Medical coverage for the B40 group

PUTRAJAYA: The government will use the RM2bil contribution from an insurance company for the mySalam scheme to pay for the social protection insurance premium for eligible individuals at RM112 per person per year, said Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

The fund is expected to offer medical protection to 3.69 million individuals from the B40 group for at least five years, he said.

“The premium rate will be set at cost rate and without profit for insurance companies,” said Lim at the launch of mySalam by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday.

Under the scheme, those eligible from ages 18 to 55 selected from recipients of Bantuan Sara Hidup will get free health protection for 36 critical illnesses.

A one-off RM8,000 payment will be made to the recipient if he is diagnosed with a critical illness.

The recipient would receive RM50 replacement income when receiving treatment in any government hospital for a maximum period of 14 days annually, or an equivalent of RM700 a year, said Lim.

Lim said the fund contributed by Great Eastern Life was an alternative to it letting go of the 30% shares as foreign ownership limit for Malaysian insurers was set at 70%.

The scheme started on Jan 1.

Recipients can start making claims from March 1 and after the date, all eligible B40 recipients will be notified through SMS and customer support services will begin operations, he said, adding that they could send claims through my­Salam portal or to go to any Great Eastern offices in Malaysia, with the documentation.

After the claim is approved, the payment will be credited into the recipient’s bank account, he said.

Lim said mySalam was an example of public-private partnership which enhances the social welfare and health protection of Malaysians.

Lim said the federal government also planned to increase the awareness among the B40 group of the benefits of a protection insurance and health takaful.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad in his speech said the ministry had a different B40 scheme called National Health Protection Scheme (PeKa B40) focusing on health screening for early NCDs for those aged 50 and above, which would be launched on Monday.

“The mySalam Scheme and PeKa B40, which share the same social principle such as expanding health access, reducing cost of living and increasing the welfare of the people, will complement each other,” he said.