Key takeaways
- mySalam pays RM8,000 once in a lifetime for any of 50 listed critical illnesses, and RM50 a day, up to 14 days or RM700 a year, for overnight stays in panel hospitals.
- It is free and automatic: 2026 eligibility follows Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), 9,151,849 recipients are eligible, and you check by entering your 12-digit MyKad number at mysalam.com.my.
- Anything that happened in 2026 must be submitted by 30 June 2027; the 2025 window closed on 30 June 2026 and late claims are not accepted.
- The hospital allowance covers only panel government, university and armed forces hospitals, so a private hospital stay pays nothing, and a night in the emergency unit does not count.
- mySalam has no death benefit and no total and permanent disability benefit, and it stops at age 65, so in Malaysia it is a cash cushion, not a replacement for a medical card or life cover.
- Budget 2027 confirms the scheme continues in 2027, and STR 2027 applications have been open all year since 15 October 2026.
What is mySalam, and how much does it pay in 2026?
mySalam (Skim Perlindungan Nasional B40) is a free family takaful scheme from the Malaysian government. The Ministry of Finance funds it through the mySalam trust fund and Great Eastern Takaful Berhad runs it. You pay nothing and you do not sign up. It has two benefits, both paid in cash into your own bank account. Neither goes to the hospital, and neither settles your bill.
| Benefit | What you get | Limit | Main condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical illness (Penyakit Kritikal) | RM8,000 lump sum | Once in a lifetime | One of 50 listed illnesses, certified by a doctor at the panel hospital treating you |
| Hospital allowance (Hospitalisasi) | RM50 a day | 14 days or RM700 a year, renewed every year | At least one night in a ward at a panel government, university or armed forces hospital |
Many people search for "mySalam RM700" as if it were a cash handout. It is not. RM700 is the most the hospital allowance can pay in a year, and you only get it for nights you actually spend in a ward.
The money is real, though. From 2019 to 31 December 2025, 1,880,069 people received RM1,423,893,319 in claims, and in 2025 alone nearly 300,000 people received RM276 million. By benefit, 89,085 people have received the critical illness payment, a total of RM712.68 million. For 2026, 9,151,849 STR recipients are eligible under the current criteria. Even so, the head of the scheme said in June that awareness is still low among some eligible people, so it is worth checking even if nobody has told you.
Who qualifies for mySalam, and how do I check (semakan mySalam)?
For 2026, eligibility depends on receiving Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), based on data from LHDN, and on fitting the age limits. Age is counted on 1 January of the year. An STR recipient and spouse count as two people covered.
| Category | mySalam age | STR 2026 income test |
|---|---|---|
| Married, plus spouse | 18 to 65 | Household gross income RM5,000 or less a month |
| Single | 21 to 65 | RM2,500 or less a month at age 21 to 59; RM5,000 or less at 60 and above with no spouse |
| OKU | 18 to 65 | Follows your STR category |
One point for singles: the STR 2026 leaflet lists singles aged 21 to 59 under SARA rather than STR cash, while the mySalam FAQ says single STR recipients aged 21 to 65 qualify. So do not guess from the money you receive. Check your own MyKad number.
How to check and log in
- Go to www.mysalam.com.my. In the Semak Kelayakan box, type your 12-digit MyKad number without dashes and click Semak.
- Look out for the SMS. Eligible people are told by SMS, in stages, early in the year or after STR data is updated. A late SMS does not shorten your cover: the FAQ example is a person told on 1 December 2026 who can still claim for all of 2026.
- To log in (mySalam login), use your MyKad number and the password sent by SMS, or the latest one you set. There is also a mySalam app on Google Play.
- If you forgot the password, click Lupa Kata Laluan, enter your MyKad number and confirm your phone number to get a temporary password by SMS. If the number shown is old, choose "Tidak, bukan nombor telefon saya" and fill in your postcode, state and gender.
- Still stuck? Call 1-300-88-8938 (24 hours, every day), email info@mysalam.com.my, or visit a mySalam kiosk (9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday).
If you are not eligible, the fix is on the STR side. STR 2027 applications are open all year from 15 October 2026, and anyone who has not updated for three years in a row must update. STR is for households and elderly people without a spouse earning RM5,000 or less a month. The Deputy Finance Minister named the main rejection reasons this year as death of the applicant, income above the limit, existing SSM records and marital status needing verification. Many of the families I serve run small businesses, so check the SSM point. The STR hotline is 1800-88-2747.
How do I claim mySalam step by step?
You claim online by yourself, and it costs nothing. You do not need an agent for this.
