Health Insurance in Malaysia for Expats: What You Need to Know in 2026

When people move to Malaysia, health insurance isn’t usually the first thing on their minds since Malaysia’s healthcare system is top-notch, with doctors and most healthcare staff being great with English. 

Well, having health insurance gives you peace of mind for both yourself and your loved ones when it comes to healthcare needs. But that isn’t the only reason. 

In this article, we are going to tell you everything you need to know about health insurance in Malaysia, including should you get it, options available to you, cost, and how to choose the right plan. 

Do I Need Health Insurance in Malaysia?

In Malaysia, you can pay yourself for basic treatments. But for serious treatments, having insurance helps cover the costs.

In general, healthcare in Malaysia is cheap enough that you can pay out of pocket and forgo health insurance in most cases. While it’s cheaper than the costs of similar treatments in the West, treatment for foreigners costs more than what Malaysian nationals would pay. 

That gap has widened since 1 July 2025, when Malaysia began charging a 6% sales and service tax (SST) on private healthcare for non-citizens, now fully enforced in 2026. Private providers that bill more than RM1.5 million a year add the 6% surcharge to your bill if you are a foreigner; Malaysian citizens, along with government and university hospital care, stay exempt. Government hospitals, for their part, already charge non-citizens more than citizens.

For an insured expat this is mostly invisible, since your policy absorbs the cost. For anyone paying cash, it is a straight 6% added to every private bill, which widens the gap between insured and uninsured spending and makes a private plan easier to justify. So far the tax hasn’t dented demand much: in May 2026, Finance Minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan said private hospitals in Penang, Johor, and the Klang Valley were still drawing foreign patients despite the 6% tax.

In addition, medical care can get expensive. Many years ago, a friend living in a small city in Sarawak contracted Leptospirosis. It wasn’t diagnosed until he was in the later stages of infection. And by that time, he was in critical condition.

Doctors flew him to Mount Elizabeth, a hospital in Singapore. They had better facilities and medicine to help him with the treatment he needed.

The emergency airlift out of Malaysia and the cost of getting treated in Singapore could’ve caused a dent in his bank account if he was uninsured. Fortunately, his insurance company covered all his bills.

This means a good health insurance plan can save you from a lot of hefty medical care bills.

What Public Hospitals Actually Charge Foreigners

Public (government) hospitals charge non-citizens a lot more than they charge Malaysians, and the gap is bigger than most people expect.

At Hospital Kuala Lumpur, one of the country’s main government hospitals, foreigners pay a flat RM100 a day for inpatient care, whatever the ward class. Citizens pay RM0 to RM15 a day, depending on class. Ward charges for foreigners run RM160 to RM320 a day for a standard bed, RM300 to RM500 a day for an executive room and RM360 for intensive care. Citizens pay roughly RM3 to RM120 a day for a standard bed and RM150 to RM225 for an executive room. (Verified October 2026, from the hospital’s own fee page, last updated December 2023.)

Good to know: These figures are illustrative rates from Hospital Kuala Lumpur; individual government hospitals set their own detailed fee schedules, so the exact number can differ from one facility to the next. Either way, the foreigner rate is always well above the citizen rate, and that gap gets wider once the 6% service tax on private healthcare is added on top at private facilities.

Can I Use Insurance from Back Home?

Most of my expat friends who moved to Malaysia are already covered by an insurance plan from their home country.

A friend from Australia and her husband have a health coverage plan, which includes dental and medical evacuation as part of their insurance. Unfortunately, though, their policy is quite expensive and only covers medical costs “while on authorized business travel and any associated holiday travel.”

My friend and her husband are 55 and 57 years old, respectively. And they won’t be covered after the age of 70. If they retire in Malaysia, they have to find another insurance plan.

Another friend has health insurance from Germany. It was cheap but only valid for a few years after he moved out of Germany.

You can get health insurance from your home country if you’re under 50 years old. But some companies may charge more to cover you abroad.

