REACH (Telegram) 34 - What are your views on the enhanced MediShield Life scheme? What more can be done to ensure accessible and affordable healthcare for Singaporeans?
(SK)
21 Oct 2024 (10am - 7pm)
REACH (Telegram)
REACH Singapore, [21/10/2024 9:45 AM]
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REACH Singapore, [21/10/2024 10:00 AM]
📢 Topic 📢
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.
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.
💬 What are your views on the enhanced MediShield Life scheme? What more can be done to ensure accessible and affordable healthcare for Singaporeans?
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.
📌 Revised MediShield Life premiums
The changes, which will take place progressively from April 2025, will ensure that MediShield Life can go back to fully covering nine in 10 subsidised bills in public healthcare institutions, as it was intended to do. Currently, the scheme fully covers just under eight in 10 subsidised bills, as rising costs have eroded coverage.
📌 MediShield Life claims and payouts
Medical inflation and an ageing population mean MediShield Life payouts have increased by 9.8 per cent annually between 2020 and 2023, while payout per claim has crept up by 3.4 per cent annually.
Minister Ong said: “In particular, we are most concerned about unexpected health episodes that require you to stay in hospital for a long time, maybe even the ICU.”
The increases in claim limits will offer Singaporeans greater assurance for subsidised healthcare, he pointed out.
📌 Outpatient claims and new treatments
Meanwhile, existing outpatient claim limits will be revised upwards, and new outpatient treatments and home-based medical care will be added to the coverage.
Currently, only selected costly outpatient treatments such as kidney dialysis, radiotherapy for cancer and immunosuppressants for organ transplant are covered.
But most will not pay out of pocket for the next three years. More than nine in 10 Singaporeans will benefit from $3.4 billion in MediSave top-ups and $700 million in premium subsidies that will more than offset the premium increases over the next three years, said MOH on Oct 15.
👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/medishield-life-to-offer-higher-claim-limits-better-coverage-premiums-to-rise-from-april-2025
👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/more-than-4-billion-in-government-support-as-medishield-life-premiums-go-up
👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/most-people-will-not-feel-the-brunt-of-higher-medishield-life-premiums-ong-ye-kung
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REACH Singapore, [21/10/2024 11:01 AM]
[ Poll : I am confident that the enhanced MediShield Life scheme can protect Singaporeans against large medical bills. Please share the reason for your answer in the chats. ]
- Yes
- No
- Maybe
REACH Singapore, [21/10/2024 11:01 AM]
Dear Contributors,
Please take a moment to participate in our polls and share your opinion. The poll questions are pinned for easy reference, and your vote is anonymous.
We look forward to hearing your thoughts on today’s topic!
Thank you.
Megan 😊
REACH Singapore, [21/10/2024 12:12 PM]
💬 Dear Contributors,
We want to HEAR MORE from you!
💬 What are your views on the enhanced MediShield Life scheme? What more can be done to ensure accessible and affordable healthcare for Singaporeans?
We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active!
Do also share your opinion by participating in our polls! The poll questions are pinned for easy reference, and your vote is anonymous.
Thank you!
Megan 😊
Jun Ming, [21/10/2024 12:50 PM]
Maybe recruit more kids to be Singaporean rather than those elderly so we no need to support them
Jun Ming, [21/10/2024 12:51 PM]
So having foreign Singaporean kids to support our population so we no need to pay more
Jun Ming, [21/10/2024 12:54 PM]
Anyway jokes aside I think it may offset hospital bills lah just that premium increase liao lor. And young people like me need to have more muscle to support our Pioneers lot even though we are not the one using it
REACH Singapore, [21/10/2024 2:01 PM]
📢 Topic 📢
Adam, [21/10/2024 2:02 PM]
Where is the money coming from?
Adam, [21/10/2024 2:03 PM]
We pay premiums, but who pays the ofsetting of the rise?
Adam, [21/10/2024 2:04 PM]
Are we raiding the reserves of our young?
Adam, [21/10/2024 2:04 PM]
Young can barely buy hdb and is getting squeezed everywhere
Adam, [21/10/2024 2:05 PM]
Maybe if hdb is a retirement asset as promised, can downgrade to fund healthcare in the golden years
Adam, [21/10/2024 2:05 PM]
I believe everyone is responsible for their own health
Adam, [21/10/2024 2:06 PM]
This is not an ideal world where we can give everyone what they want
LCL (Danny 心), [21/10/2024 3:45 PM]
1. There are a few things to note in the healthcare fundings for the population :-
a. The insurance coverage for hospitalisation by Medishield Life has slipped from 90% to 80%.
b. There is a breakthrough of more effective and targeted medical approach to treat previous many incurable illness. But they are very expensive..
c. Overall healthcare inflation has rises - just like inflation of other items in general.
d. More population are aging, and more healthcare intervention will be needed.
