Up to 1.1 million Singapore residents to benefit when healthcare subsidies go up from Oct 1

SINGAPORE: From Oct 1, public healthcare subsidies across a range of services will go up, benefitting up to 1.1 million Singapore residents, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Monday (Sep 30).
Among the changes – the percentage of community hospital inpatient subsidies will increase and be aligned with those offered at acute hospitals. 
Under the enhanced community hospital subsidy framework, eligible Singaporeans will receive subsidies of at least 50 per cent, up from the current 30 per cent.
This increase is in tandem with higher monthly per capital household income (PCHI) criteria, which will also take effect from Oct 1, for means-tested healthcare schemes and grants.
PCHI is calculated by taking the total gross household monthly income divided by the total number of family members in the household.
MOH will raise the monthly PCHI threshold for each subsidy tier, with increases ranging from S$100 to S$800.
For instance, the qualifying monthly PCHI for the CHAS blue card will be raised from S$1,200 to S$1,500.
The qualifying monthly PCHI for the highest MediShield Life and CareShield Life health insurance premium subsidies will also be raised from S$1,200 to S$1,500.
The qualifying monthly PCHI for the highest subsidy in acute hospitals will increase from S$1,800 to S$2,100.
Healthcare service providers and scheme administrators will automatically extend the corresponding subsidies and grants to eligible Singaporeans. Existing CHAS cardholders who are eligible for a CHAS card with higher subsidies will also be automatically issued new cards after Oct 1.
In addition, MOH will raise subsidies for palliative care services, such as inpatient hospice palliative care service, home palliative care and day hospice.
All Singaporeans will receive subsidies of at least 50 per cent, regardless of their monthly PCHI.
Meanwhile, the qualifying monthly PCHI for the highest subsidy will be raised from S$800 to S$2,100.
“The increased financing support will improve affordability for patients, and at the same time, enable palliative care providers to expand their capacity to support more patients in meeting their preference to pass away at home,” said MOH.
Starting from Dec 1, MOH will also progressively expand the list of subsidised diagnostic services at community hospitals, and eventually align it with those at acute hospitals.  
Advanced diagnostic services such CT and MRI scans will be among those to be subsidised at community hospitals.
Plans for the higher subsidies were announced earlier this year during the Budget by then-Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. 
These changes will cost the government an extra S$300 million a year, Mr Wong said.