THEY were shocked when their medical aid scheme terminated their membership without warning – and left them with hundreds of thousands of rands in medical bills to pay.
Adrian and Mignon Adelia Steyn of Cape Town were horrified. As far as they were concerned, they’d done everything by the book – but their scheme, Profmed, had other ideas.
Administrators claimed the family didn’t disclose medical conditions that would have affected their risk and premiums, which was why they were ending their membership and refusing to honor bills amounting to about R400 000.
Adrian and Mignon refused to let it go. They took the matter up with the Council for Medical Schemes, but the regulatory body and the appeal board ruled in Profmed’s favour.
‘It has been an incredibly stressful journey
Undeterred, they took the medical aid scheme to the Western Cape high court in a David and Goliath legal battle that spanned four years.
The family’s lawyers argued none of the conditions they allegedly failed to disclose were in fact “material conditions” and therefore did not need to be disclosed – and the court agreed.
“There is no duty on a prospective applicant for medical insurance to disclose a condition that is immaterial or non-existent,” acting judge James Lekhuleni ruled.
Mignon Adelia and Adrian Steyn say they’re relieved a recent high court ruling may see their previous medical aid scheme, Profmed, fork out R400 000 in unpaid medical bills. The Steyns have been fighting the scheme since 2016 when it cancelled their membership “out of the blue”.
この記事は YOU South Africa の 25 February 2021 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は YOU South Africa の 25 February 2021 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
HOW TO BE YOUR OWN THERAPIST
With more and more of us struggling with our mental health, here's a common-sense guide to coping with life's ups and downs
SPUD: THE MAGIC CONTINUES
John van de Ruit tells us why he decided to write a sequel - and shares how his first book helped him find enduring love
SEX CONTRACT GONE WRONG
A Cape Town couple have been charged with using a young woman as a sex slave-but some say she lost the job she signed up for and now has a grudge against them
LIAM LAID TO REST
More than a month after One Direction singer LIAM PAYNE (31) tragically fell to his death from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, his loved ones finally got to say their goodbyes.
SHILOH HANGS OUT
THE two young women look like any pair of good friends chatting and laughing as they leave their dance class in Los Angeles.
LEO IN LOVE
He's just turned 50 and it seems Leonardo DiCaprio may finally be ready to settle down
PACKING A PUNCH
Irish actor Paul Mescal beefed up for his role in the blockbuster epic Gladiator II - and fans are loving it
I DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BE A LOVE CHILD
As the illegitimate daughter of the king, she fought to be recognised as part of Belgium's royal family, but Princess Delphine says she still feels unwelcome
'I STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES'
A bite from a spitting cobra 13 years ago nearly killed her but Mikayla survived - and she's made peace with her scars
THE CLAWS ARE OUT!
Things have grown frosty between the Beckhams and the Sussexes as Becks comes out in clear support of William