Pensioners' Out-of-pocket Medical Expenses since Implementation of MediShield Life
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether government pensioners' out-of-pocket medical expenses increased following the 2015 MediShield Life implementation and the communication of coverage for their spouses. Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong stated that pensioners do not pay higher costs and may pay less for large bills using MediShield Life to cover co-payments. He explained that the Government fully pays premiums for specific ward schemes, while others receive higher Medisave contributions for their and their dependants' premiums. The Public Service Division communicated these arrangements to eligible pensioners in 2015 through direct correspondence, engagement sessions, and a dedicated hotline. Consequently, pensioners maintain all existing medical benefits and are guaranteed not to face higher out-of-pocket expenses than if MediShield Life had not been introduced.
Transcript
38 Mr Png Eng Huat asked the Minister for Health (a) whether pensioners are paying more or less out-of-pocket expenses on the average for their medical treatments since the implementation of MediShield Life on 1 November 2015; and (b) whether all pensioners have been informed of the free MediShield Life coverage for their spouses.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Government pensioners, like all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, have been covered under MediShield Life from 1 November 2015. Government pensioners will continue to enjoy all their existing medical benefits and will not pay higher out-of-pocket for their medical expenses than if MediShield Life had not been introduced.
In addition, Government pensioners can use MediShield Life to help pay for the co-payment portion of their bills, if any. Some pensioners with larger bills may pay even lower out-of-pocket expenses with MediShield Life.
The Government is paying the MediShield Life premiums in full for pensioners and their dependants on the Fixed Amount on Ward (FAW) and Co-payment on Ward (CPW) schemes. Pensioners on the Comprehensive Co-payment Scheme (CCS) and Medisave-cum-Subsidised Outpatient (MSO) scheme receive higher Medisave contributions from the Government. They can use this to help pay for their own and their dependants' premiums. The Public Service Division has written to all eligible Government pensioners in 2015 to inform them of this arrangement, conducted various engagement sessions with pensioners and is maintaining a hotline to clarify any queries.