Community Health Assist Scheme

Mr Sitoh Yih Pin asked the Minister for Health whether the application process for qualifying under the Community Health Assist Scheme can be simplified by pre-qualifying all HDB rental flats, HDB 1-room and 2-room flats.

The Ministry of Health enhanced the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) in January 2012 to benefit more Singaporeans. Singaporeans aged above 40 can qualify for CHAS if their per capita household income is $1,500 or below. Economically inactive households are assessed based on their type of housing, in terms of the Annual Value (AV) criterion, as a proxy to ensure that Government subsidies are appropriately targeted.

Since January 2012, we have also simplified the application process. For example, we removed the need for applicants to submit their income

Page: 148

documents, if they consent to having their application processed back-end, with data from the Central Provident Fund Board and Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore. We also switched to a single application process for all eligible members of the household instead of multiple individual applications from each household member.

For residents in HDB rental flats, as well as those in 1- and 2-room flats, the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) has been reaching out to them to encourage sign-ups for CHAS. This way we can also take the opportunity to explain to them the benefits of the scheme. Through AIC and the Health Promotion Board (HPB), MOH will continue to work closely with the grassroots and community partners, including the Family Service Centres and Senior Activities Centres, to encourage more eligible Singaporeans to join the scheme and to assist them in their applications if required. MOH will also continue to look at ways to better target our outreach and simplify the application process for CHAS, including the suggestions by the Member.