PETALING JAYA: Malaysians say medical insurance is essential, and the upcoming Base Medical and Health Insurance/Takaful (MHIT) plan could help, but rising costs and premiums remain a concern.
Self-employed Ahmad Zulkifli Hassan, 65, said his plan came in handy during a medical emergency.
“The insurance really helped when I had heart issues several years ago, and the costs were covered,” he said.
“I switched from a single-room admission to a four-bed ward because the price was too high. We wanted to cut costs, but not to the extent of giving up insurance altogether. If my premium goes up by another 15% next year, I may have to drop the policy,” he added.
Housewife Teng Say Han, 60, said she stopped her insurance after premiums almost doubled.
“My children bought the insurance for me. Two years ago, the premium was RM600 a month. Later, the insurance company raised it to RM1,300,” she said.
“At RM1,300 a month, I did not want to increase my children’s burden, so I stopped the medical insurance. If coverage is cheaper, I would continue.”
Technician R. Suresh Kumar, 45, said he has stayed on the same plan for years but worries about affordability.
“The main reason I stayed on this plan is that my premium is still relatively affordable given my current health condition,” he said.
“What we really need are more affordable annual premium increases. Insurance prices keep going up, but our salaries are not increasing at the same pace,” he added.
Certified financial planner Gilbert Tan Thian Boon, 60, said he had bought a CO Insurance plan many years ago, paying RM600 a year.
The plan later ended because the insurance company did not continue it.
“At present, I prepare my own funds for medical needs. I am not against buying insurance, but I am ready to cover major costs myself if needed,” he added.
Tan welcomed the move to improve medical insurance coverage but stressed that governance and operators matter.
“The overall direction is good, but the key issue is governance – who actually runs the scheme. When private insurers are involved, profit is the main consideration. That is why the operator matters,” he said.
He added that young people should take up medical and accident insurance early, keeping premiums under 10% of their income.
“When you are young and working, the premiums are cheaper. Medical and accident insurance should be a priority once you start working,” he said.
The MHIT White Paper, released by Bank Negara Malaysia, yesterday, outlined two options: the Standard Plan and the lower-cost Standard Plus Plan.
Monthly premiums for those aged 31-35 are RM80-RM120 for Standard and RM50-RM70 for Standard Plus, rising to RM280-RM350 and RM220-RM280 for ages 61-65.
For those above 75, premiums are RM500-RM780 and RM400-RM660, respectively.
The Standard Plan sets an annual policy limit of RM100,000, which increases to RM150,000 for those over 60.
Standard Plus offers higher coverage of up to RM300,000, with deductibles of RM10,000-RM15,000 per hospitalisation.
While the scheme aims to make healthcare affordable, some remain concerned about rising premiums and medical costs.
