Letters
Medical savings account refund request letter
By Naledi Mokoena · 4 min read · Updated 24 June 2026
If a claim was paid from your medical savings account that should have been covered elsewhere, or you have a credit balance to refund, write to the scheme with the claim number and ask for the correction. PMB and chronic claims, in particular, should not come off your savings.
Use the template below to query a misallocated claim or request a savings refund.
Check your statement first. Many savings disputes are simply a PMB or chronic claim that was wrongly deducted from day-to-day funds.
When to query your savings
Query a savings deduction when:
- A PMB or chronic claim came off your savings instead of being paid in full.
- A claim was paid twice, or paid from savings after you already paid cash.
- You are leaving the scheme with a positive savings balance to be refunded.
Your savings are your own money, so you are entitled to have it allocated correctly.
Savings refund and correction template
[Your full name]
[Membership number]
[Email] | [Cellphone]
[Date]
The Claims / Member Accounts Department
[Scheme name]
RE: [Medical savings account](/guides/medical-savings-account/) query - member [MEMBERSHIP NUMBER]
Dear Sir or Madam,
Please review the following deduction from my medical savings account.
Claim number: [CLAIM NUMBER]
Date of service: [DATE]
Amount taken from savings: R[AMOUNT]
Reason for my query:
[CHOOSE ONE]
- This is a PMB / chronic claim (ICD-10 [CODE]) and should be paid in full, not from savings.
- I paid this provider in cash and the claim was then also taken from savings.
- I am leaving the scheme and request a refund of my positive savings balance.
Please correct the allocation and refund any amount due to:
Bank: [BANK] | Account: [NUMBER] | Branch code: [CODE]
Please confirm in writing with a reference number.
Yours faithfully,
[Your full name]
[ID number]
PMB and chronic claims should not use savings
By law, prescribed minimum benefit and registered CDL chronic claims must be paid in full by the scheme, not from your medical savings account. If your statement shows these coming off savings, the most common cause is that the condition is not registered or the ICD-10 code is wrong. Fix the registration and ask the scheme to reverse the savings deduction.
Refunds when you leave
If you leave a scheme with money left in your savings account, the rules on refunds depend on whether you join another scheme. Often the balance transfers to your new scheme rather than being paid out in cash, to keep it within the medical savings system. Ask the scheme how your balance will be handled when you cancel.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a refund from my medical savings account?
If you have a positive balance, yes, though it often transfers to your new scheme rather than paying out in cash. You can also reclaim amounts wrongly deducted, such as a PMB or chronic claim that should have been paid in full.
Why was my PMB claim taken from savings?
Usually because the condition is not registered as a PMB or chronic benefit, or the ICD-10 code is wrong. PMB and registered chronic claims must be paid in full, not from savings. Fix the registration and ask the scheme to reverse it.
Is my medical savings account my own money?
Yes. It is a ring-fenced portion of your contributions for day-to-day claims. You are entitled to have claims allocated correctly and to query any deduction. Unused savings generally stay yours and carry over or transfer when you switch.
What happens to my savings when I cancel?
If you join another scheme, the balance usually transfers there rather than paying out in cash, to stay within the medical savings rules. If you are not joining a new scheme, ask how the balance will be handled - it varies by scheme.
How do I fix a claim paid twice?
Write to the scheme with the claim number and proof you already paid the provider in cash, and ask for the duplicate to be reversed and refunded to your bank account. Use the template above and keep the reference number.
Who do I send a savings query to?
The claims or member accounts department of your scheme. Quote your membership number and the specific claim number. If they do not resolve it, escalate using our complaint letter and, if needed, the CMS.
