Increasing Current Annual Withdrawal Limit for Outpatient Flexi-MediSave in View of Rising Outpatient Healthcare Costs

Debated in Parliament on 14 Feb 2022.

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Patrick Tay Teck Guan proposed raising the current annual withdrawal limit for outpatient Flexi-MediSave to address rising healthcare costs.
Ong Ye Kung stated that the limit was recently increased to $300 in 2021 and most patients did not exhaust this amount, noting ongoing reviews to balance affordability and future savings.
The Ministry highlighted alternative support through MediFund and medical social workers for patients unable to afford treatments after subsidies and MediSave use.

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Patrick Tay Teck Guan

Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will consider increasing the current annual withdrawal limit for outpatient Flexi-MediSave in view of rising outpatient healthcare costs.

Ong Ye Kung

The Ministry had recently increased the Flexi-MediSave limit from $200 to $300 on 1 June 2021 to better support elderly patients in seeking outpatient treatment. Around eight in 10 patients who tapped on Flexi-MediSave did not reach the $300 annual limit in 2021. We will continue to regularly review our MediSave withdrawal limits to strike a balance between improving affordability for ongoing treatment and ensuring sufficient savings for future healthcare needs.

Patients who cannot afford their treatments after subsidies and MediSave can approach the medical social workers in public healthcare institutions for MediFund and other assistance.

Increasing Current Annual Withdrawal Limit for Outpatient Flexi-MediSave in View of Rising Outpatient Healthcare Costs | PAPERCUTS

Increasing Current Annual Withdrawal Limit for Outpatient Flexi-MediSave in View of Rising Outpatient Healthcare Costs

Debated in Parliament on 14 Feb 2022.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Patrick Tay Teck Guan proposed raising the current annual withdrawal limit for outpatient Flexi-MediSave to address rising healthcare costs.
Ong Ye Kung stated that the limit was recently increased to $300 in 2021 and most patients did not exhaust this amount, noting ongoing reviews to balance affordability and future savings.
The Ministry highlighted alternative support through MediFund and medical social workers for patients unable to afford treatments after subsidies and MediSave use.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Patrick Tay Teck Guan

Ong Ye Kung

Patients who cannot afford their treatments after subsidies and MediSave can approach the medical social workers in public healthcare institutions for MediFund and other assistance.

Increasing Current Annual Withdrawal Limit for Outpatient Flexi-MediSave in View of Rising Outpatient Healthcare Costs

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Patrick Tay Teck Guan

Ong Ye Kung

Summary

Questions Identified

Increasing Current Annual Withdrawal Limit for Outpatient Flexi-MediSave in View of Rising Outpatient Healthcare Costs

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Patrick Tay Teck Guan

Ong Ye Kung

Summary

Questions Identified