CATASTROPHIC ILLNESS INSURANCE SCHEME (Progress)

Dr S. Vasoo asked the Acting Minister for Health whether significant progress has been made on the introduction of insurance to cover catastrophic diseases and when this is likely to be implemented.

The Acting Minister for Health (Mr Yeo Cheow Tong): Mr Speaker, Sir, during the Budget Debate in March this year, I informed this House of some of the basic outlines of the proposed Catastrophic Illness Insurance Scheme, and that the Scheme would be underwritten and managed by the CPF Board. Since then, my Ministry has held many discussions with the Ministry of Labour and the CPF Board to work out the details. We are now in the final stages of formulating the Scheme. The CPF Board has also engaged the services of an actuarial consultant to undertake various studies and we expect to receive his report in about three months' time.

We hope to implement the Scheme sometime next year. An announcement will be made when the details have been finalized.

Dr S. Vasoo (Bo Wen): Sir, would the proposed premium be within the reach of low income families, particularly those without CPF payments?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Yes.

[Mr Deputy Speaker in the Chair]

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