ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS NOT REACHED BY 1.30 P.M. DEPLETED MEDISAVE ACCOUNTS

Dr S. Vasoo asked the Acting Minister for Health whether the number of people who have exhausted their Medisave whilst under medical treatment is on the increase; and what steps are being taken to assist them in their medical care.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: The number of Medisave members with zero or near zero balances has remained fairly constant, at an average of about 6,400, representing about 0.3% of the total number of Medisave accounts. Ninety-nine percent of these depleted accounts were inactive at the time of usage, ie, no contributions had been made into these accounts for four or more months prior to the account being used. Over 70% of these account holders were below the age of 45 years. The members concerned had either already stopped working, or had become self-employed.

A member who depletes his account has the following alternatives:

(a) pay in cash the outstanding balance of the hospital bill; arrangements can also be made for the balance to be paid in instalments;

(b) use the Medisave accounts of immediate family members;

(c) overdraw on his Medisave account if the patient is in C or B2 wards of Government or restructured hospitals, provided the Medisave account is active. Only 27 members have made use of this facility from January to September this year. Patients who are genuinely unable to pay their hospital bills may apply for a waiver or partial remission of fees.