EPF : Becoming Relevant

The list of critical illnesses had been expanded from 13 to 36, EPF chief exeutive officer Tan Sri Azlan Zainol said in a statement today. 

"The new expanded list takes into consideration the significant costs required in treating these critical illnesses, and is aimed at helping members fully settle or help ease their financial burden of seeking treatment," he added.

Members can now withdraw their savings also for Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, chronic liver and lung diseases, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) with Lupus Nephritis and paralysis. 

Azlan said that for withdrawals to treat family members who are under the age of 16, joint withdrawal could be made with other family members to cover the required medical expenses subject to the balance in Account 2 and total cost of treatment.

Family members include spouse, children, stepchildren or legally adopted children, parents, parents-in-law, step parents or legally foster parents and siblings.

All withdrawals are subjected to the validity of medical report, bills and receipts which must not exceed one year from the date the withdrawal application is submitted. 

All bills and receipts must also be in the name of the patient or applicant.

Withdrawals are not allowed for illnesses outside the approved list or when the cost of medical treatment is fully covered by the respective member's employer or the employer of his or her family members.

Those receiving fertility treatments or alternative treatments such as acupuncture or traditional medication are also not entitled.

The 36 critical illnesses are aplastic anaemia, appalic syndrome, Alzheimer's Disease, benign tumour of the brain, blindness, cancer,

cardiomyopathy, chronic liver disease, chronic lung disease, coma, coronary artery disease, deafness, encephalitis, fulminant viral hepatitis, heart attack, heart valve replacement, kidney failure, loss of independent existence, loss of speech, major burns, major head trauma, major organ transplant, medullary Cystic disease, meningitis, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, paralysis, Parkinson's disease, poliomyelitis, primary pulmonary, stroke, surgery to aorta, systemic lupus erythematosus with lupus nephritis, terminal illness and total permanent disability. 

I think the EPF is becoming more relevant!