NTUC Income starts insurance policy for Down Syndrome children, youth

Singapore — NTUC Income is expanding insurance coverage for the special-needs community with what it said is the first policy in the market to cover children and young people with Down Syndrome.

With premiums starting from S$198, the SpecialCare (Down Syndrome) policy provides children and youth with Down Syndrome aged between 15 days and 30 years with outpatient medical and hospitalisation coverage in the event of accidents and 17 infectious diseases, NTUC Income said in a statement. Those who have the policy can renew it and remain insured till the age of 75.

NTUC Income said the policy is in line with its “social mission to make essential insurance accessible and affordable”. “People with Down Syndrome form a segment that is usually denied insurance. We hope SpecialCare (Down Syndrome) will provide peace of mind and help in the expenses of families of children and youth with Down Syndrome,” said Mr Ken Ng, Chief Executive of NTUC Income.

The policy follows the launch of the insurer’s SpecialCare (Autism) policy in August last year. NTUC Income said about 420 policies under SpecialCare (Autism) had been taken up.

In the statement, NTUC Income also said the Down Syndrome Association (DSA) had estimated that more than 6,000 people in Singapore are affected with the condition.

A DSA spokesperson told TODAY the figure is an estimate as the exact number of individuals with Down Syndrome is not known.

Prudential Singapore declined to comment on NTUC’s SpecialCare (Down Syndrome) policy when contacted by TODAY, while AIA Singapore could not be reached for a response. ANGELA TENG