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Types of Health Insurance

Common ways to get insured in Malaysia are through:

• Malaysia Social Security
• Foreign Workers Hospitalization and Surgical Scheme
• International (Expat) insurance
• Local insurance
• Takaful Insurance
• Group insurance
• Travel Insurance

Let’s take a closer look at each one of these types:

Malaysian Social Security

In Malaysia, our social security system goes by SOCSO, or Social Security Organization. You might also hear it called PERKESO, which is the Malay way of saying it (Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial). Throughout this guide, let’s just stick with PERKESO.

PERKESO is only available to those who are working with a Malaysian company. 

Similar to social security systems in other places, PERKESO is there to help you deal with unemployment, sickness, or loss. Both you and your employer pitch in, contributing to PERKESO based on your earnings.

Foreign workers, including expats, have had to register with PERKESO and contribute to the Employment Injury Scheme since 1 January 2019. A separate change came on 1 July 2024, when the Invalidity Scheme was extended to foreign workers, covering permanent disability or death irrespective of cause. This scheme acts like a safety net and gives “protection against accidents or occupational diseases arising out of and in the course of employment.” It covers accidents at work, industrial and commuting mishaps, and occupational diseases.

But PERKESO goes beyond just financial help—it also throws in a thoughtful touch with a free Health Screening Program. 

If you’re 40 or older, you can get free checkups at registered panel clinics. The Health Screening Program looks out for your heart health, checks for diabetes, and screens for cervical and breast cancer. It’s a little extra care for your well-being, showing that PERKESO is about more than just money matters.

There are some cases in which you don’t have to contribute to PERKESO. 

Here are three:

• If you’re self-employed
• If you own a business
• If you work for the government

Limits of Coverage

Of course, PERKESO has its shortcomings. You may only claim it for injuries at work or during your work commute.

It also only covers contributions up to the age of 60. After that, you have to rely on your pension or other funds you have to cover the cost of treatment. There are no child and family social schemes. And the self-employed are also excluded from PERKESO.

PERKESO’s Non-Employment Injury Scheme, known as LINDUNG 24 JAM, adds 24-hour coverage for injuries that happen outside work, and it takes effect for foreign workers on 1 June 2026. This is separate from the Invalidity Scheme, which covers permanent disability or death from any cause. Invalidity refers to a permanent condition that is incurable or unlikely to be cured, rendering you incapable of earning at least one-third of the customary earnings of a healthy individual through work that matches your physical ability.

But if you work for a Malaysian company, you can contribute to the Foreign Workers Hospitalization and Surgical Scheme.

Submitting a Claim

You can submit a PERKESO claim yourself, but the HR department at your company will usually help you with the process. Talk to your company first to get more details.

If you ever get sick or get injured at work or while commuting to work, you can make a PERKESO claim. 

By educating yourself about how the claims process works, you can greatly boost your chances of receiving reimbursement. Let me take you through the crucial steps to increase your likelihood of a successful PERKESO claim.

Applying for Medical Benefits

To apply for medical benefits, you need these documents:

• Accident Report OR Occupational Disease Report (Form PKS68 or PKS69)
• Claims form (Form 10)
• Employer’s identification letter
• Work attendance record
• Medical leave certificate
• A copy of your identification documents
• A police report and a sketch map of your route at the time of the accident (for injuries that happen during your workplace commute)

Once you apply, you can get free treatment at PERKESO panel clinics or government hospitals and clinics.

To get reimbursed for non-PERKESO panel treatment, you need extra documents. These documents are not under PERKESO panel clinics or public hospitals and clinics.

You must fill out and send them to your local PERKESO office. PERKESO determines how much you’re reimbursed.

These extra documents are:

• Reimbursement Travel Claims Form (Form PKS (P) 24)
• Reimbursement Payment Claim Report (General) (Form PKS (P) 26)
• Original receipt of treatment
• Copy of your appointment card
• Copy of your medical report(s), if any

When a doctor certifies that you’re unfit to work for at least four days, including the day of the workplace accident, you get temporary disability benefits and pay for the days you can’t work.

Let’s look at this program next.

Foreign Workers Hospitalization and Surgical Scheme (FWHS)

The Malaysian government has the Foreign Worker Hospitalization and Surgical Insurance Scheme, also known as:

• FWHS
• SKHPPA
• SPIKPA

But only those between 18 and 60 years old can get it.

