Socso says long-term care for the elderly will need mandatory contributions, after Lindung 24/7 backlash

1 November 2026 · News · Mental health & elderly care

A senior Socso official told a long-term care financing dialogue that paying for elderly care in Malaysia would need a mandatory social insurance scheme, not voluntary cover, and that Socso has begun discussing policy papers on it. Nothing has been decided, but families paying for nursing homes or home care today should expect a public debate on a new contribution in the coming years.

What Socso said

CodeBlue reported on 28 October that Socso's deputy chief executive for strategy, Edmund Cheong, spoke at the Long-Term Care Financing Dialogue 2026 on 21 October. He said the public backlash against Lindung 24/7, Socso's scheme for accidents outside working hours, showed resistance to pooling risk. The Cabinet made that scheme voluntary in July after opposition to compulsory contributions.

Cheong argued that long-term care may be easier to accept because ageing is certain, but that it would still need compulsory contributions to work. He illustrated the point by saying a small voluntary pool could cost about RM1,000 a month per person, while a mandatory scheme covering all Malaysians could cost about RM20 a month. He said current Socso protection is weak for people who become disabled after age 60, and that Socso had started discussing policy papers on financing long-term care.

Where the policy stands

This is not new law. In June, CodeBlue reported that a National Long-Term Care Insurance Framework was being developed under a national committee, studying models from Japan, Singapore, Germany and others, with a possible pilot in 2027 and a 2030 target. Premiums, contributions and benefits were described as still subject to validation.

The industry is cautious too: the Life Insurance Association of Malaysia warned in 2023 that elderly care insurance was not commercially viable on its own, and a takaful CEO at the same dialogue said leaving long-term care to private insurers alone would not work.

What it means for families now

Most families still pay for elderly care out of pocket, whether a nursing home, a JKM-registered care centre or home nursing. Until any national scheme exists, the practical steps are about planning and comparing costs.

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Sources

Editorial summary written by Best Malaysia Healthcare. Not medical, legal or financial advice; check the original sources.

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