Table of contents
What a standalone medical card is
A standalone medical card is a health plan you buy on its own to cover hospital and treatment bills. Nothing is tied to investments.
The difference from a medical card built into an investment-linked policy (ILP) comes down to how it is paid for. An ILP card draws its cost from the policy’s investment value, so if the investments underperform or the charges rise, your medical cover can take the hit years later. A standalone card keeps the two apart. You pay a premium, and that premium buys the medical cover directly. It is easier to see what you are getting.
It suits people who want protection and investment kept separate, and who like knowing exactly what they pay each year for their cover. It is not for everyone. If you would rather hold one policy that rolls protection and investment together, or you already invest elsewhere, a standalone card may not be your best fit.
Either way, this page only helps you weigh the options and get a rough cost. It does not tell you which to buy. That answer depends on your budget, your needs and your health.
How premiums are calculated
The figures shown are standard rates, reflecting data as of 6 August 2026. The three insurers do not price on the same age basis, and that changes which premium a given person lands on:
- AIA prices on attained age, meaning your current actual age.
- Great Eastern and AmmetLife price on age next birthday, meaning your age at your next birthday.
Your real premium can move once health loading, Sales & Service Tax (SST) and the insurer’s latest quotation are applied. The number here is an estimate; the final figure comes from the insurer’s official quote.
Comparison of plans
These three plans are illustrative examples for comparing standalone medical-card costs, not a full market survey or a recommendation. Plan names and benefits follow each insurer’s official documents; premiums are standard rates as of 6 August 2026 and are for reference only.
- Insurer / Plan name: the three companies and the exact standalone plans priced here. AIA: A-Life MediFlex 250 + A Plus MediBooster 250. Great Eastern: Great Medic Shield 2 (GMS2D-200) + Great Medic MillionExtender 2 (GMME2-200). AmmetLife: I.Am Health Smart (Silver).
- Room & board: the daily amount the insurer covers for your ward and meals. A higher limit usually means a higher ward class. AIA RM250, up to 150 days a year; GE RM200, no day limit; AmmetLife RM250, no day limit.
- Annual limit: the most the policy pays in total within one policy year. AIA RM1.25 Million; GE RM1.50 Million; AmmetLife RM0.50 Million.
- Emergency accidental outpatient treatment: cover for outpatient (non-admitted) treatment after an accident. AIA and GE pay as charged, subject to the annual limit; AmmetLife pays up to RM2,000.
- Deductible: the amount you pay yourself first, before the insurer covers the rest. AIA RM500 per disability; GE no deductible; AmmetLife RM500 per policy year.
- Premium calculation method (age basis): AIA uses attained age; GE and AmmetLife use age next birthday.
Sample premiums by age (30 / 40 / 50 / 60, male & female)
The table below shows standard-rate examples reflecting data as of 6 August 2026. AIA is priced on attained age; Great Eastern and AmmetLife are priced on age next birthday. For comparison, the same numeric age is used under both bases below, and the figures are not additive across the two bases. Your actual premium still depends on the date of birth you enter, health loading, SST and the insurer’s latest quotation.
| Age | Gender | AIA | Great Eastern | AmmetLife |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Male | RM1,522 | RM1,198 | RM2,476 |
| 40 | Male | RM1,856 | RM1,420 | RM3,466 |
| 50 | Male | RM2,729 | RM2,314 | RM5,199 |
| 60 | Male | RM5,143 | RM3,570 | RM7,382 |
| 30 | Female | RM1,498 | RM1,237 | RM2,476 |
| 40 | Female | RM1,923 | RM1,464 | RM3,466 |
| 50 | Female | RM2,938 | RM2,365 | RM5,199 |
| 60 | Female | RM5,395 | RM3,602 | RM7,382 |
FAQ
What is a standalone medical card, and how is it different from a medical card attached to an ILP?
A standalone medical card is a separate, protection-only plan, and its premium goes straight to the cover. A medical card inside an ILP leans on the policy’s investment value instead, so weak investment returns or higher charges can eat into your cover later. Same benefit on paper, built differently underneath, and they suit different people.
Which insurers and plans are compared here, and why these?
AIA (A-Life MediFlex 250 + A Plus MediBooster 250), Great Eastern (Great Medic Shield 2 GMS2D-200 + Great Medic MillionExtender 2 GMME2-200) and AmmetLife (I.Am Health Smart, Silver). They are here as illustrative examples of how standalone medical cards differ in benefits and cost, not as a complete survey of every plan on the market.
What do “room & board”, “annual limit” and “deductible” mean?
Room & board is the daily amount the insurer covers for your ward and meals. The annual limit is the most the policy pays within one policy year. The deductible is what you pay yourself first, before the insurer starts to pay.
Why do the three plans use different age bases (attained age vs. age next birthday)?
Each insurer sets its own pricing convention. AIA uses attained age, your current actual age. Great Eastern and AmmetLife use age next birthday, your age at your next birthday. So the same person can land on a different age band, and a different premium, from one plan to the next.
How are these premiums calculated, and how accurate are they?
They come from each insurer’s official rate tables, at standard rates, reflecting data as of 6 August 2026, and are matched to the age you enter using the age basis above. Treat them as an estimate. The real premium can still change with health loading, SST and the insurer’s latest quotation.
Is this a recommendation of the cheapest plan?
No. The tool marks the lowest of the three totals only to make it easy to read. That is not a recommendation. The cheapest one is not always the right one, because coverage, ward class, deductible and your own health all matter.
How often is this data updated?
It currently reflects 6 August 2026. Rates are reviewed periodically, with the next review expected around August 2027, or sooner if an insurer reissues its rates. At each review the figures are checked against the latest official rate tables and the “data as of” date on the page is updated.
How do I get advice for my own situation?
Get in touch. I’ll look at your budget, needs and health, then give you an objective analysis and a professional recommendation so you can decide with the full picture. As a licensed financial adviser, if you take up a plan through me I earn a commission from the insurer; this comparison tool is for education and estimation only.
