Statistics on Patients Defaulting on Medical Bills

17 Mr Chen Show Mao asked the Minister for Health (a) from 2010 to 2015, how many cases of patients defaulting on medical bills in local hospitals have there been each year; (b) of these defaulters, how many are Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents and how many are others; and (c) what is the current total amount of debt owed by such category of defaulters respectively.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: The majority of the patients, or about 95%, in public hospitals settle their hospital bills within two months of discharge. This has remained similar over the last six years.

Among patients with arrears outstanding for more than two months, Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents account for about 86%. The average amount owed was around $350.

The equivalent figure for foreign patients was $1,400. The arrears of foreigner patients are typically larger because these patients do not receive Government subsidies at our public hospitals.

These arrears may eventually be paid up over time. They also include patients who are currently paying their outstanding bills by instalment or are under assessment for financial assistance by the hospitals.