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Some good may come out of uproar over health insurance pre-authorisation

Great Eastern’s move to suspend issuing of certificates for admission to Mount Elizabeth hospitals has created an opportunity to sort out sources of rising healthcare costs.

The practice of pre-authorisation surfaced here less than a decade ago, following recommendations in 2016 by the Health Insurance Task Force.

Great Eastern has decided to suspend pre-authorisation of treatments for policyholders using Mount Elizabeth Hospital and Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital.

ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Salma Khalik

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Great Eastern has decided to

suspend pre-authorisation of treatments

for policyholders using Mount Elizabeth Hospital (MEH) and Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital (MNH). The reactions seem to have been a bit over the top when, in fact, the move could pave the way for much-needed discussion on healthcare costs.

Some doctors and patients have claimed that GE’s move restricts their choices, despite the high premiums they pay for treatment at private hospitals.

Even the Ministry of Health (MOH) has chipped in

to say that it is engaging GE to better understand the impact of its decision.

Some good may come out of uproar over health insurance pre-authorisation

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