Mental Health Insurance Coverage

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2334 
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 6 NOVEMBER 2023

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Dr Wan Rizal
MP for Jalan Besar GRC

Question No. 5112

To ask the Minister for Health (a) whether actions are being considered to address the disparities in mental health coverage among the six Integrated Shield Plan (IP) providers and, if so, what are they; and (b) whether the Ministry will develop any guidelines or standards to ensure a basic level of mental health coverage across all IP providers.

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2334 
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 6 NOVEMBER 2023

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Dr Wan Rizal
MP for Jalan Besar GRC

Question No. 5113

To ask the Minister for Health (a) whether there are initiatives to bolster data collection and risk assessment concerning mental health to aid the underwriting processes of insurance companies and, if so, what are they; and (b) whether the Ministry collaborates with private insurers to foster a better understanding and objective assessment of mental health risks.

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2337
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 6 NOVEMBER 2023

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Dr Wan Rizal
MP for Jalan Besar GRC

Question No. 5118

To ask the Minister for Health (a) what measures are being taken to enhance public awareness regarding the availability and advantages of mental health insurance coverage; and (b) whether there are plans by the Ministry to incentivise private insurance companies to broaden their mental health insurance offerings.

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2344 
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 6 NOVEMBER 2023

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling
MP for East Coast GRC

Question No. 5154

To ask the Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry will be providing guidelines to the insurance industry on the classification of mental health insurance as they develop the product coverage; and (b) whether there are sufficient independent assessors in the industry for objective assessments of mental well-being to help the insurers underwrite the coverage for mental conditions.

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2334 
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON OR AFTER 7 NOVEMBER 2023

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Dr Wan Rizal
MP for Jalan Besar GRC

Question No. 5114

To ask the Minister for Health whether there are steps being initiated to ensure the affordability and accessibility of mental health insurance, especially for individuals in lower-income brackets and, if so, what are they.

Answer

1     All Singaporeans and Permanent Residents are covered under MediShield Life (MSHL). MSHL provides coverage for hospitalisation, including inpatient mental health treatments, and selected costly outpatient treatments. 

2     Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) and other private health insurance plans offer optional coverage on top of MSHL. Today, all IP insurers offer plans that cover inpatient mental health treatment, with varying claim limits. Coverage, underwriting decisions, and premiums are subject to insurers’ actuarial and commercial considerations. Insurers assess risks based on reliable information relevant to the risks being insured, which may include medical reports, clinical surveys, or studies.

3     Insurance is useful for financing costly but low-incidence treatments. For outpatient treatments that are more frequently accessed and less costly (e.g., treatment for chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and mental health conditions), insurance may be less useful. Instead, individuals may tap on subsidies and MediSave. 

4     If one is still unable to afford their mental health treatment despite Government subsidies, insurance, and MediSave, MediFund is available at public healthcare institutions as a safety net to assist needy Singaporeans. MOH will continue to regularly review our financing schemes to keep pace with evolving medical practice and patient needs.