Medisave is one of the 3 accounts of our Central Provident Fund (CPF), other than the Ordinary Account (OA), and the Special Account (SA).

According to the Ministry of Health, Medisave is a national healthcare savings initiative which helps Singaporeans save a part of their income into their Medisave Accounts to prepare them for future personal or immediate family’s hospitalisation, day surgery and certain outpatient expenses.

We can never preempt when we might require medical attention that may incur costly medical bills. Hence, the Singapore government made it mandatory in 1984 with the introduction of the Medisave scheme for Singaporeans to save a portion of their income to tackle their heavy medical expenses should the need arise.

How much of my monthly income goes into Medisave?

Medisave contribution rates are only applicable for Singaporeans earning >=$1,500 per month. The table below shows the percentage contribution of an individual’s monthly wage into Medisave account.

Basic Healthcare sum is the estimated amount of savings required for a person’s basic subsidised healthcare needs in old age. It is set at $52,000 in 2017 for all CPF holders. This sum will be adjusted in time for each cohort with increased Life expectancy of Singaporeans as well as healthcare costs.

Each cohort’s BHS will be fixed from age 65 onwards, and this amount will remain fixed for the rest of their lives.

When can we use Medisave?

A Medisave account holder may use his/her account to pay for the hospitalisation and certain outpatient expenses incurred at any hospital in Singapore. He/she may use it for personal or immediate family members’ use.

• Health preventive measures 

With the Medisave400 scheme, Ministry of Health encourages Singaporeans to take up preventive measures for their health such as early detection and vaccination. Hence, people can use Medisave to subsidise health screening exams such as screening Mammograms and Colonoscopies, Children’s vaccination such as Pneumococcal and Hepatitis B vaccination, and certain newborn health check ups. For more information on Medisave’s use for health screening and specific hospitals available for screening, you can find out more here.

• Chronic diseases

In Singapore, the leading cause of death is due to chronic diseases. However, a lot of chronic illnesses can be mitigated with early detection and treatment. Hence, Singapore’s government launched Medisave’s use for Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) in October of 2006 to help pay for outpatient out of pocket costs. A total of 19 chronic conditions are eligible under the CDMP.

As long as you of your loved one suffers from one of the chronic disease as mentioned above, Medisave will be available to cover 85% of your total medical bill. Hence, only 15% of the total bill needs to be co-paid out of pocket by the patient.

Therefore, if your medical bill is $1,000, you only need to pay $150. The rest will be covered by Medisave!

Annual Withdrawal limit:

However, do take note that Annual outpatient withdrawal limit is limited to $400 per Medisave Account. Patients are able to use the Medisave of their immediate family members, with a maximum of 10 accounts.

• Marriage and Parenthood

Families can use the Medisave Maternity Package (MMP) for delivery expenses and pre-delivery medical expenses. Examples of pre-delivery expenses would be Gynecologist consultation fees and ultrasounds.

For Medisave claimable under (MMP): up to $450 for each day hospitalised, $900 for pre-delivery medical expenses and surgical withdrawal amount incurred depending on the type of delivery procedure eg. Vaginal delivery/ Caesarean delivery.

Example of Medisave claimable under MMP: 

(adapted from: Ministry of Health, 2016)

Medisave can be used in both public and private hospitals. Parents just need to collate costs incurred pre delivery, and delivery at hospital of delivery and file it under Medisave Maternity Package claims.

Medisave grants for newborns

Singapore’s government has put in place a Medisave grant for newborns to help young parents pay for medical expenses such as child vaccinations and other outpatient treatments. Eligible newborns will receive $4,000 automatically after registration of birth. This grant is applicable for infants born from 1 January 2015 onwards, or $3,000 for infants born from 26th August 2012 but before 1 January 2015.

Read more about Medisave got marriage and parenthood here.

Medical Claims Authorisation Forms

You can download the online form to claim your Medisave funds!

For Medical Claims Authorisation Form (Single Institution) (MCAF (S)): here.

