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 :)
Showing posts with label mediShield. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mediShield. Show all posts
Monday, August 3, 2015
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Committee recommends significant enhancements for MediShield Life
Committee recommends significant enhancements for MediShield Life
Benefits should focus on large subsidised hospital bills, MediShield Life Review Committee says
By
Sara Grosse
Published: March 1, 3:21 PM
SINGAPORE - The MediShield Life Review Committee has made preliminary recommendations to enhance the MediShield Life benefit parameters.
The committee said today (March 1) that it agrees that MediShield Life’s focus should remain on large subsidised hospital bills as these are the bills that most concern Singaporeans.
It added that smaller and more predictable bills can be covered by Medisave and other savings.
The committee said these considerations reflect the views from participants at the Focus Group Discussions that it has had so far.
To date, it has held 23 focus group discussions with close to 800 participants.
The committee’s proposed benefit parameters for MediShield Life payout involves raising the maximum claimable limit and lowering co-insurance.
Among the recommendations made are the removal of the current lifetime limit of S$300,000, increasing the daily claim limits for normal wards and ICU wards by up to 55 per cent, halving co-insurance rates and increasing the claim limits for outpatient cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments.
With these proposed enhancements, the committee says close to 10,000 more subsidised Class B2/C patients will pay less than S$3,000 for their inpatient bills every year.
In addition, the enhancements will see 1,500 more subsidised patients undergoing chemotherapy pay less than S$1,000 in a year, after MediShield Life payouts.
The committee also recommends that the uninsured be brought into the common MediShield Life risk-pool to maximise the effect of risk-pooling, instead of setting up a separate fund for those with pre-existing conditions.
To address the issue of the additional costs arising from the expected higher claims from those with pre-existing conditions, the committee’s preliminary view is that the cost of universal coverage should be shared across those with pre-existing conditions, the existing insured policyholders and the government.
The committee also called on the government to support most of the costs of universal coverage.
Based on the preliminary recommendations, the committee has asked the Health Ministry to provide premium estimates to help them in further deliberations.
The committee will also continue to study issues that have been highlighted by members of the public, and experts, some of which have premium implications.
This includes reviewing the extent of further pre-funding, deductibles, additional outpatient treatments and the impact of Integrated Shield Plans.
CHANNEL NEWSASIA
- wong chee tat :)
Benefits should focus on large subsidised hospital bills, MediShield Life Review Committee says
By
Sara Grosse
Published: March 1, 3:21 PM
SINGAPORE - The MediShield Life Review Committee has made preliminary recommendations to enhance the MediShield Life benefit parameters.
The committee said today (March 1) that it agrees that MediShield Life’s focus should remain on large subsidised hospital bills as these are the bills that most concern Singaporeans.
It added that smaller and more predictable bills can be covered by Medisave and other savings.
The committee said these considerations reflect the views from participants at the Focus Group Discussions that it has had so far.
To date, it has held 23 focus group discussions with close to 800 participants.
The committee’s proposed benefit parameters for MediShield Life payout involves raising the maximum claimable limit and lowering co-insurance.
Among the recommendations made are the removal of the current lifetime limit of S$300,000, increasing the daily claim limits for normal wards and ICU wards by up to 55 per cent, halving co-insurance rates and increasing the claim limits for outpatient cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments.
With these proposed enhancements, the committee says close to 10,000 more subsidised Class B2/C patients will pay less than S$3,000 for their inpatient bills every year.
In addition, the enhancements will see 1,500 more subsidised patients undergoing chemotherapy pay less than S$1,000 in a year, after MediShield Life payouts.
The committee also recommends that the uninsured be brought into the common MediShield Life risk-pool to maximise the effect of risk-pooling, instead of setting up a separate fund for those with pre-existing conditions.
To address the issue of the additional costs arising from the expected higher claims from those with pre-existing conditions, the committee’s preliminary view is that the cost of universal coverage should be shared across those with pre-existing conditions, the existing insured policyholders and the government.
The committee also called on the government to support most of the costs of universal coverage.
Based on the preliminary recommendations, the committee has asked the Health Ministry to provide premium estimates to help them in further deliberations.
The committee will also continue to study issues that have been highlighted by members of the public, and experts, some of which have premium implications.
This includes reviewing the extent of further pre-funding, deductibles, additional outpatient treatments and the impact of Integrated Shield Plans.
