Patients in nursing homes, hospices and community hospitals to benefit
By Salma Khalik, The Straits Times, 2 Jul 2012
AS OF yesterday, thousands of patients in community hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and daycare centres have been paying less in medical bills after higher subsidies kicked in.
Many of those dependent on home-health services will also benefit.
Patients from lower-middle income families, who previously did not enjoy any subsidy, can now also get some financial help.
A Health Ministry spokesman said about 40,000 patients are expected to benefit from the change in subsidies each year.
The changes are to help Singaporeans, including those in the middle-income group, cope with rising medical costs.
They form part of Healthcare 2020 which Health Minister Gan Kim Yong announced earlier this year.
'MOH is committed to improving access, affordability and quality of intermediate and long-term care,' added the spokesman.
Previously, patients whose per capita family income was more than $1,500 a month were not eligible for any subsidy at community hospitals.
Per capita family income is derived from total family income divided by the number of family members.
But now, patients whose per capita family income is above $1,500 get a subsidy from 20 per cent to 45 per cent.
Even the wealthy can get at least 20 per cent, so long as they choose a subsidised ward.
Poorer patients get up to 75 per cent subsidy.
The subsidy at residential step-down facilities such as nursing homes and hospices now ranges from 20 per cent to 75 per cent for those with a per capita family income of up to $2,200.
At Dover Park Hospice, 42 per cent of patients started enjoying higher subsidies from yesterday, said a spokesman.
To encourage more people to be treated at home, the subsidy for home and community-based services now ranges from 30 per cent to 80 per cent, up from 25 per cent to 75 per cent.
This, too, has been extended to those with per capita family income of up to $2,200 a month.
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