Medisave balance for deceased patients

8 April 2013

Question No. 1074

Name of Person: Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan

Question

To ask the Minister for Health for each year from 2008 to 2012, what is the average amount of monies left in the CPF Medisave Account of CPF account holders who have passed away.

Answer

Half of CPF members aged 65 or older who passed on in 2012 had about $2,700 or less. About one-third of them had less than $1,000.  Some of them may also have benefited from government top-up, as well as from the use of their children’s Medisave either as a form of top-up or direct payment for healthcare expenses on their behalf. 

2.                 We need to help Singaporeans maintain adequate Medisave balances to help pay for their old-age healthcare expenses, as well as remain covered under Medishield, possibly up to age 90.

3.                 Any unused Medisave balance forms part of the total CPF balances which are bequeathed to the deceased member’s family.