For an annual premium of RM120 (not including 8 percent service tax or the RM10 stamp duty, so RM139.60 in total), the policy covers up to RM20,000 if you’re admitted to a Malaysian government hospital.

Many insurance companies offer this scheme, Etiqa among them. It only pays for stays at non-corporatised government hospitals, not private ones.

All foreign workers in Malaysia must be insured under FWHS, but the benefits of this scheme for long-term expats are limited. If you’re legally employed in Malaysia, you can get health insurance through your employer, usually under a group medical insurance plan.

Malaysian employers usually offer health insurance to their employees along with social security. However, you might want to buy your own extra health insurance to get even more comprehensive coverage.

But what if you’re retired or retiring, or not employed by a Malaysian company and can’t get FWHS or PERKESO? What other choices do you have?

Health Insurance and MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home)

PERKESO and FWHS only apply if you work for a Malaysian company. If you’re retired, working remotely, or living in Malaysia on a long-stay visa like Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H), neither scheme covers you at all.

MM2H’s official checklists list health insurance among the documents you hand in when you renew your pass or add a dependant. If you’re 60 or over, you’re exempt. Pick a policy that covers treatment inside Malaysia, not just emergency evacuation back home.

The official pages don’t set a minimum coverage amount, and the figures you’ll see online don’t agree. Check the current requirement on the official MM2H portal or confirm with a licensed MM2H agent before you apply.

Expat Insurance

Expat insurance is a popular option for expats who live in Malaysia. It comes with good coverage and does not have a lot of limitations. These policies are designed for expats, some of which are underwritten by global insurance companies.

Unlike Social Security in Malaysia, you won’t be limited to only health coverage at work. You can also visit any hospital that you want, not just government hospitals.

When you buy expat health insurance, you can also choose to include medical coverage in Malaysia and the rest of the world.

If local hospitals are unable to provide the type of care you need, your policy should probably cover the cost of repatriation and/or changing hospitals.

Good to know: Before you buy insurance from an international company, you should be aware that legal disputes are taken up in the country where the insurer is licensed, and the insurance authority in Malaysia can’t intervene on your behalf. Disputes are often costly and problematic, and could leave you uncompensated. So, it’s better to get insurance from well-known companies to avoid this issue.

Recommended International Insurance Plans

A lot of international insurance companies offer expat insurance solutions. Each plan comes with different coverage levels, exclusions, and prices. Here are a few of the best international expat insurance options:

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Cigna Global

Cigna Global is famous for being among the world’s biggest insurance companies, with excellent plans for expats in Malaysia. Depending on which level you choose, the plans cover hospitalization, routine medical expenses, and even optical, dental, and maternity care.

You can also pick repatriation coverage, medical transportation, and family civil liability, which includes physical injury and material or consequential loss.

Other Expat Insurance Options

In addition to Cigna, there are plenty of other insurance plans available to expats in Malaysia. 

• Geoblue Xplorer
• William Russell
• Aetna
• Allianz
• Safetywing (best for digital nomads)

You can check our expat insurance comparison page to look at all popular international insurance providers for expats with side-by-side comparison. 

Most companies don’t have direct billing with local hospitals, so you will be required to pay out of pocket first, covering the bills yourself, and get reimbursed later. 

The only exception to this would be in the case where you contact an insurance company first and get prior authorization. 

US Coverage = Higher Premiums

All the plans I asked about excluded coverage for the USA. This is because choosing a plan that includes the USA on top of worldwide coverage means an increase in premiums.

I don’t spend any time in the USA, so this wasn’t necessary for me. If you do, be aware of the much higher costs of coverage. In case you need USA coverage, BCBS Global Solutions is generally recommended because of its wide range of coverage in the United States. 

Local Insurance

Local insurance plans are offered by companies in Malaysia and may work differently from your insurance plans back home. For example, many local plans have lifetime limits. This means they cover you for a certain amount over the course of your life. 

If you go over that limit, the insurance plan won’t cover you anymore. 

