SINGAPOREANS NOT COVERED BY MEDISHIELD

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SINGAPOREANS NOT COVERED BY MEDISHIELD: 15.

Mr Yeo Guat Kwang asked the Minister for Health (a) how many Singaporeans are not covered by MediShield or any other Shield plan; and (b) whether the Ministry has any plans to

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bring those currently not insured on board, particularly housewives.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, about 830,000 Singaporean residents - citizens as well as permanent residents - do not enjoy the insurance coverage of MediShield or its enhancement products. They make up 24% of the resident population. My Ministry will continue to encourage them to come on board, as otherwise they may be financially vulnerable should a major illness strike.

Among the uninsured, there are three groups.

First, the vast majority are the young below the age of 21. They make up 56% of the uninsured. They are largely students who have not yet started working. When they do and start contributing to the CPF, they will automatically come under the MediShield opt-out enrolment scheme. Meanwhile, we encourage their parents to subscribe to MediShield for their children early. Premiums are low, at $30 per year. Early subscription will prevent future regrets as MediShield has to exclude pre-existing illnesses.

Second, a small group of the uninsured comprises elderly Singaporeans above the age of 75. They make up 9%. Their exclusion may not be by choice, as MediShield has a maximum coverage age but we are taking steps to improve this. This year, we raised it from 80 to 85 years old. We will continue to review the maximum coverage age, although we have to recognise that the benefits of risk pooling diminish for very old age groups.

Third, the rest of the uninsured fall between the age of 21 and 75. They make up 35% of the uninsured. This is a heterogeneous group who opt out for various different reasons. Some are well-covered by their employers; others may not feel vulnerable.

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But like Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, I have a special concern about the housewives who are not insured. They and their husbands should sign them on. There are many opportunities for that. If they have worked before, they should have enough Medisave funds to pay MediShield premiums for many years. For those with insufficient Medisave funds, they can tap their husbands’ or children’s Medisave funds to pay for continued MediShield coverage. For those who have never worked, they would have been automatically signed on to MediShield at the point of marriage registration, using the husbands’ Medisave funds to pay for their MediShield coverage.

The Ministry will continue to remind all Singaporeans, through regular publicity, to join MediShield early and to stay insured.

3.00 pm

Mr Speaker: Order. End of Question Time.

[Pursuant to Standing Order No. 22(3), Written Answers to Question Nos. 16, 21 and 25 on the Order Paper are reproduced in the Appendix*. Question Nos. 17-20 and 22-24 have been postponed to the next available sitting of Parliament.]

*Cols. 891-896.