Hospitalisation Fee Assistance Scheme

18 Oct 2001

As announced by Deputy Prime Minister BG(NS) Lee Hsien Loong in Parliament on 12 October 2001, the Ministry of Health will be introducing a 1-year hospitalisation fee assistance scheme with effect from 1 November 2001, as part of the second off-Budget package to help lower income Singaporeans and those who have been retrenched. Under this scheme, Singaporeans who are Class B2/C inpatients or subsidised day surgery patients in the restructured hospitals/institutions will automatically receive a 10% fee rebate on their hospitalisation bills. In addition, retrenched Singaporeans and their non-working spouse and dependent children will be eligible for an additional 40% fee assistance. Thus, together with the 10% rebate, families of retrenched Singaporeans will effectively receive a 50% reduction in their hospital bills.

10% Fee Assistance

Singaporeans who are discharged from Class B2/C wards on or after 1 November 2001, as well as those who undergo day surgery as subsidised patients on or after 1 November 2001, at 11 restructured hospitals/institutions will receive a 10% rebate on their hospitalisation bills. They are: Singapore General Hospital, National University Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Changi General Hospital, KK Women's & Children's Hospital, Alexandra Hospital, Woodbridge Hospital & Institute of Mental Health, National Heart Centre, National Cancer Centre, National Neuroscience Institute, and Singapore National Eye Centre.

Singaporeans do not need to apply for the rebate. The 10% rebate will be computed automatically and shown in the hospital bill. Class A/B1/B2+ and private day surgery patients will not be eligible for the 10% rebate.

Additional Fee Assistance

The Ministry of Health will provide more assistance to Singaporeans whose family circumstances have changed as a result of the economic downturn. Singaporeans who are discharged from class B2/C or undergo subsidised day surgery on or after 1 November 2001 will be eligible to apply for an additional 40% fee assistance if they were retrenched on or after 1 January 2000 and have remained unemployed prior to admission.

The Government will also help the immediate family members of retrenched Singaporeans i.e. non-working spouse and dependent children. They will also be eligible to apply for the additional 40% fee assistance if they are class B2/C inpatients or subsidised day surgery patients.

Singaporeans who are eligible for the additional 40% fee assistance will need to submit an application form, together with proof of retrenchment, to the Medical Social Workers of the restructured hospitals/institutions for verification. The application forms will be available at the registration counters in the restructured hospitals/institutions.

Cost

The 1-year hospitalisation fee assistance scheme is expected to cost the Government $26 million.

Conclusion

The introduction of the fee assistance scheme will help reduce the out-of-pocket cash component of the hospitalisation bill for lower income Singaporeans and those who have been retrenched. Nonetheless, Singaporeans are encouraged to choose the class of ward within their means. For those who are in genuine financial hardship despite the fee assistance, they can still apply for Medifund assistance.