SINGAPORE: Starting Jul 1, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will provide life and personal accident insurance coverage for all full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) and operationally ready National Servicemen (NSmen) in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
In a joint news release on Tuesday (Jun 21), the ministries said the group insurance policy is one of 30 recommendations by the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) to "better recognise the contributions of National Servicemen to national defence and security, and to strengthen our care for them".
The group insurance coverage was announced in April, by Senior Minister of State for Defence Ong Ye Kung in Parliament, as one of three ways that the Government would be enhancing recognition of NSmen. The other two enhancements come in the form of better SAFRA facilities as well as gifts and vouchers.
Under the insurance scheme, MINDEF and MHA will fully pay for the premiums of S$150,000 in group term life and S$150,000 group personal accident insurance coverage for the period of the servicemen's full-time NS and operationally ready NS duties.
The same coverage will also be extended to both regulars, during their period of employment, and volunteers, during their official duties, from both ministries.
Those under the scheme who wish to further insure themselves outside these periods or insure their dependants can purchase additional coverage on a voluntary basis at "competitive premiums", the authorities said.
The voluntary scheme will be made available from Jul 1 for MHA personnel and Oct 1 for MINDEF personnel. Unlike the core insurance coverage, which ceases when the insured person's service or employment ends, those insured under the voluntary scheme may continue to be covered after the completion of their service or employment is over, the ministries said.
This scheme covers up to S$1 million for group term life insurance and up to S$600,000 for group personal accident insurance.
For those who are currently policyholders under either ministry’s existing insurance scheme, existing coverage will also be ported over to the voluntary scheme so there will not be a gap in insurance coverage, they said, adding that they will work with appointed insurance company Aviva to ensure a smooth transition and conduct briefings and roadshows to those eligible for the new coverage.
(Infographic: MINDEF, MHA)
SCHEME WOULD REASSURE SERVICEMEN, FAMILIES: VIKRAM NAIR
MINDEF director of National Service affairs Simon Lim said National Servicemen form the backbone of the Singapore Armed Forces and perform "valuable service" to the nation.
"The provision of this group term life and group personal accident insurance, which is on top of our current welfare and compensation frameworks, is our way to thank them for their contributions to national defence," Colonel Lim said.
MHA director of NS affairs Rupert Gwee added that the group insurance was one of "many ways" in which the authorities look after the well-being of officers "as they go about their duties to keep Singapore safe and secure".
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs Vikram Nair said the scheme would go a long way towards reassuring servicemen and their families about the level of coverage they would receive.
He also emphasised that this was not rolled out in response to increased risk of accidents in the training of servicemen.
"It's a recognition of their contribution and I think the reality is that no matter how many precautions you take, accidents could happen ... the risks of accidents are always there and we try and make training as safe as possible while keeping it realistic," he said.
"I think it's good for these NS men and their families to know that there is this level of insurance coverage available should something happen."
INSURER LOOKING TO ENHANCE SYSTEMS FOR NS PERSONNEL: CEO
Aviva's chief executive officer Nishit Majmudar noted that the company has been providing insurance coverage for SAF servicemen since 1983, and that it was a "strong vote of confidence" to be chosen as the appointed insurer once again for MINDEF while also being appointed as the insurer for MHA.
Mr Nishit said that with the latest change in the scheme, the insurer's existing dedicated portal for MINDEF and SAF personnel's servicing and purchase needs would be extended to MHA personnel. He added that Aviva has a dedicated team of relationship consultants for MINDEF and MHA personnel, and is in the midst of mapping out enhancements and new features for the portal that will benefit the personnel of both ministries.
He also revealed that the company recently digitised the claims process for group insurance policyholders, launching a mobile application and portal called ClaimConnect.
Other than allowing users to submit their medical claims electronically, the system is expected to shorten turnaround time for claims to be processed, Mr Nishit said. In addition, users can access their coverage details and claims history to manage their medical expenses and claims with "more clarity", he said.
