Plans to Bridge Gap in Current Healthcare Insurance Coverage for Post-retirement Employees

42 Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry has data on the current number of older employees who are not covered by any medical insurance provided by their employers; and (b) whether the Ministry has plans to work with insurers to provide medical insurance coverage for older workers who work past their retirement and re-employment age and, if so, what are the plans.

Dr Tan See Leng: The Ministry of Manpower does not collect data on the age of employees who are not covered by employer-provided medical insurance.

Employers are not required to provide medical insurance to their employees, although some employers choose to do so as a form of employment benefits. Employers could choose to make contributions to their employees’ MediSave account, to help pay for the premiums of MediShield Life or Integrated Shield Plans. This allows employees to retain insurance coverage even when they change employers or stop working.

All Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, whether employed or unemployed, are covered by MediShield Life throughout their lives.