Having suffered agonising pain for 3 days and nights, I was admitted to Umhlanga Hospital, with Discovery authorisation, on 9/5/2013. During the previous 5 mths, at my expense, I had visited my Chiro, Physio, had numerous courses of anti-inflammatories, pain injections, nerve pills and X-Ray's, all to no avail. I saw Dr Joubert, the neuro-surgeon and an MRI scan was booked. On arriving at the MRI department I was informed that Discovery would not pay! My husband then paid cash. The MRI showed a massive L5/S1 disc herniation and and emergency op was carried out the next day. Dr Joubert said that I am entitled to claim for the scan and gave me a letter, which I sent in to Discovery, who quote on their web site "that if an MRI scan is done as part of an approved admission they pay". A week later they declined on the grounds that my back pain was "conservative" and not related to my hospital admission? The MRI was obviously essential and certainly related to my admission and if you consider my pain "conservative", even morphine did nothing to help, I am at a loss for words. As far as I am concerned they are in breach of contract and owe me payment! Please help!
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