Number of Singaporeans Required to Top-up Cash for Medical Expenses After Reaching MediSave Withdrawal Limit

Ms Foo Mee Har asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the current annual number of Singaporeans who are required to top-up cash for their medical expenses after hitting the MediSave withdrawal limit; and (b) what is the average balance in these MediSave accounts.

Data on the MediSave balances of Singaporeans who incur cash out-of-pocket (OOP) after hitting their MediSave withdrawal limits is not readily available. MediSave withdrawal limits are generally adequate to cover the majority of bills incurred by subsidised patients, after taking into account Government subsidies and MediShield Life payouts where applicable. In the inpatient setting, seven in 10 Singaporeans did not have cash OOP for their subsidised hospitalisation bills after subsidies, insurance and MediSave. The MediSave withdrawal limits are largely sufficient in the outpatient setting as well, hence only a small proportion would hit the MediSave withdrawal limits and incur cash OOP. For instance, about nine in 10 patients who withdrew MediSave under the Chronic Disease Management Programme did not reach their annual limit.

Patients who face difficulties affording their cash OOP may apply for financial assistance such as MediFund at our public healthcare institutions.