Community Health Assist Scheme

Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry will consider extending the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) to the school-going children of eligible beneficiaries; (b) what is the current number of appeals received on CHAS applications; and (c) what are the grounds for deviation from existing criteria for appeals to be approved.

The primary focus of the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) is to help the lower-income elderly Singaporeans, especially those with chronic conditions. The Ministry of Health enhanced CHAS in January 2012 to benefit more Singaporeans, by lowering the age criterion for

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the scheme from 65 to 40 years old and relaxing the income criteria. Currently, we have about 240,000 Singaporeans on the scheme. We are monitoring the impact of these enhancements and will review the scheme again in due course.

Between January and November 2012, we have assessed around 530 appeals to join CHAS. Cases which do not meet the criteria but are deserving of help are reviewed carefully on a case-by-case basis. Mitigating factors, such as the severity of the appellants' medical condition, recent loss of job or pay cut, will be taken into consideration. Some 80% of the appeals are approved. For those not eligible for CHAS, they can still receive subsidised care at polyclinics.