PeKa B40: What It Actually Covers, and What It Doesn't

Many people have heard the name “PeKa B40,” but assumptions about it vary widely — some think it covers all hospital costs, some confuse it with mySalam, and some ignore it altogether because they think a separate application is needed. All three assumptions are wrong. PeKa B40 has a clear and limited scope — and knowing that scope means knowing when to use it, and when to look for other help.

What PeKa B40 Is

PeKa B40, or Skim Peduli Kesihatan untuk Kumpulan B40 (B40 Health Care Scheme), is a government initiative under the Ministry of Health Malaysia (KKM), operated day-to-day by ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd. Its focus is the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCD) among low-income groups, through early screening and financial aid when treatment is needed.

It is not insurance, and it is not a monthly cash payment. It is a package of four specific forms of aid accessed at government health facilities.

Four Components of Aid

Aid	What it covers	Limit/Amount
Health screening	Physical examination, mental health screening, blood and urine tests, breast/prostate examination	Free, no out-of-pocket cost
Medical equipment aid	Heart stents, hearing aids, pacemakers, joint/bone prostheses, intraocular lenses, wheelchairs and similar items	Up to RM20,000
Cancer treatment incentive	Payment upon completing cancer treatment at a KKM hospital	RM1,000 — RM300 at the start of treatment, RM700 after completion
Transport allowance	Covers travel costs to hospital for the treatment above	Up to RM500 (Peninsular Malaysia) or RM1,000 (Sabah/Sarawak/Labuan)

The last two forms of aid — the cancer incentive and the transport allowance — only apply to recipients who have already claimed medical equipment aid or cancer treatment; they are not stand-alone aid.

Medical equipment aid and the cancer incentive are only disbursed at KKM hospitals, through a referral from the treating doctor. Free screening, on the other hand, can be done at registered private or government clinics that display the PeKa B40 logo.

Who Is Eligible, and How It’s Verified

PeKa B40 eligibility does not involve a separate application form. It is verified automatically based on two conditions:

1. A Malaysian citizen who is a recipient of Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), or the registered spouse of such a recipient.
2. Aged 40 and above.

Anyone who meets both conditions is eligible without needing to register specially. Eligibility status can be checked by entering a MyKad number on the official portal kelayakan.pekab40.com.my. Once eligible, bring your MyKad to the relevant clinic or hospital for verification at the counter.

PeKa B40 Is Not mySalam — Don’t Confuse the Two

This is the most common source of confusion. mySalam is a separate scheme — a takaful protection scheme operated by Great Eastern Takaful Berhad under the Ministry of Finance Malaysia, not KKM/ProtectHealth. Its basic eligibility is also based on STR recipient status, but its aid is entirely different:

	PeKa B40	mySalam
Operator	ProtectHealth (on behalf of KKM)	Great Eastern Takaful (on behalf of MOF)
Nature of aid	Screening + equipment + treatment incentive	Daily ward allowance + lump-sum critical illness payout
Government hospital ward allowance	None	Yes — daily allowance while admitted, capped per year
Critical illness (one-off payment)	None	Yes — one-off lump-sum payment once confirmed

Both schemes can be claimed at the same time because they cover different things — one for screening and equipment, the other for allowances while admitted to a ward or once a critical illness is confirmed. Assuming one already covers the other means missing out on aid you would otherwise be entitled to claim.

Common Mistakes

• Assuming PeKa B40 covers all hospital costs. It only covers the four specific components above, not general hospital bills.
• Not claiming because of thinking an application must be made first. Eligibility is automatic for STR recipients aged 40+; you only need to check your status and go to a registered facility with your MyKad.
• Ignoring mySalam because of thinking you’re already covered by PeKa B40. Both schemes are separate and can be claimed at the same time.
• Trying to claim equipment aid at a private clinic. This component is only available at KKM hospitals through a doctor’s referral.

What’s Next

Check your own eligibility at kelayakan.pekab40.com.my using your MyKad number, and if eligible, go to your nearest registered government clinic displaying the PeKa B40 logo — read Klinik Kesihatan: How Malaysia’s Government Primary Care System Actually Works to understand the types of KKM facilities involved. For households with elderly members who may need additional support beyond PeKa B40, also read elderly care options in Malaysia. To check mySalam status, visit the official mySalam portal separately.