How is S$300.00 per Year, Adequate???

HyperFocal SG

3 in 4 Medisave withdrawals for chronic diseases below $300 annual limit

Tue, Jan 22, 2008
The Straits Times

THREE in 4 Medisave withdrawals were below the $300 annual limit under the Chronic Disease Management Programme, according to Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan.

In a written answer to a question from Dr Ong Seh Hong, MP for Marine Parade GRC in Parliament, on Monday, Mr Khaw said those who require more than $300 per year can tap on their family members' Medisave accounts. But few of them have done so.

The $300 cap for withdrawal under the programme, introduced in October 2006, was based on data collated from public hospitals and clinics.

Mr Khaw said the average annual cost of treating normal diabetes or hypertension was $250 for subsidised patients.

As the programme is new, he said the ministry is still gathering data and analysing them.

But for now, the claims experience seem to confirm the $300 annual limit is adequate.

HyperFocal SG

... by 12 months in a year, that works out to be $25 per month...

... does anyone knows how much one month's medication is for Diabetes and all the other common & popular ailments such as Hypertension, High Cholesterol, etc?

de_middle SG

Laughing

Really mama? SG

are they really scholars or dumb nuts? limit should be raised to at least 3k.

HyperFocal SG

In a written answer to a question from Dr Ong Seh Hong, MP for Marine Parade GRC in Parliament, on Monday, Mr Khaw said those who require more than $300 per year can tap on their family members' Medisave accounts. But few of them have done so.

... that Khaw guy should ask himself; WHY would people want to deplete their family members Medisave funds, when most already do not have sufficient funds in it??? Obviously, very few have done so!

... this is a half-baked half-hearted move to make healthcare affordable, might as well don't try...

... it is akin to giving someone dying of thirst in the desert just enough water to wet the lips...

kramnave SG

What is then the true cost ? How does a figure of 3K come about ?

Q.C.Pak SG

I tod u were talking about annual income... Laughing

HyperFocal SG

... I mean, ask around guys; how much does someone with Diabetes pays monthly for the medication?

Really mama? SG

i just multiply the current amount ten times....serves as a testament of my generosity if i was put in charge Mr. Green

charlize SG

If scholars think the poor can survive on 300 bucks a month, then 300 bucks more for a year of medication must be enough. Laughing

Birkin_H SG

Singapore's economic policy is too conservative. Although we are taught to save for a rainy day, I think they have to draw the line as to how much to "save" in the reserve and how much should be taken out for the citizen's welfare.

Sometimes, I sort of believe that no Economic crisis would ever make the government take out a generous part of the national reserves for the citizens. It's like a stingy person hogging more and more money each year, being paranoid that someday in life they will REALLY need the money. But that day will probably never come because regardless of how bad the crisis he, he is already psychologically induced to believe that there will be a much worse one.

onlooker123 SG

It is true that SG Govt is conservative with spending $$$.

We got a lot of $$ locked away.

Ask Opposition to propose alternative budget lor.

I haven't seen Opposition propose alternative budget before. Quite sad leh. They should at least try.

Might be able to win more votes because people then know they have some kind of concrete plan.