SINCE its introduction early this year, the new MySalam scheme has paid out RM40,200, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Finance Minister Amiruddin Hamzah said as of last Thursday, the ministry received 1,094 claims under the scheme.

“The processing of claims normally takes two weeks. So far, we have paid out RM40,200 for 97 claims.

“Of that number, 95 were for hospitalisation and two for cases of critical illness,” he told the house during question time.

He was replying to Rohami Abdul Karim (Batang Lupar-GPS) on how many B40 citizens have registered with MySalam.

MySalam is the national health protection scheme to assist the low-income B40 group when they are hospitalised and ill with critical diseases.

Launched in January, the scheme started with a seed fund of RM2 billion provided by Great Eastern Insurance and Takaful.

Amiruddin said the scheme would benefit some 3.8 million people aged between 18 and 55 in the B40 group.

It is unlike health insurance schemes, which involved insurance companies making payments to hospitals or clinics, he said.

MySalam payments are made directly to B40 individuals.

“Many in the B40 group face financial problems when they are hospitalised, especially when they are daily wage earners or self-employed.

“When they are warded, they get RM50 a day under MySalam.”

To a supplementary question from Rohami on how the government ensured that nobody from the B40 group is left out of the scheme, Amiruddin said all lawmakers should help register B40 folk in their respective areas.

To Mustapa Mohamed’s (Jeli-PH) question on whether the scheme would be made permanent, the deputy minister said the current MySalam phase was for a five-year period.

“If the scheme is proved to be effective in aiding the B40 group, the government will study to continue it further.” – April 8, 2019.