Clarification by Minister of State for Health
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This clarification concerns a factual correction by Minister of State Rahayu Mahzam regarding healthcare support for foreign spouses of Singapore Citizens. She highlighted that most spouses with Singaporean children hold Long-Term Visit Pass Plus status, qualifying them for medical subsidies. For those on standard Long-Term Visit Passes, the Minister of State noted that while appeals are few, assistance remains available through medical social workers. The specific correction clarifies that these individuals should be referred for financial assistance rather than specifically for MediFund as previously stated. This update ensures accurate communication regarding the procedures for sponsored dependants seeking help with medical expenses during the Committee of Supply debate.
Transcript
The following statement was made in a clarification given by the Minister of State for Health (Ms Rahayu Mahzam) during the Ministry of Health’s Committee of Supply debate at the Sitting of 7 March 2024:
The Minister of State for Health (Ms Rahayu Mahzam): Based on the information that we have from the Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority, the vast majority of foreign spouses with Singapore Citizen husbands and have Singapore Citizen minor children are actually LTVP+. So, in that sense, the vast majority of spouses are therefore eligible for medical subsidies already.
We generally receive very few appeals each year from Singapore residents for their sponsored dependants on LTVP. If you do have some of these cases, they can be surfaced, and they can approach medical social workers to request for MediFund. [Please refer to "Committee of Supply – Head O (Ministry of Health)", Official Report, 7 March 2025, Vol 95, Issue 160, Budget section.]
Written statement by Ms Rahayu Mahzam circulated with leave of the Speaker in accordance with Standing Order No 29(5):
I wish to make the following factual correction to my reply provided during the Sitting of 7 March 2025. My statement should read as follows:
The Minister of State for Health (Ms Rahayu Mahzam): Based on the information that we have from the Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority, the vast majority of foreign spouses with Singapore Citizen husbands and have Singapore Citizen minor children are actually LTVP+. So, in that sense, the vast majority of spouses are therefore eligible for medical subsidies already.
We generally receive very few appeals each year from Singapore residents for their sponsored dependants on LTVP. If you do have some of these cases, they can be surfaced, and they can approach medical social workers to request for financial assistance.