Social Studies
Whether healthcare is affordable really depends on which group of people you are asking. The reality of the situation is that people who are less well-off or people who belong to the lower-income group will have a problem managing healthcare costs. If someone is hospitalised for an extended period of time,, they might be able to pay off the medical bills or barely make the payment.
But this means that there will be no income coming in for the person who is hospitalised, and this person might also be the sole breadwinner.
In this country, healthcare is structured as with many other policies, is dependent on family ties, which is often viewed as the first and last line of support. But once you find yourself lacking in this network, by will or by circumstances, you are going to face a serious problem.
I think this is where the government can step in to help those who are having difficulties to pay the bills. Some Singaporeans are worried over the rising medical costs and affordability. One particular issue that has surfaced is the suggestion to remove, or significantly reduce, the individual’s co-payment in MediShield. I am sure many would welcome this. But it will inevitably lead to over-consumption.
We need a carefully considered, and calibrated approach. Remember that after government subsidies, we have our 3Ms – Medisave, MediShield and Medifund, to help defray our medical expenses. The 3Ms allow us to first look after ourselves and our families through savings (Medisave). The second line of defence is the pooling of risks to pay for larger bills (MediShield). And if all else fails, to tap on the government-funded Medifund.
This is a responsible yet compassionate approach. Sometimes, individuals end up with large medical bills despite their best efforts. This is when risk-pooling through MediShield and help from Medifund comes in.
On the cost side, Government has always come in to help, and in a big way too. Last year, MOH spent more than $3 billion on
But this means that there will be no income coming in for the person who is hospitalised, and this person might also be the sole breadwinner.
In this country, healthcare is structured as with many other policies, is dependent on family ties, which is often viewed as the first and last line of support. But once you find yourself lacking in this network, by will or by circumstances, you are going to face a serious problem.
I think this is where the government can step in to help those who are having difficulties to pay the bills. Some Singaporeans are worried over the rising medical costs and affordability. One particular issue that has surfaced is the suggestion to remove, or significantly reduce, the individual’s co-payment in MediShield. I am sure many would welcome this. But it will inevitably lead to over-consumption.
We need a carefully considered, and calibrated approach. Remember that after government subsidies, we have our 3Ms – Medisave, MediShield and Medifund, to help defray our medical expenses. The 3Ms allow us to first look after ourselves and our families through savings (Medisave). The second line of defence is the pooling of risks to pay for larger bills (MediShield). And if all else fails, to tap on the government-funded Medifund.
This is a responsible yet compassionate approach. Sometimes, individuals end up with large medical bills despite their best efforts. This is when risk-pooling through MediShield and help from Medifund comes in.
On the cost side, Government has always come in to help, and in a big way too. Last year, MOH spent more than $3 billion on