medicnick83
Paramedic
Hi all,
Something I want to share with you.
While working on ambulances over the last few months, I've seen a few interesting things with regards to "medical aid" and I wanted to share this information with you guys - you will either know these things or not know, which in that case, you'll know and can do something about it.
1. If you have medical aid and your family is covered, you need to get medical aid cards for each member of the family.
Too many times the wife/husband is involved in a car accident and say, you know you should be taken to X hospital because you are covered by Y medical aid.
We take you to X hospital and X hospital refuses to treat you without your medical aid card but funny enough, the partner/spouse has the card which is bad thing, because it delays treatment.
Now, having said that, if you are in such bad condition that you need to be stabalized and such, then X hospital has to do that so you're okay there but still, once you are stabilized, you will then get transferred to a government hospital unless your partner/spouse arrives with the medical aid card - so... if you have multiple members, get them their own cards "just in case" - if there is an extra fee - just pay it! Peace of mind as far as I'm concerned so you and your family etc get best definitive care ASAP.
2. Check your medical aid and re-check it!
We had a patient last night who we took to X hospital because they told us to take the father there because they were covered by Y medical aid.
We got there and they told us "sorry, that medical aid plan is not covered by this X hospital" - our poor patient then had to be transferred to Z hospital (government) to be treated - 2 hours wasted while things were checked / confirmed / people were called etc etc
Having said that, the medical aid plan WAS covered, but they cancelled the cover 2 days prior! So the point of this argument is, things change! So re-check, get it in writing from the medical aid saying "it covers this and that and you can take them here and there"
Know your medical aid, what it covers, what it doesn't cover, who it doesn't cover and who it does - and know what hospitals we (EMS personal) could take you too should we need to (closest ones!)
3. Ambulance services (when calling for help)
Know the closest ones, so if you live around the corner from a Netcare 911 base, but you know it's private service - do not be scared to call them!!! Time is serious, the longer you delay definitive care, the worst your condition will be at the end of the day.
Also, if you phone X service, help the controller, say you live around the corner from the Y base, most call centers are not in the area and they dispatch what THEY think is the closest ambulance but it's actually very far away.
I had a call one day with Netcare 911 when they dispatched the town ambulance because according the a map in the control room, we were closest, but actually, we were the furtherest away!
Also, don't by shy to call multiple services - call X first, then call Y - whomever gets there first is best
Remember, a private service has to help you - end of the day, it will be a 'non billable call' if they submit the forms to medical aid / RAF and they say no for whatever reason.
My biggest thing I want to bring to everyones attention is your medical aid and your medical aid cards... I see so many issues while on the ambulance with this - no card, no treatment! (unless you're basically dying!!!)
More tips to follow (If I can think of any!)
Hope you have a safe festive season guys!
I love being a volunteer with Metro EMS
Something I want to share with you.
While working on ambulances over the last few months, I've seen a few interesting things with regards to "medical aid" and I wanted to share this information with you guys - you will either know these things or not know, which in that case, you'll know and can do something about it.
1. If you have medical aid and your family is covered, you need to get medical aid cards for each member of the family.
Too many times the wife/husband is involved in a car accident and say, you know you should be taken to X hospital because you are covered by Y medical aid.
We take you to X hospital and X hospital refuses to treat you without your medical aid card but funny enough, the partner/spouse has the card which is bad thing, because it delays treatment.
Now, having said that, if you are in such bad condition that you need to be stabalized and such, then X hospital has to do that so you're okay there but still, once you are stabilized, you will then get transferred to a government hospital unless your partner/spouse arrives with the medical aid card - so... if you have multiple members, get them their own cards "just in case" - if there is an extra fee - just pay it! Peace of mind as far as I'm concerned so you and your family etc get best definitive care ASAP.
2. Check your medical aid and re-check it!
We had a patient last night who we took to X hospital because they told us to take the father there because they were covered by Y medical aid.
We got there and they told us "sorry, that medical aid plan is not covered by this X hospital" - our poor patient then had to be transferred to Z hospital (government) to be treated - 2 hours wasted while things were checked / confirmed / people were called etc etc
Having said that, the medical aid plan WAS covered, but they cancelled the cover 2 days prior! So the point of this argument is, things change! So re-check, get it in writing from the medical aid saying "it covers this and that and you can take them here and there"
Know your medical aid, what it covers, what it doesn't cover, who it doesn't cover and who it does - and know what hospitals we (EMS personal) could take you too should we need to (closest ones!)
3. Ambulance services (when calling for help)
Know the closest ones, so if you live around the corner from a Netcare 911 base, but you know it's private service - do not be scared to call them!!! Time is serious, the longer you delay definitive care, the worst your condition will be at the end of the day.
Also, if you phone X service, help the controller, say you live around the corner from the Y base, most call centers are not in the area and they dispatch what THEY think is the closest ambulance but it's actually very far away.
I had a call one day with Netcare 911 when they dispatched the town ambulance because according the a map in the control room, we were closest, but actually, we were the furtherest away!
Also, don't by shy to call multiple services - call X first, then call Y - whomever gets there first is best
Remember, a private service has to help you - end of the day, it will be a 'non billable call' if they submit the forms to medical aid / RAF and they say no for whatever reason.
My biggest thing I want to bring to everyones attention is your medical aid and your medical aid cards... I see so many issues while on the ambulance with this - no card, no treatment! (unless you're basically dying!!!)
More tips to follow (If I can think of any!)
Hope you have a safe festive season guys!
I love being a volunteer with Metro EMS
Last edited:
