Statistics on Private Health Insurance Coverage Disputes Impacting Access to Timely Clinical Treatment over Past Three Years

20 Dr Hamid Razak asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) whether available data shows if disputes between patients and private health insurers over coverage have increased over the past three years; (b) whether evidence exists of how such disputes affect patients' access to timely and appropriate care in both public and private healthcare settings; and (c) what safeguards are in place to ensure insurers' decisions do not undermine clinically indicated treatment.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: The Government assures Singaporeans universal access to healthcare through subsidies, MediShield Life, MediSave and MediFund. Private insurance is optional, mostly for non-subsidised healthcare and usually involving private hospitals.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) also expect insurers to process claims fairly, according to policy terms. MAS will take action against insurers who do not do so.

MOH does not actively track disputes between patients and private health insurers, as these are matters relating to private contracts. For disputes that cannot be resolved directly with the insurer, policyholders may seek recourse at the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre. Data on private health insurance disputes will be provided separately by MAS.