Your medical cardwas bought for a lifeyou no longer live.

Most people buy a medical card once and then forget about it. But your life keeps changing — and so does the cost of care.

The numbers · Medical inflation

Medical costs in Malaysia rose 15% in 2024, well above the global and Asia-Pacific average of about 10%, according to Bank Negara Malaysia. Aon’s 2026 Global Medical Trend Rates report projects 16% for 2026 — among the highest in ASEAN.

At 15% a year, the cost of treatment roughly doubles in five years.

Why it happens

In WTW’s 2026 Global Medical Trends survey, insurers named new medical technologies (77%), pharmaceuticals (63%) and limited cost-sharing (51%) as the biggest drivers of rising costs. In Malaysia, much of the equipment and many medicines are imported, so a weaker ringgit adds to the bill. Our population is ageing too — around 15% of Malaysians are expected to be 60 or older by 2030 — and we are using our cover more: claims rose from about 11 to 25 for every 100 policyholders between 2018 and 2023.

This is why Bank Negara stepped in at the end of 2024: premium increases caused by medical inflation must be spread over at least three years until end-2026, so that at least 80% of policyholders see yearly increases of less than 10%. Prices are still rising — just more gently.

The reality · Illness doesn’t wait

Many of us assume serious illness is something for later in life, or only a worry if it runs in the family. The evidence says otherwise. A study in BMJ Oncology found that new cancer cases among people under 50 rose by 79% worldwide between 1990 and 2019, and projects a further 31% rise by 2030.

Only about 5–10% of cancers are caused by inherited genes.

Most cancers come from gene changes we acquire during our lifetime. In February 2026, the World Health Organization and its cancer agency IARC linked 37% of new cancer cases in 2022 — around 7.1 million — to preventable causes such as tobacco, infections, alcohol, excess weight, physical inactivity and air pollution. A clean family history is not a guarantee. And because a diagnosis can make new cover harder to get, the best time to review your protection is while you are healthy.

Your check-up · 5 questions before you renew

1. What is my annual and lifetime limit? Compare the limits with what a serious hospital stay could realistically cost today, not when you first bought the plan.

2. Is there a deductible or co-payment? Some plans ask you to pay part of the bill. That can keep premiums lower, but you should know the amount before you need to use it.

3. Which hospitals can I use? Check that the hospitals near your home and workplace are on the panel.

4. How will my premium change as I get older? Ask how premiums are reviewed, so you are not surprised later.

5. Does my employer’s cover overlap — or leave gaps? Company cover usually stops when you leave the job. Your own plan is the one that stays with you.

If any answer surprises you, it is worth a conversation. Sometimes the right move is a small adjustment rather than a new plan.