Lobster meals and other frills at private hospitals: Should medical insurance pay for these?

Some policyholders question necessity of such frills, asking the authorities to probe if these are fuelling jump in healthcare costs, claims

Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital’s wok-fried lobster for patients. PHOTOS: LIANHE ZAOBAO, KARYN LOW
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You are admitted to hospital for treatment and are pleasantly surprised that the meals come with choices such as wok-fried lobster and slow-cooked aged black Angus beef.

After a few days of such sumptuous meals that are worthy of top hotels, you are told that you can be chauffeured home in a Mercedes-Benz, thanks to a complimentary limousine service provided by the hospital for patients who are leaving on weekday mornings.

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