MEDISHIELD COVERAGE (Age cap)

Column: 775

MEDISHIELD COVERAGE:

(Age cap): 11.

Dr Ong Seh Hong asked the Minister for Health whether his Ministry will consider further extending the age cap for MediShield coverage beyond 80 years or removing altogether the age cap for MediShield, to include more elderly Singaporeans under a broader based medical cover, particularly when this group will be most dependent on medical cover in their very old age.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: The age cap for MediShield coverage is not a permanent age cap. As life expectancy goes up, it should move in tandem.

The current age cap of 80 was set in 2001. I think it is time for another review.

Now that the MediShield reform has been implemented, I have begun to look into this possible refinement. But I must confess that in the last three days, I have not been focusing on this subject.

In this regard, the MediShield reform has already produced some early benefits. There are now four insurers offering catastrophic illness insurance coverage for Singaporeans above 80. It is likely that the current MediShield Plus tender may attract bids with an age cap higher than 80 years. If so, their bids will also help us in our study of where to re-set the age cap and the premiums for such an age band.

3.00 pm

Mr Speaker: Order. End of Question time.

[Pursuant to Standing Order No. 22, Written Answers to Question Nos. 18, 20, 30 and 34 on the Order Paper are reproduced in the Appendix*. Question Nos. 12-17, 19, 21-29, 31-33 and 35-46 have been postponed to the sitting of Parliament on 19th July 2005.]

*Cols.