insurance premiums Archives

19 March 2025

Malaysia

APHM Denies Health Insurance Buffet Table Syndrome, Says Malaysians Getting Much Sicker

APHM says health insurance claims are rising not because Malaysians like using their medical card, but because Malaysians are genuinely getting much sicker. This disease trend is seen in public and private hospitals, like severe pneumonia and fatal dengue.

13 March 2025

Malaysia

PKR Lawmakers Urge BNM To Extend 10% Cap To Group Insurance, Citing NUTP Hike

PKR lawmakers urged Bank Negara Malaysia to extend its 10% cap on medical insurance premium hikes to group plans, citing sharp increases in the NUTP Takaful Healthcare plan for teachers. Some saw premiums rise by 852% over 12 years and 190% in a year.

28 February 2025

Letter

You Reap What You Sow — Dr Mohamed Rafick Khan Abdul Rahman

Assurance industry consultant Dr Rafick Khan tells private hospitals to negotiate with insurers behind closed doors, instead of speaking publicly. He describes the move by insurers to delist hospitals from cashless panels as "the Empire can strike back."

21 February 2025

Malaysia

PAC Hears Horror Stories About Health Insurance, Private Hospitals

At a packed town hall in Parliament, the PAC heard dozens of horror stories about health insurance and private health care. Many claimed that their insurers ignored BNM's 10% cap on premium hikes. Others highlighted exorbitant private hospital bills.

20 February 2025

Malaysia

Limit Advanced Tests, Prescribe Generic Drugs, AIA Tells Private Hospitals

Due to BNM interim measures to curb health insurance premium hikes that "come at great cost to the industry", AIA Malaysia tells its panel of private hospitals to prioritise simpler tests before advanced ones and to substitute branded drugs with generics.

8 January 2025

Letter

Defending DRG: More Benefits Than Harm — Dr Mohamed Rafick Khan Abdul Rahman

Reassurer Dr Rafick Khan defends DRG, saying that the average total fees paid to specialists show they are "pretty sizeable". He rebuts criticisms by Dr Musa Mohd Nordin, MMA, and ASPMP of the DRG model, stressing the need to regulate health care pricing.

8 January 2025

Malaysia

Unregulated Charges Comprise 70% Of Private Hospital Bills

Azrul Mohd Khalib says 70% of private hospital bills are unregulated, including charges for basic items like wheelchairs, heart monitors, and even kidney dishes. "Hospitals can charge whatever they want, with only 30% covering specialist and drug charges."

7 January 2025

Malaysia

Insured Patients Pay More Due To Choices, Not Prices: Former Hospital CEO

Insured patients often pay more due to treatment choices, not different pricing, says former Thomson Hospital CEO Nadiah Wan. Health care costs vary based on patient profiles, with severity and treatment decisions influencing the hospital bill.

19 December 2024

Malaysia

PKR Lawmakers Call For Interim 10% Cap On Medical Insurance Premium Hikes

PKR lawmakers urge Bank Negara to cap medical insurance premium hikes at 10% in 2025, citing unjustified increases of up to 186% despite Malaysia’s 15% medical inflation. Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin says the cap is fair for policyholders and insurers.

17 December 2024

Letter

Making Sense Of Health Assurance (Insurance And Takaful) Repricing — Dr Mohamed Rafick Khan Abdul Rahman

Dr Rafick Khan says takaful and insurance health products are designed based on annual or lifetime total medical expenditure limits. "This unhealthy practice gives hospitals a blank check that is open for abuse." He wants the cashless system to be banned.

Tag: insurance premiums

APHM Denies Health Insurance Buffet Table Syndrome, Says Malaysians Getting Much Sicker

PKR Lawmakers Urge BNM To Extend 10% Cap To Group Insurance, Citing NUTP Hike

PAC Hears Horror Stories About Health Insurance, Private Hospitals

Unregulated Charges Comprise 70% Of Private Hospital Bills

Insured Patients Pay More Due To Choices, Not Prices: Former Hospital CEO

PKR Lawmakers Call For Interim 10% Cap On Medical Insurance Premium Hikes

Making Sense Of Health Assurance (Insurance And Takaful) Repricing — Dr Mohamed Rafick Khan Abdul Rahman

Hospital Director Accused Of Sexually Harassing Second Victim

Malaysia Heading In US Direction With MediAsas: Expert

Hospital Director Transferred To JKN Sabah After Sexual Harassment Cases

Stool Tests Cannot Replace Diagnostic, Preventive Colonoscopy: Specialists

MOH’s Nursing Workforce Contracted Since 2023 With 1,200 Nurses Lost