Bonitas Medical Aid

**Sean KZN** · 13-12-2019, 16:51

Interesting point above. I have no formal medical aid, I use a somewhat different system.

So it is pay as you go for me. Recently I had to have a treatment done which entails some specialised equipment to be able to do an otherwise simple procedure. Now having a cash customer was a bit of a curve ball for the supplier in that they had to send me an invoice to pay before they would commit, essentially they had to charge for the service minus the kickbacks etc. to whoever normally gets them.

The way they billed it was to give me a discount, to the tune of 58%, for that is the real price of the service.

Little wonder when a medical insurance company branches out into vehicle insurance, similar modus operandi.

**atunguyd** · 13-12-2019, 19:28

Originally Posted by Sean KZN

Interesting point above. I have no formal medical aid, I use a somewhat different system.

So it is pay as you go for me. Recently I had to have a treatment done which entails some specialised equipment to be able to do an otherwise simple procedure. Now having a cash customer was a bit of a curve ball for the supplier in that they had to send me an invoice to pay before they would commit, essentially they had to charge for the service minus the kickbacks etc. to whoever normally gets them.

The way they billed it was to give me a discount, to the tune of 58%, for that is the real price of the service.

Little wonder when a medical insurance company branches out into vehicle insurance, similar modus operandi.

I know people who do the same thing. Put enough cash aside for anything. The biggest problem I see is with this system is if you ate involved in a car accident and arrive unconscious at a private hospital. If they can't find a medical aid card on your person you could be redirected to a public hospital.

Also do you think you have enough in your pay as you go account to deal with a serious condition? Cancer will set you back easily R600k but more likely R1M

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**MSW2** · 13-12-2019, 20:48

Originally Posted by atunguyd

I know people who do the same thing. Put enough cash aside for anything. The biggest problem I see is with this system is if you ate involved in a car accident and arrive unconscious at a private hospital. If they can't find a medical aid card on your person you could be redirected to a public hospital.

Also do you think you have enough in your pay as you go account to deal with a serious condition? Cancer will set you back easily R600k but more likely R1M

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You can pay cash for things. Even cancer. My lovely wife passed away on 4/12/2019 after a 5 month battle with cancer and some added shitty/unwanted issues. R50 K plus a month that I gladly paid knowing that no medical aid was getting their grubby paws on it. All the money went towards trying to save her and not towards lining some middleman's pockets.

**atunguyd** · 13-12-2019, 21:30

I am not saying that that you can't pay cash for cancer. What I am saying is that not a lot of people have that type of cash lying around to pay for a full chemo treatment.

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**KK20** · 13-12-2019, 21:48

Originally Posted by atunguyd

I am not saying that that you can't pay cash for cancer. What I am saying is that not a lot of people have that type of cash lying around to pay for a full chemo treatment.

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CA treatment paid for by MedAid . The largest money spinner for the medical industry with close to zero accountability.

**Skaaphaas** · 13-12-2019, 21:58

Originally Posted by MSW2

You can pay cash for things. Even cancer. My lovely wife passed away on 4/12/2019 after a 5 month battle with cancer and some added shitty/unwanted issues. R50 K plus a month that I gladly paid knowing that no medical aid was getting their grubby paws on it. All the money went towards trying to save her and not towards lining some middleman's pockets.

I’m truly sorry for your loss, MSW.

**Gbyleveldt** · 14-12-2019, 06:45

Originally Posted by MSW2

You can pay cash for things. Even cancer. My lovely wife passed away on 4/12/2019 after a 5 month battle with cancer and some added shitty/unwanted issues. R50 K plus a month that I gladly paid knowing that no medical aid was getting their grubby paws on it. All the money went towards trying to save her and not towards lining some middleman's pockets.

Very sorry to hear of your recent loss. Condolences to you.

**MSW2** · 14-12-2019, 12:11

Thank you Skaaphaas and Gbyleveldt. She fought very hard to stay with the children and I, but in retrospect now I can see that her possibility of recovery was zero or close to zero by the time she was diagnosed. In the end she died peacefully and without pain with me holding her hand for the last time.

**Sean KZN** · 14-12-2019, 15:31

Yes sad to hear MSW2, I lost one too in 2010, not cancer though.

The point I am making is not to dissuade people from having a medical aid, rather recognise it for what it is, sure it is a business and shareholders expect returns, however there are very serious issues with the way they are run, it is a rotten business.

The more people recognise it the more pressure can be brought to bear on the regulators.

I can give many personal accounts as to what happens, especially to the aged and less financially secure, when they run into health complications.

On the other hand, I also believe that private healthcare in this country is very efficient, contrary to what the NHI advocates would have us believe.