{"id":5151,"date":"2021-10-01T17:42:58","date_gmt":"2021-10-01T09:42:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bjak.com\/blog\/?p=5151"},"modified":"2026-02-03T17:25:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T09:25:11","slug":"the-importance-of-having-a-medical-card","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bjak.my\/blog\/life-and-medical-insurance\/the-importance-of-having-a-medical-card","title":{"rendered":"The importance of having a medical card"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>You may need just a little nudge before finally purchasing a medical card. You\u2019ve probably done your research and spoken to a number of insurance agents. But there\u2019s a little voice inside your head that keeps asking: <em>Do you really need a medical card? <\/em>We\u2019re going to share the importance of having a medical card so you can make up your mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_50 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Contents =<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\" role=\"button\"><label for=\"item-69d7507ba4919\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #999999;color:#999999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999999;color:#999999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><input  type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item-69d7507ba4919\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/bjak.my\/blog\/life-and-medical-insurance\/the-importance-of-having-a-medical-card\/#What_is_the_function_of_a_medical_card\" title=\"What is the function of a medical card?\">What is the function of a medical card?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/bjak.my\/blog\/life-and-medical-insurance\/the-importance-of-having-a-medical-card\/#How_does_a_medical_card_work_in_Malaysia\" title=\"How does a medical card work in Malaysia?\">How does a medical card work in Malaysia?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/bjak.my\/blog\/life-and-medical-insurance\/the-importance-of-having-a-medical-card\/#Why_is_having_a_medical_card_important\" title=\"Why is having a medical card important?\">Why is having a medical card important?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/bjak.my\/blog\/life-and-medical-insurance\/the-importance-of-having-a-medical-card\/#1_To_protect_your_savings\" title=\"1. To protect your savings\">1. To protect your savings<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/bjak.my\/blog\/life-and-medical-insurance\/the-importance-of-having-a-medical-card\/#Private_hospitals_vs_government_hospitals_in_Malaysia\" title=\"Private hospitals vs government hospitals in Malaysia\">Private hospitals vs government hospitals in Malaysia<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/bjak.my\/blog\/life-and-medical-insurance\/the-importance-of-having-a-medical-card\/#Cost_Breakdown_For_Medical_Procedures\" title=\"Cost Breakdown For Medical Procedures\">Cost Breakdown For Medical Procedures<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/bjak.my\/blog\/life-and-medical-insurance\/the-importance-of-having-a-medical-card\/#2_To_supplement_your_employment_medical_insurance\" title=\"2. To supplement your employment medical insurance\">2. To supplement your employment medical insurance<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/bjak.my\/blog\/life-and-medical-insurance\/the-importance-of-having-a-medical-card\/#Your_employment_medical_insurance_may_not_be_sufficient\" title=\"Your employment medical insurance may not be sufficient\">Your employment medical insurance may not be sufficient<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/bjak.my\/blog\/life-and-medical-insurance\/the-importance-of-having-a-medical-card\/#You_can_have_both_employment_medical_insurance_and_a_personal_medical_card\" title=\"You can have both employment medical insurance and a personal medical card\">You can have both employment medical insurance and a personal medical card<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/bjak.my\/blog\/life-and-medical-insurance\/the-importance-of-having-a-medical-card\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_function_of_a_medical_card\"><\/span>What is the function of a medical card?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-attachment-id=\"5158\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/bjak.my\/blog\/life-and-medical-insurance\/the-importance-of-having-a-medical-card\/attachment\/artur-tumasjan-qlzwvcqq-v8-unsplash-1\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bjak.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/artur-tumasjan-qLzWvcQq-V8-unsplash-1.jpg?fit=640%2C427&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"640,427\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"artur-tumasjan-qLzWvcQq-V8-unsplash-1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bjak.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/artur-tumasjan-qLzWvcQq-V8-unsplash-1.jpg?fit=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bjak.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/artur-tumasjan-qLzWvcQq-V8-unsplash-1.jpg?fit=640%2C427&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bjak.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/artur-tumasjan-qLzWvcQq-V8-unsplash-1.jpg?resize=640%2C427&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A medical card is important to pay for your hospital admissions, surgeries and medical treatments.\" class=\"wp-image-5158\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bjak.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/artur-tumasjan-qLzWvcQq-V8-unsplash-1.jpg?w=640&amp;ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bjak.