THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN ENSURING AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE AND GOOD QUALITY SUBSIDISED HEALTHCARE FOR SINGAPOREANS

NOTICE PAPER NO. 583

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 4 MARCH 2026

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Yip Hon Weng

MP for Yio Chu Kang

Question No. 1701

To ask the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health whether the Ministry will consider establishing a council to provide recommendations on reasonable Integrated Shield Plan and rider premium increases for private healthcare.

Answer

1.       Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) and riders are private, commercial products, and IP insurers operate in a competitive market. Therefore, the quantum and frequency of premium revisions are subject to insurers’ actuarial and commercial considerations which are best left to market forces. Government’s role should be to ensure affordable, accessible and good quality subsidised healthcare for Singaporeans.