CHANNEL NEWSASIA
- wong chee tat :)
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Govt will ensure MediShield Life premiums affordable: Gan
Govt will ensure MediShield Life premiums affordable: Gan
By Eileen Poh
POSTED: 25 Feb 2014 19:08
SINGAPORE: Health Minister Gan Kim Yong has said the government will ensure that MediShield Life premiums will be affordable for Singaporeans.
And lower-income families may receive more help to pay for the premiums.
Mr Gan was speaking to reporters after the recording of the Budget Forum in Mandarin organised by MediaCorp.
$8 billion has been set aside for the Pioneer Generation Fund. It will help 450,000 pioneers cope with healthcare costs for the rest of their lives.
The package will benefit not only the elderly.
Mr Gan said: "This Pioneer Generation Package is one effort to lighten load on the younger generation because today, many of the elderly are supported by their younger children. And so by helping the elderly, we are reducing the burden on the younger generation."
He added that the government is aware that making more funding available may drive up demand and eventually prices for healthcare services.
So to better manage healthcare costs, the ministry is adopting a few strategies, such as proper gatekeeping to ensure that access to high-end acute care is on a need basis.
Mr Gan said: "For example, if you don't need to be in the acute hospital, then you ought not to be in the hospital; you may be looked after in a community hospital, the nursing homes or even at home.
"We will also be enhancing community support, primary care, from our polyclinics through CHAS enhancement and through our community services support, by building more senior care centres, for example."
Mr Gan said details on more support for such care in the community, including step-down care and home care services, will be announced during the parliamentary debate on his ministry's budget next month.
Apart from Mr Gan, the Budget Forum included representatives from social services, business associations and grassroots organisations.
The Budget Forum in Mandarin will be aired on Channel 8 on Thursday at 10.30pm.
- CNA/ir
- wong chee tat :)
By Eileen Poh
POSTED: 25 Feb 2014 19:08
SINGAPORE: Health Minister Gan Kim Yong has said the government will ensure that MediShield Life premiums will be affordable for Singaporeans.
And lower-income families may receive more help to pay for the premiums.
Mr Gan was speaking to reporters after the recording of the Budget Forum in Mandarin organised by MediaCorp.
$8 billion has been set aside for the Pioneer Generation Fund. It will help 450,000 pioneers cope with healthcare costs for the rest of their lives.
The package will benefit not only the elderly.
Mr Gan said: "This Pioneer Generation Package is one effort to lighten load on the younger generation because today, many of the elderly are supported by their younger children. And so by helping the elderly, we are reducing the burden on the younger generation."
He added that the government is aware that making more funding available may drive up demand and eventually prices for healthcare services.
So to better manage healthcare costs, the ministry is adopting a few strategies, such as proper gatekeeping to ensure that access to high-end acute care is on a need basis.
Mr Gan said: "For example, if you don't need to be in the acute hospital, then you ought not to be in the hospital; you may be looked after in a community hospital, the nursing homes or even at home.
"We will also be enhancing community support, primary care, from our polyclinics through CHAS enhancement and through our community services support, by building more senior care centres, for example."
Mr Gan said details on more support for such care in the community, including step-down care and home care services, will be announced during the parliamentary debate on his ministry's budget next month.
Apart from Mr Gan, the Budget Forum included representatives from social services, business associations and grassroots organisations.
The Budget Forum in Mandarin will be aired on Channel 8 on Thursday at 10.30pm.
- CNA/ir
- wong chee tat :)
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Medisave withdrawal limits for MediShield, Integrated Shield plans to go up
Medisave withdrawal limits for MediShield, Integrated Shield plans to go up
POSTED: 06 Sep 2013 12:35 PM
From November 1, the Medisave withdrawal limits for MediShield and Integrated Shield plans will increase by S$200.
SINGAPORE: From November 1, the Medisave withdrawal limits for MediShield and Integrated Shield plans will increase by S$200.
The Ministry of Health said the increase will be applied across all age categories.
For those aged 66 to 75, the limit will go up from S$800 to S$1,000; for those aged 76 to 80, from S$1,000 to S$1,200; and for those aged 81 and above, from S$1,200 to S$1,400.
The Medisave withdrawal limits were already adjusted in March 2013 to fully support the premiums for MediShield, and increase the support for the premiums of Integrated Shield plans offered by private insurers.
