Medishield Basic Plan covers more for lower class wards

15 Dec 2006, The Straits Times

Question

Name of the Person: Regine Oh Pei Tze (Ms)

Medishield Basic Plan covers more for lower class wards

Query on low MediShield payout (8 Dec) 

I REFER to the Ministry of Health (MOH)'s reply, 'Why MediShield paid only $1,438 of huge bill' (ST, Dec 2), to Ms Chew Kai Hwa's enquiry about the low MediShield coverage for her mother-in-law's private-hospital bill of more than $50,000. 

MediShield information brochures contain sample calculations showing hospital bills and MediShield payouts. Such examples show ample coverage by MediShield, giving peace of mind to the insured. 

In the real-life case of Ms Chew's mother-in-law, MOH explained that the MediShield payout was low because the patient stayed in a private hospital. 

It is appalling that this single factor resulted in such a low payout - less than 3 per cent of the entire bill. 

How significant would the MediShield payout have been if the patient had stayed in a subsidised Class B2/C ward? 

Subject to the consent of Ms Chew, it would be enlightening to the public to have MOH compare the MediShield payout in the case of her mother-in-law to that of a patient who had stayed in a subsidised ward. 

Such information will lead to greater confidence in the MediShield scheme. 

It will also give the public a greater understanding of how MediShield provides different payouts, depending on the choice of hospital - public or private. 

Reply

Name of the Person: Ms Karen Tan

Director, Corporate Communications

Ministry of Health 

In "Query on low MediShield payout" (ST, 8 Dec), Ms Regine Oh referred to an earlier enquiry by Mrs Chew about the low MediShield payout for her mother-in-law's private-hospital bill of more than $50,000. She asked what would be the MediShield Basic's coverage if the patient had stayed in a subsidised B2/C ward instead. 

For illustration purpose, we have used a sample heart by-pass case. If a heart by-pass patient had stayed in a C class ward in a restructured hospital, his estimated total bill would be $2,366 for 10 days of hospitalisation. This is based on the average length of stay and median bill size for heart bypass patients in Class C wards. After the deductible of $1000 and co-payment of the bill by the patient, the Medishield Basic plan would have covered almost half of the hospital bill at $1,093. The balance of $1,273 can be fully paid out of the patient's Medisave. 

For stays in private wards or hospitals, it would be more appropriate to consider purchasing suitable add-on coverage from the Medisave-approved insurance rider products. These enhanced plans will provide additional benefits and coverage for Singaporeans who wish to opt for Class A and B1 wards in the Restructured Hospitals, or private hospitalisation. 

Thank you.