PATIENTS AFFECTED BY REDUCED SUBSIDY LEVELS FROM INTRODUCTION OF USE OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY ANNUAL VALUE FOR MEANS TESTING

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2452  
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 9 JANUARY 2024

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song
MP for Aljunied GRC  

Question No. 5278

To ask the Minister for Health since September 2022 (a) how many restructured hospital patients have had their subsidy levels reduced due to the introduction of the use of residential property Annual Value for means testing; (b) of these, how many have made appeals for a restoration of their previous subsidy levels; (c) how many have been granted higher subsidies upon appeal; and (d) what are the reasons for granting these appeals.

Answer

1.     MOH does not track the numbers that the Member asked for. There will always be a time lag between the revision of Annual Values of residential properties for taxation purposes, and the revision of Annual Value thresholds to determine subsidy levels. The Government has increased the Annual Value thresholds used for healthcare subsidy schemes with effect from 1 January 2024, to ensure that Singaporeans with greater needs continue to receive support.

2.     Patients who face difficulties in paying their medical bills after subsidies, insurance and MediSave can apply for financial assistance schemes such as MediFund, where their circumstances will be holistically assessed.