For Medical Claims Authorisation Form (Multiple Institution) (MCAF (M)): here.

For more information about MCAF, read more here.

Singapore’s healthcare scene is working towards making healthcare more accessible for every Singaporean. Government initiatives like this is able to help families be prepared for a rainy day and cope with heavy medical expenses. Even the advent of home care services like Jaga-Me are connecting families at home with healthcare, making it easier and more accessible for families to get the care they need and to recover at home. If you are a family that requires home care services and nursing care, do check us out on our webpage here. For more caregiver resources, read our Jaga-Me Blog!

Related article: Everything you need to know about Medishield Life

Award winning Home Care trusted by health professionals – Jaga-Me

Doctors

Doctors or Physicians are professionals who promote and restore health through the practice of medicine and procedures. Most Doctors specialise in one type of medicine. Some of the common specialisations you may come across are Colon & Rectal surgeons (Colon & Bowel experts), Cardiologists (Heart experts), Oncologists (Cancer experts) and Anaesthesiologists (Anaesthesia experts)

Orthodontists

Orthodontists or more commonly known as Dentists are Doctors specialising in oral health. They prevent and diagnose oral diseases, creating oral treatment plans for their patients, monitor growth and development of teeth and jaws and performing surgical procedures in the oral cavity.

Pharmacists

Pharmacists or Chemists are specialists in the field of preparing and dispensing prescription drugs to individuals. They also monitor the health and progress of their patients to ensure that they are using their medication safely and effectively. Pharmacists also advise other health practitioners on the attributes and side effects of medications.

Allied Health Professionals

Allied Health Professionals are experts distinct from medicine and nursing. They support the health care system by specialising in the prevention of disease transmission, diagnosis, treatment, therapy and rehabilitation of patients. They include occupational therapists, diagnostic medical personnel, imaging specialists (radiographers), nutritionists and dieticians, health educators, health counsellors and more.

Optometrists and Ophthalmologist

Optometrists are Doctors of Optometry (OD) specialising in eye and vision health. They diagnose and treat eye diseases. A patient may be referred to an Opthalmologists, a medical doctor (MD) who are experts in the anatomy of the eye and trained to perform surgery. Book an appointment with Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) here.

TCM practitioners

TCM stands for Traditional Chinese Medicine. TCM Practitioners, both Acupuncturists and Physicians are professionals adept and certified in the use of herbal medicines and mind and body practices to treat and prevent health problems. It is considered a complementary health treatment. Ensure your TCM practitioner is registered in Singapore under the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board (TCMPB). TCMBP accredits TCM institutions and organises courses that regulates professional ethics of practitioners and knowledge upgrading by accumulating at least 25 CPE points by attending approved conferences, workshops and training courses.

Psychiatrists

There is a saying. Your mind is your worse enemy. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who are trained to diagnose and treat people with mental illnesses. Some forms of mental illnesses are Schizophrenia, Depression, Bipolar and eating disorders. We recommend reading Surviving My Mental Health Crisis to know more about what it is like living with a mental health condition. Find out more about appointments & referrals to IMH here.

Nurses

Nurses wear many hats in a hospital. Nurses are often the patient’s best chance of recovery by providing care round the clock by giving medication, dealing with family members and patients needs, administration and other personalised interventions. Nurses are indispensable in safeguarding public health.

JagaPro

Finally, we have JagaPros. JagaPros comprise nurses, doctors, and care aides. They are independent, skilled and qualified to meet your specialised medical needs in the comfort of your own home. JagaPros have a valid Singapore Nursing Board (SNB) and Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification and are well equipped to facilitate your journey to recovery from hospital to home. 

There are many more Healthcare Professionals beyond those mentioned in this article but these are those you’ll most likely meet.

At Jaga-Me, we believe that healthcare should be a social good – it is a basic human need, and should be available to as many people as possible. We aim to deliver the highest quality care through innovation and a commitment to building meaningful relationships.