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/artur-tumasjan-qLzWvcQq-V8-unsplash-1.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A medical card helps pay for your <strong>hospital admissions, surgeries, and medical treatments<\/strong>. In return for the premiums you pay, you can claim eligible medical costs according to your policy limits. In some cases, the annual coverage you get (e.g., RM2 million) can be <strong>hundreds of times more than what you pay in premiums<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read <a href=\"https:\/\/bjak.com\/blog\/things-you-need-to-know-about-medical-card\/\">this article<\/a> to learn more about medical cards. For useful tips to choose the best medical card, read <a href=\"https:\/\/bjak.com\/blog\/tips-to-choose-the-best-medical-card\/\">this article<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_does_a_medical_card_work_in_Malaysia\"><\/span>How does a medical card work in Malaysia?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-attachment-id=\"5160\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/bjak.my\/blog\/life-and-medical-insurance\/the-importance-of-having-a-medical-card\/attachment\/richard-catabay-05khy7aycp8-unsplash\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bjak.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/richard-catabay-05kHY7AYCp8-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C427&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"640,427\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"richard-catabay-05kHY7AYCp8-unsplash\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bjak.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/richard-catabay-05kHY7AYCp8-unsplash.jpg?fit=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bjak.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/richard-catabay-05kHY7AYCp8-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C427&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bjak.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/richard-catabay-05kHY7AYCp8-unsplash.jpg?resize=640%2C427&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bjak.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/richard-catabay-05kHY7AYCp8-unsplash.jpg?w=640&amp;ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bjak.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/richard-catabay-05kHY7AYCp8-unsplash.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Medical cards generally work in one of two ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Cashless<\/strong> \u2013 the insurer pays the hospital directly when you\u2019re admitted at a panel hospital.<br><\/li><li><strong>Reimbursement<\/strong> \u2013 you pay first and then claim back from your insurer.<br><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Cashless admission is especially helpful in emergencies, so you don\u2019t need to settle large bills first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you plan to get a reimbursement policy for your medical card, you can save <a href=\"https:\/\/bjak.com\/blog\/what-is-the-procedure-to-claim-medical-insurance\/\">this article<\/a> for your future reference. In that article, we simplified the steps for you to claim from your insurance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_having_a_medical_card_important\"><\/span>Why is having a medical card important?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on the function of a medical card, it\u2019s clear as day that a medical card is important to ensure that you receive the medical care you need, without worrying about the costs. But if you\u2019re on the fence, our following points shall further help you see the importance of having a medical card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_To_protect_your_savings\"><\/span>1. To protect your savings<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-attachment-id=\"5161\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/bjak.my\/blog\/life-and-medical-insurance\/the-importance-of-having-a-medical-card\/attachment\/visual-stories-micheile-sot4-mzhyhe-unsplash\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bjak.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/visual-stories-micheile-SoT4-mZhyhE-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C427&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"640,427\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"visual-stories-micheile-SoT4-mZhyhE-unsplash\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bjak.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/visual-stories-micheile-SoT4-mZhyhE-unsplash.jpg?fit=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bjak.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/visual-stories-micheile-SoT4-mZhyhE-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C427&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bjak.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/visual-stories-micheile-SoT4-mZhyhE-unsplash.jpg?resize=640%2C427&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5161\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bjak.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/visual-stories-micheile-SoT4-mZhyhE-unsplash.jpg?w=640&amp;ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bjak.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/visual-stories-micheile-SoT4-mZhyhE-unsplash.