Using Medisave to bear costs on raising a baby

[silverfox@]

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_614749.html

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Dec 17, 2010
Baby, it's not cheap...

'Instead of a cap, couples should be allowed to use Medisave to bear the full costs.'

MR SEBASTIAN TAN: 'Like Madam Lee Meng Fern ('The cost of having a child'; Dec 9), I recently became the proud father of a baby girl. That is when I realised how expensive it is to raise a child. Instead of imposing a cap on usage, couples should be allowed to use Medisave to bear the full costs of pre-delivery checks with the specialists, sessions with the gynaecologist and delivery, and hospitalisation expenses. If parents can use Medisave to fully bear the costs related to having a baby, their cash savings could be better used for other expenses for the mother and baby. This may better persuade couples to have a child.'
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Having a baby is indeed very expensive. The govt is not prepared for people to use the medisave for medical costs in raising a baby. gynae, delivery, hospitalisation is not cheap.

Medisave contribution from self employed is quite a substantial amount, while for those who are employees have a smaller amount in their medisave accounts.

I believe its a good idea to use CPF medisave to bear full costs of pre-delivery, provided there is a minimum sum in their medisave (for employed and self-employed) This should be a win win because everyone have different contributions and amount in their CPF medisave.

Baby bonus comes for nothing because it is given only after the child is born. In between that 9-10 month pregnancy, all that costs is not cheap but govt scholars do not think of that into consideration. :p

 

[Char_Azn]

Having a baby is indeed very expensive. The govt is not prepared for people to use the medisave for medical costs in raising a baby. gynae, delivery, hospitalisation is not cheap.

Who say having baby is expensive. I remember reading an article of a joker who live in a 1 room flat have 7 children :p:p:p

Update:

OK found said article
http://www.tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,265118-1292536740,00.html?

 

[LonewolfAlfa]

the 10k baby bonus is bull crap. they give u 4k cash in installments and for the balance 6k, they'll only give u a dollar for every dollar u deposit in a special account for the child.

if u dont manage to fork out 6k, they govt wont give u 6k.

 

[silverfox@]

Who say having baby is expensive. I remember reading an article of a joker who live in a 1 room flat have 7 children :p:p:p

Update:

OK found said article
http://www.tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,265118-1292536740,00.html?

At the expense of much disapproval from neighbours and written complaints:p

 

[ivebert]

the 10k baby bonus is bull crap. they give u 4k cash in installments and for the balance 6k, they'll only give u a dollar for every dollar u deposit in a special account for the child.

if u dont manage to fork out 6k, they govt wont give u 6k.

If you don't even have the ability to fork out that $6K savings for your Kid, you shouldn't have children and burden the society :oIo:

This is a good policy to make everyone to start saving for their kid's university fees because when the children reach 18, the fees will double already

A dumb sinkie like you should be chemically castrated to prevent you and your whore wife from procreating

 

[mako65]

Who say having baby is expensive. I remember reading an article of a joker who live in a 1 room flat have 7 children :p:p:p

Update:

OK found said article
http://www.tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,265118-1292536740,00.html?

Lucky guy got the quantity but hopefully he can also get Some quality offsprings too!!! Well, he's going to slough it out for sure!!!

 

[ivebert]

Lucky guy got the quantity but hopefully he can also get Some quality offsprings too!!! Well, he's going to slough it out for sure!!!

This lowly peasant should be chemically castrated to stop him from procreating another generation of stupid and burdensome children

Everyone knows that the quality of the parents and their ability to guide their children are very important factors that will determine a child's success.

All low-income Sinkies should be castrated.

 

[mako65]

This lowly peasant should be chemically castrated to stop him from procreating another generation of stupid and burdensome children

Everyone knows that the quality of the parents and their ability to guide their children are very important factors that will determine a child's success.

All low-income Sinkies should be castrated.

Haha..Bert! U got a point there but "castrating"? Alittle too heavy a word to be used...anyway, it's his life afterall! He shld plan ahead b4 the number 8 by now...hahaha!

 

[ivebert]

Haha..Bert! U got a point there but "castrating"? Alittle too heavy a word to be used...anyway, it's his life afterall! He shld plan ahead b4 the number 8 by now...hahaha!

With no natural resources, it is very important that SG avoid breeding another generation of peasants.

In the past, the peasants can serve as office boys and waitresses. Now the Sinkie peasants are very ambitious and want to be managers and engineers. But they still retain the peasant low intelligence genes!

Since SG can easily import cheap FTs to replace these sinkie peasants in low-paying jobs, castration must be performed on these peasant sinkies because their very existence have no meaning anymore.

 

[mako65]

With no natural resources, it is very important that SG avoid breeding another generation of peasants.

In the past, the peasants can serve as office boys and waitresses. Now the Sinkie peasants are very ambitious and want to be managers and engineers. But they still retain the peasant low intelligence genes!

Since SG can easily import cheap FTs to replace these sinkie peasants in low-paying jobs, castration must be performed on these peasant sinkies because their very existence have no meaning anymore.

Ok, ok...sometimes u're at your most wickedly witty but sometimes? Ok, ok...import cheapo FTs as u wish for Christmas then! I got to go for my steamboat dinner at this koka now! Bye..

 

[jw5]

Ok, ok...sometimes u're at your most wickedly witty but sometimes? Ok, ok...import cheapo FTs as u wish for Christmas then! I got to go for my steamboat dinner at this koka now! Bye..

Coca steamboat? Yum, have more fish glue on my behalf. :p

Have to disagree with TS. If a person has to use his medisave to have and raise a child, he's probably better off not having the child.

 

[mako65]

Coca steamboat? Yum, have more fish glue on my behalf. :p

Have to disagree with TS. If a person has to use his medisave to have and raise a child, he's probably better off not having the child.

Thks Pal! Steamy hotpot is good for the cool weather...crowded but food is ok!

 

[wahlaneh]

wahlaneh...
in other words: pay for ur own baby lah!

 

[silverfox@]

Coca steamboat? Yum, have more fish glue on my behalf. :p

Have to disagree with TS. If a person has to use his medisave to have and raise a child, he's probably better off not having the child.

Medisave as it says is for medical purpose. Not for buying milk powder, baby carrier or books for the kid. It's medical expenses incurred before the birth of the kid and I personally feel the costs are not cheap. If the govt wants people to have more babies, they should look into reasons why people do not want to have babies.

1stly, medisave money does not belong to govt. It belongs to the people. gynae, check ups, hospitalisation, surgery etc is big business for the hospitals and are not going to cost only few hundred.

To encourage childbirth, must lessen the burden for couples to have kids. During the pregnancy period for their 1st birth, and couples are going to spend a lot of money, they are not likely to go for the 2nd. Imagine before you give birth you are going to spend few thousands on medical bills.

Even if medical costs are not main factors why couples are not having kids, but if medisave can help couples to lighten their burden, why not?

If there is a minimum amount to maintain medisave accounts, it would be even better.

Last to say, not to even depend on the govt, there should be some leeway for people to use their medisave to procreate for the next generation.

 

[Forvendet]

During pregnancy months pre-delivery, what cost? Buy tidbits, tonics, herbs and TCMs with Medisave? In case of complication and emergency, she'll be warded and Medisave can be used anyway. And if there's a miscarriage in the end anyway, must refund Medisave or not? That said, I do think it does make sense for some Medisave to be used toward consultation and ultrasound costs, maybe a limit of $500 for each parent, that's $1k, more than that pay cash.