Reasons for Higher Bills for Patients with Integrated Shield Plan Riders

Debated in Parliament on 7 Nov 2016.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh asked the Ministry to study the causes behind higher bills for Integrated Shield Plan riders—such as patient overconsumption, provider over-servicing or overcharging, or insurer oversight—and to determine these causes before making co-payments compulsory.
Minister Gan Kim Yong explained that the Health Insurance Task Force (HITF) is studying recommendations to achieve more efficient and sustainable healthcare outcomes, noting multiple factors contribute to rising claims costs, including ageing population, better access, technology, and insurance product design.
All stakeholders—healthcare providers, patients, and insurers—share responsibility in managing costs, with providers ensuring appropriate treatments, patients making informed choices, and insurers designing products to encourage appropriate care.
The government has enhanced fee transparency and designed co-payments in the healthcare financing system to encourage prudence and appropriate care, aiming for a more sustainable and affordable healthcare system.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Health concerning the Health Insurance Task Force report (a) whether the Ministry will (i) study whether it is overconsumption by patients, over-servicing or overcharging by healthcare providers, or poor oversight by private insurers that have led to higher bills for patients with Integrated Shield Plan riders covering the entire bill and (ii) determine the causes before making co-payments by patients with Integrated Shield Plans compulsory.

Gan Kim Yong

The objective of the Health Insurance Task Force (HITF) is to achieve more efficient and sustainable outcomes for patients, healthcare providers and insurers. This is an important priority as we face an ageing population in Singapore.

We are currently studying the HITF's recommendations. As the Task Force highlighted in its report, the issue is multifaceted and there are many factors that contribute to the increase in health insurance claims costs. Examples include the longer life expectancies for our ageing population, better access to healthcare services, advancements in healthcare technology and drugs, over-servicing or over-consumption of healthcare, as well as the design of some health insurance products.

All stakeholders have a role to play in managing healthcare costs and insurance claims. Healthcare providers should ensure that treatments provided are appropriate for the patient's needs; patients need to make informed decisions on their choice of healthcare services; and insurers should ensure that their products are designed to encourage appropriate care.

Over the years, the Government has taken steps to enhance fee transparency to help patients and healthcare providers make informed choices. We have also designed our healthcare financing system to include co-payment, to encourage prudence and appropriate care. Our shared objective is to achieve a more sustainable and affordable healthcare system and deliver greater value and better outcomes for our patients.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh asked the Ministry to study the causes behind higher bills for Integrated Shield Plan riders—such as patient overconsumption, provider over-servicing or overcharging, or insurer oversight—and to determine these causes before making co-payments compulsory.
Minister Gan Kim Yong explained that the Health Insurance Task Force (HITF) is studying recommendations to achieve more efficient and sustainable healthcare outcomes, noting multiple factors contribute to rising claims costs, including ageing population, better access, technology, and insurance product design.
All stakeholders—healthcare providers, patients, and insurers—share responsibility in managing costs, with providers ensuring appropriate treatments, patients making informed choices, and insurers designing products to encourage appropriate care.
The government has enhanced fee transparency and designed co-payments in the healthcare financing system to encourage prudence and appropriate care, aiming for a more sustainable and affordable healthcare system.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Reasons for Higher Bills for Patients with Integrated Shield Plan Riders | PAPERCUTS

Reasons for Higher Bills for Patients with Integrated Shield Plan Riders

Debated in Parliament on 7 Nov 2016.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh asked the Ministry to study the causes behind higher bills for Integrated Shield Plan riders—such as patient overconsumption, provider over-servicing or overcharging, or insurer oversight—and to determine these causes before making co-payments compulsory.
Minister Gan Kim Yong explained that the Health Insurance Task Force (HITF) is studying recommendations to achieve more efficient and sustainable healthcare outcomes, noting multiple factors contribute to rising claims costs, including ageing population, better access, technology, and insurance product design.
All stakeholders—healthcare providers, patients, and insurers—share responsibility in managing costs, with providers ensuring appropriate treatments, patients making informed choices, and insurers designing products to encourage appropriate care.
The government has enhanced fee transparency and designed co-payments in the healthcare financing system to encourage prudence and appropriate care, aiming for a more sustainable and affordable healthcare system.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong

Gan Kim Yong

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh asked the Ministry to study the causes behind higher bills for Integrated Shield Plan riders—such as patient overconsumption, provider over-servicing or overcharging, or insurer oversight—and to determine these causes before making co-payments compulsory.
Minister Gan Kim Yong explained that the Health Insurance Task Force (HITF) is studying recommendations to achieve more efficient and sustainable healthcare outcomes, noting multiple factors contribute to rising claims costs, including ageing population, better access, technology, and insurance product design.
All stakeholders—healthcare providers, patients, and insurers—share responsibility in managing costs, with providers ensuring appropriate treatments, patients making informed choices, and insurers designing products to encourage appropriate care.
The government has enhanced fee transparency and designed co-payments in the healthcare financing system to encourage prudence and appropriate care, aiming for a more sustainable and affordable healthcare system.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Reasons for Higher Bills for Patients with Integrated Shield Plan Riders

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong

Gan Kim Yong

Summary

Questions Identified

Reasons for Higher Bills for Patients with Integrated Shield Plan Riders

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong

Gan Kim Yong

Summary

Questions Identified