2. In light of the above considerations, there is a need to ensure the coverage of Medicare will not deteriorate ie. 90% hospitalisation coverage - as compare to previously and at the same time, ensure every one (not just the rich population) can have access to the new effective targeted treatment and ensure everyone can recover from incurable illness and lengthen our lifespan.
"New drugs may be able to treat multiple problems beyond diabetes".
Super-drug that can treat diabetes, reverse dementia, reverse kidney problem, reverse mental illness among others.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/new-drugs-may-treat-multiple-problems-beyond-diabetes#:~:text=New%20drugs%20may%20be%20able%20to%20treat%20multiple%20problems%20beyond%20diabetes
"Singapore doctors develop new cell therapy that saved patients from treatment-resistant cancer.
Sixteen patients went into complete remission within a month of the treatment. They previously had a less than 10 per cent chance of survival as the cancer did not respond to chemotherapy and other treatments." https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/cancer-experimental-treatment-singapore-doctors-t-cell-acute-lymphoblastic-leukaemia-4659386#:~:text=Singapore%20doctors%20develop,and%20other%20treatments.
Hence timely intervention by the Government to ensure the whole population can afford the higher coverage and new treatment is imperative.
3. It is important to note that, critical illness don't just hit the seniors, but could also hit the young in general.
Hence ensuring affordable and effective hospitalisation coverage are important.
4. Having understood the rationale of the needs to ensure larger coverage, affordability and effective treatment - next important question is "where does the Government find the money to cover the higher costs - which is 35% increase in premium for the whole population?"
Understand that the Government will be spending an additional $3.4 billion in Medisave top-ups and $700 million medishield premium subsidies for 3 years.
Does the Government dig into the reserves?
Are the Government raising taxes to cover it?
5. Let us analyse the Economic conditions of Singapore Economy - whereby our Government derive its revenue to fund the Government Spendings for our Economy..
It is important to note that in 2024, due to good Economy Growth, Government is collecting higher government revenue and earning a healthy Sovereign reserves revenue - and hence reaping a higher NIRC for 2024.
"After factoring in the Top-ups to Endowment and Trust Funds of $20.35 billion, NIRC of $23.50 billion, Capitalisation of Nationally Significant Infrastructure of $4.09 billion and SINGA Interest Costs and Loan Expenses of $403.08 million, the projected overall fiscal position for FY2024 is a surplus of $777.51 million."
Source :- Google
In 2024, we have a budget surplus of $777.51 million.
6. Hence, it is reassuring that the Government commitment to fund the Medicare for our population is derived from our healthy fiscal budget from 2023/2024 Government revenue due to healthy Economic Growth.
And not dig into our reserves and deplete our Sovereign Funds to fund this rising healthcare needs for the population.
That means, the operating revenues are able to cover the operating expenses - without digging into our reserves savings to finance the day to day running expenses.
REACH Singapore, [21/10/2024 4:02 PM]
📢 Topic 📢
LCL (Danny 心), [21/10/2024 4:09 PM]
The net result of this policy - enhancing the medishield and medisave means - population can live longer and healthier even when contracting many previous incurable illness - at an affordable prices (for 3 years).
Adam, [21/10/2024 4:12 PM]
Imo, its better worth spending more effort tackling the root of the problem
Adam, [21/10/2024 4:12 PM]
Why much a person who eats healthy and work out pay the same premium as someone who doesnt?
Adam, [21/10/2024 4:13 PM]
Prevention is better than cure
Adam, [21/10/2024 4:13 PM]
But it looks like we are shoveling much more money to the cure than preventing it
LCL (Danny 心), [21/10/2024 4:17 PM]
Anyway to date, I have not been or able to draw the medishield insurance to pay for my and my wife hospitalisation despite paying a lifetime medishield premium year after year.
All come from my out of pocket expenses.
And I don't know why.
Adam, [21/10/2024 4:18 PM]
If i am not wrong medishield and all other insurance in singapore doesnt completely cover all cost
Adam, [21/10/2024 4:19 PM]
But you are still paying singaporean rates right?