These plans also cap how much they pay for your hospital room each day, and the cap depends on the plan you pick. The annual limit can also be lower than what expat health insurance plans offer. 

Additionally, most of the plans only cover health expenses accrued in Malaysia. 

There are many insurance companies in the local Malaysian market, including:

• AIA
• Allianz
• Great Eastern Life
• Hong Leong Assurance
• Prudential Assurance

When I lived in Malaysia, I was covered under Prudential Assurance. The Prudential medical card drops the annual limit and uses a Med Value Points system instead. The points work like a lifetime limit, and you pick RM1 million, RM1.5 million or RM2 million.

You can opt for a stipulated amount of Med Value Points if you choose Prudential. You gain bonus points by staying healthy. If you don’t make many claims, your insurance company awards you extra points.

If your total claims paid exceed your Med Value Points plus any accumulated point bonuses, Prudential still pays 80 percent of the total cost of the benefits.

You can also customize Prudential’s plans to your needs. You can pick your room and board rates and Med Value Points.

If you compare the Med Value Points with the annual limits of other policies, though, it’s on par with most of them.

The lifetime limit is the only major downside to this plan. PruValueMed only covers 80 percent of the benefits exceeding Med Value Points.

If you’re in the market for a plan without lifetime limits, consider looking into Allianz. Its HealthInsured medical card has an overall annual limit of up to RM5,000,000 and no overall lifetime limit. Premiums depend on your age and the plan you pick, so ask for a quote.

If you want a less comprehensive and lower-priced plan, Allianz also offers both mid-range and lower-end plans. What I like most about Allianz is its extensive cancer coverage and deductible options. 

Pause for a bit and really look into your options. Each insurance plan has its own good sides and not-so-good sides. Your best move is to go with a company that fits well with your health situation and lifestyle, giving you the coverage that suits you the most.

Using Local Health Insurance at Malaysian Panel Hospitals

To gain admission to a Malaysian panel hospital, simply present your medical card and obtain the doctor’s approval—there’s no need to navigate through extensive paperwork.

Your insurer updates the roster of panel hospitals annually, and you can find this information in your insurance brochure or policy documentation.

One notable advantage of local insurance is the convenience of not having to pay your medical bills up front. In fact, most policies facilitate a cashless admission process. 

Hospitals in Malaysia typically submit the medical bills directly to your insurer, streamlining the claim process for you.

Using Local Health Insurance at Malaysian Non-Panel Hospitals

If you’re admitted into a Malaysian non-panel hospital, tell your insurance agent right away. Oftentimes, they will still reimburse you for medical bills, but you’ll have to pay out of pocket before you can file a claim.

Remember to keep all original copies of medical bills, medical reports, and letters from doctors for your claim.

Even with a medical card, you might have to pay for part of the care you receive, perhaps for medicine or a doctor’s appointment. This may happen if you have opted for a co-payment. This means you and your insurer share the costs of your medical treatment.

MediAsas: The New Government-Backed Base Plan

You can’t buy MediAsas yet, but it’s coming. It’s a standard hospital insurance plan that Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) plans to launch nationwide in early 2027. (Verified October 2026.)

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BNM calls it the Base MHIT plan (medical and health insurance and takaful). It pays for hospital stays, surgery, day surgery, intensive care, and the tests and medicines around an admission. Think of it as a plain basic layer. Insurers will still sell bigger plans on top.

A pilot started at the end of July 2026 with 6 insurers and takaful operators and 10 private hospitals in the Klang Valley. Only staff of selected statutory bodies, government-linked companies and small businesses can join, so expats are out for now. BNM will publish final prices and features at the national launch in January 2027.

Malaysian money forums like what they see so far. It could be a cheaper option while medical card premiums keep climbing. People are still waiting to see how the deductibles work in practice.

BNM’s January 2026 white paper sets out the design:

• Annual limit: RM100,000, rising to RM150,000 after age 60.
• Deductible: RM500 per illness, rising to RM1,000 from age 61.
• Network hospitals: no extra co-payment. At out-of-network hospitals, you also pay 20% of the bill, capped at RM3,000.
• Standard-plus version: a RM300,000 limit with a RM10,000 to RM15,000 deductible (still being considered). Premiums would be 15% to 70% lower.

