MediAsas to launch in January 2027 with medical cover for Malaysia’s M40
The plan will offer two insurance and takaful options, with protection available for individuals aged up to 85, according to the Ministry of Finance.
Malaysia plans to introduce MediAsas in January 2027 to help middle-income households facing medical inflation. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the scheme would provide affordable basic cover for the M40 group, with transparent pricing controls to prevent excessive or undisclosed charges.
Writing on Facebook on October 18, Dzulkefly said unaffordable private premiums had led policyholders to surrender 340,000 insurance policies. More people were seeking treatment at government facilities, he said.
The Ministry of Finance previously announced two standalone medical insurance and takaful options: the standard MediAsas Teras plan and the standard-plus MediAsas Flexi plan. Coverage would extend to individuals aged up to 85.
A pilot began in the Klang Valley at the end of July. Dzulkefly said it allowed flexible payments using the Employees Provident Fund Akaun Sejahtera (Akaun Dua), intended to reduce policyholders’ monthly financial burden.
For vulnerable groups, Dzulkefly said funding for Tabung Bantuan Perubatan had increased from RM40 million to RM60 million, a rise of 50 per cent. The money was specifically for expensive medical devices, including heart stents and bone implants. He also cited a government allocation of RM80 million for the Peduli Kesihatan scheme for the B40 Group (PeKa B40) programme.
