A complaint was lodged by Mr Chew Chuan Seng via a letter on Lianhe Zaobao (6 December), asking why the Medishield cannot be used to pay hospitalization bill.
Mr Chew wrote in his letter that he was informed he was inquired from the Central Provident Fund board in regards to details of a civil servant welfare scheme entitled, Co-Payment on Ward Scheme (CPW), which allows a civil servant to pay 20% (family members to pay 50%) of his or her hospitalization fees, the other operation procedures or surgeries are free.
However, when his wife recently had to be hospitalised due to high blood pressure, and the hospitalisation bill that was sent after she was discharged showed that after the deduction of CPW, the reminding amount was deducted from her Medisave account and not what the CPF board has stated in its reply, that it can be paid via the Medishield.
Here is what he wrote in full (translated from Mandarin):
Why can’t the MediShield be used to pay?
A few years ago, I inquired from the Central Provident Fund board in regards to details of a civil servant welfare scheme entitled, Co-Payment on Ward Scheme (CPW). This scheme allows a civil servant to pay 20% (family members to pay 50%) of his or her hospitalisation fees, the other operation procedures or surgeries are free.
Therefore under such circumstances, is there a need for a civil servant and the family members to pay premiums under the MediShield scheme (recently changed to MediShield Life) or the privatized Integrated Shield Plan?
The answer that I got was,
“Although civil servants and their family members enjoy the stated medical welfare benefits under the CPW scheme, but they would still need to pay for 20% and 50% of their hospitalization fee… The amount after the deduction that CPW pays for, can be paid via the Medishield plan. Civil servants need not utilise their Medisave to pay this portion.”
But the reality is not as so. My wife recently had to be hopsitalised due to high blood pressure, and the hopsitalisation bill that was sent after she was discharged showed that after the deduction of CPW, the reminding amount was deducted from her Medisave account and not what the CPF board has stated in its reply, that it can be paid via the Medishield.
This is the second time that such an incident has happened. My wife is assigned to NTUC income IncomeShield.
Why is the way how the hospital bill is being processed and what the CPF board claims to be, poles apart? It is only because of CPF board’s response that year, that I did not withdraw from the Medishield scheme or the integrated Shield Plan. And now, if one has a need but yet cannot claims the fund from the integrated shield plan and yet has to be deducted from one’s Medisave funds. Can the authorities give me an explanation?
MOH in its reply, wrote that MediShield Life provides health insurance coverage for life to all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents. The basic health insurance scheme helps to pay for large hospital bills and selected costly outpatient treatments.
It stated that MediShield Life has co-payment features, such as deductible and co-insurance, which are designed to protect members against larger bills and also to keep premiums affordable.
The deductible is a fixed amount payable by the insured per policy year before MediShield Life pays out on claims. The insured also pays 3 to 10 per cent of the remaining bill as co-insurance. Both the deductible and co-insurance can be settled using cash and/or Medisave. The rest will be covered by MediShield Life, subject to claim limits.
MOH also noted that MediShield Life complements the benefits provided by employers, such as the Civil Service medical benefits which Mr Chew is eligible for as a Government pensioner. The MediShield Life payout is computed on the total bill, and is separate from the employer benefits.
“Government pensioners will continue to enjoy all their existing medical benefits, and will not pay higher out-of-pocket for their medical expenses than if MediShield Life had not been introduced,” it added.
MOH also said that it has contacted Mr Chew to explain the matter in detail.
However, as one can read from the reply and question, MOH seemingly did not answer the question by Mr Chew. But it would likely be the case that the CPF board did not have the heart to tell Mr Chew that Medishield Life is mandatory to be paid for whether he likes it or not.
