Medishield only covers $200 of sister’s total nett hospital bill of $3050.20 –premium

[makapaaa]

[h=2][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Medishield only covers $200 of sister’s total nett hospital bill of $3050.20 –premium paid $500[/FONT][/h][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Number of View: 1855[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I refer to the article, “Medisave withdrawal limits for MediShield, Integrated Shield to go up from November”, Todayonline, 7 Sep 2013 – link[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Arial, sans-serif][/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]http://www.todayonline.com/singapor...mits-medishield-integrated-shield-go-november[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] .[/FONT][/FONT]
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It is noted that the Medisave premiums for the affected groups (mainly the elderly Singaporeans or the “Pioneer Generation” as PM Lee called them in his NDR2013) will go up to cater to the changes in coverage in Medishield Life.
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]While everyone seemed to focus on the new extended Medishield Life coverage (besides coverage beyond 90 years old), I seriously question if at the end of the day when the need to claim on the Medishield (should hospitalization occur), the patient may end up shouldering the bulk of the medical expenses, as in the case of my sister who ended up shouldering some 93.5% of her SGH bill as Medishield only paid for 6.5% (or $200) of her $3020.50 bill.
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Mind you, she has been paying >$500 a year in premiums (soon to go up to $1200 a year wef 1st Nov 2013) from her Medisave (for the last20 years or more?), so her premium contribution over the years easily amount to more than $10,000 ($500 x 20 years), but when she needed to claim under Medishield (she had hardly ever needed to claim under Medishield before this recent claim, if I can recall correctly), she could only claim a miserable $200?
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]From her example, I think the Medishield scheme is a rip-off! If an audit were to be done, I am sure the surplus in Medishield must be huge since it is so difficult to claim under its stringent claim policies?
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Therefore, all this talk of recognising the Pioneer Generations’ (not to mention NSmen’s and other Singaporeans) contribution to nation building is all lip service.
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Just to be clear, my sister was not asking for waiver of the balance of the SGH bill which has to be paid in cash (some $600 – the rest of her $3050 bill was paid through Medisave). What she requested was for the $600 to be paid via her son’s Medisave (as she needed to conserve whatever cash she is left with as she is now long retired), but alas, this was rejected despite many appeals to SGH and MOH.

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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]James[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]*********[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]From: “[email protected]” [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif][email protected][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]To: [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Cc:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] [email protected]; [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif][email protected][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Sent:[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Wednesday, August 21, 2013 6:18 PM[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Subject:Reply – MOH Public Query PQ-13-005306: Appeal/SGH/Mdm Ho
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Dear Mr Ho,
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]We refer to your appeal to the Ministry of Health on the use of more Medisave to settle your sister’s outstanding bill incurred in Singapore General Hospital.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]SGH has earlier notified us of this appeal. We have assessed the appeal and based on the bill size and the patient’s family financial circumstances, we are unable to accede to the appeal for an additional Medisave use.
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Nonetheless, we do suggest that the patient’s family work out an appropriate instalment plan with the SGH for payment of the outstanding amount.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]However, if family still experiences financial difficulty to settle the bill, they can approach the Medical Social Workers at SGH for financial assistance.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The MSW will assess the application and accord the appropriate assistance on a case-by-case basis.
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]For your convenience, we are copying SGH in this email so that they can follow up and discuss with the family on the possible avenues of assistance available to your sister.
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Thank you.
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Yours sincerely,[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Yusnita Helmi for Quality Service Manager Ministry of Health, Singapore
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]**********[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Sent: Tuesday, 20 August, 2013 3:04 PM[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]To: MOH QSM (MOH)[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Cc: Ching Yee TAN (MOH); Lilian NG (MOH); [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif][email protected][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Subject: SGH bill[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]20 Aug 2013[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]To: MOH – QSM[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]cc: MOH (Perm Sec/PA to Minister Gan)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]cc: SGH Business Office via [email protected] (please re-direct to Business Office, thanks)
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I am the brother of the patient, Mdm Ho (NRIC S0—20J) who was warded at SGH in April 2013. Her bill is attached for easy reference.
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I have been appealing on her behalf to have the outstanding amount of $600.22 to be paid via one of her son’s Medisave instead of cash as required by SGH.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]As explained to SGH Business Office’s Shirley Yeo, the patient thought that she was to be warded in Class C (which she wanted as it is the cheapest with highest subsidy) but she was eventually upgraded to B ward due to shortage of C wards. However, due to misunderstanding and/or miscommunication between the Admissions and her elder son (who is a taxi driver), SGH placed her under B ward instead – hence the lower deductible, as I understand from CPF.
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I would like to add that even for educated graduates, the implications of claims and deductibles under Medisave and Medishield still boggle the mind given its complicated structure – if not clearly and thoroughly explained to the patient!
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]As the Prime Minister acknowledged in his NDR2013 on Sunday, she belongs to this “pioneer generation” whose CPF/Medisave have been exhausted and hence needs whatever means to alleviate the problem of having to pay her medical expenses in cash. (Please note that she is not asking for waiver of payment but rather for SGH to allow one of her sons to use his Medisave (instead of cash) to pay on her behalf.)
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]If you note, her total net bill is $3050.22 of which only $200 is deductible from Medishield (for which she pays more than $500 in premiums yearly as I understand form CPF).
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]So, the Medishield covers only some 6.5% of her total net bill while the balance 93.5% has to be borne out-of-pocket (including Medisave “technically out-of-pocket”.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif](Note: For comparison, please refer to attached article below on the out-of-pocket expenses spent by Singaporeans vs residents in HK, South Korea, Taiwan, etc… – “HEALTHCARE FINANCING: TWEAKS OR TRICKS?”)
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Shirley said that SGH has rejected her appeal, hence this email to MOH for your kind consideration to allow her son to use his CPF to pay for the mother’s outstanding amount of $600.22.
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Thank you[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Rgds[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]James[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]- See more at: http://www.transitioning.org/2013/0...050-20-premium-paid-500/#sthash.GrD5klCW.dpuf[/FONT]

