A High Hospital Bill Following a Leukaemia Diagnosis and Termination from Medical Aid

A week ago, I was visited my campus physician for treatment of a pain in my left shoulder. However, two days following that visit and the multiple blood work done within it, I was immediately admitted to a private hospital for a bone marrow biopsy and for more blood work to be done as they suspected Leukaemia. Reasonably, the physician's suspicions came as a shock as well the fact that this admission was my first hospital admission since my birth. But irrespective of this fact or the fact that I am not a sickly person, or that I am a person of good character, a Leukaemia diagnosis was made as well as an expressed recommendation to start chemotherapy immediately. As if that was not hard enough to hear already, I was also later informed that my medical aid membership has been suspended, that I am now not only liable for the R50 000 hospital bills but also that my treatment won’t be covered; thus, I need to go to a State hospital for treatment.

I started treatment this past Monday (20/05/2019) at a State Hospital and has a follow-up appointment on 03/06/2019. However, I cannot begin to describe to you the sense of disappointment, resentment, concern, worry, and heartbreak I experience every day. I am a student in university, have no income, is the first in the family to ever attend university, I am a good person who serve others, and I am drowning in debt because of my current condition as well as the fact that I am ridiculously being accused of non-disclosure. As a result of this I cannot eat or focus on getting better or want to be awake because every moment that I am, I am reminded of my debt and how I wish that I was never in this situation. I also struggle to focus on my studies which I am six months away from graduating and even typing this now is difficult because I have to share these intimate details. Nonetheless, I kindly appeal to you all and I kindly ask for your consideration, prayers, and thoughts. But above all, your generosity.