Requirement for Use of MediSave for Emergency Treatment at Overseas Hospitals

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Health whether residency in Singapore is a requirement for the use of MediSave for emergency treatment at overseas hospitals and, if so, what are the reasons for this requirement.

MediSave is intended to help Singaporeans save for their medical expenses, especially during old age, and its design takes into account significant Government subsidies for Singaporeans. The use of MediSave is, therefore, targeted at Singaporeans seeking subsidised care here.

Nevertheless, the Ministry of Health understands that, on very rare occasions, some Singaporeans may find themselves in difficult situations due to medical emergencies when travelling overseas and require help with their medical costs incurred for such emergencies. We do exercise flexibility to allow the use of MediSave in such situations as an exception on appeal, especially for individuals normally resident in Singapore. We review such appeals carefully, taking into account the circumstance of each request on a case-by-case basis.