SharifStudy Best way to Study in Malaysia
Health insurance is compulsory for every international student in Malaysia. You cannot use a policy from your home country instead: it must be a locally purchased plan, usually bought through your university, from one of the three insurers approved by Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS). These are Etiqa Family Takaful (EFTB), Great Eastern Takaful (GETB) and The Pacific Insurance (TPIB). In 2026 these plans cost between RM498 and RM644 a year and cover up to RM30,000 or RM50,000 per disability.
Premiums and benefits on this page follow the EMGS 2026 insurance guideline and were last updated in October 2026 ✓
Is Health Insurance Mandatory for International Students in Malaysia?
Yes. EMGS states that every student entering Malaysia must have medical insurance, and it is part of the student visa (student pass) process. The policy must meet three conditions:
- It is purchased locally from an EMGS-approved insurer, normally through your institution.
- It meets the minimum coverage set by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE).
- It stays valid for as long as your student pass. If your cover ends before your pass does, you must top it up to the pass expiry date or for 12 months from the insurance start date, whichever is shorter.
Your cover starts on the day you enter Malaysia, as long as you tell your institution your arrival date as soon as you arrive. Private or international plans can be added on top for extra benefits, but they do not replace the compulsory local policy.
EMGS Student Insurance Plans and Premiums 2026
The table below lists every plan on the current EMGS panel. Premiums are per year for students aged 16 to 70, with the 2025 premium shown for comparison.
| Insurer | Plan | Max limit per disability | Premium 2026 (per year) | Premium 2025 | Deductible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Etiqa Family Takaful (EFTB) | Plan 2 | RM30,000 | RM498 | RM498 | RM50 per clinic visit, RM200 per hospital admission |
| Etiqa Family Takaful (EFTB) | Plan 3 | RM50,000 | RM567 | RM567 | RM50 per clinic visit, RM200 per hospital admission |
| Great Eastern Takaful (GETB) | Regular | RM30,000 | RM547 | RM574 | Waived |
| Great Eastern Takaful (GETB) | Premium | RM50,000 | RM640 | RM672 | Waived |
| The Pacific Insurance (TPIB) | Gold | RM30,000 | RM551 | RM820 | RM25 per clinic visit, RM25 per hospital admission |
| The Pacific Insurance (TPIB) | Platinum | RM50,000 | RM644 | RM958 | RM25 per clinic visit, RM25 per hospital admission |
What changed in 2026: Pacific Insurance cut its premiums by about a third (Gold from RM820 to RM551) and lowered its clinic deductible from RM50 to RM25. Great Eastern premiums fell by about 5%. Etiqa kept its prices, but its hospital deductible fell from RM300 to RM200. Only Etiqa Plan 2 and Plan 3 are on the current EMGS list.
How a deductible works: with a RM200 deductible, if your hospital bill is RM5,000 you pay the first RM200 (plus any items the policy does not cover) and the insurer pays the rest. Clinic bills below the deductible are paid in full by you.
Your university may offer only one of these insurers or add a small administration charge, so ask the international office which package applies to you. For a full budget, see our guides to the cost of studying in Malaysia and the cost of living in Malaysia.
Etiqa Family Takaful (EFTB): Plan 2 and Plan 3
Etiqa’s 2026 benefits apply to cover from 1 April 2026. Hospital fees, surgery, the operating theatre and anaesthetist fees are paid as charged, up to the overall limit. Outpatient care at panel GP clinics is cashless after you register in the eTiQa+ app.
| Benefit | Plan 2 | Plan 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitalisation, max per disability | RM30,000 | RM50,000 |
| Room and board / ICU, per day | RM250 | RM300 |
| GP clinic (outpatient), per year | RM750 | RM1,250 |
| Outpatient cancer treatment and kidney dialysis, per year | RM15,000 each | RM25,000 each |
| Government hospital cash allowance, per day (up to 120 days) | RM80 | RM100 |
| Ambulance | RM200 | RM250 |
| Emergency evacuation / repatriation | Up to RM200,000 | Up to RM300,000 |
| Accidental death and disablement | RM30,000 | RM50,000 |
| Funeral expenses | RM2,000 | RM2,000 |
Etiqa does not pay for treatment at eight excluded private hospitals, including Prince Court Medical Centre, Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur, Gleneagles Penang, KPJ Ampang Puteri and KPJ Damansara. Check the excluded list before choosing a hospital.
Great Eastern Takaful (GETB): Regular and Premium
Great Eastern is the only panel insurer with no deductible, which makes it attractive if you expect regular clinic visits. Main 2026 benefits:
- Overall limit per disability: RM30,000 (Regular) or RM50,000 (Premium).
- Room and board and ICU: RM250 or RM300 per day.
- Outpatient GP visits: RM750 or RM1,250 per year.
- Emergency treatment after an accident: covered as charged for up to 60 days, including accidental dental treatment within 14 days.
- Accidental death and disablement: RM30,000 or RM50,000; compassionate allowance: RM2,000.
