Healthcare Subsidies for Long-Term Visit Pass Holders Married to Singapore Citizens
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Kok Heng Leun’s inquiry on whether Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) holders married to Singapore Citizens should receive the same healthcare subsidies as LTVP-Plus holders. Minister of State Mr Chee Hong Tat explained that healthcare subsidies are generally based on an individual's citizenship status rather than their spouse's, maintaining distinctions between citizens, residents, and foreigners. He noted that while LTVP-Plus holders receive inpatient subsidies at Permanent Resident rates, the two LTVP categories are intentionally differentiated to manage benefit allocation. The Minister of State emphasized that extending subsidies to LTVP holders would increase the financial burden on Singaporean taxpayers and requires careful consideration. He concluded that current policy maintains tiered support and declined to provide specific cost impact figures during the session.
Transcript
The following question stood in the name of Mr Kok Heng Leun –
12 To ask the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will consider giving Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) holders who are married to Singapore Citizens, similar health subsidies as LTVP-Plus holders.
Mdm Speaker: Does someone want to raise the question on his behalf?
Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang): Question No 12, Madam.
The Minister of State for Health (Mr Chee Hong Tat) (for the Minister for Health): Mdm Speaker, Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs) receive Government subsidies at public healthcare institutions, with citizens receiving a higher level of subsidies. This is in line with the broader Government policy of differentiating benefits by citizenship status.
Patients are extended subsidies based on their own citizenship status, and not that of their spouses. This is the general principle which applies to different types of Government subsidies, including for healthcare services. To support Singaporeans with foreign spouses who have not obtained permanent residence or citizenship, the Government decided in 2012, to extend healthcare subsidies for inpatient services to foreign spouses who are LTVP-Plus holders. They are given the same level of subsidies for inpatient services as PRs.
Mdm Speaker, we need to be mindful that the cost of extending Government subsidies to LTVP holders will ultimately be borne by all Singaporeans. Any proposal to further extend more Government subsidies to foreigners, who are neither PRs nor LTVP-Plus holders, would need to be carefully considered.
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong (Non-Constituency Member): I thank the Minister of State for the answer. Can I just have a quick supplementary question? What are the criteria which the Ministry is using in justifying a subsidy for LTVP-Plus, but not LTVP? Could you elaborate?
Mr Chee Hong Tat: Mdm Speaker, I think I have explained this in my reply, that we provide subsidies to LTVP-Plus holders for inpatient services that are pegged at the same level as PRs. Foreign spouses of Singaporeans can be given LTVP or LTVP-Plus. So, there is a differentiation in terms of the benefits of these two categories, including subsidies for healthcare services.
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong: Sorry if I did not make myself clear. Just wanted to know what are the criteria that make the Ministry decide on giving that to the LTVP-Plus, but not the LTVP. There must be some form of criteria, because both are LTVPs − one has Plus and one has no Plus. There must be some form of criteria that motivates the decision.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: Mdm Speaker, this goes back to when the LTVP-Plus scheme was introduced and the policy intent was to have two categories of LTVP holders − one is LTVP, the other one is LTVP-Plus.
Between the two categories, there will be a differentiation in terms of the benefits for these two groups. Similar to how we differentiate the benefits for citizens, PRs, LTVP-Plus and LTVP.
I think that is the policy decision to have these different categories of LTVP holders and the healthcare subsidy is part of this differentiation. Therefore, it is extended to LTVP-Plus holders but not to LTVP holders.
Mr Leon Perera (Non-Constituency Member): Mdm Speaker, a quick supplementary question, please.
Mdm Speaker: Yes, please.
Mr Leon Perera: Just one supplementary question for the Minister of State. The Minister of State alluded to the cost factor. Has the Government actually done a study on quantifying what will be the cost impact if this benefit was extended to LTVP spouses of Singaporeans, beyond just the LTVP-Plus? Is there a ballpark figure in mind?
Mr Chee Hong Tat: I think that question is not part of the original question, so if the Member would like more information, he can file a separate Parliamentary Question.