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Medical costs in Malaysia continue to rise, and serious treatments can be very expensive. Without insurance, even common procedures could eat into your savings \u2014 or derail long-term financial goals like buying a home or planning for retirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Private_hospitals_vs_government_hospitals_in_Malaysia\"><\/span>Private hospitals vs government hospitals in Malaysia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>You may also think that you don\u2019t really need a medical card because you can just go to government hospitals. For most of us, seeking treatments at government hospitals would be the most affordable option. It\u2019s a great option because our government hospitals are some of the world\u2019s best! In fact, based on the 2019 International Living Annual Global Retirement Index, Malaysia ranked first in the world\u2019s best healthcare category for its world-class healthcare services and sophisticated infrastructure. Besides, we can seek treatments at government hospitals without worrying too much about the costs as our public healthcare is heavily subsidized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>But the major downside is arguably having to be on a usually long waiting list. <\/strong>The question is: can you wait? Based on an online survey run by the Malay Mail in 2017, 26% out of 358 respondents cited excessive waiting hours in government clinics or hospitals as the reason for them stopping treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your medical condition needs immediate attention, how will you manage it? Imagine that there are 1,000 people also needing immediate attention, what are the odds of you getting the first attention? In some cases, your doctor may suggest you seek treatment at a private hospital. But even if you can afford to wait for your turn, you still have to fork out quite an amount of money for some procedures in a government hospital. To give you an idea of how much you can expect to pay, below are the charges by private and government hospitals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cost_Breakdown_For_Medical_Procedures\"><\/span>Cost Breakdown For Medical Procedures<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th> Treatment type <\/th><th> Government hospital\u2019s rate (RM) <\/th><th> Private hospital\u2019s rate (RM) <\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Spine surgery<\/td><td>15,000 &#8211; 36,000<\/td><td>40,000 &#8211; 55,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Knee replacement single bilateral<\/td><td>10,000 &#8211; 35,000<\/td><td>25,000 &#8211; 45,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hip replacement<\/td><td>8,000 &#8211; 15,000<\/td><td>24,000 &#8211; 55,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Stroke treatment<\/td><td>4,000 and above<\/td><td>35,000 &#8211; 75,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Coronary bypass<\/td><td>4,000<\/td><td>25,000 &#8211; 80,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Kidney stone<\/td><td>3,000 &#8211; 10,000 (depending on case complexity)<\/td><td>9,000 &#8211; 40,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Chemotherapy<\/td><td>200 per treatment<\/td><td>50 &#8211; 4,000 per cycle<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cataract<\/td><td>100 &#8211; 540<\/td><td>3,500 &#8211; 6,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Angiogram\/One stent angioplasty<\/td><td>50 &#8211; 200<\/td><td>15,000 &#8211; 45,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Dengue<\/td><td>Free<\/td><td>1,000 &#8211; 3,000<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption>Note: Prices displayed may vary according to healthcare providers, the severity of the medical condition and other additional costs (Source: Ringgit Plus)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking at the costs above, let\u2019s ask you this again: Will your savings still be enough for your future medical use?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t let medical bills wipe out your savings. Consider getting a medical card. For just a small amount of money every month, you can save your savings and have your medical needs taken care of.\u00a0Here\u2019s a broader view of <strong>typical benefits<\/strong> you could find in modern medical card plans in Malaysia (actual inclusions depend on the insurer and plan):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Benefit Category<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>What It Typically Covers<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Why It Matters<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Hospitalisation &amp; Surgery<\/strong><\/td><td>Room &amp; board, ICU, surgeon &amp; anaesthetist fees<\/td><td>Helps cover major hospital costs<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Pre-hospitalisation<\/strong><\/td><td>Consultations, diagnostics (e.g., blood tests)<\/td><td>Covers diagnostic costs before admission<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Post-hospitalisation<\/strong><\/td><td>Follow-ups, medication<\/td><td>Helps with recovery care costs after discharge<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Daycare\/Outpatient Procedures<\/strong><\/td><td>Chemotherapy, dialysis, cataract surgery<\/td><td>Covers treatments without overnight stay<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Cashless Panel Admission<\/strong><\/td><td>Insurer pays hospital directly<\/td><td>Reduces upfront payment burden<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Optional Benefits (Add-Ons)<\/strong><\/td><td>Maternity, overseas medical, daily cash allowance<\/td><td>Enhances overall protection based on needs<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_To_supplement_your_employment_medical_insurance\"><\/span>2. To supplement your employment medical insurance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-attachment-id=\"5162\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/bjak.my\/blog\/life-and-medical-insurance\/the-importance-of-having-a-medical-card\/attachment\/priscilla-du-preez-tanrp8p51ty-unsplash\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bjak.