Critical illness claim (RM8,000)
- Log in at www.mysalam.com.my, click Muat Turun Borang and download the doctor's statement form (Penyakit Kritikal, Kenyataan Doktor) for your illness group. There are 12 forms, CI-01 to CI-12.
- Ask your treating doctor to complete it: your full name and MyKad number, illness details, signature and a clear official stamp.
- Back in the portal, click Tuntutan, then Penyerahan Tuntutan, then Tuntutan Penyakit Kritikal.
- Upload a copy of your MyKad (front and back) and the completed form, click Lampirkan, then Hantar.
Hospital allowance claim (RM50 a day)
- Log in, click Tuntutan, then Penyerahan Tuntutan, then Tuntutan Hospitalisasi.
- Upload a copy of your MyKad (front and back) and the discharge letter (Surat Discaj). It must show your full name, MyKad number, admission and discharge dates, the diagnosis, and the doctor's stamp and signature.
- Click Lampirkan, then Hantar.
Files must be PDF or JPEG. mySalam aims to finish within 10 working days of receiving complete documents, and the e-credit takes 2 to 3 working days once approved. Follow progress under Status Tuntutan. If it shows Dokumen Sokongan Diperlukan, read the Catatan box to see what is missing and upload it there.
How the days are counted
| Stay (official FAQ examples) | Days paid | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Admitted and discharged on 1 January | 0 | RM0 |
| Admitted 1 January, discharged 3 January | 2 | RM100 |
| Emergency unit 1 January, moved to ward 2 January, discharged 3 January | 1 | RM50 |
Which 50 critical illnesses does mySalam cover, and what is left out?
The 50 illnesses fall into 12 groups. Each has its own definition, and many require a certain severity, so the name of the illness alone is not enough.
| Form | Group | Number | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| CI-01 | Cancer | 1 | Cancer of specified severity; early-stage cancer is not covered |
| CI-02 | Heart | 8 | Heart attack, coronary bypass, angioplasty, heart valve surgery |
| CI-03 | Brain, nerves, muscles | 18 | Stroke with permanent deficit, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's or severe dementia, paralysis, coma |
| CI-04 | Eyes, ears, speech | 3 | Permanent blindness or deafness, loss of speech |
| CI-05 | Liver | 3 | End-stage liver failure, fulminant viral hepatitis |
| CI-06 | Kidney | 3 | Kidney failure needing dialysis or a transplant |
| CI-07 | HIV related | 3 | Full-blown AIDS, HIV from a blood transfusion |
| CI-08 | Others | 6 | Third-degree burns, end-stage lung disease, major organ or bone marrow transplant |
| CI-09 | Terminal illness | 1 | Terminal illness |
| CI-10 | Bones, joints, blood, connective tissue | 2 | Blood disorders, rheumatoid disease |
| CI-11 | Mental illness | 1 | Listed conditions under strict criteria, such as major depressive disorder |
| CI-12 | Rare diseases | 1 | Rare diseases meeting the scheme's definition |
Rules that catch people out
- Once only. If you have already received RM8,000, a second critical illness pays nothing, even if it is a different illness.
- Early cancer. Carcinoma in situ is not covered, but the FAQ example shows you can claim if it later becomes a listed cancer, such as stage 3 breast cancer.
- Older conditions. For people newly covered from 2025, a heart attack before 1 January 2025 cannot be claimed, but a new heart attack after that date can. An existing condition can also be claimed once it reaches the defined severity after that date.
- Private hospitals. The hospital allowance covers only panel hospitals. A critical illness diagnosed privately can still be claimed if you follow up at a panel hospital and the doctor there completes the form.
- Hospital allowance exclusions. These include pregnancy, childbirth including caesarean, miscarriage, infertility treatment, alcohol or drug addiction, venereal disease, suicide attempts and self-injury, and war, riots or breaking the law.
The panel list on the portal has about 170 hospitals. In Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, those showing a mySalam kiosk include Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Hospital Serdang, Hospital Ampang, Hospital Kajang, Hospital Selayang, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Hospital Shah Alam, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah in Klang, Hospital Putrajaya, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM in Cheras and Hospital Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah UPM in Serdang.
What are the mySalam claim deadlines, and why do payments fail?
| Eligibility year | Claim window | Status on 2 November 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 to 2023 | Until 30 June 2024 | Closed |
| 2024 | Until 31 December 2025 | Closed |
| 2025 | Until 30 June 2026 | Closed |
| 2026 | 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2027 | Open |
Claims for 2026 received after 30 June 2027 will not be accepted. The portal also says that updates, appeals or documents for the 2025 year sent after 30 June 2026 will not be entertained, so do not leave a 2026 claim until the last month.
Five reasons an approved payment fails
- The bank account is not in your name, for example your spouse's. Payment to a third party is rejected.
