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Want to increase coverage and increase premiums woh. Now that they want to raise the lifetime claims limit, all the hospitals are salivating thinking about how much they can increase their charges to "max out" the patient. Fucking Gun talk like MOH doing everyone a big fat favour. Hospitals are build by taxpayers, doctors and nurses trained in universities build by taxpayers, and still want to charge and charge. I am in favour of increasing coverage, BUT WHY MUST INCREASE PREMUIMS OR ANY OTHER COSTS?
The Ministry of Health (MOH) is proposing enhancing MediShield, the national health insurance scheme, to provide wider coverage for Singaporeans, from the first quarter of 2013.
The last round of adjustment was made in 2008.
With the enhancements, MediShield coverage will be extended to include congenital and neo-natal conditions.
This will be implemented via an auto-cover exercise, which means all newborns of Singaporeans and permanent residents will be covered from birth throughout their lifetime, unless their parents opt out from it.
Talking about these possible enhancements, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said his ministry will garner the views from various quarters, including from doctors and parents, before making a final decision.
"For congenital and neo-natal conditions to be covered under MediShield, the population will then have to take into account the premiums that will be associated with this additional coverage. So we want to listen to feedback. It is a process of consultation," he said.
MOH said the support of parents is crucial, as a high opt-out rate would reduce the benefit of risk-pooling and result in higher premiums.
The proposed coverage will cost about S$12 per year, or about S$1 per month, and a public consultation will be launched from 18 July to 15 August 15 to gather feedback. Singaporeans may also send their feedback to [email protected].
Under other changes, the Health Ministry will extend MediShield coverage to two groups of policyholders: Those up to 90 years old, from 85 previously; and newly-diagnosed patients who need in-patient psychiatric treatment, with daily claim limit capped at S$100.
In addition, MediShield will also cover short-stay wards in the hospitals' emergency departments, when the changes take effect.
With the proposed enhancements, claims will also be increased. From next year, patients will be able to claim up to S$70,000 for their hospital bills annually, up from the current S$50,000.
The lifetime claims limit will be adjusted from S$200,000 to S$300,000 to help patients who face large medical bills.
To pay for these changes, MediShield premiums and deductibles -- the amount of a hospital bill a patient has to pay before MediShield coverage kicks in -- will have to increase.
The deductibles for bills from a Class C ward will increase from S$1,000 to S$1,500 and from S$1,500 to S$2,000 for Class B2 bills.
As for premiums, the Health Minister said the increase will amount to no more than S$5 per month for the majority of policyholders aged 65 and below.
For those older, their premiums will be largely offset by the annual and one-time Medisave top-ups, such that they will in fact see a decrease in premiums payable.
In the Budget this year, a one-time Medisave top-up of up to S$33 per month was announced to help Singaporeans absorb the impact of the increase.
Medisave top-ups of up to $450 a year under the GST Voucher scheme can also offset the premium, MOH added.
Speaking at the opening of the Simulation and Integrated Medical Training Advancement Centre at Tan Tock Seng Hospital on Wednesday, the Minister said patients who have difficulties paying their MediShield premiums and deductibles despite the assistance given will have avenues such as Medifund to turn to for further help.
"The important thing is to assure Singaporeans that even with the adjustment in premiums and deductibles, MediShield and healthcare will continue to be affordable for Singaporeans," he said.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) is proposing enhancing MediShield, the national health insurance scheme, to provide wider coverage for Singaporeans, from the first quarter of 2013.
The last round of adjustment was made in 2008.
With the enhancements, MediShield coverage will be extended to include congenital and neo-natal conditions.
This will be implemented via an auto-cover exercise, which means all newborns of Singaporeans and permanent residents will be covered from birth throughout their lifetime, unless their parents opt out from it.
Talking about these possible enhancements, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said his ministry will garner the views from various quarters, including from doctors and parents, before making a final decision.
"For congenital and neo-natal conditions to be covered under MediShield, the population will then have to take into account the premiums that will be associated with this additional coverage. So we want to listen to feedback. It is a process of consultation," he said.
MOH said the support of parents is crucial, as a high opt-out rate would reduce the benefit of risk-pooling and result in higher premiums.
The proposed coverage will cost about S$12 per year, or about S$1 per month, and a public consultation will be launched from 18 July to 15 August 15 to gather feedback. Singaporeans may also send their feedback to [email protected].
Under other changes, the Health Ministry will extend MediShield coverage to two groups of policyholders: Those up to 90 years old, from 85 previously; and newly-diagnosed patients who need in-patient psychiatric treatment, with daily claim limit capped at S$100.
In addition, MediShield will also cover short-stay wards in the hospitals' emergency departments, when the changes take effect.
With the proposed enhancements, claims will also be increased. From next year, patients will be able to claim up to S$70,000 for their hospital bills annually, up from the current S$50,000.
The lifetime claims limit will be adjusted from S$200,000 to S$300,000 to help patients who face large medical bills.
To pay for these changes, MediShield premiums and deductibles -- the amount of a hospital bill a patient has to pay before MediShield coverage kicks in -- will have to increase.
The deductibles for bills from a Class C ward will increase from S$1,000 to S$1,500 and from S$1,500 to S$2,000 for Class B2 bills.
As for premiums, the Health Minister said the increase will amount to no more than S$5 per month for the majority of policyholders aged 65 and below.
For those older, their premiums will be largely offset by the annual and one-time Medisave top-ups, such that they will in fact see a decrease in premiums payable.
In the Budget this year, a one-time Medisave top-up of up to S$33 per month was announced to help Singaporeans absorb the impact of the increase.
Medisave top-ups of up to $450 a year under the GST Voucher scheme can also offset the premium, MOH added.
Speaking at the opening of the Simulation and Integrated Medical Training Advancement Centre at Tan Tock Seng Hospital on Wednesday, the Minister said patients who have difficulties paying their MediShield premiums and deductibles despite the assistance given will have avenues such as Medifund to turn to for further help.
"The important thing is to assure Singaporeans that even with the adjustment in premiums and deductibles, MediShield and healthcare will continue to be affordable for Singaporeans," he said.
