MediShield Life coverage will start on Nov 1

MediShield Life coverage will start on Nov 1

Over the next year, notifications on an individual's MediShield Life policies and private Integrated Shield Plans will be sent out. The letters will be sent when the individual's policies are up for annual renewal.

By Sara Grosse, Channel NewsAsia
POSTED: 02 Aug 2015 11:40 UPDATED: 02 Aug 2015 23:15

SINGAPORE: MediShield Life coverage will start on Nov 1, and the universal healthcare insurance scheme will kick in for all Singapore residents on or after this date.

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on Sunday (Aug 2) announced the start date of MediShield Life on the sidelines of the launch of a MediShield Life Welcome Booklet at ITE College West.

For those whose existing MediShield or Integrated Shield Plan policies are not yet due for renewal, they will also start enjoying enhanced MediShield Life benefits from November, but their MediShield Life premiums will only be payable on their next policy renewal date.

Over the next year, notifications on an individual's MediShield Life policies and private Integrated Shield Plans will be sent out. The letters will be sent when the individual's policies are up for annual renewal.

For example, the first batch of premium notifications, which states eligibility of premiums and subsidies, will be sent out in late September. This is for policies being renewed on Nov 1. Similarly, those who pay Integrated Shield Plan premiums will receive their premium notification letters from their private insurers before their policies are due for renewal.

Those who are currently uninsured will receive a letter with details about their new coverage in October, while those with pre-existing medical conditions will also receive a letter by October this year.

These individuals have to pay 30 per cent Additional Premiums.

Prior to the launch of MediShield Life, the CPF Board will conduct checks to identify these individuals who will be subject to Additional Premiums, by tapping on existing medical information in government databases.

For the uninsured who do not wish to have their medical information checked, they may decline access by submitting a form online by Sept 15.

HEALTH MINISTRY REVIEWING LIST OF SERIOUS PRE-EXISTING ILLNESSES

Mr Gan added that the Health Ministry is reviewing the list of serious pre-existing illnesses. Examples of such illnesses include stroke, cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, serious kidney failures requiring dialysis and serious heart and liver conditions.

However, the Government added that the list is subject to how severe the conditions are.

"Say for example, if cancer is included, it also depends on how severe the cancer is," said Mr Gan. "If heart disease is one of the diseases that will be considered, it also depends of the severity of the heart disease the person suffers from.

"It is quite an extensive, elaborate way of assessing and therefore it is better for the individual to be informed specifically whether the person is affected by the additional premium, rather than a very broad category.

"We are working out the letters and we will explain to them how they are impacted and we also provide them with a hotline number and how they can obtain more clarification."

Mr Gan said that those who have been identified to have a pre-existing condition can make an appeal. Grounds of appeal include the person saying that their condition has actually improved or the condition is no longer applicable to them as they had it many years ago, he added.

MEDISHIELD LIFE WELCOME BOOKLET OUT IN AUGUST

Come August, all Singapore households will also receive the MediShield Life Welcome Booklet, which will be available in four official languages.

It provides information on what MediShield Life is, its benefits, premiums and subsidies, as well as how Integrated Shield Plans work.

- CNA/av

- wong chee tat :)