Improvements to ElderShield will need to be balanced with premium affordability

ElderShield Secretariat's Reply

Lian He Zao Bao, 16 Jan 2017

Improvements to ElderShield will need to be balanced with premium affordability

Mr Zhou Quan Sheng suggested that the ElderShield Review Committee consider extending the duration of the ElderShield payouts without increasing premiums (“Extend the payout duration of ElderShield”, 5 Jan).

Launched in 2002, ElderShield is a severe disability insurance scheme which aims to provide basic financial protection to Singaporeans who need long-term care, especially in old age. Through the provision of monthly payouts, it is designed to supplement Singaporeans’ savings in the event of severe disability.

In 2007, the ElderShield benefits were enhanced from a payout of $300 per month for up to 60 months, to $400 per month for up to 72 months, with a corresponding increase in premiums. As an insurance scheme, the payouts are funded from premiums collected. Therefore, improvements in benefits such as a longer payout period will need to be funded by higher premiums or longer premium payment periods.

Similarly, as the ElderShield Review Committee studies ways to further strengthen the current scheme, they will need to carefully study how to balance between enhancing ElderShield benefits, and the impact this will have on premium affordability.

Over the course of the next 6 months, the ElderShield Review Committee will be engaging widely with Singaporeans from all walks of life. We thank Mr Zhou for sharing his views with the ElderShield Review Committee, and welcome all Singaporeans who are interested to participate in the public consultations to sign up at www.eldershield.sg.

Ms Lim Bee Khim
ElderShield Review Committee Secretariat

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Forum Letter

Lian He Zao Bao, 5 Jan 2017

延长乐龄健保计划索偿期限

12月20日阅读《联合早报》，喜闻乐龄健保计划（ElderShield）检讨委员会，将在1月11日开始举行两三场与公众互动的咨询活动，征求国人对如何改善已实施了近15年的乐龄健保计划的看法和建议。

检讨的重点在于确保重度残障国人可获得足够的保障，和在保障范围扩大的同时，也要负担得起保费。

乐龄健保计划从2002年9月实施，是时候进行检讨了。按目前的规定，投保乐龄健保计划者须符合六项不能自理的日常生活的活动，即盥洗、更衣、进食、如厕、行动（在室内走动）及移动（从床上坐上椅子或轮椅）中的任何三项，则可在指定医生的书面证明下，向有关保险公司索偿每月300元的现金，以60个月（五年）为限，以补贴各项相关的医疗费用。

我建议把乐龄健保计划的索偿期延长，在不增加现有的保费，即无需参加提升计划的前提下，让受保者索偿期限延长24个月（多两年）到84个月（七年），甚至延长60个月（多五年）到120个月（十年）。这是因为生活条件大大改善，加上医药护理的进步，很大程度上保障了国人的生理健康，平均寿命也提高，七八十岁的老人随处可见；而身体有残障的人，他们的平均寿命可能比正常人还来得长，因此把乐龄健保的索偿期定在60个月并不实际。

延长后的索偿额说多不多，但也在相当程度上为收入不高家庭的受保成员，减轻不少医疗费上的负担。所以延长索偿期，对这群老人是件重中之重的事，它比增加他们每月索偿额，更有实际上的帮助。

希望乐龄健保检讨委员会能把我的建议纳入检讨范围中慎重考量。

周全生