SINGAPORE - Universal health insurance plan Medishield Life is a boon for the Malay-Muslim community, said Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim on Sunday evening.

He was speaking on the sidelines of a Father's Day awards ceremony by voluntary welfare organisation Ain Society.

"Anecdotally I have been informed that our (Malay-Muslim community's) insurance coverage is not that great, so having Medishield life which will have universal coverage is important for us," said Dr Yaacob, who is also Communications and Information Minister, and was guest of honour at the event.

The universal scheme will take in patients with pre-existing conditions as well.

"We know that there are a lot of Malays in our community with existing health challenges, and it is difficult for them to get coverage," he added.

Dr Yaacob also gave the reassurance that subsidies will go up too, so that some two-thirds of households here will have their premiums subsidised, and that Medisave top-ups for the Pioneer Generation will pay for their premiums.

At the same time, the best insurance is to "live a healthy lifestyle," he said.

At the ceremony, Ain Society gave its annual 'Exemplary Father Award' to Mr Rajah Somita, 67, who was picked from 27 nominations.

Mr Rajah, a security officer, was nominated by his eldest daughter Ms Rashidah Rajah, a 37-year-old teacher, who said he took special effort to monitor and encourage his five children in their schoolwork while they were growing up. Today, four are university graduates and one has a polytechnic diploma.