Singaporeans still unclear about MediShield Life: DPM Teo

SINGAPORE — Singaporeans know they will benefit from the improved health coverage provided by MediShield Life, but many people still have questions about the details, said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean today (July 13).

He made the observation after a dialogue with around 250 grassroots leaders at the Punggol 21 Community Club. The session was the second of 15 organised by the Health Ministry in collaboration with the People’s Association.

Mr Teo, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, chaired the dialogue with Senior Minister of State for Health and Manpower Amy Khor. Other MPs from the GRC were also present.

Dr Khor told the media that the questions posed by grassroots leaders during the dialogue centred around how MediShield Life works, and how would it affect their existing Integrated Shield Plans (IP). Some grassroots leaders had asked if they should give up their IP policies.

She said: “Many don’t know that the Integrated Shield Plan comprises two components — the MediShield portion, which is run by the CPF; and the top-up portion, which is by the private insurer.”

The premiums are similarly divided into two portions — one that goes into the Central Provident Fund (CPF) for the MediShield pool, and the other to private insurers.

“IP is a lot more expensive — higher than MediShield — because it provides enhanced coverage for higher ward classes,” Dr Khor added. “We want to assure IP policyholders that they will not be disadvantaged.”

She said all IP policy holders will benefit from the changes as they will be covered for life and for all medical conditions. Currently, some of them have IP policies that exclude pre-existing conditions. Dr Khor said some 60 per cent of Singaporeans are currently on IP.

Other questions during the dialogue included how the Government can sustain its commitments to provide permanent premium subsidies for MediShield Life, as well as whether premiums and taxes will rise in the future.

Questions were also raised about subsidies given to members of the Pioneer Generation for their MediShield Life premiums.

Mr Teo said: “Now we need to go out — my colleagues and I — together with our key grassroots leaders to bring these messages to more of our residents from each of our divisions so that they understand how MediShield Life will benefit them in detail.” CHANNEL NEWSASIA