Great Eastern policies can be bought through the EMGS online platform without an extra service charge, and claims are managed through the MiCare mobile app.
The Pacific Insurance (TPIB): Gold and Platinum
After its 2026 price cut, Pacific is close to the other two insurers on cost, with a low RM25 deductible. Students get a medical card for cashless treatment at panel private hospitals and GP clinics, administered by e-MAS. The 24-hour helpline and WhatsApp for hospital admissions, outpatient visits and evacuation is 03-9213 0104. Note that Pacific excludes many chronic conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma and hepatitis B and C, so students with an ongoing condition should read its exclusion list carefully.
Which Student Insurance Plan Should You Choose?
In many cases your university has already picked the insurer. If you do have a choice:
- RM30,000 or RM50,000? The higher limit costs only RM69 to RM93 more a year and covers a longer hospital stay or surgery. Medicine, dentistry and other clinical students, and anyone studying for several years, usually benefit from the higher limit.
- Frequent clinic visits: Great Eastern (no deductible) or Pacific (RM25) costs you less per visit than Etiqa (RM50).
- Serious illness: Etiqa lists separate outpatient cancer and dialysis limits and the highest evacuation and repatriation cover.
- Nearest hospital: check that the hospital and clinics near your campus or student accommodation are on the insurer’s panel list.
What Student Insurance Does Not Cover
The compulsory plans are designed for illness and accidents. Common exclusions across the panel insurers include:
- Dental treatment and oral surgery (except accidental dental cover where listed)
- Pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions
- Mental, nervous and psychiatric disorders
- Congenital conditions and, with some insurers, chronic and pre-existing conditions
- Cosmetic surgery, eye tests and LASIK, routine check-ups
- Vitamins, supplements and alternative therapies
- Self-inflicted injury, infertility and sexual dysfunction, sleep disorder treatment and experimental procedures
Each insurer also publishes a list of excluded hospitals. Check it before you go: if you use an excluded hospital, you pay the bill yourself.
How to Use Your Insurance and Make a Claim
- Panel private hospital (cashless): show your passport and insurance card or app at the admission counter. The hospital requests a guarantee letter (GL) from the insurer; you pay only the deposit, deductible and non-covered items.
- Panel GP clinic: show your card or app and passport, pay the deductible (if any) and the clinic bills the insurer.
- Government hospital or non-panel emergency: pay first and claim back, or ask your university for a Letter of Undertaking where available.
- Reimbursement: submit within 30 days of discharge or treatment with the claim form, original bills and receipts, the medical report and investigation results, and a copy of your passport. Etiqa claims go through the eTiQa+ app, Great Eastern through MiCare and Pacific through e-MAS.
Healthcare in Malaysia for International Students
Malaysia has two healthcare systems. Government clinics and hospitals are heavily subsidised for citizens but charge non-citizens higher rates, and non-urgent specialist appointments can take weeks. Private clinics and hospitals cost more but are fast, modern and widely used by international students, especially under insurance. Many universities also run an on-campus health centre, and universities with medical schools, such as University of Malaya, have teaching hospitals nearby.
In an emergency, call 999 (or 112 from a mobile phone) for an ambulance, police or the fire brigade.
Typical Medical Costs in Malaysia (2026 estimates)
| Service | Government hospital (non-citizen) | Private hospital |
|---|---|---|
| GP consultation | RM40 – RM100 | RM80 – RM250 |
| Specialist consultation | RM120 – RM250 | RM250 – RM600 |
| CT or MRI scan | RM250 – RM800 | RM1,500 – RM4,000 |
| One night in hospital | RM160 – RM500 | RM800 – RM3,000 |
Prices vary by hospital and city, and these are indicative ranges only. A single hospital stay or scan at a private hospital can cost more than a full year of student insurance.
Extra Cover Worth Considering
- Dental and mental health: not included in the compulsory plans; some private add-on plans offer them.
- Travel insurance: for trips home or abroad, flight delays and lost luggage.
- Family members: the student policy covers only the student. A spouse or children joining you on a dependant pass need their own medical cover.
- After graduation: student insurance ends with your student pass. If you stay to work in Malaysia after graduating, you will need a new policy for your new pass.
Health Insurance for Other Foreigners in Malaysia
The EMGS plans above are only for student pass holders. Expats, working professionals and long-stay visitors buy private medical cards from Malaysian insurers such as Great Eastern, Etiqa, AIA, Allianz and Prudential, or use international health plans. Requirements depend on the pass you hold; see our Malaysia visa guide.
Health Insurance for International Students – FAQs
Is health insurance compulsory for international students in Malaysia?
How much is student health insurance in Malaysia in 2026?
Which insurance companies are approved by EMGS?
Can I use insurance from my home country?
Does student insurance cover outpatient and dental treatment?
When does my student insurance start?
What happens if my insurance expires before my student pass?
Source: EMGS insurance guideline 2026 and the insurers’ 2026 benefit schedules (visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my). Planning your studies? Compare the top universities in Malaysia.
