The Malaysian government has designed a base medical and health insurance/takaful (MHIT) product, that will be offered by private insurance and takaful operators (ITOs).
According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), the product named MediAsas, will be offered as a pilot programme in the Klang Valley from end-July to October, with the participation of selected hospitals and six insurance and takaful operators – AIA, Allianz Life Insurance, Great Eastern Life Assurance, Prudential BSN Takaful, Etiqa Family Takaful, and Syarikat Takaful.
The MOH said that the pilot programme will validate end-to-end operational readiness, including systems integration, customer journey, and operational processes in a controlled environment. Insights gathered from the pilot will help refine implementation arrangements ahead of the nationwide rollout in January 2027.
The ministry did not specify if waiting periods would be waived and if policyholders would be allowed to submit claims on the first day of coverage. Conventional medical plans impose a 30-day waiting period, during which no illness-related claims are payable, and a 120-day waiting period for specified illnesses, including hypertension, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases, among others.
The MOH mandated indicative monthly premiums for MediAsas would range from RM60 ($14) to RM550 for individuals within the entry age of up to 70 years and protection will be available till 85 years of age.