Part of your application process to study in Malaysia is to acquire health insurance. It is compulsory for international students to obtain this before they can be granted a student visa.
As a rule, foreign students must obtain a health insurance package under two conditions. First, the health insurance must cover the duration of the stay. Second, it must be purchased locally in Malaysia.
The Malaysian government allows you to get either public or private insurance. The main difference between the two is the price and coverage.
Here are a couple of things you need to know when acquiring a health insurance plan:
Insurance Types
In Malaysia, health insurance falls under three main categories: International Student Insurance. Medical Insurance, and Protections Insurance. Unsure about the difference between these three? Read on to find out.
Protection Insurance
Protection insurance normally covers personal accidents and travel insurance. This insurance covers you during your flights to and within Malaysia.
If you have protection insurance and got into an accident, you don’t have to worry about medical bills. Depending on your insurance plan, your medical costs and consultation fees will be covered.
Medical Insurance
Malaysia also offers medical cards to international students. Most medical cards cover up to 100% of the total medical bills.
Most medical insurance also covers life-threatening illnesses. Critical illness can be costly and having medical insurance prevents you from falling into medical debt.
International Student Insurance
International student insurance policies must meet the standards set by the Ministry of Education in Malaysia. As mentioned, these can come from either a public or private insurance provider.
Health Insurance Packages
You need to be medically insured before you can obtain a Malaysian student visa. Normally, this would take some time to process. Fortunately, there are plenty of health insurance packages that you can acquire immediately.
Health insurance packages have varying annual premium, claim limit, and eligibility criteria. For foreign students, below are some insurance packages from well-known providers in Malaysia:
Hong Leong Malaysia Takaful Medical Insurance Package
Hong Leong Malaysia offers three tiers of insurance packages: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Silver is the most affordable with an annual premium of $80 to $120.
If you want a package with a higher claim limit per disability, you can opt for the Platinum Package. The claim limit for this package is $11,100 to $12,100.
AIA Medical Insurance Packages
International students older than 16 are eligible for any AIA Medical Insurance Package. Similar to packages in Hong Leong Malaysia, they also provide three package tiers.
Depending on which package you pick, the annual premium you need to pay can go from $80 to $220. You can choose among the Silver, Gold, and Platinum packages.
For other medical matters such as consultations, most Malaysian universities have on-campus medical care. You can also pay a visit to any government hospital. Healthcare is generally more expensive for foreigners so getting an insurance plan is extremely important.
Getting health insurance protects you from high medical expenses during your stay in Malaysia. Read more of our articles here at MSM Unify to learn more about living in Malaysia as an international student.
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