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 use different source dates. AIA and Great Eastern reflect standard rates as of 6 August 2026. Prudential figures are annual-payment standard rates from the supplied October 2026 advisor comparison workbook, Pru Rates tab, for occupation classes 1 and 2.
The three insurers also use different age bases:
- AIA prices on attained age, meaning your current age, the age you have already reached.
- Great Eastern and Prudential price on age next birthday (ANB), meaning your age at your next birthday.
Great Eastern and Prudential schedule premiums shown at ANB 71 and above are for renewal only. New-entry eligibility follows each insurer’s rules; new Prudential entry is ANB 14 days to 70.
Your final premium can still change with health loading, underwriting, applicable SST and the insurer’s latest quotation. The figures on this page are estimates for comparison, not a promise of the premium you will be offered.
Comparison of plans
The table below places three insurers’ standalone medical cards side by side, so you can compare the main benefits and cost in one view. These plans are illustrative examples for comparing standalone medical-card costs, not a full market survey or a recommendation. Plan names and benefit descriptions follow the named insurer materials. AIA and Great Eastern rates reflect 6 August 2026; Prudential rates are annual-payment figures from the October 2026 workbook and are for reference only.
- Insurer and plan name: AIA’s A-Life MediFlex 250 + A Plus MediBooster 250; Great Eastern’s Great Medic Shield 2 (GMS2D-200) + Great Medic MillionExtender 2 (GMME2-200); and Prudential’s PRUCover Med (Plan 200).
- Room and board: the daily amount the insurer covers for your ward and meals. A higher limit usually means a higher ward class. AIA is RM250, up to 150 days a year; Great Eastern is RM200, with no day limit; Prudential is RM200 a day under Plan 200.
- Annual limit: the most the policy pays within one policy year. AIA is RM1.0 million; Great Eastern is RM1.50 million; Prudential is RM500,000, refreshed yearly, with no lifetime limit.
- Emergency accidental outpatient treatment: AIA and Great Eastern are covered as charged, subject to the annual limit. Prudential’s Emergency Treatment for Accidental Injury is covered up to RM2,000 per year. Co-insurance does not apply to this emergency treatment. Readers should check the PRUCover Med policy terms.
- Deductible and co-insurance: AIA has a RM500 deductible per disability; Great Eastern has no deductible. Prudential uses co-insurance. Under PRUPanel Plus, Hospital and Surgical Benefits carry 5% co-insurance with a RM1,000 minimum, while treatment outside PRUPanel Plus carries 10% with a RM2,000 minimum. Pre- and post-hospitalisation carry 5% with no minimum at PRUPanel Plus and 10% with no minimum elsewhere. Other Outpatient Benefits carry 5% co-insurance with no minimum. This Other Outpatient Benefits statement does not imply that co-insurance applies to the separate Emergency Treatment for Accidental Injury benefit. The total maximum co-insurance payment is RM5,000 per year.
- Premium calculation method: AIA uses attained age. Great Eastern and Prudential use age next birthday.
- Coverage term: Prudential is a one-year plan that auto-renews yearly up to the policy anniversary at the Life Assured’s ANB 101, subject to policy terms and payment of the required premium.
- Premium structure: Prudential uses step-up premiums. Do not read a lower starting rate as a fixed lifetime premium.
- Overseas treatment: The official Prudential summary reviewed does not provide overseas medical treatment under this plan. Check the policy terms for the full exclusions and scope.
Sample premiums by age (30 / 40 / 50 / 60, male & female)
These are single-insured-person examples with no family discount. AIA is read at attained age. Great Eastern and Prudential are read at ANB. The AIA and Great Eastern examples reflect 6 August 2026 standard rates. The Prudential examples are annual-payment standard rates from the October 2026 workbook for occupation classes 1 and 2.
| Age | Gender | AIA | Great Eastern | Prudential |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Male | RM1,522 | RM1,198 | RM1,640 |
| 40 | Male | RM1,856 | RM1,420 | RM2,327 |
| 50 | Male | RM2,729 | RM2,314 | RM3,563 |
| 60 | Male | RM5,125 | RM3,570 | RM5,828 |
| 30 | Female | RM1,498 | RM1,237 | RM1,446 |
| 40 | Female | RM1,923 | RM1,464 | RM2,151 |
| 50 | Female | RM2,938 | RM2,365 | RM3,250 |
| 60 | Female | RM5,162 | RM3,602 | RM5,299 |
The sample table is a reading aid. It is not a quote and does not include a personalised health loading or any later rate change. The actual quotation and policy terms control.
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. The benefits may look similar on paper, but the structure underneath is different and the two arrangements suit different people.
Which insurers and plans are compared here, and why these three?
The comparison uses AIA’s A-Life MediFlex 250 + A Plus MediBooster 250, Great Eastern’s Great Medic Shield 2 (GMS2D-200) + Great Medic MillionExtender 2 (GMME2-200), and Prudential’s PRUCover Med (Plan 200). They are illustrative examples of how standalone medical cards can differ in benefits, co-insurance and cost. They are not a complete survey of every plan in Malaysia.
What do room and board, annual limit, deductible and co-insurance mean?
Room and 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. A deductible is the amount you pay yourself first before the insurer starts to pay. Co-insurance is a stated percentage of eligible costs that you still pay, sometimes subject to a minimum and an annual cap.
Why do the three plans use different age bases?
Each insurer sets its own pricing convention. AIA uses attained age, meaning your current age, the age you have already reached. Great Eastern and Prudential use age next birthday, meaning your age at your next birthday. The same person can therefore land in a different age band, and a different premium, from one plan to the next.
How are these premiums calculated, and how accurate are they?
AIA and Great Eastern use their approved standard rates reflecting 6 August 2026. Prudential uses the annual-payment standard rates in the supplied October 2026 advisor comparison workbook, Pru Rates tab, for occupation classes 1 and 2. Treat every figure as an estimate. Health loading, underwriting, applicable SST and the insurer’s latest quotation can change the amount. Great Eastern and Prudential schedule premiums shown at ANB 71 and above are for renewal only. New Prudential entry is ANB 14 days to 70.
Is this a recommendation of the cheapest plan?
No. The tool may mark the lowest total so it is easy to read, but that is not a recommendation. A lower premium can come with a different annual limit, room and board amount, deductible or co-insurance structure. Prudential’s RM500,000 annual limit, RM200 room and board, co-insurance and lack of overseas medical treatment also need to be read alongside the AIA and Great Eastern features.
How often is this data updated?
The AIA and Great Eastern figures on this page reflect 6 August 2026. The Prudential figures are annual-payment rates from the October 2026 workbook. Rates should be checked again when an insurer issues a new schedule, and the page should show each source date separately. Great Eastern and Prudential schedule premiums shown at ANB 71 and above are for renewal only, so they should not be read as new-entry rates.
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.