LCL (Danny 心), [21/10/2024 4:19 PM]
This is the only consolation.
Adam, [21/10/2024 4:19 PM]
Also, did you ask why the claim got rejected?
LCL (Danny 心), [21/10/2024 4:20 PM]
No one can tell me.
Even the hospital staff.
They only say can help me to submit for insurance claim but no guarantee - but everytime not successful.
Adam, [21/10/2024 4:20 PM]
Tbh all these schemes the gov have is so convoluted and confusing. Like hdb i try to help family but somehow they cannot get grant
Adam, [21/10/2024 4:20 PM]
We can barely get a human to talk to now everything online
LCL (Danny 心), [21/10/2024 4:30 PM]
But sometimes, not living a healthy lives or focus on prevention means no illness will come.
Eg. My wife always exercise under heathsg 365.
Got hand muscle tear and heel injury.
Still need hospital specialist intervention.
My eye got a tear due to dry eyes and dirt. Also need hospital specialist care.
Hence no one can guarantee we don't need Medicare coverage even for the young ones.
Human bodies are fragile.
We never know what will come.
Having insurance is important.
Adam, [21/10/2024 4:37 PM]
Of course no one can guarentee. I also cannot guarentee i win the lottery.
But are we getting what we want out of the system? Perhaps even if we dont benefit directly, we can get the peace of mind that we wont end up too bad. Maybe? Like you said somehow your claim got rejected. So at this point im not sure if i will be able to secure my health either. Got to add another point to my list of worries.
Adam, [21/10/2024 4:38 PM]
How about the very existance of the system? Are we ensuring that medical providers arent trying to extract every dollar possible from our country?
Adam, [21/10/2024 4:39 PM]
Why can i get medicine cheaper in malaysia than on singapore? Is the medicine really that different?
LCL (Danny 心), [21/10/2024 4:39 PM]
Hahaha...
I also want to know.
Why everytime my claims got rejected.
Adam, [21/10/2024 4:40 PM]
If we have a fund exclusively for treatment, dont be surprised if the fund gets depleted as fast as whatever unused department budget a typical singapore organisation has
Adam, [21/10/2024 4:41 PM]
Its either you use it or lose it
LCL (Danny 心), [21/10/2024 4:50 PM]
I suggest the government mandate health insurers insert an explanation why claims are rejected when submitted by the hospital on our behalf.
This will ensure transparency and accountability whether the rejection is valid and aboveboard as negotiated by the government with the insurers who are contracted to insure against population healthcare claims.
Else it raises too many questions why population are mandated to pay the medishield premium year after year with bigger increments - and when claims are due, often get rejected and still need to pay out of pocket.
LCL (Danny 心), [21/10/2024 4:52 PM]
I thought this should be the customer right to know.
G, [21/10/2024 5:08 PM]
What's the necessity of more and more "subsidies"?
What has the govt done to keep costs low such that there's no need to "subsidies"?
Adam, [21/10/2024 5:08 PM]
Subsidies doesnt make nealthcare and housing cheaper
Adam, [21/10/2024 5:09 PM]
This is what we get from 9% gst
Jun Ming, [21/10/2024 5:14 PM]
That's why strenuous exercise is not the way to go. Choose exercise like tai ji, people can live longer. Most athletes died at a young age.
LCL (Danny 心), [21/10/2024 5:18 PM]
Taichi needs alot of discipline and master to teach.
Not easy for my wife.
Actually she is only doing brisk walking.
But sometimes, when bad luck comes, illness just come in.
LCL (Danny 心), [21/10/2024 5:33 PM]
Actually, our Government is taking care of everyone from cradle to grave.
When born, education, healthcare, our housing, good jobs, old age, retirement savings all the way to our grave.
I have not seen any government in the world that do all these end to end.
Eg. Many countries don't do all these end to end.
Notably, majority of government don't provide public housing - leaving to private sectors.
Subsidising healthcare and very effective treatment not many countries do it.
Our pension scheme CPF is one of the best in the world and is sustainable.
2 of our Universities are in the ivy league - top 20 and top 30.
Good value added jobs.
So in retrospect, I think Singaporeans are very fortunate - for all races and residents.
Though not 100% perfection, but the efforts are commendable.
REACH Singapore, [21/10/2024 6:02 PM]
📢 Topic 📢
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