By Zufazlin Baharuddin
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 (Bernama) — A assessment of the insurance coverage business’s efficiency in 2024 will undoubtedly have to incorporate the backlash confronted by the insurance coverage and takaful business after it introduced a steep hike in medical insurance coverage premiums.
The premium hike for medical insurance coverage stunned policyholders who’re already paying excessive month-to-month premiums and turning into involved about whether or not they can keep paying for his or her protection and the long-term sustainability of insurance coverage insurance policies.
For the rakyat, it’s now a battle to entry personal medical care with out well being or medical insurance coverage resulting from excessive expenses in addition to rising residing prices.
Many are questioning the choice of insurers and takaful operators (ITOs) to boost premiums, reportedly by 40 to 70 per cent, regardless of studies of robust earnings and constant income development from insurers and personal hospitals.
Moreover, personal hospitals have proven robust monetary efficiency, pushed by elevated demand for healthcare providers and rising medical prices.
To justify the upper premiums, the Life Insurance coverage Affiliation of Malaysia (LIAM), the Malaysian Takaful Affiliation (MTA), and the Normal Insurance coverage Affiliation of Malaysia (PIAM) mentioned the business skilled an unprecedented cumulative medical claims price inflation fee of 56 per cent from 2021 to 2023.
The surge in claims was attributed to numerous elements, such because the rising prices of medical remedies, superior healthcare applied sciences and elevated utilisation of healthcare providers, which have made premium repricing an unavoidable measure.
The problem additionally caught the eye of members of Parliament (MPs), who raised the matter within the Dewan Rakyat, prompting a closed-door briefing to all MPs on the medical insurance coverage premium hike.
On Dec 10, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim allayed public issues over the premium hikes when he mentioned that BNM and the Well being Ministry (MoH) will determine on a management mechanism to make sure premium hikes are affordable and don’t burden the individuals.
This was additional strengthened by Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan on the Dewan Negara when he mentioned that BNM will announce additional particulars on interim measures to deal with the rise in insurance coverage premiums quickly.
On Dec 13, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil mentioned the central financial institution wanted a little bit extra time earlier than making an announcement.
BNM broadcasts interim measures on MHIT premium changes
In the meantime, BNM introduced on Dec 20 that interim measures to assist handle the impression of medical and medical insurance and takaful (MHIT) premium changes, with ITOs to unfold out the adjustments in premiums over a minimal of three years for all policyholders affected by the repricing.
The central financial institution mentioned this measure will stay in place till the top of 2026.
“With this measure, no less than 80 per cent of policyholders are anticipated to expertise yearly premium changes, resulting from medical claims inflation, of lower than 10 per cent,” it mentioned.
BNM mentioned one other interim measure is for policyholders aged 60 and above who’re coated beneath the minimal premium/contribution plan of the MHIT product they bought.
It mentioned the measure would require ITOs to briefly pause premium changes for one yr from their coverage anniversary.
“Apart from, policyholders who’ve surrendered or whose MHIT insurance policies have lapsed in 2024 as a result of repricing can attain out to their ITOs to request a reinstatement of their insurance policies based mostly on the adjusted premium beneath this measure with out extra underwriting necessities.
“Additionally, all ITOs will present applicable different MHIT merchandise on the similar or decrease premiums for policyholders who don’t want to proceed their current MHIT plans which were repriced,” it mentioned.
Reviewing repricing methods
BNM had, earlier on Nov 28, directed ITOs to assessment their repricing methods for a extra affordable implementation, contemplating the impression on policyholders and individuals.
The ITOs are required to supply viable choices for coverage homeowners and takaful individuals who’re considerably impacted by the upper premiums or contributions to proceed having insurance coverage or takaful protection.
In the meantime, the Nationwide Affiliation of Malaysian Life Insurance coverage and Monetary Advisors (NAMLIFA) has strongly urged BNM and the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to briefly halt medical premium repricing workout routines.
Its president, Krishnan Appanu, steered that ITOs discover the opportunity of introducing staggered premium will increase with versatile fee plans that ease the burden on shoppers.
He mentioned that BNM, along with the MoF and MOH, is presently wanting into it and can subject strict tips to make sure that ITOs take a number of elements into consideration, akin to inflation.
Earlier this yr, BNM required ITOs to introduce a co-payment choice for his or her MHIT merchandise by Sept 1, 2024, aiming to supply extra sustainable and reasonably priced choices.
The brand new regulation has sparked some confusion among the many individuals, depicting the co-payment as obligatory, which could have an effect on current shoppers who’ve already bought full protection MHIT plans.
Nonetheless, BNM and business leaders are working to clear issues up, assuring the co-payment for MHIT merchandise is elective with decrease premiums and doesn’t have an effect on current shoppers.
BNM mentioned that the premium or contribution degree for MHIT merchandise with co-payment options is nineteen per cent to 68 per cent decrease in comparison with related merchandise with out co-payment options, relying on the extent of co-payment.
Total efficiency of life and normal insurance coverage, takaful business in 1H 2024
Within the Monetary Stability Assessment First Half 2024 launched by Financial institution Negara Malaysia (BNM), it was reported that the general profitability of life insurance coverage and household takaful funds has elevated to RM8.4 billion within the first half (1H) of 2024, as in contrast with RM6.0 billion in 1H 2023 and RM3.2 billion in 2H 2023, respectively.
“Total profitability of insurance coverage and takaful funds elevated on robust investments and improved underwriting efficiency,” BNM mentioned.
The central financial institution mentioned the sustained development in new enterprise premiums continued to assist the general profitability of life insurance coverage and household takaful funds, with new enterprise premiums increasing by 11 per cent in 1H 2024, led by medical and well being merchandise in addition to investment-linked merchandise.
In the meantime, working earnings had been broadly sustained in 1H 2024 at RM1.7 billion within the normal insurance coverage and takaful sector, in comparison with RM1.3 billion in 1H 2023.
“Underwriting efficiency was supported by sustained development in gross direct premium from the motor phase, stemming from larger automotive gross sales in tandem with beneficial financial situations and profitable new mannequin launches, together with electrical automobiles.
“This was regardless of larger provisions for motor claims (1H 2024: RM600 million; 2H 2023: RM300 million) commensurate with sturdy enterprise development, in addition to rising restore prices,” it mentioned.
BNM added that decrease claims from vital flood occasions in comparison with earlier years and sustained funding revenue additionally helped assist the working earnings of normal ITOs.
Sectorial outlook in 2025
The upper tax aid on medical insurance coverage, which was raised to RM4,000 beneath Funds 2025 from RM3,000 beforehand, will possible assist development within the insurance coverage business in 2025.
Nonetheless, BNM opined that uncertainty in monetary market situations will proceed to current a key draw back threat to ITOs’ earnings, given their sizeable exposures to bond and fairness investments.
“Additional losses from medical inflation might improve dangers of diminished entry to reasonably priced medical insurance coverage and takaful protection, leaving households probably extra susceptible to monetary shocks,” it mentioned.
Moreover, exposures to local weather occasions, notably floods, might see elevated volatility within the efficiency of normal ITOs, BNM added.
— BERNAMA
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