- It is a joint account and you are the second holder.
- The account is inactive.
- The account is blocked because of insolvency. You can still receive the claim, but you need permission from Jabatan Insolvensi Malaysia.
- The account is blacklisted.
You get an SMS when a payment fails. Update your bank details within 30 days of that SMS, or the claim is withdrawn and later updates are not processed. Once corrected, payment is retried within 10 working days.
Other mistakes I would avoid
- Using an old form. Only the new critical illness forms are accepted from 1 September 2025, and the old direct credit form is not processed after 26 February 2026.
- Sending a form or discharge letter without the doctor's stamp and signature.
- Uploading in a rush. Attachments cannot be deleted, and the limit is 4 for the MyKad field and 10 for other attachments. Anything extra goes in a new claim.
- Throwing away the discharge letter. Keep every one until the claim is paid.
What does mySalam not cover, and what should I do about it?
mySalam's own site says it has no death benefit and no total and permanent disability benefit. It also does not pay hospital bills, has nothing for anyone under 18, and stops at age 65. Here is what that means in money.
| Example only: married STR 2026 recipient, age 52, five nights in a government panel hospital with a stroke that meets the definition, household spending assumed at RM3,000 a month | Amount |
|---|---|
| Hospital allowance: 5 nights x RM50 | RM250 |
| Critical illness payment, once in a lifetime | RM8,000 |
| Total from mySalam | RM8,250 |
| Months of household spending this covers | Under 3 |
| Same stay in a private hospital: hospital allowance | RM0 |
| Any later critical illness | RM0 |
So mySalam is a useful cash cushion, not a plan for a long illness. These are the other pieces around it:
| Scheme | Who | What it gives | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| PeKa B40 | STR recipients and spouses aged 40 and above | Free health screening, medical devices up to RM20,000, RM1,000 cancer treatment incentive, transport up to RM500 in Peninsular Malaysia | Do the screening first; devices and cancer incentive depend on it |
| Skim Khairat Kematian | STR 2026 households and elderly without a spouse | RM1,000 on death | Claimed at BSN by the heir registered in the STR form |
| Perlindungan Tenang | Anyone buying this micro cover; vouchers went to STR recipients | Small benefits such as death, disablement or hospital cash, by product | The last voucher I could confirm (RM30) ended by 31 December 2025 |
| MediAsas | Voluntary and paid by you, launching January 2027 | Hospital cover: Teras RM100,000 a year (RM150,000 from 60), Fleksi RM300,000, no lifetime limit | Pilot terms may change; it is fully underwritten and pre-existing conditions are excluded |
| Medical card and life cover | Paid by you, after underwriting | Pays hospital bills within limits; life cover pays your family a lump sum | Disclose your health honestly; choose what you can keep paying |
What I would do
- Claim what is free first. Check both husband's and wife's MyKad, and claim any 2026 admission now.
- No medical card and a tight budget? Read my MediAsas guide before January. On Teras, co-payment does not apply at government facilities, and EPF members under 55 can pay from Akaun Sejahtera. Small business owners with fewer than 75 staff also get RM200 per worker for the first year, for up to 50 workers.
- Already have a medical card? Keep it. RM700 a year cannot replace hospital bill cover. The mySalam FAQ sets no condition about other insurance, so still check your eligibility.
- Main income earner? Look at life cover, because mySalam pays nothing on death. If you are employed, PERKESO is a separate scheme with its own rules.
- Parents over 65? mySalam stops at 65, so look at what else they have while there is still time.
What should I do next, and how can I help?
Start with the free steps. Check your MyKad and your spouse's today, put 30 June 2027 in your calendar, and keep every discharge letter. Budget 2027 says mySalam continues in 2027, but the portal has not yet posted the 2027 criteria, so check again when the new SMS goes out early next year.
mySalam is free, so you should not pay anyone to claim it. I am a Great Eastern agent in Seri Kembangan serving Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. The scheme is run by Great Eastern Takaful, but I do not work for mySalam: I cannot see your eligibility and I do not decide claims. Use only the official portal. The Ministry of Finance warns that it never asks for personal details by SMS or WhatsApp, and please do not send me your MyKad number or password either.
What I can do is sit down with you and work out which document you need, in Mandarin, English or Cantonese. I have helped clients with about 110 claims, so forms do not scare me. If you want to see what your family is really covered for beyond mySalam, here is how my free policy review works. It is fine if your policies were bought elsewhere. No hard selling: if money is tight, I would rather you use the free schemes first than buy a policy you cannot keep paying.
This guide is general information based on mySalam's published pages and Budget 2027 as of November 2026, not legal or financial advice. The scheme's terms decide every claim.