Let Medisave pay for my medication

13 Apr 2005, Today

Question

Name of the Person: Ng Eng Huat 

Let Medisave pay for my medication

I am a hepatitis B carrier (since 1991), and was referred from a polyclinic to Singapore General Hospital specialist for a long-term follow-up. 

I'm classified under Class B, which entitles me to a subsidy for doctor consultations twice a year, a blood test and an annual ultrasound scan. 

Last week, the doctor advised me to take a medication to suppress the hepatitis B virus which reached a high reading. 

The medication costs $6 a day, and I have to take it daily. For a year, the medication would cost me $2,190. I was told I have to pay cash for the medication, which is not subsidised and is not covered under Medisave. 

Next month, I will turn 43. I have a wife who's not working and four children - the youngest in K1, the oldest in Sec 3 - to take care of. 

My household expenditures depend on my monthly income. I don't smoke, don't drink, take the bus and MRT every day, but I still have zero savings because of the high cost of living. 

The medication is an added burden. I wonder why I cannot use my Medisave to pay for my medication? 

Do I have to wait till the condition deteriorates into liver cancer and I am admitted to a hospital before I'm allowed to use my Medisave?

Reply

Reply from MOH 

Medisave is for hospitalisation 

In "Let Medisave pay for my medication" (TODAY, 13 April), Mr Ng Eng Huat asked for the use of Medisave to pay for his outpatient Hepatitis B medication. 

Medisave is intended primarily for inpatient care, ie. hospitalisation. Extending Medisave to all outpatient treatments will deplete Medisave prematurely. It will lead to less Medisave for the individual's use later in life when it is most needed. It will also require a much higher rate of Medisave contribution, which will make it costly for employers and employees. 

Nevertheless, we have allowed the use of Medisave for certain expensive outpatient treatments such as chemotherapy, renal dialysis, and radiotherapy. 

We review this list of approved outpatient treatments regularly. We will take Mr Ng's feedback into consideration in our review.