BNM is aiming for RM60 to RM550 a month for people who join up to age 70. The white paper puts the standard plan at about RM80 to RM120 a month at ages 31 to 35. At ages 61 to 65, that’s RM280 to RM350. These are targets, not final prices.

BNM hasn’t said whether foreigners on a long-stay visa will be able to buy it. Until it does, stick with the options above. Ask your broker about MediAsas after the launch.

Takaful Insurance

An obvious choice for private insurance in Malaysia is local insurance. You can buy either conventional insurance or takaful insurance, which is a type of Islamic insurance offered as an alternative to conventional insurance.

Takaful differs from conventional insurance in its intent. You contribute to a fund that can help others in the case of an emergency.

But you buy conventional insurance as personal financial security, with the insurance company being the risk-bearer. Each takaful fund participant contributes based on their required coverage and circumstances.

A takaful contract states the nature of the risk and period of coverage. A takaful operator that charges a fee manages the fund.

Participants make claims that are paid out of the takaful fund. The remaining surpluses—after making provisions for future claims—belong to the participants in the fund.

Conventional insurance differs in this aspect. The extra money and profits belong to the insurance company shareholders.

Takaful is not religion-exclusive. You can buy Takaful insurance from many companies in Malaysia, even if you’re not a Muslim.

But Takaful comes with certain shortcomings. Here are a few to keep in mind:

• Emphasizes too much on profit distribution
• Models used by operators in Malaysia aren’t strictly regulated
• The profit-sharing with operators is often unclear

Given the mixed reviews on takaful, I would not recommend opting for it in this article.

Group Insurance

Malaysian companies are legally required to sign all foreign employees for the Foreign Worker Hospitalization Scheme, which is a form of group insurance.

But only foreign workers between the ages of 18 and 60 can get FWHS. The coverage offered is often very limited, and the plans can’t be customized to suit each company’s needs.

Most companies buy extra group insurance for their employees instead. Group insurance provides better coverage for your employees and is often given at a discount.

Many companies in Malaysia offer employee group insurance. Major names in the market include:

• Great Eastern
• AIA
• Allianz
• AIG

Group insurance plans are highly flexible as every company’s needs and circumstances are unique. Sometimes, different levels of coverage are required, even within the same group.

If you only want to cover your employees’ outpatient treatments, there are packages for that as well. 

For example, Allianz has a Group Outpatient Clinical plan that covers outpatient doctor care, with cashless facilities to panel clinics and outpatient specialists.

To compare policies and get an in-depth explanation of all plans, talk to a broker or an insurance advisor.

Travel Insurance

Nowadays, a lot of insurance companies offer short-term international coverage (we also call it travel insurance), which can last from a few weeks to a few years.

A few years ago, my friend was trekking in Nepal and ended up breaking his leg. His injuries were serious, and a helicopter had to arrive at the scene, airlifting him from the mountains to a hospital for the urgent treatment he needed. His insurance really saved him from some hefty hospital bills. 

On the other hand, I know someone without long-term medical insurance. Every time he travels from his home country to Malaysia, he opts for travel insurance to have that extra layer of protection.

He’s in his twenties, in good health, and alternates between living in his country and Malaysia every three months, so travel insurance works for him.

When he broke his leg in Nepal and was airlifted out, he had to pay US$1,200. He was later reimbursed in less than two months by his travel insurance company.

Most travel insurance only reimburses you after you submit your claim. While they ask you to pay first, getting reimbursed is easier and faster than many other travel insurances in the market.

Must Start Coverage in Your Home Country

Typically, you need to apply for travel insurance from your home country. The positive side? Travel insurance plans are often quite affordable, much less expensive than long-term coverage.

Personally, I didn’t hesitate to include it alongside my existing health insurance because it’s cost-effective, and the claims I’ve made in the past were handled promptly.

That being said, if you’re contemplating getting travel insurance, there are a few important things to bear in mind.

