Expediting Citizenship Applications, Subsidised Healthcare Rates and Other Moves as Support for Singaporeans Adopting Foreign Children
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns proposed measures to support Singaporeans adopting foreign children, specifically regarding expedited citizenship, healthcare subsidies, insurance coverage, and backdated domestic worker levy concessions. Dr Charlene Chen inquired if the Government would consider these moves to alleviate the financial and administrative burdens on adoptive parents. Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli B M M explained that citizenship assessments proceed only after an adoption order and are subject to time-consuming criteria. He stated that public healthcare subsidies and MediShield Life are restricted to Singapore citizens and permanent residents, though financial assistance is available via medical social workers. Lastly, the Minister confirmed that domestic worker levy concessions are automatically granted upon citizenship, while the Ministry of Manpower evaluates appeals for retrospective claims.
Transcript
26 Dr Charlene Chen asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether the Government will consider supporting the adoption of foreign children by Singaporeans through (i) expediting the children's citizenship applications, (ii) permitting subsidised rates for healthcare and immunisations, (iii) implementing temporary plans for basic insurance coverage and (iv) allowing parents to claim backdated levy concessions for their migrant domestic workers.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Adoptive parents can submit a citizenship application for the adopted child after the adoption order is granted by the Court. The process to assess a citizenship application takes time, as all citizenship applications are assessed on a range of criteria, including the circumstances of the applicant and the family.
Subsidies at our Public Healthcare Institutions and coverage under MediShield Life, our national healthcare insurance scheme, are reserved for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents. All foreigners are not eligible for these, regardless of whether they were adopted or not. Nevertheless, Singaporean adoptive parents who face financial challenges with their foreign child's medical bills may approach the medical social workers in our Public Healthcare Institutions for financial assistance.
Once the child is granted Singapore Citizenship, the levy concession for the migrant domestic worker will be automatically granted. The Ministry of Manpower will consider appeals for retrospective levy concessions for migrant domestic workers hired to care for the adopted children.