Medisave not for cosmetic Lasik

08 Mar 2006, Today

Question

Name of the Person: Wong Teck Tian

Medisave not for cosmetic Lasik

Medisave for Lasik surgery 

ALTHOUGH Medisave covers the expenses of hospitalisation, day surgery and certain outpatient expenses, it does not cover the expenses of myopia correction surgery such as Lasik. 

Patients who undergo the Lasik surgery don't do it for cosmetic reasons, especially those with severe myopia. 

Can the Ministry of Health consider widening the use of Medisave? 

It will help to reduce the financial burden of those with severe myopia.

Reply

Reply from MOH 

Medisave not for cosmetic Lasik 

In "Medisave for Lasik surgery" (TDY, 8 Mar), Mr Wong Teck Tian asked for Medisave to be used for Lasik operations. 

2. The basic objective of the Medisave scheme is to ensure that Singaporeans have the financial means to meet their medical needs, especially during old age. Hence, in extending the use of Medisave, we need to balance greater flexibility against the need to ensure that Medisave savings are not depleted prematurely. 

3. Medisave is allowed for eye surgery only if it is done for medical reasons. For instance, Medisave use is allowed when the patient is visually handicapped and treatment by non-medical alternatives such as spectacles and contact lens is not effective. For myopia, patients are able to address the problem with the use of spectacles or contact lenses. Medisave is therefore not allowed for lasik in such cases, as it is a considerably more expensive option.