Health insurance is compulsory for foreign workers from Jan 1

Updated: Thursday November 25, 2010 MYT 2:10:09 PM

Health insurance compulsory for foreign workers from Jan 1 (Updated)

By MAZWIN NIK ANIS

PUTRAJAYA: All foreign workers employed in Malaysia must be covered by medical insurance, in a Government ruling which will take effect on Jan 1 next year.

In announcing this, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said each worker must have a medical insurance coverage with an annual premium of RM120.

Liow said the move was to ensure foreign workers' medical bills were taken care of and would not burden the Government, adding that to date, RM18mil was owed by foreigners seeking treatment at government hospitals.

"The Government has incurred costs because some foreigners who sought treatment at (government) hospitals left without settling their bills or were only able to make partial payment.

"Now that they have medical insurance coverage, we hope this problem can be overcome," he told reporters after opening the ministry's management conference at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here Thursday.

Liow said employers hiring new foreign workers would have to enclose a copy of the medical insurance for their prospective employees when applying for a work permit.

For existing foreign workers, employers would have to submit a copy of the insurance policy when renewing their work permit, Liow said.

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                                     每年2亿保费进账 17公司承办外劳医保

2011/01/07 5:54:15 PM

●南洋商报

（吉隆坡7日讯）卫生部长拿督斯里廖中莱今日宣布，政府已委任17家保险公司为在国内工作的外劳，提供住院及手术医疗保单（外劳医保）。

他说，在本月1日实施的强制外劳医保制度下，所有外劳都必须投保提供1万令吉保额年费120令吉的医保计划。除了园丘业外劳及女佣保费由雇主负责外，其他领域由个别外劳负责购买。

不投保拒更新准证

廖中莱周五发表文告指出，在国内工作的外劳必须在3个月内投保，否则，将不获更新工作准证。

这项新措施预料能为国内保险业者带来每年逾2亿令吉的保费收入。我国目前估计有约180万名合法外劳，其中30万名是女佣及35万园丘外劳。

雇主为欲聘请的外劳申请临时签证（VDR）时，提呈予移民局的申请表格必须附上医保正本和外劳医保制度发出的验证单。

“先为外劳付还保费的雇主，必须向半岛人力局总监申请从外劳薪资中扣除保费。”

外劳医保制度不涉及现金，已投保的外劳在住进卫生部的医院时，不需要付任何按柜金或提供保险公司的保证信。

入院只需出示护照

外劳只需在医院的登记柜台出示护照登记及鉴定手续即可。

廖中莱说，那些被发现尚拖欠政府医院医疗费用的外劳，外劳本身或其雇主必须清还有关账单，否则外劳的工作准证将不予更新，雇主即被移民局列入黑名单，再也无法雇用外劳。

政府实行强制外劳医保制度，主要是克服多年来，外劳所拖欠政府医药费，减轻政府负担。国内目前估计有300万名外劳，只有180万名属合法工作者，过去5年来，外劳欠下政府医药费约6400万令吉。

园丘及女佣雇主反对

不过，许多各领域雇主，尤其是园丘业及女佣雇主，以及中介都坚决反对这项制度，认为它将加重负担。也因外劳人数庞大，每人每年虽只需120令吉，但须支出约2亿1600万令吉保费。

17家保险公司名单

17家保险公司同意提供外劳住院及手术医疗保单，当中只有11家保险公司是于本月1日提供保单，它们是：

1. AXA Affin General Insurance Berhad

2. Berjaya Sompo Insurance Berhad

3. Jerneh Insurance Berhad

4. Kurnia Insurans (Malaysia) Berhad

5. Lonpac Insurance Berhad

6. Malaysian Assurance Alliance Berhad

7. MUI Continental Insurance Berhad

8. Progressive Insurance Berhad

9. RHB Insurance Berhad

10. The Pacific Insurance Berhad

11. Tokio Marine Insurance (Malaysia) Berhad.

4家将于今年2月1日提供外劳住院及手术医疗保单的保险公司为：

1. Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Berhad

2. QBE Insurance (Malaysia) Berhad

3. Overseas Assurance Corporation (M) Berhad

4. Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Berhad.

2家将于今年2月15日提供外劳住院及手术医疗保单的保险公司为：

1. Oriental Capital Assurance Berhad

2. Takaful Ikhlas Sdn Bhd