Committee of Supply 2024 debate, Day 1: Ong Hua Han on tackling discrimination in insurance
In Parliament on Wednesday (Feb 28), NMP Ong Hua Han highlighted a “systemic failure” in Singapore’s insurance industry that disproportionately harms people with disabilities. He said there was no transparency in insurers’ decision-making processes, leaving people with disabilities guessing and being denied coverage. He cited the example of “Mr A”, for whom Asperger’s Syndrome and ADHD were given as reasons to exclude him when he applied for a whole life insurance policy. Mr Ong called for measures to mandate insurers to disclose the data, research and methodologies used in their assessments. This would allow customers to challenge unfair decisions and hold insurers accountable. Where necessary, he said the Monetary Authority of Singapore must also step in to take decisive action against insurers that indiscriminately reject applications based solely on disability or mental health declarations.
In Parliament on Wednesday (Feb 28), NMP Ong Hua Han highlighted a “systemic failure” in Singapore’s insurance industry that disproportionately harms people with disabilities. He said there was no transparency in insurers’ decision-making processes, leaving people with disabilities guessing and being denied coverage. He cited the example of “Mr A”, for whom Asperger’s Syndrome and ADHD were given as reasons to exclude him when he applied for a whole life insurance policy. Mr Ong called for measures to mandate insurers to disclose the data, research and methodologies used in their assessments. This would allow customers to challenge unfair decisions and hold insurers accountable. Where necessary, he said the Monetary Authority of Singapore must also step in to take decisive action against insurers that indiscriminately reject applications based solely on disability or mental health declarations.
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