The MySalam scheme, a free insurance programme for the B40 community, will be expanded to cover more diseases as well as older patients.

This was announced by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng when tabling the Budget 2020 in the Dewan Rakyat today.

At present, the MySalam insurance scheme covers 36 critical illness and only patients up to the age of 55.

Under the expansion beginning Jan 1, 2020, Lim said the free insurance scheme would cover 45 critical illnesses, including polio.

Furthermore, the scheme would cover patients up to the age of 65.

Those who qualify and diagnosed with a critical illness would receive a one-off RM8,000 payment as well as an RM50 daily payment up to 14 days if they are hospitalised.

Lim also announced that the MySalam scheme would be expanded beyond the B40 group, albeit at a lower payout.

He said individuals who are not in the B40 group but earned less than an annual gross income of RM100,000 will receive a RM4,000 payout if they are diagnosed with a critical illness at a public hospital.

This is half of what B40 patients would get.

Likewise, he said these group of patients would qualify for the RM50 daily hospitalisation payment for up to 14 days.

Lim also announced the Skim Peduli Kesihatan (Peka B40), aimed at providing checkups and early intervention for non-infectious diseases such as mental health and cancer to those aged between 50 and 60 years old, would be expanded to those aged 40 and onwards.