Lifetime claims limit might be removed in MediShield Life

Bobby Chin (left), presidential adviser and leader of a high-powered team tasked to design the new MediShield Life as part of the move to enlarge Singapore’s national medical insurance, during a media briefing at NTUC Centre. -- FILE PHOTO: ZAOBAO
Bobby Chin (left), presidential adviser and leader of a high-powered team tasked to design the new MediShield Life as part of the move to enlarge Singapore’s national medical insurance, during a media briefing at NTUC Centre. -- FILE PHOTO: ZAOBAO

When MediShield changes in 2015 to include everyone for life, the current $300,000 lifetime limit will likely be scrapped. And if review committee chairman Bobby Chin has his way, people who stay healthy will receive rebates on their annual premiums, he said on Saturday.

"If it's affordable, makes sense and benefits Singaporeans, I don't see why not," said Mr Chin, speaking on the sidelines after the second focus group discussion on MediShield Life.

The 11-member review committee has to submit their proposed changed to MediShield, so that it includes everyone, whether sick or healthy, for life by May next year. They are now in the process of getting public feedback on what people would like to see in the new compulsory national health insurance scheme, as well as their concerns.

One worry that keeps surfacing is the expected high premiums as people age, and whether they will be able to afford it then, years after retirement.

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