SINGAPORE HEALTH INSURANCE CHANGES

The Singapore government's optional health insurance scheme, Medi-Shield, will be extended this month to cover people aged up to 70, from the previous ceiling of 65, Health Minister Yeo Cheow Tong has announced. The age limit has been revised in line with the recommendations of a Health Review Committee, he said, adding that data shows that it is the elderly who need more medical assistance.

The government has also accepted a recommendation to raise claims limits for about 1.4 million members under its medical safety net, he added; the claims limits will involve no extra payments. With the changes, the state-run Central Provident Fund Board, which helps to administer MediShield, is expected to pay out S$7 million ($4.8 million) more a year in claims, compared with the S$7.8 million ($4.8 million) it has paid since the scheme was launched two years ago, he said.

Health officials said the higher claims limit would include daily room and board charges, particularly for people suffering from long-term or serious illnesses such as kidney and heart diseases and cancer.