Kuala Lumpur, Wednesday, 13 May 2020 – In addressing the needs of the policyholders/certificate holders and to protect the healthcare front liners from the risk of COVID-19 infection, the Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM), Persatuan Insurans Am Malaysia (PIAM) and the Malaysian Takaful Association (MTA) have broadened the eligibility criteria of the RM8 Million COVID-19 Test Fund (CTF) to include COVID-19 tests required for hospital admission for emergency and semi emergency surgeries.

The definition for eligible emergency and semi emergency cases will be based on the following:

i. Emergency means a situation where a patient requires immediate and life-saving intervention;

ii. Semi-Emergency means a high-risk patient whose condition could easily deteriorate or who presents with symptoms of a condition requiring time-sensitive treatment.

Speaking on opening the eligibility to include emergency and semi emergency cases, LIAM President, Ms Loh Guat Lan said that the industry’s priority now is to ensure that all affected policyholders/certificate holders do their tests and healthcare front liners are protected from the risk of infection.

“The new eligibility will also provide a peace of mind for policyholders to undergo any emergency or semi emergency procedures at the hospitals. The industry is also veryhappy to announce that many hospitals have now agreed to fix the cost of the COVID-19 Test to RM300 per test for emergency hospital admissions.This is a big relief to the patients,” added Ms Loh.

PIAM Chairman Antony Lee added that for doctors and health workers at the hospitals who are on the front lines of this battle against the virus every effort must be taken to protect and safeguard them. This broadening of the fund eligibility by the insurance industry is a small contribution to that effort.

MTA Chairman, Muhammad Fikri Mohamad Rawi said “It is our hope that more people will undergo the test and to reduce likelihood of the virus exposure.”

Policyholders/certificate holders with medical and health insurance are now entitled for reimbursement of up to RM300 from the CTF if they are required to undergo the COVID-19 screening before their emergency or semi-emergency surgeries.

This will apply to emergency and semi-emergency surgeries conducted from 27 March 2020 to 30 June 2020 or earlier, if the fund is fully utilised.

Enclosed is the latest Frequently Asked Questions on CTF.

For further information on the CTF, kindly visit www.MyCTF.my or call MyCTF Hotline number at 15500 / 1-300-22-11-88.