For example:

• These policies don’t cover expensive long-term care.
• They don’t cover some key medical conditions being experienced by females. These include breast cancer, cervical cancer, osteoporosis, and pregnancy.

Apart from canceled flights or unexpected disasters, travel insurance also ensures you’re covered if you fall ill or get injured during your journey. For shorter getaways in Malaysia, considering travel insurance is a prudent decision.

Only a Good Choice for Short-Term Trips

If your stay in Malaysia goes beyond three months, especially if you have notable medical concerns, it’s prudent to consider long-term health insurance. Some individuals choose to pick up travel insurance if their existing policy falls short in covering all the destinations on their itinerary. 

Others secure it as a safeguard against out-of-pocket expenses during emergencies on their trips.

Best Insurance for Expats in Malaysia

There’s no one-size-fits-all insurance plan for expats in Malaysia. You should always try to do your research, talk to a broker, and then pick one that’s a good fit for your lifestyle and needs.

If you don’t want to read this entire guide but want to know which insurance plan to get, check out our quick comparison of expat health insurance.

Once you know how much coverage you need, look at the excesses, deductibles, and co-payments and figure out what works best for you.

While your chosen plan should fit your budget, don’t pay based on the lowest prices out there.

Remember that local insurance might offer coverage that differs from expat insurance in these areas:

• Amount covered
• Your age
• Exclusions

With that said, let’s look at local insurance versus expat insurance.

Local Health Insurance Versus Expat Health Insurance 

If you buy local health insurance, you’re unlikely to exceed its coverage limits. Insurance companies make sure that the costs at local hospitals are within most of their plans’ limits. The Malaysian central bank, Bank Negara, regulates and monitors local insurance costs.

However, local insurance companies have different plans available and might not cover your health expenses in full. 

Expat insurance brings higher coverage limits and extends protection beyond Malaysia, allowing you to stay under the same plan even if you relocate. In contrast, local insurance plans are cheaper than expat health insurance, often combining life, health, and retirement coverage into a comprehensive package.

You’ll receive a medical card upon enrollment with a local insurance provider. 

Using this card at a hospital within the provider’s network, known as a panel hospital, streamlines the claims process and simplifies paperwork, ensuring efficient access to benefits.

Other Considerations

Always read carefully about the exclusions, renewable clauses, and deductibles under your health insurance plan.

I have friends who found out after the fact that their plans let the insurer deny renewal the next year if they had any health issues. Premiums on local medical cards keep climbing. Forum posts from the past few months show people picking a higher deductible to keep the monthly cost down. Additionally, make sure your health insurance plan has you covered while you’re on the move. 

Keep an eye on the overseas residence clause, especially if you’ll be studying or working outside Malaysia for a while—many insurance policies may say no to claims after 90 days abroad.

Now, there’s another player in the game called Reasonable and Customary Charges. 

This one lets you get some money back for overseas treatment, but there’s a catch. You’ll only be reimbursed up to the amount you would’ve paid if you had the same procedure in Malaysia. 

So, if you get treatment in a place where medical costs are sky-high compared to Malaysia, your coverage might only cover a part of the bill.

Go for a plan that gives you a full range of coverage, even if it’s not the cheapest option. Read through the nitty-gritty details, check what others are saying in customer reviews, and have a chat with a broker before locking in an insurance plan.

Insurance Brokers

There are many insurance broker companies in Malaysia. You pay the same for your insurance as you would, getting it directly from the insurance company itself. They also accept credit cards.

I like using a broker because they can offer you a wider range of plans from various insurers. They can also walk you through your choices based on your needs.

Ideally, you’ll want to do business with an unbiased broker who cares about your well-being and requirements. Brokers have a vested interest in you as they gain sales commissions every year you stay with them.

This commission is otherwise kept by the insurance company if you buy directly from them instead. This means brokers want to find you a plan you’re happy with and keep you as a client.

Be aware that brokers can only offer you limited help with claims or disputes.

You can also change brokers without changing your insurance plan if you’re ever unhappy with the services provided by your broker.

If you want to buy health insurance through a broker, check out International Citizens Insurance.

