HEALTHCARE FOR THE ELDERLY

Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh asked the Minister for Health, concerning healthcare for the elderly, (a) what kind of medical subsidy is given to the aged sick who have no Central Provident Fund savings or medical security funds; (b) what schemes his Ministry can offer to lighten the burden of the "sandwiched generation" of young working adults who are stressed by having to use their own Medisave to pay for the increasing medical expenses of their aged parents; and (c) if his Ministry will consider offering more substantial medical subsidies for the aged as a recognition of their contribution to nation building.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: The elderly receive heavily subsidised primary health care at Government polyclinics, at 75% of the treatment cost. For hospital care, all patients have a choice of wards. For Class C beds, patients pay only 20% of the cost; the Government pays the remaining 80%. For Class B2 beds, the patients pay 35% of cost, Class B1 80%. There is no subsidy for Class A wards. Financial counselling is provided at the point of admission to enable patients to choose their ward class according to their financial means. To ensure that everyone has equal access to the heavily subsidised wards, Class B2 and C beds are kept at about 70% of the number of public acute hospital beds.

We would like to assure the member that the public sector hospitals will not turn away patients who are unable to pay. The necessary treatment is always given first. In instances of financial hardship, Medifund acts as a safety net to ensure that no Singaporeans will be denied essential medical care just because of the inability to pay. Therefore, the existing systems are able to help the aged sick with no CPF savings or other sources of medical funds.

As explained earlier, we would encourage Singaporeans to choose a class of ward which they can afford. If despite Government subsidies, Medisave and MediShield, they are still unable to pay for the essential medical care, they may approach the medical social worker of the hospital or their Community Development Council for Medifund assistance.

As the aged can opt for treatment at Government polyclinics and acute hospitals which are already heavily subsidised, my Ministry does not consider it necessary to revise the subsidy level to them further. However, the Member would be aware of the pre-Medisave top-up scheme introduced in 1996 in recognition of the valuable contributions and services rendered by the older citizens to Singapore. It is aimed at helping them build up their Medisave accounts since they would have accumulated little or no Medisave savings, having retired before or shortly after the Medisave scheme was introduced in 1984. Therefore, those who are 64 and above on 1st April 1998 will receive between $100 and $350 (depending on age) so long as they make a small co-payment. The co-payment reinforces the partnership between the Government and the people in looking after the people's healthcare needs. To date, 3 top-ups, costing the Government $159 million, have been given. The elderly will receive the fourth and final instalment of the Pre-Medisave top-up in January 1999 if they contribute another co-payment of $20 into their Medisave account during the period 1st July 1998 to 31st December 1998.