SINGAPORE: A key focus of the new Healthcare 2020 Masterplan is to make healthcare affordable for all Singaporeans. For one, the health ministry will provide better MediShield coverage to help the elderly and vulnerable groups with their medical bills. And the government will more than double its overall spending on Intermediate and Long Term Care (ILTC), by 2016. The income criteria to qualify for help in ILTC sector will also be simplified - with relief extended to the sandwiched class. Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said MediShield premiums are expected to rise soon. He added that payouts under MediShield have been rising. Between 2008 and 2011, the Medishield scheme paid out 21 per cent more in claims each year, while premiums grew by only 10 per cent each year. The last increase in premiums was in 2008. To keep MediShield sustainable and support the extension of benefits, a 45-year-old may now see a premium increase of S$7 a month while the younger age groups will see a s! maller rise. An older policyholder aged 75 could see an increase of S$20 a month. To offset these increases, a one-time Medisave top-up of S$400, or S$33 per month was announced in the recent Budget for all Singaporean policyholders to help cushion the impact of the premium adjustment. And older policyholders beyond the re-employment age of 65 will also receive Medisave top-ups under the GST voucher scheme of up to S$37.50 per month which can offset the premium increases in full. Mr Gan added that ...
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