MEDICAL NEEDS OF ELDERLY SINGAPOREANS

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MEDICAL NEEDS OF ELDERLY SINGAPOREANS: 14.

Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Health (a) whether Singaporeans above 65 years have adequate Medisave balances to take care of their medical needs; and (b) whether

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there will be any help given to assist needy elderly Singaporeans who are likely to be inactive CPF members to pay for their MediShield premiums, which are now higher and in view of the extension of the MediShield maximum coverage age to 85.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Singaporeans who are above 65 have an average Medisave balance of $5,300, which is also not insignificant. It is enough to cover 17 years of MediShield premiums, or five average Class C hospitalisations for the elderly. But it is way below the Medisave Minimum Sum of $27,500. This is partly because Medisave was introduced only in 1984 and the present cohort of elderly Singaporeans did not have enough time to build up their Medisave balances. I think future generations of such elderly Singaporeans would fare better.

Meanwhile, the Government has helped to top up their Medisave accounts whenever the budget allows it. Over the past 10 years, the Government has made six rounds of Medisave top-ups, totalling $1.32 billion. On each occasion, the Government gave the elderly more Medisave top-up than it did the rest. The most recent top-up was made in July this year, specifically to help Singaporeans cope with the increase in MediShield premiums.

In any case, elderly Singaporeans are not helpless. Many have means of support, either from their own savings or from their families'. For example, 60% of the elderly have their medical bills paid from their children's Medisave accounts.

In addition, we have Medifund to help those who are unable to pay for their hospital bills despite heavy Government subsidies, Medisave and MediShield. As Members are aware, we are progressively building up Medifund to $2 billion.

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Mdm Halimah Yacob: Sir, the Minister said that for those above 65 years of age, the $5,000 savings that they have in their Medisave accounts will cover 17 years of MediShield premiums. Now that MediShield has been extended to cover up to the age of 85, there is obviously a shortfall. Secondly, Sir, is the $5,000 sufficient, in the Minister's assessment, to cover specialist outpatient treatment as well as other treatments where Medisave is allowed to be used?

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Sir, while $5,300 is not insignificant, certainly it is not sufficient. As I said, it is way below the Medisave Minimum Sum of $27,500. But $5,000 is still $5,000. It can buy, in the case of elderly, 17 years of MediShield premiums. But my main point is this. In funding our healthcare system, we go for multiple sources of funds - with the elderly, their own savings in Medisave, their other savings outside of Medisave and, very crucially, I hope they have good children. Their children will support them. Of course, if nothing else, we have the safety net in the form of Medifund.