KUCHING: Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia has urged all healthcare insurance stakeholders with the help of the Life Insurance Association of Malaysia LIAM and General Insurance Association of Malaysia PIAM to reconsider the restrictive claim benefits for their clients with COVID-19.
Its president Datuk Kuljit Singh said the current daily numbers of COVID-19 are below 5,000 per day and the national infectivity rate or Rt value is 0.70.
He said the percentage of patients in ICU receiving critical care treatment for COVID-19 has also reduced significantly and with the high numbers of vaccinated population complete with boosters will prevent admission into ICU. This will bring the risk of high claims to a minimal amount.
“We are of the view that all patients with medical cards should be treated like normal patients as per pre-pandemic even though tested positive for COVID-19,” he said in a statement today.
However, he said, medical opinions will be required whether to proceed with certain procedures and treatment while infected with the virus.
Kuljit said there are cases which may require urgent treatment despite of COVID-19 infection but certain insurance policies will deny a guarantee letter in a private hospital hence these patients may have to be transferred to a government facility.
Although the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia has been in communication with Life Insurance Association of Malaysia LIAM and General Insurance Association of Malaysia PIAM, the final decision on the policy is with the insurance companies, he said.
He also said the recent announcement on removal of testing before arriving as a tourist or returning Malaysian to the country is well received as this will further ease medical tourism to travel to our hospitals.
“However, private hospitals will exercise relevant tests on the patients before any admission or surgery.
Most private hospitals will continue their own internal standard operating procedures in managing patients with COVID-19 and practice safe practices to avoid the spread amongst patients and healthcare workers,” he said.