Save travelling and long wait times at the hospitals. Get specialised medical treatments:
– Urinary Catheterisation
– Complex Wound Care
– Nasogastric (NG) Feeding Tube
– IV Infusion Therapy

Jaga-Me: Your Trusted Medical Home Care Professional

E-commerce is also riding the wave of growth in the healthcare tech sector. This is because healthcare is the next big thing in the online retailing space as there is large amounts of untapped potential. The increase in life expectancy together with the increase in demand for quality healthcare products has increased the demand for healthcare supplies as a whole. A good example of e-commerce innovation in healthcare is the recently-launched golden-concepts, an online e-commerce platform selling elderly medical products. The golden concepts provides a wide range of products from adult diapers to wheel-chairs. Such companies are making healthcare more accessible for patients all round.

Anyone who has had experience with caregiving will understand the trouble of purchasing medical supplies for their patient. The highly recurring usage of diapers, milk feeds, body wipes and the list goes on. This means that caregivers have to frequently visit convenience stores to restock their depleting supplies.  Going from one store to another to look for a variety of products is not only time consuming but also very frustrating.  Buying medical supplies online is far more advantageous than buying them from a physical store. Here are some of the benefits of purchasing medical supplies online:

1. Convenience: You will never have to inconvenience yourself by having to purchase  and transport around large amounts of bulky diapers and/or milk feed. Online purchase allows you to purchase more items and get it delivered right to your door step. In addition, most online stores operate 24 hours a day, which means you can place your order at any time throughout the day.

1. Lower Prices and Discounts: Online prices are more transparent than physical stores as consumers are able to compare across a large range of sellers. Retailers are also able to charge a lower cost as managing an online shop has significantly lower fixed cost than traditional retailers. Furthermore, online stores frequently offer special deals and discounts which ranges from flat discounts of 20% to free delivery services.

1. Wide range of Products: Buying medical supplies online saves you the trouble from going to various medical stores to look for different products. There is usually an overwhelming number and variety of products at online stores. It is important as it becomes easy to compare the prices and features of different companies to make an informed buying decision

1. Feedback and reviews: Most online stores have a platform for consumers to provide genuine feedback from people who have used their products. This will help you pick the most suitable product by getting first-hand advice from people who have used it before so you know what to expect.

Still, despite all the benefits that online medical supply providers may offer, consumers like yourself should do the necessary research before selecting your e-commerce platform. Here are some of the important things to watch out for when buying your medical supplies online:

1. Replacement & Refund Policies: Ensure that the website has thorough replacement and refund policies for defective products. For medical products which are usually expensive, being sold a damaged or defective product could mean significant losses.

1. Reputation: Ensure the site is reputable with positive customer reviews.

1. Quality: With regards to medical supplies, quality is extremely important. A disregard of quality for medical supplies may have a severe impact on the life of the patient involved. Ensure you do your own due diligence by reading the product specifications and descriptions carefully to ensure that there is no room for disputes. Also, try to look for an online store which offers products from trusted vendors and reputable manufacturers that are well-known in the medical industry.

In conclusion, technology in the form of e-commerce has disrupted the retail scene in Singapore and inspired the minds of a new generation of retail entrepreneurs. They have created platforms that provide a wide range of products and services offered by traditional stores while dramatically cutting costs and improving customer service. When it comes to looking for the best medical supplies, with the availability of user feedback and price comparison tools, you should be able to quickly search for the perfect medical supplies that suits your needs. Once you have decided on the best product and most reliable retailer all you have to do is place the order and your supplies will be delivered to your doorstep in no time.

Award winning Home Care trusted by health professionals – Jaga-Me

The effects are evidenced by the lack of long-term care options, manpower issues, bed crunch in the hospitals and expensive long-term care. In May 2019, the granddaughter of a deceased woman wrote an emotional Facebook post accusing Changi General Hospital(CGH) of shoddy palliative care and not treating her dying grandmother with the same respect and care that it gave to other patients. CGH responded by insisting that the care given was appropriate but admitted that they could have done better in engaging the family members. 

