The MediShield Life Review Committee (MLRC) released its third update on the ongoing review of MediShield Life today. The Singapore Government will implement the MediShield Life scheme for all Singaporeans in 2015.
The Labour Movement supports MediShield Life as it will provide all Singaporeans better protection against large medical bills and will assure Singaporeans that they are covered for life. This will give greater peace of mind for Singaporeans and curb out-of-pocket expenses.
We welcome the MLRC’s recommendations to improve MediShield Life coverage by raising claim limits and lowering co-insurance rates. We are glad that the MLRC has accepted some of our recommendations which reflect the concerns of our workers.
The Labour Movement held eight focus group discussions in March and April 2014 with over 300 participants from our various communities such as union leaders, youths, families, active agers, women, the self-employed, freelancers and pensioners. Our recommendations were made public on 14 April 2014.
Making healthcare affordable and accessible
The Labour Movement is pleased to note that the MLRC has taken in our recommendation to further tier the inpatient co-insurance rate to 3% for exceptionally large bills. This would help to contain out-of-pocket expenses, especially in the event of a large medical bill.
Pre-funding to ensure better spread of premium payments
The Labour Movement had acknowledged that with these proposals calling for more benefits and coverage for MediShield Life, a higher premium can be expected.
We are glad that the MLRC has considered our views on the need to ensure a better spread of premium payments over one’s lifetime so as to help with premium affordability in old age.
We are also appreciative of the Government’s commitment to help Singaporeans and workers with premium subsidies. We hope that on the part of the Government, it can provide support through Medisave top ups for the needy and low-income households to ensure they can have enough savings for their healthcare needs. This is in addition to the support that will be given to the Pioneer Generation.
Ensuring relevance in MediShield Life
The Labour Movement will continue to pursue looking into measures such as the Portable Medical Benefits Scheme (PMBS) as a possible way of reducing duplication in insurance coverage. We call on the Government and employers to review how to remove duplication of coverage.
As the biggest employer in Singapore, the Government could lead by example and increase its 1% Additional Medisave Contribution in the existing Medisave-cum-Subsidised Outpatient (MSO) Scheme to cater for premiums and medical costs. Similar, other employers can make additional Medisave contributions to boost workers’ ability to pay for MediShield Life premiums.
Conclusion
The Labour Movement is heartened that the Government is enhancing the MediShield to help Singaporeans cope with their healthcare and medical costs which will increase with an aging population.
We look forward to the release of the final report, and the Government’s announcement of its findings so that we can work with our tripartite partners to convey the full recommendations to our workers.
Cham Hui Fong
Assistant Secretary-General
National Trades Union Congress
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