Strengthening Public Education on National Insurance Schemes Such As ElderShield and CareShield Life

Dr Wan Rizal asked the Minister for Health, in view of the recent misinformation circulating on social media regarding ElderShield and CareShield Life, (a) what further steps will the Ministry take to strengthen public education and address misinformation about national insurance schemes, particularly among seniors who may be more vulnerable to such messages; and (b) whether there are plans to enhance communication channels to provide timely and accessible clarifications to counter misinformation swiftly.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: The Ministry of Health (MOH) has been using both digital and traditional media platforms to conduct public education on our national insurance schemes. We customise the messages according to various demographic groups.

In addition, MOH reaches out to seniors through trusted community touchpoints, such as the Agency for Integrated Care and the Silver Generation Office, to explain relevant schemes in a clear and personal manner. We also partner insurers and financial advisors to help Singaporeans improve their understanding of the insurance schemes and support them in making more informed insurance decisions.

Unfortunately, despite everything we do, misinformation and falsehoods will still spread, including via personal messaging platforms. When that happens, MOH will try to put out clarifications through digital and traditional platforms to debunk the misinformation as quickly as possible. We also urge the public to verify information found on the Internet against authoritative sources. All of us have a role to play in stemming the spread of misinformation.