Lack of Long-Term Ageing Alternatives 

It is no surprise that we need to spend more time and money on healthcare as we age. Commonly, the first point of healthcare is the institutions, whether it is the clinics or hospitals. For long-term care, patients’ options are also limited to institutions like a community hospital or a nursing home. Even then, we will be worried about costs and the questionable living conditions in these institutions. How many of us really want to spend our golden years in a sterile hospital or aged facility? Or shuttling to and fro to hospitals which might require medical escort and transport services if there are mobility issues?

Long Queues and Waiting Hours in Hospitals 

When we know that our loved one’s health is deteriorating at an ungodly hour, we immediately think to go to the A&E (Accident and Emergency) Department. There’s a chance that things do not turn out as it seems, having to wait before seeing the doctor and more waiting for a hospital bed.

The worst part is when all the waiting could have been unnecessary. Studies have shown that people go to the A&E with minor complaints- complaints that could have been taken care of at home or by a GP (General Practitioner).

Expensive Long-Term Care Costs

It is not uncommon for older persons to suffer from stroke or dementia, but long-term care is expensive despite subsidies. If you were to age in a nursing home, it will still cost from $1200-3500 per month, without the benefit of privacy and freedom because nursing homes are governed by routines. This decreases a person’s quality of life greatly.

Make Healthcare Personal Again!

With the current healthcare model, keeping our loved ones at home, amongst family, is preferable albeit difficult. Apart from the strain and stresses of a sick loved one, shuttling them around for doctors’ appointments, learning the ropes of home care and managing the sudden load of care can easily drain the caregiver, leading to burnout. Caregiver strain should not be treated casually as it affects all aspects of a person’s life.

The solution to this problem is to decentralise care back to people’s homes-Home Care. Jaga-Me provides healthcare (medical and nursing) services to homes in three ways: Nursing Respite, Clinical Procedures and Care Transition Service. 

Do you find yourself suddenly entrusted into the role of a Caregiver or a healthcare assistant? Read Caregiver Guides: Are You A First Time Caregiver? to equip yourself with essential knowledge on how to care for your loved one with confidence.

At Jaga-Me, we believe that healthcare should be a social good – it is a basic human need, and should be available to as many people as possible. We aim to deliver the highest quality care through innovation and a commitment to building meaningful relationships.

Save travelling and long wait times at the hospitals. Get specialised medical treatments:
– Urinary Catheterisation
– Complex Wound Care
– Nasogastric (NG) Feeding Tube
– IV Infusion Therapy

Jaga-Me: Your Trusted Medical Home Care Professional

Patients who choose to stay in other class wards (ie. A/B1), or in private hospitals can still use Medishield Life, just that the payout benefits are pegged based on the costs calculated by B2/C class wards.

What is the difference between Medishield Life and Medishield?

Medishield Life pays more, patient pays less

Medishield Life replaced Medishield in end 2015 to provide lifelong medical insurance coverage for all Singapore Citizens and PRs including those who already have a pre-existing condition.

Medishield-Life has enhanced benefits as compared to Medishield with 1) increased maximum claim limit, as well as 2) reduced co-insurance. MediShield Life’s co-insurance rates are reduced to 3-10% as compared to 10-20% of Medishield.

With higher claim limit and reduced co-insurance, Medishield can now pay for a larger portion of the hospital bills, and patients can use less Medisave/ cash to pay for their hospital bills.

To understand more about the differences between Medishield-Life and Medisave, read more about it here.

Medishield Life Premiums & Subsidies 

An insurance premium is the amount of money that an individual must pay for an insurance policy. According to the Ministry of Health, MediShield Life premiums are risk-pooled to support the payouts and benefits under MediShield-Life. Patients with serious pre-existing conditions like cancer will have to pay additional premiums for 10 years to reflect their higher risks.

