More should be done to incentivise citizens, youth to stay healthy

More should be done to incentivise citizens, especially the youth, to stay healthy, said several participants on VoicesTODAY, which aired on MediaCorp’s Channel 5 last night.

The discussion revolved around the issue of healthcare costs in light of the enhanced national insurance coverage announced yesterday.

The participants pointed out that more can be done to encourage preventive healthcare. They suggested, for instance, offering rebates or lower premiums for those who keep themselves healthy.

Dr Jeremy Lim, Principal Consultant at Insights Health Associates, who was a guest on the show, added: “The healthcare financing model should encourage citizens to remain healthy, and if they are not very healthy, to take measures ... It could even be about gym memberships, mental health issues … whatever works to encourage people to be as healthy as they can be.”

On Medisave, the participants were divided on whether its coverage should be further extended following yesterday’s announcement that it will cover five more chronic diseases.

Caller Hajjah Salbiah hoped that it can be used to cover A&E treatments, as well as dental and polyclinic bills but another caller, Mr Tan Tze Lee, cautioned that this might lead to abuse which would deplete Medisave accounts “very quickly”.

Most of the participants also welcomed the proposed MediShield Life scheme, noting that it would cover citizens who had “previously fallen through the cracks” and those with pre-existing health conditions.

Google Hangout participant Patrick Kee said the scheme will provide a safety net for the pioneer generation, who may not have amassed enough savings under the healthcare financing framework. WOO SIAN BOON