 

[makapaaa]

Re: Medishield only covers $200 of sister’s total nett hospital bill of $3050.20 –pre

http://leongszehian.com/?p=1543

[h=2]What is the accumulated surplus in MediShield?[/h]Posted on March 31st, 2012 under Articles, Healthcare2
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I refer to the increase in MediShield premiums.
Claims grew faster than premiums?
One of the reasons given for the increase was that between 2008 and 2011, the MediShield scheme paid out 21 per cent more in claims each year, while premiums grew by only 10 per cent each year.
The above statistic is but just one of various statistics that may be taken into account for the financing of national healthcare insurance schemes.
Other statistics which we need to know are the ratio of claims to premiums (not the growth in claims over premiums), the accumulated surplus in the MediShield scheme, the accumulated interest on MediShield funds, etc.
$131m more in premiums than claims?
For example, it was disclosed in Parliament recently that between 2006 and 2010, MediShield collected an average of $131 million more in premiums each year than it paid out in claims.
As I understand that most countries’ national healthcare insurance schemes are funded on a break-even basis, why is our MediShield accumulating huge surpluses? The consistent rhetoric that the MediShield scheme is not for profit, should be backed up by more disclosure of MediShield’s financial statements.
Medisave top-ups pay for premium increase?
As to the one-time Medisave top-up announced in the recent Budget to help cushion the impact of the premium increase, and older policyholders who are beyond the re-employment age of 65 will receive direct and long-term assistance via Medisave top-ups under the GST voucher scheme of up to $37.50 per month which can offset the premium increase in full. I would like to point out that Medisave top-ups may not necessarily be used to pay increased MediShield premiums as they may be instantly wiped out by medical bills or past bills in arrears.
Medifund surplus to protected reserves?
Also, instead of transferring the $86 million Medifund surpluses over the last three elections to the protected reserves, why not transfer this to the MediShield fund instead?
This may negate the need to increase premiums by so much now.
MediShield accounts should be made public?
I would also like to suggest that the financial statements and accounts for MediShield be made public.
.
Alex Lew
Leong Sze Hian

 

[syed putra]

Re: Medishield only covers $200 of sister’s total nett hospital bill of $3050.20 –pre

Another form of taxation just like cpf.

 

[Froggy]

Re: Medishield only covers $200 of sister’s total nett hospital bill of $3050.20 –pre

Why complain now? If she had bought more insurance this could have been free not even have to pay $8

 

[tonychat]

Re: Medishield only covers $200 of sister’s total nett hospital bill of $3050.20 –pre

Why complain now? If she had bought more insurance this could have been free not even have to pay $8

exactly...!!!