However, the government provides extensive support to help keep premiums affordable.

• For patients with serious pre-existing conditions, they only need to pay 30% of their additional premiums for 10 years, after which they will be paying the standard premium costs.
• Premium Subsidies for the lower- to middle-income;
• Pioneer Generation Subsidies for Pioneers;
• Transitional Subsidies to ease the shift to MediShield-Life for Singapore Citizens; and
• Additional Premium Support for those who are unable to afford their premiums even after premium subsidies.

Medishield-Life premiums are payable by Medisave.

Read related article: Essential Medisave facts every Singaporean should know.

Read related article: What is the difference between Medisave and Medishield Life?

About Jaga-Me

Jaga-Me is a home care service platform that brings nursing care and caregiving services to your doorstep, allowing your loved ones to recover at home. If you have a family member that is just discharged from the hospital and in need of a professionally trained caregiver/ nurse, or you require respite care, please do not hesitate to call us at 8498 4598, find us at our website here, or at our Facebook page here.

Award winning Home Care trusted by health professionals – Jaga-Me

In Singapore, 1 in 9 people aged 18 to 69 suffer from Diabetes, making up a total of 11.3% of our entire nation.

Today, it is the leading cause for blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart failure and stroke among adults.

According to an article published on Straits Times, Diabetes cost Singapore more than $1 billion in 2010, and is expected to soar beyond $2.5 billion by 2050.

(read more about facts on diabetes which you may not know here)

So what exactly is Diabetes?

Diabetes or Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic medical condition, where essentially, the sugar levels in your blood is too high. When we consume food, our body would break down food into simpler sugars- glucose. This is when our pancreas would secrete a hormone called insulin that allows glucose to enter our cells to be expended as energy.

However, a patient with diabetes does not make or use insulin well. Hence, this leaves glucose in the bloodstream, causing a higher than normal blood sugar level.

The onset of diabetes can lead to many complications like blindness, heart problems and damaged kidneys. Patients with diabetes have to take insulin and are also much more susceptible to heart attacks, strokes, amputations, and other chronic illnesses.

There are 2 types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2:

Type 1 diabetes

Only 5% of diabetic patients have Type 1 diabetes. In this case, their body is incapable of producing insulin.

Type 1 diabetes causes

Their immune system destroys the body’s insulin producing cells. This is called an autoimmune response. Although diabetes can happen to anyone at any age, type 1 diabetes appear more commonly in children and young adults, and in patients with a family history of type 1 diabetes.

If you have a relative with Type 1 diabetes, remember to go for regular health screenings and blood tests.  This is important as a person with a family history of Type 1 diabetes has a higher risk of getting it.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes

• Constantly thirsty/ dehydrated
• Extreme lethargy, fatigue and tiredness
• The need to urinate frequently
• Blurry vision
• Wounds that do not heal fast
• Hunger
• loss of weight without any reason

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the more common type of diabetes, where the body does not make enough insulin or use insulin well.

Causes of type 2 diabetes 

Type 2 diabetes can be caused by both genetic or environmental factors.

Genetic causes: Most patients with type 2 diabetes have a family history of type 2 diabetes and other medical problems such as obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

The likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes is also higher in certain race and ethnic groups such as Asian Americans, African descendants and Hispanics.

Environmental causes: A person’s diet and level of activity affects the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The more sugary foods you intake, and the less amount of exercise you engage in, will lead to increased risk of diabetes.

Pregnancy: A handful of women also develop diabetes during pregnancy called ‘gestational diabetes’. When a woman is pregnant, body becomes naturally resistant to insulin so that there is more available glucose to nourish the growing fetus. This isn’t a problem for many pregnant mums. Your body will react to its positive feedback mechanism, where if there is excess glucose, the pancreas will secrete more insulin to combat the increase.

However, when the pancreas cannot keep up with the increased demand for insulin during pregnancy, blood sugar levels will rise above normal levels. This leads to gestational diabetes.

