What Sort of Medical Insurance

[scott]

hi,

When you go to collect your visa you need to show proof of medical insurance for Malaysia. There is no criteria from Tourism or Immigration about amount or type of coverage so you can decide for yourself based on what you feel is necessary.

You need to give immigration a "certified true copy" of the insurance policy. This "certifying" can be done by the insurance company.

If you've already got health insurance in your home country check that it covers Malaysia, and, if so, then you can choose to use that. You just need a "certified true copy" of the current policy. A letter from the insurance company confirming Malaysian coverage wouldn't be a bad idea either.

To get health insurance in Malaysia for Malaysia only is no big problem. The only irritant is that insurance companies are familiar with providing insurance as part of an employment package so you may have to shop around to find a company that doesn't link insurance and employment.

The cheapest policy that I found was from AIG in Jalan Ampang in KL. It's called "Ringgit Net" and what I liked was that within 1 hour of walking into AIG offices I had the policy in my hand, together with a certified true copy. It meant that I was able to go straight to Immigration to collect the visa. The whole thing was done in less that an afternoon. Part of this was that the guy I dealt with at AIG knew about my2home and was on the ball. I'll put his contact information on the links board. This is not a recommendation, it's just a bit of help. After all, maybe the day I went there was his only "good" day that year.

regards,
Scott

[rainbow]

Hi Scott, good to see your site up & running............must have taken a lot of time & effort......well done m8.
To get back to this post, we are flying over to KL, will arrive on Wed next week, so Thurs off to hopefully take our medical & then over to AIG where you suggested for the Med Insurance. Next stop to sort out bank account, then on to hopefully have our passports stamped with the MM2H visa. Job done (I think)
Only part i'm not sure off is where do we go for the medical ?  We have emailed the MM2H office quoting our application number last week asking this question, but no answer. We have emailed again today asking for appointment on the Fri to show them our paperwork for the visa stamp hope they answer this time as we leave UK on Tues.
By the way thanks for your previous advice on the other site, always helpful advice.
John.

[scott]

hi, John

Really good to hear that you'll be coming over next week. You can get the medical at any clinic in KL. I'm not familiar with KL so can't be specific. I suggest that you go to AIG (the email for the guy that I dealt with is richard_ohh@yahoo.com.sg) and ask them to suggest a nearby clinic. They can phone for you and they can make sure that it's the RM30-RM50 simple medical form. Of course, sometimes urgency takes precedence over costs.

I'm only giving the name of this guy in order to assist as you'll be here soon (his handphone is 019-2252663, and office 03-20562038)). I haven't spoken with the guy for more than a year so let's hope he is still there (if you contact him, please just say you got his name from a website, rather than use my name)

He was helpful and he knows about my2home and the Ringgit Net policy, and the need for a "certified true copy."  I took out the Plan 1 (cheapest) option for coverage of up to RM50,000. I paid cash.

The Plan 1, Ringgit Net policy in March 2006 costs:
30-34     400
35-39     420
40-44     475
45-49     545
50-54     650
55-59     770
60-64     800

There's a RM10 stamp fee. The policy is guaranteed renewal without any linkage to investments or life/term insurance.

AIG in Jalan Ampang is pretty central, and taxi drivers know the street, if not the exact building which has a large Wisma AIG (Menara AIA) sign. If you want to get an early look at the building, plus map, click below:

See Building Images

Please remember that Friday's prayers usually mean an extended lunch hour, till at least 2.45pm.

regards,
Scott

[rainbow]

Hi Scott, thanks for all your info, great help thanks. Got your email as well. Just got back from AIG with all the paperwork & certified copies, just as you said.
Went for medical yesterday cost RM80 each for me & wife so wasn't going to haggle over that cost, as this clinic was only one out of 3 we tried that had the right forms for the basic medical. ADVICE: download & take with you, saves time.

Also set up FD with HSBC in KL but only hold up was our our end in UK had given us a bankers draft cheque to bring with us. THIS TAKES 48 HRS TO CLEAR, we should have had a wire transfer sent here before we arrived, then it would have been set up ready for when we got here. as we are off to Langkawi in the morning (Sat) we will have to come back to KL (£20 flight, oh dear never mind) next week to collect proof from the bank & then go to Putrajaya with all the remaining paperwork for the stamp. Then hopefully we can consentrate on finding our home.

Scott, my post's on here will be sporadic for the next 3 weeks or so as & when i can get a conection on laptop........just to let you know i will be trying to also get a holiday while i am here (hopefully)......thanks again for your help.
John.

