medical aid should make healthcare easier during stressful situations, not create more stress and financial problems. I’ve cancelled my policy because continuing to pay for this level of service makes absolutely no sense.