Singaporeans will be able to claim more for hospital stays, and get coverage for additional outpatient treatments as well as certain new groundbreaking therapies from their MediShield Life policies, when changes kick in progressively from April 2025.
Inpatient daily claim limits for the first two days of a normal ward stay will rise to $1,630, from $1,000, for instance, while that of intensive care unit (ICU) stays will more than double to $5,140. The policy year claim limit will also be pushed up to $200,000, from $150,000, said the Ministry of Health (MOH), in accepting recommendations from the council tasked with ensuring that MediShield Life is effective.
Premiums for the mandatory national insurance scheme will rise as a result, especially for older Singaporeans, although over nine in 10 people will get help to more than offset these increases. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the changes and support measures will strengthen the MediShield Life and MediSave systems, which, when combined, have worked well for Singapore. There are countries that focus a lot on healthcare subsidies, which are funded by taxation, but that causes excess demand. Waiting time becomes very long in hospitals and clinics, and while the care is very affordable, it is not very accessible, he explained.
“There are also other countries that then focus a lot on insurance, and excess demand becomes much less of a problem. Instead, affordability becomes an issue for those who are not insured.
“It is very important that these two safety nets work hand in hand,” he told the media in an interview at MOH headquarters.
The first review of MediShield Life in four years has recommended that premiums be increased amid rising healthcare costs, and outpatient coverage be enhanced significantly given that healthcare delivery is increasingly shifting from hospitals to outpatient, community and home settings.
Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin October 16, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin October 16, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
BLACK DAY FOR BRITISH PUBS
At her London pub, landlady Kate Davidson has taken to issuing Guinness ration cards, but the beer still ran out amid a British shortage of Ireland's national drink.
Her Last Gifts
It was exhausting, he sighed. But Carol insisted; her name being what it was and his, she said with a big grin, being Chris. Remember, this is the blessed spirit of the season, to give as we have been given.
When You Think About Me
She empties the last drawer and, between stray baubles, there's the cookie tin, the one hunted down from some narrow shop in Liverpool because it didn't ship here.
Gift Of The Magi
Let's say you never intended to use Magi. Let's say you know about all the scandals: the accusations of stolen data, the EU lawsuits, the CEO's abhorrent behaviour. Let's say you don't even believe the outlandish social media claims that the app is magical, like actual magic. You know it's not possible it reads your mind, plumbs your soul, knows your heart's desires. You're not so gullible.
Ho Ren Yung: Steering global brand evolution of Banyan Group
Ms Ho Ren Yung, deputy chief executive of Banyan Group, oversaw the company's brand relaunch in a bumper year of 19 openings in 2024. These included Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto in Japan and Angsana Tengchong in China.
Jury-rigged Hotpot
The Japan Home folding table was just big enough to accommodate two.
Tales of love, peace and hope
The Sunday Times invites five authors to pen short stories around the theme of A Christmas Gift
Japan: Taking centre stage in Singapore and beyond
Scroll through your social media feed this holiday season, and practically everyone you know is in Japan or making plans to vacation there.
UOB: Most influential patron in Singapore art scene
UOB's \"day job\" is handling loans, deposits and a wealth of diverse portfolios. But the bank cemented its role as the most influential patron in the Singapore art scene in 2024, investing good chunks of cash in both arts and arts education.
Fong Chi Chung: Putien restaurants make dining out more affordable
In a year where diners made themselves scarce - preferring to spend their strong Singapore dollars overseas, and leading restaurant owners and chefs to despair over empty dining rooms - this power lister made a power move that others in the industry are watching closely.
