SHAH ALAM, June 6 — The assumption that health insurance claims are complicated is one of the reasons people don’t realise the importance of having such policies, said Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid.
He said many don’t prioritise having health insurance and assume coverage conditions are difficult to understand, in addition to thinking disease only comes at a late age, which means younger people aren’t aware of the need to contribute to a health insurance plan from early on.
“Because of this, many people, especially youth, depend on government hospitals for the lower treatment costs. They don’t see insurance as a priority because they have to put other basic needs first,” he told Media Selangor.
Afzanizam asserted that this mindset must be shifted because insurance is protection against uncertainties, especially when one faces health problems that require high treatment costs, which could lead to emotional stress as well if they lose their source of income from not being able to work while sick.
“If someone doesn’t have protection and suddenly becomes ill, they must bear treatment costs alone and it could cause great stress on family finances.
“When there is appropriate coverage, financial risks and emotional stress from treatment costs can be better managed,” Afzanizam added.
