Debated in Parliament on 10 Sep 2012.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Health for each year from 2006 to 2011 (a) how many MediShield policyholders have had their MediShield policies terminated due to non-payment of their premiums; (b) what are the main reasons for non-payment; (c) how many are refused re-enrolment due to medical conditions that developed after they were originally enrolled in MediShield; and (d) what does the Government do to assist policyholders with their MediShield premium payments before their policies get terminated.
From 2006 to 2011, less than 1% of MediShield policyholders saw their policies lapse due to non-payment of their premiums each year as a result of insufficient Medisave balance.
For policyholders who have limited Medisave monies, CPF Board sends up to three reminders to ask them to top up their accounts or ask a working family member to pay for their premiums before their policies lapse. They are also given a two-month grace period to do so. We exercise some flexibility for this group to re-enrol in MediShield, provided their health status has not changed. We do not have available data on how many are unable to re-enrol. However, to date, fewer than 1% of the total resident population was unable to obtain MediShield cover due to pre-existing conditions.
The Government has in place various measures to help Singaporeans with the payment of premiums. In addition, the Government provides Medisave top-ups for Singaporeans from time to time, when there is a budget surplus and for low-income Singaporeans regularly through the Workfare Income Supplement Scheme. These top-ups totalled about $2.6 billion from 2005 to 2011. From 2012 onwards, annual Medisave top-ups will also be given to elderly Singaporeans through the GST Voucher Scheme.
Those whose MediShield policies have lapsed and are facing financial difficulties can approach the medical social workers at our public healthcare institutions for financial assistance if necessary.
PAPERCUTS