Refugee Medical Insurance (REMEDI) FAQ

Should all individuals registered with UNHCR buy medical insurance?

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All individuals registered with UNHCR aged from 18 to 60 years old are strongly encouraged to buy the medical insurance.

What are the documents needed to purchase the medical insurance?

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You only need to have an unexpired UNHCR document and RM183.60. Refugees and asylum-seekers who have lost their UNHCR card and have been given a Certified True Copy of the card can also purchase the insurance.

Do I need a community card to buy insurance?

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No, you don’t need a community card.

I am a refugee, and my husband was just admitted to hospital because he was seriously injured – should I go and purchase this insurance to cover his hospital bill?

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No, we don’t pay if the commencement of coverage is after the Insured Person’s event. In general, medical insurance is meant to provide protection for illnesses and injuries that occur in the future, not illnesses and injuries that have already occurred. There is a 30 days waiting period after the date of inception of the policy before you can enjoy the insurance coverage.

Insurance works by collecting a modest contribution from everyone, so that when a person has to be hospitalized, this money is used to cover the high cost of hospitalization. As nobody knows in advance who will need to be hospitalized, all refugees and asylum-seekers should purchase insurance.

What does ‘pre-existing illnesses’ mean?

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‘Pre-existing illness’ means an illness you already had or been suffering from before you enrolled into REMEDI. You may be considered to have reasonable knowledge of a pre-existing illness if:

• You have received or you are receiving treatment;
• Medical advice, diagnosis, care or treatment has been recommended;
• Clear symptoms are evident;
• Its existence would have been clear to a reasonable person in the circumstances.

What does ‘specified illnesses’ mean?

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‘Specified illnesses’ means the following disabilities and its related complications, occurring within the first 120 days of the insurance:

• Cardiovascular disease
• All cancers

In other words, you cannot make a claim for the above two conditions within the first 120 days after you buy the insurance.

On the leaflet, it says “some conditions are excluded from this insurance.” What does this mean?

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Exclusions are medical conditions/treatments that are not covered by insurance. Even if the patient has insurance, they need to pay for hospitalization due to these conditions on their own. Please refer to the ‘What is not covered under REMEDI?’ section for the full list.

What does ‘inpatient’ and ‘outpatient’ treatment mean?

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• Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient care is care provided in a hospital or other type of inpatient facility, where you are admitted, and spend at least one night—sometimes more—depending on your condition.

• Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment is any health care service provided to a patient who does not require staying overnight in a hospital. This includes patients who visit a hospital for treatment (which may take a few hours to perform) and return home the same day.

What is considered an ‘admission’?

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Admission to a government hospital as a registered inpatient for medical treatment upon recommendation of a medical practitioner.

Does daycare count as a hospital admission?

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No, daycare is not considered as a hospital admission and is not covered.

If I have purchased insurance, do I have to pay when I am admitted to hospital?

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If you present your valid UNHCR document and REMEDI Card to hospital staff during registration, you should not have to pay upon discharge, provided the treatment you receive is within the sum insured limit. However, you have to pay for registration fees upon admission. If you have any issues or questions related to hospital admission and discharge, please contact Pra-Assist’s 24 Hour Support Centre.

Call: 011-3301 9019 / 011-3301 9020 / 03-6202 1190

Why are children under 18 years not covered under REMEDI?

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This is not a feature the insurance company can accommodate for now. We will update you if this changes in the future.

Is there a family plan?

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No, there is no family plan. This is not a feature the insurance company can accommodate for now. We will update you if this changes in the future.

If I do not use my insurance at all during the year, will the balance be carried forward to the next year?

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No, the balance will not be carried forward. Your annual limit remains the same at RM20,000 per year.

Do I still need to wait for 30 days before I can use my insurance when I renew it?

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No, you can use it immediately. The 30 days waiting period is only applicable to a new policy.

Why doesn’t the insurance cover private hospitals?

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Refugees and asylum-seekers with UNHCR card are only charged 50% of the Foreigners’ rate at government hospitals; and this ensures you can have more coverage in your annual limit.

After purchasing the insurance, who can I contact if I have any questions?

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If you have any questions, you can get in touch with the authorized Allianz agent whom you bought the insurance from. For admission and discharge related questions, you may contact Pra-Assist’s 24 Hour Support Centre:

Call: 011-3301 9019 / 011-3301 9020 / 03-6202 1190

If I get into an accident but I do not have to be admitted into the hospital, will this still be covered under the insurance?

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Yes, it will be covered under the optional Personal Accident Plan which provides reimbursement of up to RM2,000 for medical and surgical expenses related to the accident.