How to Complain About Your Insurer

All licensed insurers and takaful operators in Malaysia are regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the central bank. If your insurer denies a claim you think is valid, or drags out a payout, start with the insurer’s own internal complaints department; every licensed insurer is required to have one.

If that doesn’t resolve things, you have two free routes to escalate:

• File a complaint with Bank Negara Malaysia through its BNMLINK complaints service.
• Take your case to the Financial Markets Ombudsman Service (FMOS), an independent dispute resolution body appointed by BNM.

Go to your insurer’s complaints unit first, because BNMLINK won’t take your case otherwise. If the insurer hasn’t replied after 14 days, you can send it to BNMLINK.

FMOS replaced the old Ombudsman for Financial Services (OFS) on 1 January 2025 and handles disputes, including denied medical and travel insurance claims, worth up to RM250,000.

You generally need to file with FMOS within six months of your insurer’s final decision, so don’t sit on a denied claim too long before escalating it.

Comparison Sites

Comparison sites let you search many insurance plans all on one website, saving you time and possibly money. There are quite a few sites that review insurance plans in Malaysia and lay out their pros and cons.

I used this list of sites when researching Malaysian health insurance plans.

• Compare Hero
• Ringgit Plus
• iMoney.my

The main drawback of the comparison websites is that they mainly focus on the number of coverage limits and premiums without showing what you really get from the insurance.

In the end, it’s still a good idea to read insurance policies carefully and talk to a reliable broker or insurance representative before making a purchase.

You can also check our expat health insurance comparison for a side-by-side comparison of popular plans for expats in Malaysia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s take a look at some of the popular questions frequently asked about health insurance in Malaysia.

Can Foreigners Buy Health Insurance in Malaysia?

When it comes to private insurance, you can buy any plan you want. However, you should study the plan well before buying. 

You can buy local insurance in Malaysia as long as you are in the country for work or business, or if you’re a resident. You need an employment or business visa or proof of resident status to buy coverage from a local insurer.

These are standard questions. You may have to answer more specific foreigner-targeted questions, such as, “Why do you need a Malaysia class policy?”

If you’re an international student, you must buy local health insurance. Through your school, you can buy medical insurance offered by Education Malaysia Global Services.

EMGS works with three medical insurance companies:

• The Pacific Insurance
• Great Eastern Takaful
• Etiqa Family Takaful

All these insurance packages meet the coverage requirements set out by Malaysia’s Ministry of Education.

If you’re not a student, you can explore other health coverage plans. 

Malaysia also doesn’t have a voluntary public health insurance system like Mexico. The closest thing is social security, which is run by a government agency. The only way to get it is by working for a company in Malaysia. 

Do I Need Health Insurance if I Work for a Malaysian Company?

If you work for a Malaysian company, it’s generally better to look into expat insurance alongside your employment package, as your employer might only offer limited group medical insurance coverage.

You cannot rely solely on Social Security, as coverage is quite limited for expats.

You can find many of them throughout Malaysia since insurance companies are branching out into the country.

How Much Does Health Insurance in Malaysia Cost?

Determining the cost of international health insurance might not be the easiest task in the world, but it’s an important one. 

The price depends on your age, where you want to be covered, and how much of each bill you’re willing to pay yourself. Comprehensive international plans cost the most. Plans with a high deductible can cost a lot less. 

But hold your horses, there are influencers at play in the pricing game:

• Age: The more candles on your cake, the pricier it gets.
• Deductibles: A higher deductible might mean a friendlier price tag.
• Co-pays: Splash more cash with higher co-pays for a budget-friendly plan.
• Lifestyle: Living life on the edge or rocking a high-risk job could nudge that price up.
• Pre-existing conditions: Serious health history? Brace yourself for a potential price hike.

To crack the code and get the real digits, your best bet is to have a heart-to-heart with an insurance pro. They’ll weave all these factors together to craft a plan that suits your unique needs.

What is the Best Health Insurance Company in Malaysia? 

There’s no single best health insurance company in Malaysia, since each has different pros and cons. 

