Elizabeth Anne Engelbrecht in her hospital bed at the Groote Schuur Hospital. Released from the hospital last week, her mother and her grandmother passed away on Saturday, January 14. PHOTO: Supplied
Pensioners belonging to a Post Office SA (Toad) subsidized healthcare scheme may very well find themselves in dire straits soon after a company is appointed to negotiate a takeover offer in respect of healthcare subsidies. doctor on behalf of the national postal company. Service.
people post has learned that, without the knowledge of many Sapo retirees, the medical assistance service providers contracted by Sapo had suspended the benefits of their affiliates during October, November and December of last year for non-payment of this period.
On Friday, January 13, Johan Kruger, Sapo’s national spokesman, said people post that all health care contributions for all “recognized health care schemes” had been paid and were up to date.
While the news late last week that her mother’s medical care was back on was a relief to Elizabeth Anne Engelbrecht’s family, they said it in no way made up for the shock they experienced when they tried to admit the 96-year-old years. Rondebosch Medical Center Private Hospital just before New Years, only to be turned away.
When people post spoke to Rondebosch resident James Engelbrecht (71) last week, explaining that his mother was getting weaker and needed to be hospitalized.
“When he arrived there (Rondebosch Medical Center), they told us that his medical care had been suspended. We kept looking around, asking, ‘What now?’ In the end, we had to take her to the Groote Schuur Hospital,” Engelbrecht said.
With this coming out of the blue, James immediately contacted Toad and his mother’s medical assistance, Bonitas Medical Fund.
In an email sent to James (and shared with people post) on Wednesday, January 11, the Sapo Payroll department informed him that the contributions for October 2022 had already been paid. However, he indicated that the contributions corresponding to November and December are still unpaid “due to the terrible financial situation that Sapo is going through at the moment”.
“Sapo is currently in discussion with the different schemes regarding delinquency and the lifting of suspensions. Sapo is doing everything possible to find urgent solutions to the current situation,” the email said.
James said it was unacceptable for Toad not to inform his mother or family about the suspension of medical care in advance, adding that this could have cost the pensioners their lives.
“How not to inform these elderly and vulnerable people of society? My father worked for the post office for 40 years. He started out as a cleaner and worked his way up to becoming an inspector. How can you not inform people about the decisions you have made as Post Office?
On Monday, January 16, Lee Callakoppen, principal officer of the Bonitas Medical Fund, confirmed that Sapo’s payment had been received.
“The membership of the Group is in good standing. The group suspension has been lifted, however there may be individual specific pre-existing conditions (and not as a result of the suspension) that may be applicable to individual membership,” Callakoppen said.
However, the fact that arrears have now been paid may turn out to be just a reprieve, rather than a long-term solution.
In the email, Toad advised James to contact the designated firm who “will be happy to explain the terms and conditions of the medical buyout offer and the way forward.”
If the retirees accept the purchase offer, they will be able to remain on their health care but without subsidy in the future.
For a pensioner like Elizabeth Anne, who received a Sapo grant of R4 838.93, the loss of the grant could mean a huge additional monthly expense.
At the time of going to press, people post could not determine how many Sapo pensioners in total, belonging to the various health care plans recognized by Sapo, would be affected. The number of Sapo pensioners belonging only to Bonitas is 2,378.
James blamed this situation on corruption and fraud.
“These are people who have worked for South Africa their entire lives. Pink, black, yellow, blue – they will all be affected,” she said.
. Sadly, Elizabeth Anne Engelbrecht passed away on Saturday, January 14.
