{
  "id": 19725200,
  "title": "MediAsas: What Malaysians need to know about the new basic medical insurance plan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/mediasas-what-malaysians-need-to-know-about-the-new-basic-medical",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-12T23:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/11/13/mediasas-what-malaysians-need-to-know-about-the-new-basic-medical-insurance-plan/242126"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysians facing rising medical insurance premiums may soon have a more affordable option with MediAsas, a basic medical insurance and takaful plan set to be rolled out nationwide in late January 2027. The plan, designed to increase access to basic medical protection, will be supported by financial incentives introduced under Budget 2027 to encourage policyholders to obtain coverage.\n\nExisting medical insurance and takaful policyholders can switch to MediAsas without undergoing new medical underwriting or serving new waiting periods. This could be helpful for those facing higher premiums that make their current coverage unaffordable. Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has set a 10% limit on annual premium adjustments due to medical claims inflation, which applies only to price increases caused by claims inflation and not to other reasons for premium hikes.\n\nMediAsas offers a standard medical protection package with participating insurers and takaful operators providing the same basic benefits and policy terms, making coverage easier to compare. The plan's annual coverage limit is RM100,000, increasing to RM150,000 for individuals aged 61 and above. A Standard-Plus option is available with a higher annual limit of RM300,000, but with a higher deductible and lower premiums. Coverage includes common medical treatments and services, such as hospital room and board, surgical procedures, medication, and selected outpatient treatments.\n\nTo keep premiums affordable, MediAsas implements cost-control measures like a tiered co-payment arrangement and the Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) payment system. The co-payment arrangement requires patients to bear part of their medical costs through deductibles and additional co-payments. A higher deductible for the Standard-Plus option lowers premiums while protecting against larger hospital bills. MediAsas will also adopt the DRG payment system, encouraging hospitals to manage treatment costs while ensuring patients receive appropriate care.\n\nBudget 2027 offers financial assistance to make MediAsas more accessible. EPF savings allow members below 55 to use their Akaun Sejahtera savings to pay MediAsas premiums, and SMEs with fewer than 75 workers can receive a RM200 subsidy for the first-year premium, capped at 50 employees per company. The government has allocated RM40 million to encourage medical coverage among SME employees, particularly those with limited or no existing medical insurance.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 — Malaysians struggling with rising medical insurance premiums may have a more affordabl...",
  "key_points": [
    "MediAsas, basic medical insurance plan, set for nationwide rollout in late 2027",
    "Existing policyholders can switch to MediAsas without new underwriting or waiting periods",
    "Budget 2027 subsidies available for EPF members and SMEs to make MediAsas more affordable"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}