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/priscilla-du-preez-tAnrp8P51tY-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C427&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"640,427\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"priscilla-du-preez-tAnrp8P51tY-unsplash\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bjak.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/priscilla-du-preez-tAnrp8P51tY-unsplash.jpg?fit=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bjak.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/priscilla-du-preez-tAnrp8P51tY-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C427&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bjak.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/priscilla-du-preez-tAnrp8P51tY-unsplash.jpg?resize=640%2C427&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A medical card supplements your employment medical insurance\" class=\"wp-image-5162\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bjak.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/priscilla-du-preez-tAnrp8P51tY-unsplash.jpg?w=640&amp;ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bjak.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/priscilla-du-preez-tAnrp8P51tY-unsplash.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Employer medical coverage often has <strong>lower annual limits<\/strong> and is tied to your employment. A personal medical card can bridge that gap, providing broader benefits and higher limits when needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Your_employment_medical_insurance_may_not_be_sufficient\"><\/span>Your employment medical insurance may not be sufficient<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Usually, the annual limit of employment medical insurance is lower than that of a personal medical card. For instance, it is common for one to have RM1 million in annual limit with a personal medical card. In contrast, employment medical insurance can perhaps have at most RM300,000 an annual limit. You may not require up to RM1 million a year for your hospitalizations and treatments, but if you require more than what your employment medical insurance can cover, will you have enough to pay for the remaining costs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"You_can_have_both_employment_medical_insurance_and_a_personal_medical_card\"><\/span>You can have both employment medical insurance and a personal medical card<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>If you worry that your personal medical card will override your employment medical insurance, you can put your worry to rest. Neither insurance plan will override the other. In fact, they can work in tandem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<p>Illustration: Person A underwent knee replacement surgery. For her hospitalization, surgery and medication, she was charged RM50,000. As the annual limit of her employment medical insurance was RM40,000, she utilized her employment medical insurance first before covering the remaining RM10,000 with her personal medical card.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The illustration above shows that your personal medical card can step in to help you settle the costs when your employment medical insurance is fully utilized. Without a medical card, you will likely have to pay for your remaining medical bills out of your own pocket. You don\u2019t want that to happen, especially if it eats up your precious savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read <a href=\"https:\/\/bjak.com\/blog\/im-insured-by-my-employer-do-i-still-need-personal-medical-insurance\/\">this article <\/a>to know more about why you still need a personal medical card even when you&#8217;re insured by your employer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A medical card is more than just an insurance policy \u2014 it\u2019s a <strong>financial safety net<\/strong> that protects your health and wealth. With rising healthcare costs and unpredictable medical needs, having a medical card ensures you can access quality medical care without worrying about how you\u2019ll pay for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want tailored advice on choosing the right medical card for your situation, BJAK\u2019s insurance experts can help you make an informed decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-container-1 wp-block-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-neve-link-color-background-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/bjak.my\/ms\/life?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=&amp;utm_campaign=the-importance-of-having-a-medical-card\">Get Your Free Quotation<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Is medical card necessary?<\/p>\n<p>We explain in this article the importance of having a medical card and why you should have one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","spay_email":""},"categories":[359],"tags":[59,141,322,143],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v18.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The importance of having a medical card | BJAK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Is medical card necessary in Malaysia? 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