EXTENDING POST-RETIREMENT MEDICAL BENEFITS FOR GOVERNMENT PENSIONERS

I recently came across a case of a retired Government pensioner, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, being unable to rely on his CSC card to pay for palliative care at nursing homes, community hospitals and hospices. This is because such care has not yet been integrated with the general healthcare system.

I therefore filed a PQ with the Prime Minister’s Office suggesting that a review be made on this to ensure that our government pensioners are covered for all in-patient treatment at community hospitals and nursing homes , including palliative care, without referrals from restructured hospitals.

Minister Chan Chun Sing, in his reply, pointed out that government pensioners are adequately covered through Medisave, MediShield Life as well as Pioneer/ Merdeka Generation Packages for such expenses. I am less certain as Government pensioners, especially junior officers who retired up to the 1980s, have relatively lower CPF balances given that their CPF contribution rates as pensioners were substantially lower. I am aware, though, that if the pensioners’ conditions are such that they are not expected to live beyond 12 months, they may be able to withdraw their CPF funds in full.

In the round, I believe it may be useful to review this more closely to ensure that our government pensioners will have reasonable access to health services which have not been integrated into our healthcare system.

My PQ and Minister Chan Chun Sing’s answer on behalf of the PM are set out below.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

Mr Murali Pillai asked the Prime Minister whether post-retirement medical benefits for Government pensioners can be extended to cover all in-patient treatments received at community hospitals, nursing homes and hospices, including palliative care, without referrals from the restructured hospitals.

Mr Chan Chun Sing (for the Prime Minister): The post-retirement medical benefits for Government pensioners have been designed to cover direct reimbursement for acute care in restructured hospitals and post discharge sub-acute and rehabilitative care in community hospitals, in accordance with the pensioner’s medical benefits scheme and subject to prevailing guidelines. The post-retirement medical benefits for Government pensioners also include provision for MediShield Life premiums or additional MediSave contributions. Most pensioners are also eligible for support under the Pioneer or Merdeka Generation Packages, which include lifelong MediSave top-ups from the Government. Through the coverage provided for by MediShield Life and MediSave, pensioners can receive support for inpatient treatments in community hospitals, nursing homes and hospices, without referrals from restructured hospitals.