MOH announced in a press release dated 15 Oct 2024 that the Singapore Government has accepted the recommendations for MediShield Life enhancements proposed by the MediShield Life Council. The Government will also provide an additional $4.1 billion to help offset the resulting increase in premiums “comprising $3.4 billion in MediSave top-ups and $0.7 billion in premium subsidies for the next three years”. The changes, which will be implemented progressively from April 2025, are aimed at better protecting Singaporeans against health events that result in hefty medical bills. They will also enable Singaporeans to access “new types of care” which would also be more costly.
Proposed MediShield Life Enhancements
The following is a summary of the recommendations made by the Council:
Increase Claim Limits And Refresh Scheme Parameters
- Increase in existing inpatient and day surgery claim limits to fully cover nine in ten subsidised bills.
- Increase the policy year claim limit from $150,000 to $200,000.
- Increase the inpatient deductible by up to $1,500.
- Revision of the pro-ration factors for private unsubsidised bills.
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Enhance Outpatient Coverage
- Refresh of outpatient claim limits to fully cover nine in ten subsidised bills. E.g. claim limits for kidney dialysis will increase from $1,100 per month to $1,750 per month.
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- Expansion of coverage to new outpatient treatments and home-based medical care, to enable access to more convenient care options beyond the traditional hospital setting. E.g. repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation used to treat depression.
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- Introduction of a new outpatient deductible of $500 per year.
- Decrease in co-insurance for outpatient treatments – from a flat 10% to a tiered structure ranging from 3% to 10%.
Expand Coverage To High-Cost Treatments That Are Clinically Effective And Cost-Effective
- CTGTPs (cell, tissue or gene therapy products) that have demonstrated the potential to treat cancers and serious diseases effectively.
- High-cost drugs for blood conditions and conditions with childhood onset.
MediSave Withdrawal Limits Will Be Adjusted
MediSave withdrawal limits will be adjusted to enable patients to use MediSave to cover the co-insurance and the revised deductibles. This will be implemented progressively from 1 April 2025 concurrently with the first phase of the increase in inpatient deductible. Outpatient deductible will be introduced on 1 January 2026 and further increased on 1 April 2027. MOH says all other changes will be made progressively from 1 April 2025 onwards.
Protect Yourself From The Potential High Costs Of Medical Treatment
Medical costs in Singapore may be prohibitively high for certain conditions if private healthcare is chosen. In addition to basic MediShield Life coverage, you can also consider private Integrated Shield Plans, critical illness or cancer insurance, etc, for additional protection.
Learn More: Medical Cost & Insurance In Singapore >>
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This article is informative only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice.