Projected increase in MediShield payouts

16 September 2013

Question No. 1467

Name of Person:  Mr Gerald Giam

Question

To ask the Minister for Health what is the projected annual increase in MediShield payouts if (i) all Singaporeans and permanent residents are enrolled (ii) all pre-existing, congenital and neonatal conditions are covered and (iii) the maximum coverage age is removed.

Answer

1                   As part of the overall healthcare financing review to ensure that healthcare remains affordable for all Singaporeans, MOH is studying the introduction of better coverage for large bills and moving to life-long and MediShield coverage for all Singaporeans.        

2                   As the move to MediShield Life is a major policy shift, we intend to conduct a public consultation exercise later this year to seek Singaporeans’ views on the proposals to MediShield Life. The details and costs of the MediShield Life proposals, including the likely impact on payouts from MediShield Life if all pre-existing conditions and all residents are covered for life, are currently under study. More details will be shared during the public consultation exercise.