Senior Citizens Diagnosed and Treated for Hearing Impairment

Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Minister for Health (a) between 2013 and 2015, how many senior citizens have been diagnosed with hearing loss requiring the use of hearing aids; (b) how many have applied for subsidies for hearing aids under the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF); (c) how many have been granted a subsidy for hearing aids; and (d) what is the total amount of subsidy disbursed for hearing aids.

Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Health (a) how many elderly Singaporeans are currently suffering from hearing impairment and have gone for treatment at polyclinics and public hospitals; (b) how many of them have received subsidies for hearing aids under the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF); (c) what is the average amount that seniors have to pay for their hearing aids after the subsidy; and (d) what happens if an elderly person cannot afford to pay for the remaining amount after the subsidy is given.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Between 2013 and 2015, our public hospitals diagnosed about 16,300 Singaporean seniors aged 60 and above with hearing loss requiring the use of hearing aids. Of these, about 5,500 seniors eventually took up the use of a hearing aid. These figures would include seniors who visit polyclinics for hearing loss problems who are referred to specialists at our hospitals for further assessment and prescription. We do not have figures on diagnosed cases at private healthcare institutions.

Over the same period, 3,954 seniors applied for subsidised hearing aids under MOH's Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF), with 3,934 seniors (i.e. 99.5% of applicants) eventually received the subsidies. On average, seniors paid about $300 as co-payment, after about $2,700 subsidies from SMF, to purchase a pair of hearing aid. Seniors who have difficulties with the co-payment can approach the medical social workers to apply for further financial assistance. Of the 3,954 seniors, about 640 needy seniors, such as those who are on public assistance or Medifund assistance, received 100% subsidy from SMF for their hearing aids.

About 100 seniors with disabilities have also tapped on the Assistive Technology Fund (ATF) and the former Special Assistance Fund (SAF)* under MSF to purchase hearing aids. A total of $10.4 million from the three funds, SMF, ATF and SAF, was disbursed to subsidise seniors for hearing aids between 2013 and 2015.

[Note The SAF was closed in 2015 following expansion of coverage and enhancement to the ATF.]