Discussion Forum

Including congenital and neonatal conditions covers to all future Singaporean babies will increase the premium but the benefits do not apply to all who are insured under Medishield such as senior citizens, those beyond child bearing age, and those who remain singles.
Though I sympathise with parents who give births to children with congenital and neonatal conditions, we have to bear in mind that such claims could be huge and life long.
It may be better to offer one-time insurance for couples planning to have children to cover congenital and neonatal conditions before pregnancies.

I am fully supportive of the inclusion.  I challenge the MOH to consider the following as well:

1.  "Fair" Premium increase - it would be wishful thinking if anyone were to think that such inclusions does not come with premium increase.  However, considerations should be given on how and who should bear the brunt of the increase.  There is the saying that an inclusive and able society should help share the costs and burden of the less fortunate.  I personally, in this instance, is agreeable on this - but I am sure it may not be welcomed by many others.

2.  Enhanced Medishield - it would be most ideal to enable (enforce would be better!!) that all newborns are covered by their parent's Enhanced Medishield (EM) - say, for up to the first 6 months from their birth.  The reason is simple - many parents do sign up for the EM.  However, in the unfortunate event that their newborn require neonatal care, they would need to fork out money from their MediSAVE.  Someone mentioned how his daughter spent 58 days in the neonatal unit, and this cost over $60,000.  It is only natural that they have no intention of expanding their family.

3.  Insurance / Financial Planning begins with EM - I bring this up because I understand that EM policies attracts an extremely low commission.  It is often not an insurance agent's first sell to their clients.  However, one were to take a look at the cost of healthcare and the merits of being insured earlier than later, many insurance agents would indeed agree that it would be the most important policy one should get.  I challenge MOH to consider how it could mandate the industry to have the EM, first and foremost be introduced and explained to prospective customers before they can start selling them the Investment Linked Products (ILPs), Life Insurance, Term Insurance, Endowment Policies, etc.  May I also point out that in many cases, EMs are also the cheapest insurance out there?

ST reported a case of $12,000 monthly bill for 4 yr old girl with congenital condition and they are tapping a $30,000 KKH's fund. The fund can barely last them 3 mth. As more couples are marrying and giving birth late, there may be more cases of births with congenital and neo-natal conditions.
It is difficult to say whether the increase in premium would be a burden or not, especially to the sandwiched class who usually do not get help. It is difficult to foresee how the premium will be impacted because we have no idea of how much the claim will be from the inclusion of these conditions, but I guess it will not be a small sum. Hopefuly it will not be like the increase in motor insurance premium in the recent years.
One way is for the govt to set up a separate fund to assist couples who give birth to children with such conditions then to lump it under the medishield plan. This may also encourage and serve as an insurance for more couples to give births.
Another way is for insurance companies or medishield to offer insurance on births with congenital and neo-natal conditions as an option.
I am not being selfish here but please also consider the group of people who may impacted by the higher premium and do not need such coverage. It is like force selling me a travel insurance that covers high risk sports when I do not take part in them.