Including Siblings in List of Persons Permitted to Contribute to CPF Accounts of Citizens and PRs for Payment of MediShield Life and ElderShield Premiums
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether siblings can be permitted to contribute to the CPF accounts of Singaporeans and Permanent Residents for MediShield Life and ElderShield premium payments. Mr Murali Pillai raised this issue to support individuals with disabilities who lack sufficient funds due to unemployment. Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong responded that voluntary cash contributions to siblings' MediSave are already allowed, subject to the Basic Healthcare Sum and annual contribution caps. Furthermore, the CPF Board permits direct premium payments from a sibling’s MediSave on a case-by-case basis if there is financial dependency and insufficient funds. Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong emphasized that Additional Premium Support remains available to ensure coverage for those who cannot afford premiums.
Transcript
34 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will consider extending the group of persons currently permitted to make contributions to the CPF accounts of Singaporeans and PRs for payment of their MediShield Life and ElderShield premiums to include their siblings to address the concerns of those who have insufficient CPF funds as a result of their disabilities preventing them to be gainfully employed.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: All Singaporeans and Permanent Residents can make voluntary cash contributions to the MediSave accounts of their loved ones, including siblings. This can be used to pay for MediShield Life and ElderShield premiums, as well as other healthcare expenses. MediSave accounts can be topped up to the applicable Basic Healthcare Sum of the recipient, subject to the annual cap on total contributions (mandatory and voluntary) of $37,740 across all the recipient's Central Provident Fund (CPF) accounts.
CPF Board also allows MediShield Life and ElderShield premiums to be paid directly from the MediSave account of the insured's siblings on a case-by-case basis, if the insured and immediate family members do not have sufficient MediSave, and the insured is financially dependent on their siblings. This is to help preserve the siblings' MediSave for themselves and their own immediate family members.
No one will lose their MediShield Life coverage because they cannot afford the premiums. Singaporeans who require additional support after receiving means-tested subsidies and help from their families can apply for Additional Premium Support.