PETALING JAYA: The Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (Liam) and its member companies have extended additional relief measures for affected policyholders to Dec 31, 2020 following the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
The additional relief measures come in a form of financial assistance amongst others include cash benefits, hospitalisation allowance and lump-sum death/compassionate benefits.
Examples of the additional benefits offered by the life insurers are:
i. An insurer offers products which entitled policyholders to enjoy six months premium relief of up to RM3,000 due to retrenchment (policy to be in force at least 12 months prior to retrenchment).
ii. Six life insurers have pledged RM1 million each as part of their financial assistance and support programme for customers affected by Covid-19.
iii. Four life insurers offer special death benefit payment ranging from RM5,000 - RM15,000 to frontline medical workers.
iv. Cash relief ranging from RM1,000 – RM5,000 for customers who are diagnosed with Covid-19.
v. Cash benefits/allowance for hospitalisation ranging from RM60 - RM250 per day and up to 30 days of hospitalisation.
vi. Special lump-sum death/compassionate benefits ranging from RM5,000 - RM20,000 upon the death of the insured.
Liam president Loh Guat Lan (pix) said the additional relief measures are some of the immediate initiatives implemented by the various LIAM member companies to alleviate the hardships faced by the policyholders and their family members.
In support of the government’s measures to assist the rakyat in coping with the pandemic, Liam and its member companies have come together in solidarity to implement various relief measures to assist policyholders who are affected by the pandemic and to ensure that they are able to continue with their livelihoods.
“We would like to advise affected policyholders to contact their insurance companies to find out on the additional benefits that they are eligible to claim and to check on the terms and conditions of their health insurance policy,” Loh added.
Liam and MTA have also granted a 90 days deferment period/no-lapse guarantee for three months for policyholders who are impacted by this pandemic. During this period, insurance and takaful companies will continue to provide insurance protection to affected policyholders if they are not able to pay for their premiums. Affected policyholders must apply to their insurance companies to get approval before they can benefit from this relief measure. This option is available from April 1, 2020 until Dec 31, 2020.
Policyholders who are qualified for this relief include those who are Covid-19 positive patients, those who are home quarantined (mandatory) or suffered a loss of income.
“We also extend to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which have suffered a loss of income due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Examples of events that lead to such loss of income include retrenchment, shorter working hours and salary or commission reductions for individuals; and loss of business income for self-employed and SMEs.”
According to Loh, policyholders affected by Covid-19 need to submit their applications to their insurance company for the deferment of payment of life insurance premiums. As of to date, over one million policyholders have been granted the premium deferment relief, involving a total of over RM1.6 billion premium payment.
Insurance companies will continue to provide other forms of support to help policyholders to keep their policies in force. Some of these may include a restructuring of policy features, such a lowering the sum assured or temporarily shortening the policy duration, so that policyholders can keep their insurance protection.
