TELUK INTAN: Almost two million Malaysian citizens have benefited from the mySalam health insurance scheme since it was introduced by the government in 2019, with claims amounting to over RM1.47 billion.
Head of the mySalam Protection Scheme, Syuhaib Ithnin, said that since its introduction, the government's initiative has received very encouraging responses among the target groups in need.
However, Syuhaib said, his team will continue to 'move' across the country to further disseminate the initiative to ensure that no B40 economic group is left out of government assistance.
The target of mySalam is to assist 10 million B40 individuals who are eligible to receive this benefit. We conduct live broadcasts on social media every day to inform the target group.
"Previously, we relied heavily on government agencies to do it, but this time we are making a difference by introducing our own program, the 3K Carnival (finance, health, and welfare)."
"We plan to bring this 3K Carnival nationwide to ensure the government's mandate through mySalam can be channelled and to prevent eligible B40 groups from being left out."
"The community's feedback on this program has also been quite good; perhaps they didn't know how to make a claim before," he said after the 3K Carnival at the Makmur Indigenous Village Community Hall today.
The carnival was officiated by the Member of the State Assembly (ADUN) of Hulu Kinta, Muhamad Arafat Varisai Mahamad, and was also attended by the appointed representative of Great Eastern Takaful Berhad, Jasveen Kaur Marne, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Takaful Association, Mohd. Radzuan Mohamed.
Further commenting, Syuhaib said that the mySalam benefit claims are very easy because applicants do not need to register, and there are no contribution payments involved.
"The benefits of mySalam do not require registration, unlike other insurances, because we already have the applicants' information from LHDN (Inland Revenue Board) through the STR (Rahmah Cash Contribution) program," he said.
According to Syuhaib, among the benefits received by individuals through the scheme are RM50 per day if they are hospitalised in a government hospital ward for 14 days and a one-time payment of RM8,000 if they are confirmed to have one of the 50 critical illnesses.
In the 3K Carnival at the Makmur Indigenous Village Community Hall, mySalam also brought a beneficiary of the scheme, Harun Tahir, better known as Helmi Gimmick, to share his experience after facing a health disaster.
According to Helmi, the assistance received through the mySalam benefit of RM8,000 is very helpful because I am facing financial constraints in fighting stage four kidney cancer.
He said that the financial donation was indeed timely because he had just been discharged from the hospital and was about to celebrate Eid.
"Artists like us, our income depends on work; if there is no work, there is no income." Thank you to mySalam for making it easier for people like me to receive government benefits.
"Even sweeter, I not only received that RM8,000, but I also got an additional RM50 a day for the duration of my hospital stay," he said.