[scott]

That's great John, and good news that everything is working out well. Have a relaxing holiday.

I don't think that much will happen with the site until it's listed on Google, or better known, so I using the time to slowly fill-in information on various subjects, and to learn the mechanics of the forum. It's fun.

regards, Scott

[Brian]

Hi Scott,

Thanks for the tip about Richard Oh. Contacted him yesterday and he got back to me the same day. He quoted RM1000 for me and RM950 for my wife for RM150,000 each cover.  I imagine that this is OK.

Cheers

Brian

[scott]

hi, Brian,

I've got the Ringgit Net brochure in front of me, although my copy is 2 years old. It's says here that for Plan 3 (RM150,000 cover) it's RM990 + RM10 stamp duty for a 55 - 59 year old male, and RM935 + RM10 stamp duty for female.

regards, Scott

[Jumping Jack]

Scott

Could you list the premiums for older age groups as well on option 3

Thanks

JJ

[scott]

hi, JJ,

The brochure that I've got only goes up to 60 to 64 years old. The rates for this age range for Plan 3 (RM150,000) are RM1290 for men, and RM1217 for women.

The nice thing about this Ringgit Net policy is that it says one of the benefits is Level Entry Premium - your premium remains the same as your age increases.

regards, Scott

[Qjumper]

Information about cover:

Pru senior Med:

http://www2.prudential.com.my/index.php?fuseaction=main.page&menu_id=189

Kurnia Medi Guard Senior:

http://www.kurnia.com.my/medical/healthPlans/html/mediguardSenior.asp

It's all good stuff

[Jumping Jack]

The nice thing about this Ringgit Net policy is that it says one of the benefits is Level Entry Premium - your premium remains the same as your age increases.

regards, Scott

ha ha - great that means I do not need older prices as I thought that it would increase year on year

One again thanks for your time and trouble

Cheers

JJ

[Qjumper]

Just a bit of info for all,

Kurnia mailed me to say that they couldnt insure people over 60 or with diabetes. This conflicts with their website where they offer a Senior Mediguard policy.

They do however provide these policies

MediGuard: plan RA, RB, R1 or R2

MediGuard Express: plan EA, EB, E1or E2

Presumably they want and healthy people under the age of 30. The tone of their email was pretty arrogant and I would definitely avoid them even if I was young and healthy.

I couldn't find info about Ringgit Net , does anyone know which company provides it?

[scott]

hi, Qjumper,

Ringgit Net is from AIG SE Asia in Jalan Ampang, KL. It's part of the American Home Insurance Company.

There's a contact in Post #2 above.

I used this company on recommendation. And because they were cheapest, and I was on my way to collect the mm2h visa so there was a bit of urgency about it all. Since then I've let the policy lapse. I have no information on their performance or other details.

I did try several insurance agents locally in Perak but got nowhere because it was Catch 22. They all wanted me to be employed, and they wouldn't quote for being retired.

regards, Scott

[BB]

If anyone's interested I can give you my insurance agent's (Mr Lim) tel #
He's with AIA in Taiping (Kemunting).
You must wonder since I'm in Penang, why an agent in Taiping.
When we came here to apply for MM2H we needed med ins. Not knowing any a local friend recommended Prudential and we started a yr with them (PruLink). It was very expensive (Rm16,000/yr incl compulsory heavy weighted life ins) as they wouldn't give us the regular one that the locals qualify for.
By the end of the first year another local gave us Mr Lim's contact. In the meantime I looked into others even had them over to talk over the packages they offered.
Eventually took it up with Mr Lim of AIA in Taiping who came all the way to talk with us.
The other day about a week after my surgery he called me to see how I was doing as he received a direct mail from AIA headquarter reporting to him my hospitalization. He's already set a date to come over for a visit.
My ins with AIA is a guaranteed 5 yrly renewable until age 70 and has a very low life ins component. Being a spousal package the premium goes according to the younger of the two which is good as it'd cover my husband till he's 75.

[Qjumper]

Hi BB & Scott,

Thanks for the info. I shall be contacting Mr Lim & Richard Oh before we travel to Malaysia so we can be ahead of the game.

It's bit of a worry that all the other companies proved either to be expensive or difficult. I hope AIG can deal with the Diabetes condition. In the UK insurance companies rub their hands with glee when they hear of a pre-existing condition as they can exlude lots of claims.

Kurnia basically said "bog off" we are not interested and not very politely.

Has BB got a contact for Mr Lim?

Bob