This further round of changes will enable Singaporeans to use more Medisave in paying for premiums for the private Integrated Shield plans.
The revised Medisave withdrawal limits will apply to all MediShield and Integrated Shield policies renewed or starting from November 1.
- CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 06 Sep 2013 12:35 PM
From November 1, the Medisave withdrawal limits for MediShield and Integrated Shield plans will increase by S$200.
SINGAPORE: From November 1, the Medisave withdrawal limits for MediShield and Integrated Shield plans will increase by S$200.
The Ministry of Health said the increase will be applied across all age categories.
For those aged 66 to 75, the limit will go up from S$800 to S$1,000; for those aged 76 to 80, from S$1,000 to S$1,200; and for those aged 81 and above, from S$1,200 to S$1,400.
The Medisave withdrawal limits were already adjusted in March 2013 to fully support the premiums for MediShield, and increase the support for the premiums of Integrated Shield plans offered by private insurers.
This further round of changes will enable Singaporeans to use more Medisave in paying for premiums for the private Integrated Shield plans.
The revised Medisave withdrawal limits will apply to all MediShield and Integrated Shield policies renewed or starting from November 1.
- CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
公积金会员最低存款、保健储蓄户头的最低存款和存款顶限都将上调
公积金会员最低存款、保健储蓄户头的最低存款和存款顶限都将上调
今年7月1号起，公积金会员的最低存款，以及保健储蓄户头的最低存款和存款顶限都将上调。
公积金会员最低存款、保健储蓄户头的最低存款和存款顶限都将上调
今年7月1号起，公积金会员的最低存款，以及保健储蓄户头的最低存款和存款顶限都将上调。
公积金局和人力部联合发表文告说：凡在今年7月1号到明年6月30号，年满55岁的公积金会员，他们在退休户头内的最低存款额，将从目前的13万9千元，上调到14万8千元。
另外，保健储蓄户头最低存款额也将上调到4万5百元。目前，保健储蓄户头的最低存款额是3万8千5百元。而保健储蓄户头的存款顶限，也相应上调到4万5千5百元；目前则是4万3千5百元。
- wong chee tat :)
今年7月1号起，公积金会员的最低存款，以及保健储蓄户头的最低存款和存款顶限都将上调。
公积金会员最低存款、保健储蓄户头的最低存款和存款顶限都将上调
今年7月1号起，公积金会员的最低存款，以及保健储蓄户头的最低存款和存款顶限都将上调。
公积金局和人力部联合发表文告说：凡在今年7月1号到明年6月30号，年满55岁的公积金会员，他们在退休户头内的最低存款额，将从目前的13万9千元，上调到14万8千元。
另外，保健储蓄户头最低存款额也将上调到4万5百元。目前，保健储蓄户头的最低存款额是3万8千5百元。而保健储蓄户头的存款顶限，也相应上调到4万5千5百元；目前则是4万3千5百元。
- wong chee tat :)
CPF & Medisave minimum sums, Medisave contribution ceiling to be raised
CPF & Medisave minimum sums, Medisave contribution ceiling to be raised
POSTED: 07 May 2013 5:28 PM
From 1 July this year, the CPF minimum sum, Medisave minimum sum and Medisave contribution ceiling will be raised. CPF members who turn 55 between 1 July 2013 and 30 June 2014 will need to set aside a minimum sum of S$148,000 in their Retirement Account.
SINGAPORE: From 1 July this year, the CPF minimum sum, Medisave minimum sum and Medisave contribution ceiling will be raised.
CPF members who turn 55 between 1 July 2013 and 30 June 2014 will need to set aside a minimum sum of S$148,000 in their Retirement Account.
The minimum sum for 2012 was S$139,000.
The minimum sum has been adjusted over the years to account for inflation, longer life expectancies and Singaporeans' rising expectations of their quality of life.
The Medisave minimum sum will also be raised from S$38,500, to S$40,500 from 1 July 2013.
The Medisave minimum sum is the amount that a person turning 55 needs to set aside in his old age for his own or his dependants' healthcare expenses and basic MediShield and ElderShield premiums.
Members will be able to withdraw their Medisave savings in excess of the minimum sum at or after the age of 55.
The maximum balance a member may have in his Medisave Account, known as the Medisave contribution ceiling, is set at S$5,000 above the Medisave minimum sum, and this would be increased correspondingly from S$43,500 to S$45,500.
