Polmed’s “Hidden Rules” Cost Me R1,000

After 23 years with Polmed, I expected reliability, not surprises. In July 2025, my GP referred me to a urologist for a necessary medical procedure. All authorizations were obtained, including hospitalization—everything by the book.

Fast forward to my follow-up on 4 February 2026: my urologist informed me Polmed had an issue with the claim. Apparently, authorization needs to be renewed every year—or every six months, depending on who’s reading the fine print that apparently only Polmed gets to see. Funny, I never received a heads-up about this “policy,” and I doubt they’ll start any awareness campaigns soon.

The outcome? A R1,000 co-payment for a procedure that should have been fully covered. After more than two decades with them, it’s clear their standards have slipped, and transparency is optional.

Polmed, here’s a thought: maybe tell your members about these hidden rules before billing them unexpectedly. It might just save someone a surprise bill—and a lot of frustration.