You may think insurance is not worth it. You may think insurance will be a waste of money if you end up not using it. But can you tell whether you need medical care in the future? And when you need it, would you have enough to pay for your medical needs?
The reality is insurance protects your health and finance. Medical insurance helps in covering your hospitalization and treatment costs so you don’t have to worry about the rising medical costs. Critical illness insurance provides a lump-sum payout so you can focus on your recovery. Life insurance provides a lump-sum payout to you or your beneficiaries in the event of your total permanent disability or death.
Still think insurance is not worth it? We’ve put together three stories of three Malaysians that’ll change your mind.
Erneelya Elyana Emrizal (Elyana), 34, diagnosed with stage 2 lymphoma cancer at age 24
Who would have thought you could get cancer in your 20s?
Actress and singer Elyana found out she had stage 2 lymphoma cancer when she was only 24. Lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, develops when white blood cells called lymphocytes grow out of control.
Famous for her leading role in “Dunia Baru” and catchy song “Kalis Rindu”, Elyana revealed in 2017 that she had been living with lymphoma cancer since 2012.
In an interview with The Straits Times (ST) in 2018, Elyana opened up to ST that her doctor told her she would have only a year to live if she didn’t start on chemotherapy immediately. She went through the painful chemotherapy and was grateful that she surpassed her doctor’s expectations.
Elyana told ST that after the revelation of her health condition, offers to help poured in. Some of her fans wanted to give her money and one even wanted to take her to China for treatment. The generous offers deeply touched her, but she had to decline the offers as her insurance was already helping her cover her medical expenses.
Still battling lymphoma cancer now in stage 4, Elyana recently shared through her Instagram live video that her hospitalization and medical bills for four days came to a total of RM22,244.65. She advised her video viewers to get insured, recounting her own experience, benefiting from her insurance.
Mohd Nasir Hamzah (Achey), 35, involved in an accident that fractured his right arm and broke his left arm
Accidents happen, even when we’re most careful.
Recently, comedian and celebrity Achey whose group “Bocey” won third place in Maharaja Lawak Mega 2013, fractured his right arm and broke his left arm when his motorcycle lost control on his way to collect durian for his business.
In an interview with Harian Metro, Achey said that he rode his motorcycle carefully but as luck would have it, his motorcycle lost control causing him to fall, injuring both arms.
Achey received his treatment at a private hospital in Batu Pahat, Johor. Through his Instagram live video, he advised his viewers to get insured, saying he was grateful that his insurance covered his hospitalization and medical bills which amounted to RM25,000.
“Saya bukan nak promote…tapi ada insurans. Semurah-murah insurans, ambil.”
“I’m not promoting insurance but make sure that you have one that you can afford,” Achey said in his video.
Nur Zarifah Syahirah Zainudin (Zarifah), 19, diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension at age 14
A serious illness knows no age.
An active teenager who enjoyed sports and often took part in running and cycling, Zarifah had to put her interests on hold when she learned she had pulmonary hypertension at only 14. Pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart.
In an interview with Harian Metro in 2019, Zarifah said her family had been the biggest supporters in her treatment journey. Without the treatment, her health could have worsened.
Zarifah told she has to consume five types of medicine to treat pulmonary hypertension which easily amounts to tens of thousands of Ringgit a month. Fortunately, her insurance covered her medical bills thanks to her parents for getting her insured.
Every month, Zarifah also has to undergo an echocardiogram, electrocardiogram (ECG) and angiogram at Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) for monitoring.
Dr Leong Ming Chern, Paediatric Cardiology and Senior Consultant Cardiologist at IJN told Harian Metro that to date there’s no cure for pulmonary hypertension, thus patients have to bear the treatment cost for the rest of their lives, which is why early diagnosis and intervention are important.
The stories of Elyana, Achey and Zarifah show that an illness or accident can happen to any of us anytime
When an illness or accident afflicted them, their insurance helped cover their medical needs.
If you were in their shoes, how would you pay for your medical bills?
Prepare yourself ahead of time by getting insured today. Our insurance experts at Bjak are here to help you find the plan you need.
(Sources: Acheykintangkintung’s Instagram, Elyanaofficial1’s Instagram, Harian Metro (Achey’s story), Harian Metro (Zarifah’s story), Lymphoma Action, Mayo Clinic, The Straits Times, Utusan Malaysia, Xtra)
