THE government’s newly launched MySalam health scheme is expected to offer insurance coverage for at least five years, said Lim Guan Eng.

The finance minister in a speech said insurance company Great Eastern Life has contributed RM2 billion to the scheme that was created to protect the bottom 40% of wage-earners, or B40 group, with monthly income of RM3,900 and below.

It is expected to benefit 3.69 million people in the group, he said.

“Under this scheme, eligible recipients will get free health coverage for 36 critical illnesses,” Lim said in his opening speechat the launch of the scheme this morning in Putrajaya.

Subscribers will receive a one-off payment of RM8,000 upon contracting one of the listed critical illnesses, including AIDS, Alzheimer’s, cancer, blindness, and heart attack.

In the event of hospitalisation, the scheme pays the claimant RM50 a day for up to 14 days, or RM700 per year.

Lim said the government wishes to raise awareness of the importance of health insurance.

“We hope that by experiencing having insurance coverage, many in the B40 group will in the future apply to have their own personal insurance.”

“We want to let them experience the importance of having a health insurance scheme.”

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who launched the scheme today said Pakatan Harapan will continue to distribute the country’s wealth equally.

“I am happy that this scheme is another initiative to help the B40 group in their daily lives. In our efforts to become a developed country, we must not measure ourselves in terms of how many buildings we build or the growth of our economy.

“Better living, more purchasing power and wealth distribution are better ways to measure our success. We will continue to share the country’s wealth together with everyone in order for us to prosper and live harmoniously,” he said.

Registration for the scheme opens March 1 and may be done online. – January 24, 2019.