STR Recipient? You May Also Have mySalam: RM50/Day Hospital and RM8,000 Critical Illness Claims

If you receive STR but have no idea what mySalam is, you are not alone.

mySalam is a free takaful protection scheme provided by the Malaysian Government for eligible lower-income groups.

For 2026, the official mySalam FAQ says eligibility is determined based on STR reception.

But one misunderstanding needs to be cleared up immediately:

Receiving STR does not mean RM8,000 is automatically paid to you.

The RM8,000 figure is the Critical Illness Benefit. You must be eligible, meet the medical definition and submit an approved claim.

First step: check your eligibility

If you or a family member has just left hospital, the most practical first step is:

check your mySalam eligibility online.

Do not assume that STR automatically guarantees every mySalam claim.

The official portal is: mySalam

mySalam says 2026 eligibility is based on STR recipient data, subject to the scheme's eligibility criteria, and eligible recipients are informed progressively.

What does mySalam actually provide?

There are two main benefits.

Critical Illness Benefit

An eligible covered person diagnosed with a qualifying critical illness may claim:

RM8,000

This is subject to the scheme's terms and medical definitions.

The official FAQ also explains that the Critical Illness Benefit is generally paid once in a lifetime for each covered person. Someone who has already received this benefit does not automatically receive another RM8,000 for a later critical illness.

Hospitalisation Benefit

For an eligible admission to a listed panel hospital:

RM50 per day

Up to: 14 days per year

Maximum: RM700 per year

The admission must include at least one overnight stay; the discharge date must be after the admission date.

What does being an STR recipient actually mean?

A better way to understand it is:

STR data is used to determine mySalam eligibility for 2026 — but you still need to verify your status and meet the claim conditions.

It does not mean:

• RM8,000 appears automatically in your account;
• every illness qualifies;
• every hospital admission triggers a payment.

How do you claim the RM50/day hospital benefit?

One of the most important documents is the discharge letter.

mySalam lists the following mandatory documents for hospitalisation claims:

• copy of the identification card, front and back;
• discharge letter.

The discharge letter should show:

• full name;
• identification number;
• admission date;
• discharge date;
• diagnosis;
• the treating doctor's official stamp and signature.

If a family member has just been discharged, keep this document safely before it disappears into a drawer.

Which hospitals qualify?

The hospitalisation benefit applies to listed:

• Malaysian Government Hospitals;
• University Hospitals;
• Armed Forces Hospitals.

A stay at any private hospital does not automatically qualify.

Check the current mySalam panel-hospital list before assuming a claim is covered.

How much can the hospitalisation benefit pay?

For an eligible claim:

Hospital stay	Benefit
1 day	RM50
3 days	RM150
7 days	RM350
14 days	RM700

The annual maximum is RM700.

The 14-day allowance refreshes with each protection year for an eligible recipient.

RM8,000 is not paid for every illness

The Critical Illness Benefit is not a general payment for being sick.

A claim depends on:

• being an eligible covered person;
• a diagnosis listed under the scheme;
• meeting the scheme's medical definition;
• supporting documents;
• claim approval.

A normal hospital stay does not automatically qualify for RM8,000.

Use the official Critical Illness section to check whether a diagnosis is included.

What is the 2026 claim deadline?

For 2026:

• protection period: 1 January – 31 December 2026
• claim submission deadline: 30 June 2027

The official FAQ states that 2026 claims received after 30 June 2027 will not be accepted or processed.

Do not leave a valid claim indefinitely.

Why do so many people not know about mySalam?

Unlike private insurance, there may be no agent regularly reminding a recipient about the scheme.

Someone can:

• receive STR;
• qualify for mySalam;
• be hospitalised;
• already have the required discharge document;

and still not realise that a benefit may be available.

That is why knowing where to check matters.

If a family member has just been discharged

A practical order is:

1. Check mySalam eligibility first
2. Keep the identification copy ready
3. Keep the full discharge letter
4. Confirm the hospital is on the eligible list
5. Check whether the case relates to hospitalisation or critical illness
6. Submit through the official portal
7. Save the submission record
8. Monitor claim status

If medical documents are incomplete, contact the hospital as early as possible.

The main takeaway for STR recipients

Do not focus only on the RM8,000 headline.

If you receive STR in 2026, check:

• whether you are eligible for mySalam;
• whether your spouse is covered;
• what documents would be needed if a claim happens.

The useful rule is:

Check eligibility first, then check which benefit actually applies.