Insurance, takaful providers expand eligibility for Covid-19 Test Fund to asymptomatic individual and group policy holders

TheEdge Wed, Dec 23, 2020 06:26pm - 3 years View Original


KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 23): Insurance and Takaful providers have broadened the eligibility criteria of the Covid-19 Test Fund (CTF) to include all asymptomatic individual and group medical health insurance policy and takaful certificate holders (MHIT) in the country.

In a joint statement, the Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM), Malaysian Takaful Association (MTA) and General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM) said the move was done in view of the spike in Covid-19 cases in the country.

They said all individual and group policy and certificate holders who are asymptomatic are now eligible to claim from the CTF for Covid-19 tests done at any authorised labs or medical facilities registered with the Ministry of Health (MoH).

The CTF reimbursement is limited to one test per policy or certificate holder, and is for the period until June 30, 2021, or earlier — if the fund is fully utilised.

Under the expanded eligibility criteria, Persons Under Investigation (PUI) can claim up to RM300 per test for Reverse Transcriptase – Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests.

For those admitted to hospital for emergency and semi-emergency procedures, the reimbursement rate remains unchanged at a maximum of RM300 per test per individual.

As for those under the asymptomatic category, there are three sub-categories:

  1. All individual MHIT policy and certificate holders — can claim up to RM100 per RT-PCR test, and up to RM50 per Rapid Test Antigen (RTK-Ag) test done.
  2. Group MHIT policy and certificate holders, with a limit of 50 employees per policy — can claim up to RM50 per RT-PCR test or RTK-AG test.
  3. Hospital admissions involving non-emergency and non-semi emergency surgery — up to RM100 can be claimed per RT-PCR test, and up to RM50 per RTK-Ag test.

LIAM president Loh Gut Lan said that by liberalising the criteria, more asymptomatic individuals will come forward for testing to help curb the spread of the virus.

“We believe this move would help to encourage more people who have no symptoms but may have reasons to go for the test. Hence, by curbing the spread of the virus, we also help to protect the vulnerable people and the elderly from being exposed to the asymptomatic patients. We are also subsidizing the Covid-19 test for all hospital admissions,” said Loh.

PIAM chairman Antony Lee added that the move to expand the criteria will help the public defray testing costs, and urged policyholders to take advantage of the expanded criteria.

“By early screening for detection and prevention, policyholders can help reduce the risk of disease spread. Other preventative measures, such as well ventilated outdoor vs indoor spaces, good hand hygiene and physical distancing will remain critical,” added Lee.

MTA chairman Muhammad Fikri Mohamad Rawi said the move proves that the industry is concerned with the current situation and is doing its part to help by making it easier for people to go for testing.

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