KUALA LUMPUR: The government’s proposed health insurance scheme, to be funded through Account 2 of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), will be voluntary and not mandatory for members, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (pic).
The Health Minister said the initiative aims to offer EPF contributors the option of broader insurance coverage, as currently, 32% of healthcare costs are paid out-of-pocket by patients without insurance protection.
“Through this approach, the government hopes to expand access to faster, higher-quality private healthcare without increasing the financial burden on the people,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.
Dzulkefly added that the proposal draws inspiration from countries like Singapore, which prioritise insurance access for the majority of citizens.
“Only about 1% of Account 2 of the EPF would be used to pay for insurance. This is the best way,” he added, Bernama reported.
