Malaysia: Govt urges employers to provide separate health cover for women
Source: Asia Insurance Review | Nov 2016
The Malaysian government is recommending that employers purchase a separate insurance policy for their female staff, in a bid to lighten the financial burden that might be faced by some female workers or their family members in the event they contract illnesses like breast cancer.
Second Finance Minister Johari Ghani said that he would hold engagement sessions with the relevant stakeholders soon to work out the mechanism for the insurance policy, reported The Sun Daily.
He said: “The cost of basic breast cancer treatment can reach up to MYR60,000 (US$14,265) and not many can actually cough up that amount to get the needed treatment.
“However, with this insurance, the affected individual does not need to worry much about coming up with the required amount.”
He said that the government is looking at getting employers to pay 40-50% of the premium, with state coffers paying the rest.
He stressed that 90% of breast cancer cases can be cured with early detection and treatment.