Selecting the right health insurance company in Malaysia is akin to finding the perfect match – individual preferences come into play. Each company boasts its own advantages and drawbacks.

Consider this scenario: a renowned insurance giant offering a comprehensive health plan and a streamlined claims process might come with a higher price tag. While you enjoy impeccable service and coverage, it might put a dent in your budget.

On the flip side, a more budget-friendly option may not extend coverage to private hospitals. Then there are those enticing cheap plans, but be cautious of high deductibles – they’re beneficial only in specific situations.

When navigating the landscape of health insurance providers, bear these two key factors in mind:

• Policy Scrutiny: Delve into the intricate details. What’s included? What’s excluded? What’s the financial commitment?
• Company Standing: Opt for a company with a reputable presence in Malaysia. Bonus points if they boast an extensive network of panel hospitals.

Feeling a bit perplexed? Fret not – engage in a conversation with a broker. They’re the experts in the realm of insurance and can provide a recommendation to ease the complexity of your decision-making.

Do I Need Health Insurance to Qualify for MM2H?

Yes, if you’re under 60. MM2H’s official checklists list health insurance among the documents you need to renew your pass or add a dependant, and holders aged 60 and over are exempt. The official pages don’t set a minimum coverage amount, so confirm the current rule on the MM2H portal or with a licensed agent.

What Happens if I Need Hospital Treatment in Malaysia Without Insurance?

You’ll be billed directly, and as a foreigner you’ll pay well above what a Malaysian citizen pays for the same treatment at a government hospital, on top of the 6% service tax if you’re treated privately. Public hospitals will still treat you in an emergency, but you’re responsible for the bill afterward, which is the main reason to carry insurance even if you rarely get sick.

Can I Complain to Bank Negara Malaysia if My Insurer Denies a Claim?

Yes. Bank Negara Malaysia regulates all licensed insurers and takaful operators, and you can file a complaint with them directly. You can also take the dispute to the Financial Markets Ombudsman Service (FMOS), a free, independent body that handles claims disputes up to RM250,000.

Will My Expat Health Insurance Cover a Pre-Existing Condition?

Usually not right away, and sometimes not at all. Most international and local plans either exclude pre-existing conditions outright or apply a waiting period before they’ll pay a claim related to one. Read the policy wording carefully and ask your broker to spell out the exclusions in plain language before you buy.

Can I Use PERKESO or FWHS if I’m Retired in Malaysia?

No. Both PERKESO and the Foreign Workers Hospitalization and Surgical Scheme require an active Malaysian employer. If you’re retired, on MM2H, or otherwise not employed locally, you need to arrange your own local or international health insurance instead.

Does the 6% Service Tax on Private Healthcare Apply to My Insurance Premium?

No, the 6% SST applies to the private healthcare bill itself, not to your insurance premium. If your insurer pays that bill directly on your behalf, the tax is baked into what the hospital charges your insurer, so you generally won’t see it as a separate line item.

Can Expats Buy the New MediAsas Plan?

Not yet. MediAsas is still in a pilot for staff of selected organisations in the Klang Valley. The national launch is planned for January 2027. BNM hasn’t said whether non-citizens will be able to buy it, so check with a broker once the launch details are out.

What’s the Best Health Insurance for Me?

Let’s ponder this: How frequently do you envision relying on your health insurance, and what amount of coverage would genuinely put your mind at ease? 

Whether it’s for unexpected costs or overall peace of mind, having health insurance is a thoughtful consideration for every expat in Malaysia.

If you’re finding it challenging to decide on the ideal insurance, a practical approach is to start by comparing quotes and get unbiased advice from Tenzing. They can assist you in selecting the plan that best meets your needs.

Insurance Guide in Other Countries

We also have our health insurance guide in other countries, including:

• Health Insurance in Thailand: What You Need to Know as an Expat
• How to Pick the Best Travel Insurance for Canada
• Health Insurance for Expats in China: What You Need to Know
• Health Insurance in Germany: What You Need to Know as an Expat
• Health Insurance in Malaysia for Expats: What You Need to Know
• Health Insurance in Vietnam: What You Need to Know as an Expat