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Page 2 | Chapter1

HEALTHCARE PHILOSOPHY

2.1 The Singapore Government believes in ensuring quality and affordable basic medical services for all. At the same time, it wants to promote healthy living and preventive health programmes, as well as to maintain high standards of living, clean water and hygiene, to achieve better health for all.

2.2 Singapore’s healthcare system is designed to ensure that everyone has access to different levels of healthcare in a timely, cost-effective and seamless manner. Healthcare services are accessible through a wide network of primary, acute and intermediate and long-term care (ILTC) providers. Our healthcare services are designed to promote health, prevent and reduce illness, and ensure that Singaporeans have access to good and affordable healthcare.

2.3 The Ministry of Health (MOH) has put together a “Healthcare 2020” Masterplan to improve healthcare services for Singaporeans. It focuses on three strategic objectives, namely enhancing accessibility, quality, and affordability of healthcare for Singaporeans.

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Page 9 | Chapter 2

What is a Medical Expense Insurance?

Medical Expense Insurance, also known as Hospital and Surgical (H&S) Insurance, provides inpatient and some outpatient benefits. Besides covering common expenses which are listed below, it also provides cover for complex surgical procedures like heart by-pass surgery and organ transplant, and other costly outpatient treatments, such as kidney dialysis and cancer chemotherapy. Examples of Medical Expense Insurance include Medisave-approved Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) offered by private insurers, universal MediShield Life Scheme and Managed Healthcare Schemes.

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Page 24 | Chapter 2

HEALTHCARE SUBSIDY LEVEL

5.1 Citizens, SPRs and foreigners in Singapore are charged differently for public healthcare services. Citizens enjoy heavy subsidies in Class B2 and C wards.

SPRs receive significant subsidy, while foreigners are not subsidised at all. The subsidy level distinction reflects the privileges of citizenship, and to further sharpen the distinction between citizens and SPRs. Refer to Appendix 2C for the Table of Subsidy Level.

5.2 Owing to the differences in healthcare subsidy for citizens, SPR and foreigners, some insurers apply a citizenship factor on the hospitalization claims. Citizenship factor means a percentage applied to the medical expenses of an insured person (who is not a Singaporean), that is claimable under the policy.

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Page 25 | Chapter 2

CLAIMS

7.1 In the event of a claim, the insured (policy owner/employer) is required to furnish the following supporting documents to the insurer:

▪ claim form to be completed by the insured;

▪ physician’s statement by the attending doctor;

▪ discharge summary; and

▪ original medical bills.

7.2 These are the standard documents required by the insurer to assess the claim. The insurer reserves the right to call for other necessary documents. As mentioned previously, for any patient claiming under an Integrated Shield Plan approved under Medisave, all he needs to do is to inform the hospital of the name of the insurer, fill in a standard claim form and the hospital will file the claim on his behalf for inpatient expenses, through the MediClaim System. This applies to public hospitals and major private hospitals in Singapore.

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Page 36 | Chapter 3

Advantages Of A Compulsory (Non-Contributory) Plan

(a) It provides ease of administration, since there is no regular payroll deduction to monitor.

(b) It comes with lower costs owing to less administrative work involved, and the greater pooling effect of risks as a result of many lives insured.

(c) It helps the employer to retain greater control of the benefit structures and provisions.