Medisave withdrawal limit for diagnostic scans for cancer patients

15 October 2012

Question No. 308

Name of person: Mr David Ong Kim Huat

Question

To ask the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will consider the lifting of the current cap of $600 that can be used from Medisave funds by cancer patients requiring follow-up diagnostics scans.

Answer

1     Medisave is primarily meant to help pay for hospitalisation, but we have extended Medisave usage to outpatient treatment such as diagnostic MRI and CT scans, if they form part of cancer treatment, up to the withdrawal limit of $600 per patient per year.  

2     Medisave withdrawal limits are generally set to be sufficient for the majority of patients in the Government hospitals and medical institutions. The current $600 limit is able to cover about 95% of the annual costs for Singaporean cancer patients at the Government hospitals and medical institutions. It was also adequate to fully cover the cost of scans for more than 4 in 5 such patients.

3     We need to balance higher withdrawal limits with the risk of cost escalation or over-consumption, especially at the private hospitals and clinics, to avoid premature depletion of Medisave balances. Patients who face difficulty paying for medical bills for their treatment at the Government hospitals and institutions could apply for financial assistance, e.g. through Medifund.  

4     We will continue to monitor the adequacy of Medisave withdrawal limits to help Singaporeans defray their healthcare bills.