PEACE OF MIND FOR WORKERS
GOOD news for private sector employees and civil servants. The Employment Insurance Scheme will provide a fallback for laid-off private sector employees. The scheme, which will kick off on Jan 1, will benefit 6.5 million people. Meanwhile, the government will set aside an extra RM5 million for the CuepacsCare4u civil servants’ insurance scheme in view of the rising cost of healthcare.
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will allocate an additional RM5 million to the CuepacsCare4u civil servants insurance scheme this year.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in announcing this yesterday, said this was in view of the increasing cost of healthcare services in the country.
“There have been suggestions to increase the contribution rate for CuepacsCare4u due to the rising cost of healthcare services.
“I would like to announce that the government will be providing an additional RM5 million to the scheme so, hopefully, there will be no increase in the contribution rate.
“(But) if the rate must increase, I hope it will be minimal,” he said, adding that he was leaving the matter to be discussed between the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) and Sun Life Malaysia.
Najib said this at the “Budi Disemai, Jasa Disanjung” Cuepacs appreciation event here yesterday.
Present were International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, his deputy Datuk Ahmad Maslan, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa and Cuepacs president Datuk Azih Muda.
Najib said CuepacsCare4u could provide an alternative for civil servants to seek treatment at private healthcare institutions instead of government hospitals and clinics.
“If all (civil servants) head to government hospitals, there will be increased pressure on the (public) healthcare services, and an increase in the government’s budget (to cover the costs).”
He said the government spent RM22 billion a year on healthcare services, whereas the government collected only between RM400 and RM500 million a year from patients.
The insurance scheme was designed specifically for civil servants and their families to seek hospital and surgical treatments in private hospitals.
It offers two insurance plans — protection for families with a monthly contribution of RM85, and individual protection at RM32 a month.
Cuepacs president Datuk Azih Muda said the announcement made by Najib to provide RM5 million to the scheme was well received by civil servants as private healthcare costs had increased about 15 per cent yearly.
He said since it was launched in 1999, CuepacsCare4u had reimbursed healthcare insurance claims worth RM210 million to 73,332 beneficiaries and their family members.
“We hope each civil servant will have insurance coverage and I hope the rate will remain affordable.
“On the new pricing, we will have to negotiate with Sun Life Malaysia to determine this year’s (insurance) price.”