Government asked to review the health insurance of foreign workers
KUALA LUMPUR, 1st Dec 2010- The government asked to review the direction of requiring all foreign workers in this country have health insurance starting next year because it only benefits the insurance company.
Association of Suppliers of Business and Management Malaysia (Tekam) Baharom Datuk Abdul Ghani said the maximum premium of RM120 per year involving two million foreign workers in the country, insurance companies would collect about $ 240 million a year.
"If you checked the obvious, the insurance company will earn profits on the wind exceeds 90 percent," he said in a statement here today.
He was commenting on a statement Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai recently that all foreign workers in this country, except for domestic maids, must obtain health insurance from Jan 1 next.
Liow said the move was under review to ensure that unpaid hospital bill which now stands at RM18 million, would not burden the government.
More Mengula, Baharom said the insurance coverage under the Foreign Workers Compensation Scheme has been implemented, are sufficient to ensure the needs of foreign workers because it includes medical coverage and payment of compensation to employees and the loss of life.
"Foreign workers are now required to get insurance cover under the scheme aims to defray the cost of medical treatment and compensation costs and loss of life with a premium of RM75," he said.
He said in addition, foreign workers are also subject to coverage and a premium of RM50 if it ran out of working with employers to set.
Baharom under present circumstances, unpaid hospital bill borne by the government is likely due to two million illegal immigrants in this country who fail to pay the cost of treatment at the hospital.
"The ministry should find out the actual status of all patients who seek treatment at government hospitals and take appropriate action when patients are illegal immigrants," he said. - Bernama
Source: www.themalaysianinsider.com
