MediShield Household Check gets encouraging online response
More than 100 Hong Kah North residents were briefed about the exercise yesterday. Photo: Joy Fang
Singapore — Since the MediShield Household Check Exercise began on May 1, there has been a “steady increase” in the number of households that have completed the exercise to determine their eligibility for MediShield Life premium subsidies.
It has been an encouraging start, with the majority who completed the check doing so online, Senior Minister of State (Health) Amy Khor said yesterday. “Over May 7 and 8, for instance, an average of 7,000 households a day completed the household check and more than 90 per cent did it online. So, indeed, we’re happy the residents have found the e-service easy and simple to use,” she said.
Meanwhile, about 1,300 residents have visited service counters located at community centres, SingPost and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore. Those who do not participate in the household check exercise will still have their MediShield Life premium subsidies computed based on government records and will receive them if eligible.
However, the Health Ministry encourages all households to update their information so these subsidies can be calculated accurately.
At a block party yesterday, more than 100 Hong Kah North residents were briefed about the exercise, with grassroots leaders on hand to help them complete it online.
For example, Mr Vijay Kumar, 40, had received a Health Ministry letter asking him to confirm the number of members in his household and he turned to his Residents’ Committee for help to make the necessary changes online. “It can be done in my home, using my SingPass, but I feel more comfortable doing it with the help of RC members,” he said. “They were very helpful in getting the information and showing me the details, so I can say the process is quite straightforward and user-friendly.”
Another resident, Mr Aw Hai Jian, said: “It’s very good to have this household check because there are quite a number of people who don’t know how to use the computer, so when they come here, the RC grassroots leaders will help them.”
Grassroots leaders have also been putting up posters about the universal MediShield Life scheme and talking to residents about what they should do when they receive the letter.
Following the household check exercise, the Health Ministry will determine MediShield Life premium subsidies by applying the relevant income and property ownership information of each household. About a month before premiums are due for renewal, a letter will be sent to inform residents of their eligible subsidies and premiums payable. While the policy renewal date will vary from one individual to another, residents will be able to check their subsidies and premiums online at the year-end. CHANNEL NEWSASIA
