Remember This When Buying Medical Card in Malaysia - Part 1

Nowadays, we all need a medical card. Using the rising medical cost, it's totally insane if somebody believes that medical card is unnecessary. Just about all the insurance company in Malaysia offers medical arrange for you to choose, plus they have packaged their medical insurance plan in the own unique way. It's up to you to select suitable package on your own and family. Many people like to believe that as long there is a medical card; it should be fine, and that i can tell you these folks will definitely regret later. Plan your requirements before choosing the medical plan.

Here is certainly not that I wish to share with you about medical cards in Malaysia, that you could use it when deciding your medical card package: 

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  Compare between few companies and packages. Don't be seduced by agents promises. If you want to use the credit card, the agents will not be standing alongside you to prepare the claims.

  
  


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  Check if the package that you are choosing may be the direct claim type or even the traditional pay-and-claim type. Some companies provide a very attractive premium for that medical insurance plans with overall limit as high as RM400,000, but it's a pay-and-claim type. Which means, when you're hospitalized for reasons uknown, you have to pay the debts and then submit the debts to insurance provider for reimbursement. In case your bills accumulates to few hundred each visit, then its still fine. How in case your bills equal to thousands of dollars? Consider this carefully, when selecting you medical card package.

  
  


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  Also look into the co-insurance charges that accompany your medical card. This charges was introduced sometime in Malaysia to avoid misuse from the medical card. The most popular co-insurance rate right now is 10%, with a few capping on minimum and maximum. This is when, you have to be careful. Here's an example of Mr.A and Mr.B having medical card from Company A and Company B respectively.

  
  

             Example: Company A: co-insurance 10% (maximum RM500)

                            Company B: co-insurance 10% (minimum RM300 & maximum RM1000)

Now, Mr.A and Mr.B were in the same hospital, and was billed RM250 each for his or her treatment. How, much do you consider they have to pay on the co-insurance?

Mr. A will need to pay RM25 (because Company A only sets 10% co-insurance charge)

Mr. B will need to pay RM250 (because Company B set minimum co-insurance of RM300)

Can the thing is what a huge difference does it make? If this sounds like one-off treatment, it doesn't sound so bad. Imagine you need to go for follow-up checkup and you are charged RM250 for each visit. Used to do this mistake with my medical card and still regretting by using it. However, Used to do this mistake because nobody there to describe this in my experience. But you shouldn't make this mistake reading this article. Check and make sure with your agent, and cross seek advice from other companies and agents.

I don't wish to overload you with all of these tips. I'll share more info related to medical cards in Malaysia simply 2 of the series.