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Why Malaysian Should Have Medical Card?

Tuesday, June 14, 2011


Why Malaysian Should Have Medical Card?

It is estimated that only about 40% of the country’s population, or 10.8 million Malaysians, are medically insured. This leaves about 16.2 million people without health insurance policies. Then again, this may not be a big concern in Malaysia as patients can always turn to the Government.

Over the years, the steep costs at private health care centers have caused some patients to go back to public health care. And with the global recession, even more are expected to seek public, rather than private, health care services.

Rising Cost Of Medical Bills

Quote From The Star March 14,2009

In Malaysia, medical inflation is estimated to be around 15% each year. That is to say, a simple appendicitis surgery that cost RM1,800 three years ago will set you back by about RM3,000 today. Across the world, the increases in doctors’ bills are outpacing the general inflation rate each year. It is estimated that the global medical inflation averages about 10% each year

So who can afford to fall sick these days? Let me tell you that medical services do not come cheap. Private health care services are expensive (or as some would complain, ridiculously expensive) mainly because they are profit-driven centers.

I can always go to government hospital 
There is a huge disparity between public and private health care services in Malaysia. First, the public health care sector continues to lose its trained medical professionals to the more lucrative and usually urban-based private sector.Also, it has to cater to the growing number of patients as the bulk of the Malaysian population cannot afford private health care.

The massive brain drain and the higher volume of patients have resulted in an overwhelming workload for the public health care system. At present, the public sector accounts for about 39,000, or 77%, of the total hospital beds in the country, while the private sector accounts for the remainder of about 12,000 beds.

But there are almost 9,000 doctors in the private sector, compared with about 13,500 doctors employed by the Government.

So, the ratio of doctors to hospital beds is still lower for the private sector, which has one doctor to attend to every 1.3 beds, versus the public sector’s one doctor for every three beds.

As a result, patients at government hospitals wait longer to get medical attention and they get less personalized attention from the doctors. Therefore, there tends to be a lack of communication between doctors and patients. It comes back to the question whether if you sick or in pain, will you wait to seek medical treatment?

My employer already covers my health care plan
Ok, but how much does your employer covers? Bare in mind that most of the employer only buys a minimum plan for the employee and the coverage is smaller compared to the rising cost of medical bills. What happens if you're no longer in the company or the company asked you to leave due to your sickness as you cannot perform your duty anymore? Remember, Insurance company have a clause whereby pre-existing illness will not be covered or simply put, that no insurance company in the world will accept your application once you have been diagnosed with a serious illness.

So How Do I Protect Myself From Being Slapped With Huge Medical Bills
Nevertheless, thanks to the introduction of medical insurance, certain medical expenses incurred by policyholders can be taken care of. Hence, it is viewed as increasingly important for individuals to have such insurance policies, with sufficient coverage. It is always good to have an umbrella during rainy days. Medical Card is like an umbrella.

Therefore, I am here to offer you such a beautiful umbrella ( medical card ) in case you need one. I'll assure you that it is very affordable and among the best medical card I've seen so far.

Details on my page MAA MedicaLife210

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