Cancer, Bills & Big Yikes: Why Health Protection is the New “Adulting 101”

Look, nobody wants to talk about cancer, medical bills, or how fast healthcare costs are skyrocketing but ignoring it won’t make it less scary. Manulife’s Asia Care Survey 2024 just dropped some pretty sobering stats about Malaysians’ health anxieties, and tbh… it’s a wake-up call we can’t keep snoozing on.

Here’s the tea:45% of Malaysians are stressed about cancer being a future health risk. Healthcare costs? Up 29%, second highest in Asia. 71% of us think whatever health benefits we get from work just won’t cut it long-term.

And the kicker? Cancer is now the 4th leading cause of death in Malaysia, with researchers predicting it could double by 2040. Basically, if you think “it won’t happen to me,” the stats say… think again.

????️ Health insurance isn’t just for when things go wrong anymore

Gone are the days when insurance was just a cheque when life goes sideways. Manulife is trying to make health protection less “emergency hotline” and more “your everyday hype man for wellness.”

They’ve teamed up with Cancer Research Malaysia (CRMY) aka the brains behind some of the coolest cancer research in the region to tackle what actually matters: prevention, early diagnosis, and long-term support, without draining your bank account.

???? Meet MHSE & BCC – The not-boring side of insurance

Forget those dusty policies your parents bought in the ‘90s. Manulife’s Health Saver Enrich (MHSE) and Beyond Critical Cover (BCC) are designed for real life in 2024, not 1994.

MHSE = Wellness vibes + solid safety net:Covers you beyond hospitalisation think essential vaccines, mental wellness, and up to 365 days of post-hospital care.If you’ve been through cancer, it even helps for 5 years after remission.

No claims? You get rewarded with up to 40% off insurance charges, like a cashback for staying healthy.Plus, your whole fam can hop on one plan with a RM20 million annual limit.

BCC = The “just in case” buddy:Covers 48 critical illnesses (yep, cancer included).Comes with a Booster that auto-bumps your coverage by 5% every year because inflation doesn’t stop, and neither should your protection.Extra payouts if you end up in ICU or long-term hospital stays.

???? TL;DR: It’s giving future-proof vibes

Manulife’s trying to make health protection less intimidating and more about living long, living well, and not having a panic attack every time you see a hospital bill. As CEO Vibha Coburn puts it: “We’re making health protection simpler, more proactive, and better aligned with real-life needs.”

So yeah, adulting is hard, but protecting yourself doesn’t have to be. Check out MHSE and BCC at manulife.com.my because life’s unpredictable, but your health game shouldn’t be.

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