Discovery Health
Behaviour regarding my husbands pain medication

My husband survived a Whipple operation in May 2012 for pancreatic cancer. Discovery paid for everything, until the funds ran out in Dec 2012. I was advised to apply for Oncology benefits - this was when my nightmare began.

From Dec 2012 up until my husbands death on 22 July 2013 we had only received 2 months of pain medication after seeking treatment. Oncology continuously refuse to pay for any pain medication, as they require a motivational letter stating what medication the pain specialist would prescribe, yet we had not even been to see him yet, so how would we have known???
I have contacted the oncology department and sent motivational letters as per their request but to no avail. I buried my husband on 26 July '13 and on the same day received a payment claim mail via e-mail for treatment done while he was dying in hospital that they will not pay as they require yet another motivational letter.

This type of Pancreatic Cancer is a rare and aggressive, painful cancer with poor prognosis. In the last 5 months of my husbands life, you have made it a living. No cancer patient should have to beg for medication. Patients at Government Hospitals get treated better.

Company: Discovery Health
Country: South Africa

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