MediShield can't cover all anomalies

16 Apr 2008, The Straits Times

Question

Name of the Person: Rene Neo (Ms)

Cover all newborn Singaporeans, please

I WAS overjoyed when I read a pledge by Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan recently in the Health Ministry's website that every newborn baby will have insurance coverage at birth. I am pregnant and my unborn child has been diagnosed with a congenital anomaly.

I was overjoyed when I read the pledge because private insurers will not cover my baby upon birth.

But when I called the ministry's hotline to find out about the coverage, I was told that MediShield won't cover my newborn either.

The advice I was given was that parents should weigh carefully their available resources if they wished to have a baby, which, in my case, suggests that I should abort my child.  Certainly, as responsible adults and parents, my husband and I would have considered abortion if my pregnancy is not a medically viable one. But my doctor has assured me that mine is.

That leaves us in an extremely difficult position: discontinue my pregnancy as the ministry's hotline staff member's advice seems to suggest, or proceed and be saddled with a lifetime of debts.

If MediShield is non-profit and the ministry pledges to insure all newborn Singaporeans, shouldn't the ones that need it the most be included as well so that it will help ease our financial burden?

Reply

Reply from MOH 

In "Cover all newborn Singaporeans, please", Ms Rene Teo (ST, 12 Apr) asked that MediShield be extended to cover all new born babies, including those with congenital anomalies.

We understand the concerns of parents of babies with congenital conditions. For every 1,000 births, up to 20 may have some birth defects with varying degree of complications, from cleft lip to spinal cord defects.

Children with congenital anomalies can still join MediShield to cover medical treatment that is not related to their congenital condition. However, insurers, including MediShield, will have a problem covering treatment related to congenital conditions, as their existing policyholders will not welcome a higher increase in premiums to fund this additional liability.  

Should such treatment pose a financial difficulty for some needy families, Medifund will try to help.