Cover Covid-19 with cases dipping, private hospitals tell insurers

 

The Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia says the low number of new Covid-19 cases and high vaccination rate minimise the risk of exorbitant claims.

PETALING JAYA: Private healthcare insurance should be expanded to cover Covid-19, says the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM).

APHM president Dr Kuljit Singh said the low daily cases and high vaccination rate will minimise the risk of exorbitant claims from insurance holders with Covid-19, describing the current claim benefits as “restrictive”.

“We are of the view that all patients with medical cards should be treated like normal patients as per pre-pandemic even if they test positive for Covid-19.

“APHM has been in communication with the Life insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) and General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM), but the final decision on the policy is with the insurance companies,” he said in a statement today.

Kuljit said medical opinions will be required on the need to proceed with certain procedures and treatments on patients with Covid-19, pointing out that certain insurance policies would deny a guarantee letter in private hospitals.

“Therefore, these patients may have to be transferred to a government facility.”

He also welcomed the relaxing of testing procedures for travellers as it would boost the medical tourism industry.

However, he said private hospitals will continue to test such patients before admission or surgery. - FMT