 

[TopSage]

Re: Medishield only covers $200 of sister’s total nett hospital bill of $3050.20 –pre

a simple thing...let's have transparency for medishield
letd ensure it is a break even scheme.not
a surplus accumulating scheme

 

[palden]

Re: Medishield only covers $200 of sister’s total nett hospital bill of $3050.20 –pre

You think all the top management in medisave, medishield, CPF work for free? After deducting their salaries and bouns, the figure is considered high.

 

[rotiprata]

Re: Medishield only covers $200 of sister’s total nett hospital bill of $3050.20 –pre

insurance companies make their monies by not paying you...this is something the agents will never reveal to you

 

[Scrooball (clone)]

Re: Medishield only covers $200 of sister’s total nett hospital bill of $3050.20 –pre

Isn't that the same as the mystical $8 bypass operation? U hear about the wonderful things from the govt medical insurance scheme but never get to experience it yourself.

 

[eErotica69]

Re: Medishield only covers $200 of sister’s total nett hospital bill of $3050.20 –pre

Isn't that the same as the mystical $8 bypass operation? U hear about the wonderful things from the govt medical insurance scheme but never get to experience it yourself.

Same if you read from Temesak Review, Makapaa and Rotiprata.

Different if it is in the insurance world. Coverage, Rider etcc..

 

[johnny333]

Re: Medishield only covers $200 of sister’s total nett hospital bill of $3050.20 –pre

Anyone remember Durai from the NKF fiasco

Obviously there are many Durais in the PAP system

 

[PrinceCharming]

Re: Medishield only covers $200 of sister’s total nett hospital bill of $3050.20 –pre

Thanks makapaaa for sharing this piece of news.

Please disseminate it to major social networking sites which most Sinkies access.

 

[tonychat]

Re: Medishield only covers $200 of sister’s total nett hospital bill of $3050.20 –pre

stupid sinkies contributed to CPF and this is the shit they get....

luckily i stay away from sinkies and my health care is welly-funded by Australia..

Sinkieland can't be first world when they got such 3rd world system in paying for healthcare.. of course this system is designed by some third world sinkie losers.

I pity the sinkies staying in sinkieland.. they screwed their own life by being ball-less.

 

[Thick Face Black Heart]

Re: Medishield only covers $200 of sister’s total nett hospital bill of $3050.20 –pre

This is quite shocking.

If like that then pay so much premiums for what

 

[eErotica69]

Re: Medishield only covers $200 of sister’s total nett hospital bill of $3050.20 –pre

stupid sinkies contributed to CPF and this is the shit they get....

luckily i stay away from sinkies and my health care is welly-funded by Australia..

Sinkieland can't be first world when they got such 3rd world system in paying for healthcare.. of course this system is designed by some third world sinkie losers.

I pity the sinkies staying in sinkieland.. they screwed their own life by being ball-less.

Malaysia MPF??

 

[GOD IS MY DOG]

Re: Medishield only covers $200 of sister’s total nett hospital bill of $3050.20 –pre

This is quite shocking.

If like that then pay so much premiums for what

can opt out of medishield now ? or must stay in till 90 year-old huh ?

no point paying premium lah................if 10 years, a lot of premiums wasted...................

 

[chonburifc]

Re: Medishield only covers $200 of sister’s total nett hospital bill of $3050.20 –pre

Fuck lah, another con job from the world greateat ponzi scheme Creator. Pappies lah.

Chow chee bye, not scare peasants tulan one. Greedy a bit OK. Greedy until like that. Knn, pappies Siberia evil and greedy.

Medishield simi LAN jiao also cannot shield, might as well call medishit.

 

[halsey02]

Re: Medishield only covers $200 of sister’s total nett hospital bill of $3050.20 –pre

Can it be that whatever monies we have contributed to Medisave, have been disbursed to Min Of Health already & the money is already spent, in the past, still spending currently ( from current contributions), & collect in the future & spend in the future & through creative account the money had been round tripped!. In other words, what is good on paper, LOOK GOOD ON PAPER. That is why they are so adamant in receiving the cash portion, whoever small that amout may be, & disallow you, to use your related to pay via Medisave!??

For example, you go buy medicine from the hospital pharmacy,you can only use medisave deduction if it exceeds $30 & you have to co-share, that is YOU CANNOT USE MEDISAVE TO OFFSET THE entire invoice, you have to come out CASH , even it is only $5.

That means the hospital make money from the cash portion they collects everyday, medisave, medishield...are DEBIT A account CREDIT B & so forth... Very sorry, forgot to ask, whom did James & his mother voted for the last umpteen years..& paid that $10,000 in premiums?? ha ha ha ha