Government schemes provide support for all seniors, beyond Pioneer and Merdeka Generation Packages

MOH's reply

Government schemes provide support for all seniors, beyond Pioneer and Merdeka Generation Packages

We thank Mr Hu Yunchen for his letter (“Senior citizens who are not Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation unable to get help”, 16 September).

There is a citizenship criterion to qualify for the Pioneer Generation Package (PGP) and Merdeka Generation Package (MGP) as these schemes are intended to be a recognition of our nation’s appreciation for our seniors who have contributed to building Singapore during the early years. 

The PGP and MGP are not the only initiatives that benefit our senior citizens. Many other government support schemes and funded services are extended to all Singaporeans. Our senior citizens, whether they are part of the Pioneer or Merdeka Generation or not, are eligible for additional support in areas such as healthcare, housing, transport and financial assistance. 

In healthcare for example, significant government subsidies are extended to all Singaporeans across different healthcare settings. Eligible Singaporeans receive premium subsidies for MediShield Life, a universal health insurance scheme that provides lifetime protection against large hospital bills and selected costly outpatient treatments. The government also funds MediFund, a safety net which provides additional financial assistance for needy Singaporeans who cannot afford their bills after subsidies, MediShield Life and their own Medisave and personal means.

Additional healthcare support are provided to all older Singaporeans. For example, they are eligible for higher government subsidies for polyclinic visits, and lower-to-middle income older Singaporeans receive higher MediShield Life premium subsidies. To defray the costs of home and community-based caregiving for moderately disabled individuals, most of whom are older Singaporeans, the government is implementing a Home Caregiving Grant by the end of this year.  We will also introduce three new long-term care support schemes – CareShield Life, ElderFund and MediSave withdrawals in cash for long-term care needs – to help older Singaporeans on their long-term care needs. As announced in Budget 2019, Singaporeans born in 1969 or earlier and who do not receive the PGP or MGP will also receive 5-year MediSave top-ups of $100 per year, from 2019 to 2023. Eligible Singaporean seniors can also receive up to $450 in MediSave top-ups annually under the GST Voucher scheme.

Overall, while special recognition is being extended to PG and MG seniors who have contributed to building Singapore during the early years, substantial support in different areas are also being provided to all our senior citizens, whether they are part of the Pioneer or Merdeka Generation, or not. Singaporeans who just missed the citizenship cut-off but have good claims to be counted among the Pioneer or Merdeka Generation can submit an appeal to contactus@merdeka.gov.sg, or call 1800 2222 888.

Lim Siok Peng (Ms)
Director, Corporate Communications
Ministry of Health

Forum Letter

Lianhe Zaobao, 16 September 2019

非建国和立国一代 年长公民得不到帮助
胡运琛
 
我是70多岁的老人，1969年从马来西亚来新加坡工作，1971年拿工作准证，1984年拿到永久居留权，同一年和妻子结婚，妻子是本地公民。2002年我成为新加坡公民，三个儿子也已服完兵役。

我不是建国一代，也不是立国一代，建国一代必须是在1986年之前成为公民，立国一代是1996年底之前成为公民。

由于不是建国一代和立国一代，所以享受不到各种优惠，包括政府给的援助和私人慈善机构的优惠，因为慈善团体也只照顾建国一代。我也是新加坡公民，应该得到照顾。不知政府要如何照顾这些年老、非建国和立国一代的次等新加坡老人？