Annual Average Subsidy Disbursed Per CHAS Cardholder

18 Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Health what is the annual average subsidy disbursed per CHAS cardholder since the scheme started and what is the projected annual expenditure for CHAS subsidies for the next five years.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: The Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) was launched in 2012. Over the years, benefits and coverage of CHAS have been expanded and the number of CHAS cardholders has also increased.

In 2017, a total of $154 million was disbursed to about 650,000 CHAS beneficiaries, equivalent to more than $200 subsidy per beneficiary, compared to $13 million disbursed in 2012 to 75,000 beneficiaries, equivalent to approximately $170 per beneficiary.

MOH plans to extend CHAS subsidies to all Singaporeans with chronic conditions, to enable more Singaporeans to benefit from subsidised chronic care at CHAS general practitioners. With this expansion, the projected total CHAS subsidies is expected to rise. The details are being worked out.