15th Mar 2016
Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Dr Tan Wu Meng
MP for Jurong GRC
Question No. 174
To ask the Minister for Health what are the measures available to help Singaporeans who are on non-subsidised rates to obtain subsidised rates at public hospitals if they were previously on employer-provided healthcare insurance which has since expired.
Oral Reply
1. All Singaporeans who need to be admitted into a public hospital can choose to be admitted into subsidised ward classes, regardless of whether they had been receiving non-subsidised or subsidised care previously. Hospitals provide financial counselling to patients prior to or upon admission, to help them select a ward class appropriate to their needs.
2. Patients at the public hospitals who face difficulties with their medical expenses and wish to switch from unsubsidised care to subsidised care can approach the staff at public hospitals for assistance. Each request is assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration various factors, such as his bill size, medical condition, and any changes in financial means and his ability to pay, including employment status. Patients who request to switch to subsidised Specialist Outpatient Clinic services would also be similarly assessed.
3. I would encourage patients who are facing financial difficulties to approach the medical social workers to discuss available options.