NEW PATIENT INFORMATION

INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS WHO MAKE USE OF THE MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICES AT INTERCARE

General

This section provides you with all the relevant information regarding the account system at Intercare. Please read carefully and should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the relevant department:

General tel nr: (012) 368 8877
Medical.accounts@intercare.co.za
Dental.accounts@intercare.co.za

Your first visit

When you first visit your Intercare centre, please present your identity document and medical scheme card in order to open your file.  Intercare submits claims to those medical schemes that accept electronic submissions.  To see which medical schemes your centre accepts, enquire from the cashier.  Intercare is also part of the Discovery GP Network.

General account information

We aim to ensure that all information on your account is accurate and that we communicate the right information at the appropriate time.  Always report to the main reception after a consultation.  Ensure that all your personal details (e.g. postal address, medical scheme number, etc) are correct on your file.  Intercare administrates the medical, dental and nursing accounts only.  All other health professionals administer their own accounts.  We therefore cannot take responsibility for the accuracy and/or content of those accounts. 

Click here to download a new patient information form. If you are going to visit the dentist for the first time, you also need to complete the dental questionnaire. Download it here.

Responsibilities of the patient:

Medical scheme patients:
The patient remains responsible for the full settlement of the account, even if he/she is a member of a medical scheme and/or the medical scheme fails to pay the account or part thereof.

Private patients:
Private patients must pay cash on the day of consultation. As a service to our patients, accounts are submitted electronically to those medical schemes that accept electronic submissions. It is the patient’s responsibility to check that all claims are received by their medical scheme. Apart from the electronic submission of a claim, no other negotiations or follow-up communication with medical schemes are conducted by the Intercare debtor department.

WCA patients or Insurance Medicals:
Please ensure that all relevant forms are completed at the time of the appointment. For the WCA consultation, the employers’ report of the accident should be submitted. Accounts are e-mailed or posted to members. When the account is 90 days overdue, the full amount is payable. If the account is in arrears for more than 120 days, it will be handed over to a debt collecting agency.

1. Medical scheme tariffs

The Intercare tariff differs from the medical scheme tariff. Intercare has contracts with most medical schemes in place. This however differs from branch to branch. If uncertain, contact your medical scheme to enquire if the doctor or dentist you will be visiting at Intercare is an approved service provider. Depending on your medical scheme package or chosen structure, you may be liable for a co-payment at the Intercare branches. The amount is determined by your medical scheme and not by Intercare. Irrelevant of your co-payment or medical scheme contribution, some funds only pay 80% of the claim and the patient remains responsible for the outstanding amount. You will receive an account. Certain dental consumables and procedures, depending on the benefits stipulated in your medical scheme option, might not be paid for. These will be stipulated on the patient’s account and he/she remains responsible for the settlement of the account.

2. Cost estimates

Because of the cost of consumables and services, especially when it comes to dental services, patients are advised to request cost estimates for dental procedures from their local dentist and oral hygienist. It remains the responsibility of the patient to obtain authorisation for procedures, however Intercare will assist where needed.

3. Other fees

An after hour fee is payable. Enquire at your branch what the fee is and from when it is applicable. An after hour fee is applicable for the whole day on a public holiday.

A cancellation fee is payable if an appointment is not cancelled at least two hours prior to the consultation.

A script fee is payable for any script that was requested telephonically or via E-mail. This fee is payable even if the script is not collected.