GEMS
GEMS ripping my retired mother off

My mother 66 year old mother retired in July2012, we contacted the Government Employee Medical Scheme trying to find out how her medical aid would work after she retired. Suffice to say we were sent back & forth between hospital she used to work in & the GEMS people without any help. She was paying R3500, which is too much for an unemployed retired lady to pay for her medical aid on her own & GEMS didn't tell us that they'd need her bank details in order to get her monthly contributions. At that time my mother & her dependent (my father) were in & out of hospital & couldn't really attend to these matters as they wanted to deal with her directly. The medical aid scheme didn't email/call/write to my mom to report that her account wasn't being paid. After 6months the service was suspended, that is the only time they contacted her by letter & my mother contacted them back to make arrangements to pay. The service is suspended but they are still charging premiums monthly, extra R3500 on top of the high amount that has compounded over the last few months. Can premiums be charged on service you are not getting? I need advice on how to deal with this be it legal or otherwise.

Company: GEMS
Country: South Africa
City: Secunda

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