MediShield Life roll-out begins with household check
A man browses through a MediShield Life folder during a health dialogue at Hong Kah Community Club. TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — Households are set to receive letters informing them of their eligibility for premium and transitional subsidies starting tomorrow, as the roll-out of MediShield Life gets under way.
Of the 1.2 million households receiving these letters, six in 10 will be asked to update or confirm their household information, and the letter will provide instructions on how to do so.
The remaining households will not be required to take any action, as these would include those who recently applied for other household-based healthcare schemes, such as the Community Health Assist Scheme whose information was recently updated, and Pioneer Generation members. Their letters would inform them of the types of subsidies they are set to get.
The information verified or updated, which must be done by June 19, will determine the amount in subsidies one receives. Once the scheme takes effect, such information will be updated once every two years.
Medishield Life, which is expected to kick in at the end of this year, will provide universal health insurance coverage for all Singaporean citizens and permanent residents, including those with pre-existing conditions.
To ensure premiums remain affordable, permanent premium subsidies will also be available to the bottom two-thirds of households. In addition, a four-year transitional subsidy will be given to all Singaporean citizens whose net premiums increase after the scheme kicks in.
To be eligible for premium subsidies, households must meet three criteria: Live in a property with Annual Value (AV) of S$21,000 and below, have a household monthly income per person of S$2,600 and below, and own only one property.
At a media briefing on Monday, Senior Minister of State for Health Amy Khor said this is the first time the Government is relying on existing records and databases.
“This is so there is no need to apply for the subsidies and it is to provide convenience to residents, as well as to ensure that as many residents as possible eligible for the subsidies will receive it without the application,” she said.
Dr Khor also reiterated that MediShield Life is expected to kick in later this year, but did not give a more specific date. Other issues to be worked out before implementation include finalising the list of pre-existing conditions, with which individuals would pay 30 per cent more in premiums.
Residents who wish to update their information can do so online through the E-Service link, which they log in with their letter’s reference number or SingPass.
Updates can also be done over the phone through the Medishield Life hotline, or at over 100 physical counters at SingPost, selected community centres and IRAS service centre. Each household will receive one letter and only needs to complete the check once.
Those who made changes to their household information as well as those who opt out of the exercise will receive letters acknowledging their changes.
For those who do not respond to the household check exercise, premium subsidies will be calculated based on existing information in the Government’s databases. The letter will not reveal the amount in subsidies an eligible household is likely to get, but the Ministry of Health is working on an online subsidy and premium checker.
The ministry will be publicising the exercise on media platforms and working with community partners such as the People’s Association, which will be putting up posters at public housing blocks at the end of this week. It has also been briefing grassroots leaders, social service officers and welfare organisations, and engaging the non-English speaking groups.