Any Medisave contribution in excess of the current Medisave contribution ceiling will be transferred to the member's Special Account if he is below age 55 or to his Retirement Account if he is above age 55 and has a minimum sum shortfall.
The CPF Board said regular Medisave minimum sum adjustments are necessary to help Singaporeans meet their long-term healthcare needs.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 07 May 2013 5:28 PM
From 1 July this year, the CPF minimum sum, Medisave minimum sum and Medisave contribution ceiling will be raised. CPF members who turn 55 between 1 July 2013 and 30 June 2014 will need to set aside a minimum sum of S$148,000 in their Retirement Account.
SINGAPORE: From 1 July this year, the CPF minimum sum, Medisave minimum sum and Medisave contribution ceiling will be raised.
CPF members who turn 55 between 1 July 2013 and 30 June 2014 will need to set aside a minimum sum of S$148,000 in their Retirement Account.
The minimum sum for 2012 was S$139,000.
The minimum sum has been adjusted over the years to account for inflation, longer life expectancies and Singaporeans' rising expectations of their quality of life.
The Medisave minimum sum will also be raised from S$38,500, to S$40,500 from 1 July 2013.
The Medisave minimum sum is the amount that a person turning 55 needs to set aside in his old age for his own or his dependants' healthcare expenses and basic MediShield and ElderShield premiums.
Members will be able to withdraw their Medisave savings in excess of the minimum sum at or after the age of 55.
The maximum balance a member may have in his Medisave Account, known as the Medisave contribution ceiling, is set at S$5,000 above the Medisave minimum sum, and this would be increased correspondingly from S$43,500 to S$45,500.
Any Medisave contribution in excess of the current Medisave contribution ceiling will be transferred to the member's Special Account if he is below age 55 or to his Retirement Account if he is above age 55 and has a minimum sum shortfall.
The CPF Board said regular Medisave minimum sum adjustments are necessary to help Singaporeans meet their long-term healthcare needs.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
Friday, October 12, 2012
MediShield to be tweaked for better coverage
MediShield to be tweaked for better coverage
By Vimita Mohandas | Posted: 12 October 2012 1637 hrs
SINGAPORE: MediShield, the insurance scheme which covers mainly large medical bills, will be tweaked from March next year to provide better coverage for the elderly.
This comes after the Ministry of Health received largely positive feedback after a public consultation in July and August to make MediShield more inclusive.
The ministry will raise the Medisave withdrawal limit for MediShield and Integrated Shield Plans to fully cover basic premiums.
Those who are between 76 and 80 years old can withdraw a bigger amount of S$1,000 instead of the current S$800.
Those who are above 80 years old can withdraw up to S$1,200, up from current S$1,150.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a community event on Friday, said the changes will allow more people, especially the elderly, to use Medisave to pay for premiums.
"The withdrawal limits today may not be enough and some of them may have to fork out cash in order to pay for the premiums. That's why we adjusted the withdrawal limit so that most of them will not need to fork out additional cash. They will be able to tap on the Medisave up to the limit to pay for the MediShield," said Mr Gan.
The ministry will scrap the MediShield maximum entry age of 75 and increase the maximum age coverage to 90 to enable those who are healthy but not insured to be covered.
It will consider extending coverage to congenital and neonatal conditions to better support healthcare costs for children.
This will form part of ongoing discussions at the Singapore Conversation and the ministry will study this issue carefully when the review is complete.
Other adjustments include extending the coverage to inpatient psychiatric treatment at S$100 per day and short-stay wards in Emergency Departments.
The deductibles for Class C and B2 bills will also be adjusted. These will be increased from S$1,000 to S$1,500 for Class C bills, and S$1,500 to S$2,000 for Class B2 bills.
The deductible is the amount of a hospital bill that patients have to pay before claiming insurance.
With the enhancements, Singaporeans will have to pay more for their MediShield premiums.
But the government will help to offset the increase with a one-off Medisave top-up of up to S$400 next March.
With the top-up, premiums will rise by no more than S$10 a month, while those aged 65 and below will see an increase of S$5 or less for the next two years.
With annual and one-off Medisave top-ups, MOH says the elderly will in fact be paying less for their MediShield premiums.
- CNA/ir
- wong chee tat :)
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