Specialists are all about the money

COMPLIMENTs of the season to you.

I am a 62-year-old pensioner on Discovery Medical Aid. I pay in excess of R5 000 monthly religiously to the medical aid society for my wife and I.

I have recently been unwell with breathlessness and was referred by my GP to a cardiologist practice in Durban.

Upon receiving pre-authorisation from the medical aid, on December 3 for the cardiologist practice, I duly advised the reference number telephonically to the room’s receptionist.

I then went to the cardiologist rooms and handed in the Key Care GP to Specialist referral Form 2019 to the receptionist. I was given an appointment for December 24 at 11.30am, which I confirmed.

On December 23, I received a call from the receptionist requesting I pay cash on the day of the appointment.

I was surprised by her insistence, and after much protests, cancelled the appointment under duress as I was unwell.

But I went back to the rooms, and asked her if I could speak to the doctor, as I did not have cash, upon which she said that I cancelled my appointment and it was not possible to speak to the doctor as he was at the hospital.

I agreed that I cancelled my appointment, but because I was not feeling well, I decided to drop in to see if the doctor would attend to me.

About an hour later, when the doctor did arrive, she advised that the doctor was adamant that I needed to pay cash, without even giving any indication of what the costs could be.

I reminded her that she had a pre-authorisation on the file from Discovery Medical Aid, and I had R2 590 available as specialist medical savings which could cover even a basic consult.

My contention is that, first, I am a pensioner and have medical aid in place, and even if I did have cash, it’s a risk carrying large sums of money.

Makes one wonder how many other patients who have medical aid are subject to the same treatment.

The unscrupulous doctors must know and realise that, as patients, we are the purpose of their business.