Medical Claims for Larger Range of Outpatient Treatments that Do Not Require Hospitalisation

Debated in Parliament on 9 Jan 2023.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Gerald Giam asked whether plans exist to expand medical claims coverage for a wider range of outpatient treatments that do not require hospitalisation to reduce financial burdens and hospital bed demand.
Ong Ye Kung explained that Integrated Shield Plans are optional private insurance, complementing MediShield Life, and already cover hospitalisation, day surgeries, and select outpatient treatments like dialysis and cancer therapies.
He noted that insurers have introduced new outpatient benefits and regularly review coverage, while MOH engages with them to balance medical advances, patient needs, and premium affordability.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Gerald Giam Yean Song

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Health whether there are plans to work with insurers to enable medical claims to be made for a larger range of outpatient treatments that do not require hospitalisation, thereby alleviating both the financial out-of-pocket burden of families as well as the hospital bed crunch.

Ong Ye Kung

Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) are optional private health insurance products, subject to market competition and commercial considerations. They protect policyholders on top of MediShield Life, hence covering not only hospitalisation bills, but also day surgeries and selected outpatient treatments, such as kidney dialysis, cancer drug treatments and services, and radiotherapy.

In recent years, most insurers have introduced new outpatient IP benefits, such as long-term parenteral nutrition and continuation of autologous bone marrow transplant. The Ministry of Health (MOH) is constantly in dialogue with the insurers, and understand that they regularly review their coverage to account for changes to care delivery, medical advances and patient needs, while bearing in mind affordability of premiums.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Gerald Giam asked whether plans exist to expand medical claims coverage for a wider range of outpatient treatments that do not require hospitalisation to reduce financial burdens and hospital bed demand.
Ong Ye Kung explained that Integrated Shield Plans are optional private insurance, complementing MediShield Life, and already cover hospitalisation, day surgeries, and select outpatient treatments like dialysis and cancer therapies.
He noted that insurers have introduced new outpatient benefits and regularly review coverage, while MOH engages with them to balance medical advances, patient needs, and premium affordability.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Medical Claims for Larger Range of Outpatient Treatments that Do Not Require Hospitalisation | PAPERCUTS

Medical Claims for Larger Range of Outpatient Treatments that Do Not Require Hospitalisation

Debated in Parliament on 9 Jan 2023.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Gerald Giam asked whether plans exist to expand medical claims coverage for a wider range of outpatient treatments that do not require hospitalisation to reduce financial burdens and hospital bed demand.
Ong Ye Kung explained that Integrated Shield Plans are optional private insurance, complementing MediShield Life, and already cover hospitalisation, day surgeries, and select outpatient treatments like dialysis and cancer therapies.
He noted that insurers have introduced new outpatient benefits and regularly review coverage, while MOH engages with them to balance medical advances, patient needs, and premium affordability.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Gerald Giam Yean Song

Ong Ye Kung

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Gerald Giam asked whether plans exist to expand medical claims coverage for a wider range of outpatient treatments that do not require hospitalisation to reduce financial burdens and hospital bed demand.
Ong Ye Kung explained that Integrated Shield Plans are optional private insurance, complementing MediShield Life, and already cover hospitalisation, day surgeries, and select outpatient treatments like dialysis and cancer therapies.
He noted that insurers have introduced new outpatient benefits and regularly review coverage, while MOH engages with them to balance medical advances, patient needs, and premium affordability.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Medical Claims for Larger Range of Outpatient Treatments that Do Not Require Hospitalisation

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Gerald Giam Yean Song

Ong Ye Kung

Summary

Questions Identified

Medical Claims for Larger Range of Outpatient Treatments that Do Not Require Hospitalisation

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Gerald Giam Yean Song

Ong Ye Kung

Summary

Questions Identified