ELDERSHIELD SCHEME (Survey on reasons for opting-out)

Mr Gan Kim Yong asked the Minister for Health whether his Ministry will (i) consider conducting a survey to determine the reasons for Singaporeans opting out of the ElderShield Scheme; and (ii) undertake a review of the scheme following the survey.

The Minister for Health (Mr Lim Hng Kiang): Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have said earlier, ElderShield was launched only very recently. The immediate task of the Ministry and the ElderShield insurers is to ensure the smooth operation of the scheme. But notwithstanding what I have said, we will ask the two ElderShield insurers to consider doing such a survey, and to review the scheme if it is necessary to do so.