Do lobster meals add to high hospital charges?

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

At least three major insurers say their claim histories find that Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital's bills are consistently on the high side - sometimes by up to 40 per cent - when compared with treatments for similar illnesses at other private hospit
At least three major insurers say their claim histories find that Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital's bills are consistently on the high side - sometimes by up to 40 per cent - when compared with treatments for similar illnesses at other private hospitals. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
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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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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on April 25, 2021, with the headline Do lobster meals add to high hospital charges?. Subscribe