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ELIGIBLE small and medium enterprise (SME) workers will receive government subsidies for MediAsas medical insurance and takaful premiums when the scheme is rolled out nationwide in January 2027.
Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong told the Dewan Rakyat today that the initiative is aimed at expanding medical protection among workers who have limited or no existing medical and health insurance and takaful (MHIT) coverage, as the government seeks to address rising private healthcare costs.
Liew said the MediAsas plan remained on track for nationwide implementation by the end of January 2027, following encouraging initial feedback from its pilot programme.
In a written parliamentary reply to Datuk Dr Alias Razak (PN-Kuala Nerus), the deputy minister said the pilot, which began in late July 2026, was being conducted on a controlled basis in the Klang Valley to assess operational readiness and consumer acceptance.
The exercise involved insurance and takaful operators, private hospitals and various consumer groups, including government agencies, government-linked companies (GLCs), government-linked investment companies (GLICs), SMEs and gig workers.
He said stakeholder engagement sessions were continuing to identify consumer needs and concerns, with feedback and findings from the pilot being used to refine the scheme ahead of its national rollout.
MediAsas forms part of the government's RESET strategy to improve access to affordable and sustainable medical insurance and takaful protection, while providing a platform for broader measures to tackle escalating private healthcare costs.
Liew added the nationwide implementation remained targeted for January 2027, with further refinements guided by the pilot programme and stakeholder feedback. - November 11, 2026
