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MediShield Life ‘will also benefit Integrated Shield Plan holders’

SINGAPORE — The question of how those holding Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) — a group that makes up 60 per cent of Singaporeans — will be affected by the new MediShield Life is the question on Singaporeans’ minds, based on feedback from grassroots leaders so far.

SINGAPORE — The question of how those holding Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) — a group that makes up 60 per cent of Singaporeans — will be affected by the new MediShield Life is the question on Singaporeans’ minds, based on feedback from grassroots leaders so far.

In particular, they wanted to know whether they should still remain on such plans, which ride on top of the basic MediShield scheme. They also wanted to know whether the Government could sustain the “significant support” in the form of permanent premium subsidies for MediShield Life and whether taxes will have to be raised.

Sharing this after a closed-door dialogue session with about 250 grassroots leaders at Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC yesterday, Senior Minister of State (Health and Manpower) Amy Khor assured IP policyholders that they will not be at a disadvantage with the implementation of the scheme.

“In fact, all IP plan policyholders are going to benefit from the implementation of MediShield Life, because they will be covered for life with MediShield Life and for all conditions, including the pre-existing conditions, even if they are excluded from the current IP plans,” she added.

The session is the second of 15 sessions reaching out to grassroots leaders to enhance their awareness of Singapore’s healthcare system, organised by the Ministry of Health (MOH) with the People’s Association.

Dr Khor, who co-chaired the session, noted that some grassroots leaders had asked if they should give up their IPs. Many of them, she added, did not know that the IPs comprises of two components — the MediShield portion, run by the Central Provident Fund (CPF) and the top-up portion, run by the private insurer.

Many were also unaware that the premiums are similarly divided into two portions — one going to the CPF Board for the MediShield pool and the other to private insurers.

“(An) Integrated Shield Plan is a lot more expensive than MediShield simply because it provides enhanced coverage for higher ward classes,” said Dr Khor. “We want to assure IP policyholders that they will not be disadvantaged.”

Asked if the Government could manage the proposed standardised IP — aimed at those seeking treatment at Class B1 wards — that is currently under deliberation, Dr Khor said the MOH is working very closely with the Life Insurance Association Singapore as well as healthcare providers.

“We are studying (and) looking into how we can implement the various recommendations of the MediShield Life review committee and we will take all these views and suggestions into consideration,” she said.

The dialogue session was also attended by all six Members of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who co-chaired the session with Dr Khor, told reporters that grassroots leaders will help the Government to explain the scheme to residents. “It’s a major shift, it brings major benefits to all Singaporeans for life and we want to be able to go out to each of our divisions after this and bring the message to them and answer any questions that they may have,” he said.

Asked if there were any misconceptions over MediShield Life, Mr Teo Ser Luck, who is also Minister of State (Trade and Industry) and Mayor of North East district, said the grassroots leaders were concerned about what the scheme can offer.

To explain the scheme better, the use of jargon should be avoided, he said, adding that dialects could be useful when engaging older Chinese people.

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