Mr Nishit said the insurer is looking to roll out ClaimsConnect to MINDEF and MHA personnel under the group insurance scheme.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/all-national-servicemen/2891146.html?cid=fbcna
In a joint news release on Tuesday (Jun 21), the ministries said the group insurance policy is one of 30 recommendations by the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) to "better recognise the contributions of National Servicemen to national defence and security, and to strengthen our care for them".
The group insurance coverage was announced in April, by Senior Minister of State for Defence Ong Ye Kung in Parliament, as one of three ways that the Government would be enhancing recognition of NSmen. The other two enhancements come in the form of better SAFRA facilities as well as gifts and vouchers.
Under the insurance scheme, MINDEF and MHA will fully pay for the premiums of S$150,000 in group term life and S$150,000 group personal accident insurance coverage for the period of the servicemen's full-time NS and operationally ready NS duties.
The same coverage will also be extended to both regulars, during their period of employment, and volunteers, during their official duties, from both ministries.
Those under the scheme who wish to further insure themselves outside these periods or insure their dependants can purchase additional coverage on a voluntary basis at "competitive premiums", the authorities said.
The voluntary scheme will be made available from Jul 1 for MHA personnel and Oct 1 for MINDEF personnel. Unlike the core insurance coverage, which ceases when the insured person's service or employment ends, those insured under the voluntary scheme may continue to be covered after the completion of their service or employment is over, the ministries said.
This scheme covers up to S$1 million for group term life insurance and up to S$600,000 for group personal accident insurance.
For those who are currently policyholders under either ministry’s existing insurance scheme, existing coverage will also be ported over to the voluntary scheme so there will not be a gap in insurance coverage, they said, adding that they will work with appointed insurance company Aviva to ensure a smooth transition and conduct briefings and roadshows to those eligible for the new coverage.
(Infographic: MINDEF, MHA)
SCHEME WOULD REASSURE SERVICEMEN, FAMILIES: VIKRAM NAIR
MINDEF director of National Service affairs Simon Lim said National Servicemen form the backbone of the Singapore Armed Forces and perform "valuable service" to the nation.
"The provision of this group term life and group personal accident insurance, which is on top of our current welfare and compensation frameworks, is our way to thank them for their contributions to national defence," Colonel Lim said.
MHA director of NS affairs Rupert Gwee added that the group insurance was one of "many ways" in which the authorities look after the well-being of officers "as they go about their duties to keep Singapore safe and secure".
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs Vikram Nair said the scheme would go a long way towards reassuring servicemen and their families about the level of coverage they would receive.
He also emphasised that this was not rolled out in response to increased risk of accidents in the training of servicemen.
"It's a recognition of their contribution and I think the reality is that no matter how many precautions you take, accidents could happen ... the risks of accidents are always there and we try and make training as safe as possible while keeping it realistic," he said.
"I think it's good for these NS men and their families to know that there is this level of insurance coverage available should something happen."
INSURER LOOKING TO ENHANCE SYSTEMS FOR NS PERSONNEL: CEO
Aviva's chief executive officer Nishit Majmudar noted that the company has been providing insurance coverage for SAF servicemen since 1983, and that it was a "strong vote of confidence" to be chosen as the appointed insurer once again for MINDEF while also being appointed as the insurer for MHA.
Mr Nishit said that with the latest change in the scheme, the insurer's existing dedicated portal for MINDEF and SAF personnel's servicing and purchase needs would be extended to MHA personnel. He added that Aviva has a dedicated team of relationship consultants for MINDEF and MHA personnel, and is in the midst of mapping out enhancements and new features for the portal that will benefit the personnel of both ministries.
He also revealed that the company recently digitised the claims process for group insurance policyholders, launching a mobile application and portal called ClaimConnect.
Other than allowing users to submit their medical claims electronically, the system is expected to shorten turnaround time for claims to be processed, Mr Nishit said. In addition, users can access their coverage details and claims history to manage their medical expenses and claims with "more clarity", he said.
Mr Nishit said the insurer is looking to roll out ClaimsConnect to MINDEF and MHA personnel under the group insurance scheme.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/all-national-servicemen/2891146.html?cid=fbcna
