HEALTHCARE SUBSIDIES AND INSURANCE FOR FOREIGN SPOUSES

NOTICE PAPER NO. 3582

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 8 APRIL 2025

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Ms Sylvia Lim

MP for Aljunied GRC

Question No. 7395

To ask the Minister for Health (a) whether the citizen-level subsidies for maternity fees accorded to foreign mothers giving birth to Singapore citizens apply to all items incurred during a typical maternity hospitalisation or only to specified items; (b) if only for specified items, what are the specific items; and (c) whether a review will be done to equalise or reduce the disparity in the total bill size for all foreign mothers giving birth to Singapore citizens.

NOTICE PAPER NO. 3585

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 8 APRIL 2025

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Gan Thiam Poh

MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC

Question No. 7397

To ask the Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry has received appeals from Singaporeans for help and subsidies to pay medical fees for their non-Singaporean relatives or foreign spouses in the past five years and, if so, how many such cases there have been; and (b) whether the Ministry can work with ICA to consider implementing a policy requiring such foreign relatives or spouses visiting Singapore on long term visit pass to purchase medical insurance during their visit.

Answer

1. Mr Speaker, may I seek your permission to answer Questions 1 and 2 together, please?

2. Ms Sylvia Lim asked about maternity hospitalisation subsidies accorded to foreign mothers giving birth to Singapore Citizens. The majority of foreign spouses with Singapore Citizen children are Permanent Residents or holders of Long Term Visit Pass-Plus. Therefore, they are eligible for healthcare subsidies in public healthcare institutions. In particular, mothers with Permanent Residency or Long Term Visit Pass-Plus who are married to Singapore Citizens receive the same level of subsidies as Singapore Citizens for all items and treatments incurred for the entire delivery episode, from admission for childbirth to discharge after delivery.

3. On Mr Gan’s question about help and subsidies for non-Singaporean relatives and spouses, the Ministry and our public healthcare institutions do receive appeals regarding financing for healthcare costs incurred by foreign spouses or relatives of Singapore Citizens. We assess them on a case-by-case basis based on individual circumstances and do not specifically track the number of appeals.

4. Ultimately, as healthcare subsidies are borne by all Singaporeans, any extension of these benefits to foreigners must be assessed carefully. Foreigners facing financial difficulties with their healthcare bills may approach our medical social workers for assistance.

5. Healthcare insurance is another way to help protect families with foreigner members on Long Term Visit Pass or Dependant’s Pass from large hospital bills. Today, such individuals may buy plans offered by Integrated Shield Plan insurers and pay premiums in cash or using their Singapore Citizen/Permanent Resident family members’ MediSave. They may also be covered by employer medical benefits.

6. However, making healthcare insurance mandatory for all long staying foreigners will have to be carefully considered, as this may in turn pose a financial burden on their Singapore Citizen family members. We will continue to study the feasibility of this.