Debated in Parliament on 16 Sep 2013.
Mr Png Eng Huat asked the Minister for Health from 2009 to date (a) what is the number of Singaporeans who have used up their annual Medisave withdrawal limit for the treatment of chronic diseases by September of each year; and (b) what is the age profile of these Singaporeans.
Use of Medisave for outpatient treatment under the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) is subject to an annual limit per Medisave account, which was raised from $300 to $400 on 1 January 2012. The annual limit is reviewed regularly to help Singaporeans pay for basic healthcare needs.
The number of patients benefiting from Medisave use for CDMP conditions grew from 97,000 in 2009 to 149,000. Close to 90% of them were subsidised patients, of which 20% or about 26,000 patients fully utilised the annual limit in 2012. This was lower than the average of about 28% from 2009 to 2011. The proportion of patients who fully utilised the limit was similar across the ages.
Patients who visited the polyclinics for treatment of CDMP conditions incurred an annual bill of $200 on average, well within the annual withdrawal limit. Patients whose conditions are more complex may need specialist outpatient care and incur higher bills. Patients can also tap up to 10 Medisave accounts of their immediate family members if their annual bill exceeds the withdrawal limit. For subsidised patients with financial difficulties, they can also apply for assistance under Medifund. To further help this group of patients better afford their treatment, MOH will be increasing the subsidies at the Specialist Outpatient Clinics for the lower- and middle-income. More details will be released in the first quarter of 2014.
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