Estimated Incremental Cost to Extend Health Subsidies to Long-Term Visit Pass Holders for FY2017/2018

12 Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Health what is the estimated incremental cost of extending health subsidies to all Long-Term Visit Pass holders for financial year 2017/2018.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: The subsidy framework for healthcare services is guided by a set of policy principles, which include differentiation by citizenship status. As we had previously explained in this House, Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents receive Government subsidies at public healthcare institutions, with citizens receiving a higher level of subsidies. To support Singaporeans with foreign spouses who are holders of Long-Term Visit Pass Plus (LTVP+), they are also eligible for healthcare subsidies for inpatient services. Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) holders do not enjoy subsidies.

It is not meaningful to compute the incremental cost of extending healthcare subsidies to all LTVP holders, as it will involve assumptions on the number of LTVP holders, their healthcare needs and the extent of the subsidy to be granted when there is currently no plan to do so.