In her address to Parliament, PSP’s NCMP Hazel Poa urged the Government to implement automatic annual adjustments to MediSave withdrawal limits, indexed to healthcare cost inflation, to ensure that elderly Singaporeans can better afford medical expenses without depleting their cash savings. She highlighted the inadequacy of current limits, particularly for outpatient care, and called for higher withdrawal limits for older Singaporeans to encourage early treatment and prevent costly hospitalizations.
Mr Chairman,
Last November, I asked the Minister for Health whether MediSave withdrawal limits can be adjusted every year in line with inflation of healthcare costs, similar to the way the CPF Basic Retirement Sum and Full Retirement Sum are adjusted annually to take into account inflation.
The Minister replied that MediSave withdrawal limits for co-payment of hospital bills are typically reviewed every three years while other MediSave features are reviewed periodically. He said, and I quote, “this approach is favoured over automatic annual adjustments, to better account for other healthcare financing adjustments and enhancements that are continuously being implemented.”
However, I hope that the Minister can reconsider this. Automatic adjustments indexed to inflation would help many Singaporeans, especially the elderly. Many elderly Singaporeans prefer to conserve their cash in retirement and pay for their healthcare needs using their MediSave savings. It is, after all, what they saved up for. However, if MediSave withdrawal limits do not keep up with inflation in healthcare costs, then the elderly may be faced with escalating out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures.
Automatic annual adjustments in line with inflation would only ensure that the real value of the MediSave withdrawal limits remain constant over time. The Government could still make additional adjustments based on changes in healthcare financing. These are not conflicting. I urge the Government to reconsider its position.
In particular, many elderly Singaporeans find the withdrawal limit for outpatient care insufficient. It is preferable that outpatient treatment is sought early before conditions deteriorate and hospitalization becomes necessary. I urge the Government to set higher withdrawal limits for older Singaporeans and adjust them annually to keep up with healthcare cost inflation.
我呼吁政府考虑根据医疗费的增长, 每年调整保健储蓄的提款限额。这将有助于许多新加坡人，特别是老年人。
许多新加坡老年人尤其觉得门诊的提款限额不足。我们应该鼓励国人在病情初期寻求门诊治疗，不要让病情恶化, 导致需要住院。所以，为老年人设定更高的门诊提款限额是有益的。 希望政府考虑提高门诊的提款限额，并每年依医疗成本通胀, 进行调整。
