MOST COMMON CONGENITAL BIRTH ISSUES AND ANNUAL PROPORTION OF EXPECTANT MOTHERS TAKING UP MATERNITY INSURANCE POLICIES

NOTICE PAPER NO. 959
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 15 FEBRUARY 2022

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye 
MP for Radin Mas

Question No. 1543

To ask the Minister for Health (a) in the past ten years, what are the most common congenital birth issues; (b) what is the average amount that parents spend on medical fees for their children in cases without maternity insurance; and (c) whether the Ministry has considered mandating insurers to extend maternity insurance to parents who have pre-existing health conditions that will ordinarily disqualify them from such coverage.

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye 
MP for Radin Mas

Question No. 1544

To ask the Minister for Health in the past five years (a) what is the annual proportion of expectant mothers who took up maternity insurance policies; (b) what is the average number of claims made; and (c) what is the average percentage of women who have had their maternity insurance policies rejected due to pre-existing conditions.

Written Answer

Based on latest available data, the most common congenital illnesses for new-borns are of the circulatory system and the urinary system.

All Singapore Citizens, including those with congenital illnesses or pre-existing conditions, are automatically covered from birth by MediShield Life. Parents can also tap on their MediSave or their child’s MediSave Grant for Newborns to defray expenses incurred for the treatment of congenital illnesses of their children. Over 2018 to 2020, Singaporeans paid less than $200 in cash on average for subsidised hospitalisation and day surgery bills for their new-borns, beyond the delivery.

MediShield Life and MediSave also cover serious pregnancy complications. For those who prefer additional coverage, Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) do so as well, though coverage varies between insurers. Around four-fifths of women aged 18 to 45 have an IP that covers serious pregnancy and delivery-related complications.

Alternatively, expectant mothers may choose to purchase maternity insurance policies to have added coverage over pregnancy complications and congenital illnesses. As these are optional products offered by private insurers, MOH does not have data relating to the take-up, claims, or rejections of maternity insurance policies.