Bonitas Member Magazine B-Living Issue 2_2019 | Page 15
3. Make sure you provide all information
required for pre-authorisation correctly:
• Have your correct membership number and the details
of the member for whom the request is
• The date you are going into hospital and the date of
the treatment or procedure
• The name of the doctor who will be treating the
member, their telephone number and practice number
• The name of the hospital where you will receive
treatment, their telephone number and practice
number
• The relevant procedure and diagnosis (ICD-10) codes
for the treatment (ask your doctor for these).
Pre-authorisation requests may be
declined if:
• The procedure or treatment is not covered by
your plan as specified in the Scheme Rules
• The procedure or treatment is not in line with
the clinical and medical treatment standards
for your condition
• The information required for pre-authorisation
is not included
• Your Bonitas membership is inactive.
If the medical procedure is approved, you will
receive a pre-authorisation number and this will
also outline the approved length of your hospital
stay and the status of all codes.
However remember that pre-authorisation is not
a commitment by the Fund to the full amount.
4. Gap cover
If you have Gap Cover, notify them of the co-payment
required prior to being admitted to hospital as there are
limits to the amount they will pay.
Ensuring you are covered
1. Make sure you get a quote
Medical aid members are advised to not only obtain
pre-authorisation but also a quote from the hospital and
medical practitioners prior to being admitted to hospital
(if it’s not an emergency). Submit this to your medical aid
to find out if there are any co-payments and if so, how
much they are.
2. Find a hospital on your medical fund’s
preferred network in order to ensure maximum
payment
What about emergencies?
Emergencies must be pre-authorised within 48 hours
of going into hospital or on the first working day
after a weekend or public holiday. If you don’t get
pre-authorisation, your account won’t be paid by the
Scheme.
The most important thing to find out, prior to being
admitted, is what your medical aid will pay and what
payment you are responsible for. It will save a great deal
of stress when you are recovering from surgery.
For hospital pre-authorisation:
Call: 0860 002 108
Email: [email protected] Page 14