Unlike the other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes will go away after the baby is born. However, it does increase the chances of developing diabetes in the future.

Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes are not often obvious, which is why type 2 diabetes can go undiagnosed for years. However, the symptoms would usually be:

• the need to urinate very frequently
• thirst/ dehydration
• blurred vision

Summarised differences between type 1 and 2 diabetes

Caring for a diabetes patient can be tough. As there is no current cure for diabetes, diabetes patients are largely restricted to certain life activities. Diabetes patients will also be reliant on medication and insulin for their entire lifetime. Here is where home care will bring value to families who need help with diabetes. Jaga-Me provides nursing care and respite care with much experience for patients who wish to recover at home.

Singapore’s healthcare scene is working towards making healthcare more accessible for every Singaporean. Government initiatives like this is able to help families be prepared for a rainy day and cope with heavy medical expenses. Even the advent of home care services like Jaga-Me are connecting families at home with healthcare, making it easier and more accessible for families to get the care they need and to recover at home. If you are a family that requires home care services and nursing care, do check us out on our webpage here.

Award winning Home Care trusted by health professionals – Jaga-Me

“It is precisely because you are not worried that I am worried. It is precisely because many people do not take diabetes seriously that it has become a serious problem,” PM Lee said in his speech at the rally.”

Diabetes is something that should not be overlooked anymore! Here are 8 facts about diabetes that you might not have known:

1. 1 in 9 Singaporeans aged 18-69 have Diabetes
2. 1 in 3 of these people do not even know they have Diabetes
3. Out of all the patients suffering from Diabetes, only 5% suffer from type I Diabetes
4. Type II Diabetes can be prevented by weight loss, eating healthy, and frequent 30 minutes exercise daily like brisk walking.
5. Based on figures from the National Registry of Diseases, in 2014, about 1 in 2 heart attack cases had diabetes; 2 in 3 new kidney failure cases were due to diabetes, and 2 in 5 stroke cases had diabetes.
6. Type 2 diabetes can remain undiagnosed for many years and the high blood glucose levels would have caused diabetes complications. People with Type 2 diabetes are often diagnosed as a result of having complications rather than because they suspect they have diabetes.
7. Diabetes is the number 10th leading cause of death in Singapore accounting for 1.7 per cent of total deaths in 2011.
8. There is no cure for diabetes, only disease management

Want to know more? We recommend reading Diabetes 101 and Comparing the causes and symptoms of Type I and type II Diabetes.

Award winning Home Care trusted by health professionals – Jaga-Me

In 2017, healthcare organisations are becoming an increasingly favoured target for hackers, majorly affecting cybersecurity. Just a few weeks ago, a cyberattack, WannaCry ransomware attack, has infected more than 200,000 systems in 150 countries, according to BBC. This massive ransomware attack freezes systems and blocks access to any files on a system until a ransom is paid. It has caused major disruptions to several organisations, including hospitals. At least 16 hospitals in the United Kingdom are being affected by the WannaCry ransomware cybersecurity attack. Hospitals are forced to cancel non-emergency cases as they are unable to access patient’s medical information. It remains unclear exactly how this ransomware spread so rapidly and widely, but there are indications that this ransomware may be spreading to vulnerable systems through a security hole in Windows that was recently patched by Microsoft. Experts have yet to find ways to decode the ransomware strain without paying the ransom. Victims, who do not have backups of their files, are required to pay $300 to $600 in Bitcoin per computer to recover their files. More recently in 2019, hackers targeted and retrieved personal information of 1.5 million SingHealth patients, including that of the Prime Minister in Singapore’s worse cyberattack. 

Today, ignorance on cybersecurity is no longer an option, it has become a critical strategic asset that every organization, especially in the healthcare industry, must address seriously. Over the past decade, healthcare organisations have implemented a health information technology infrastructure to access, send and receive healthcare data. However, many healthcare organisations have not invested sufficiently in creating a robust IT security strategy that can protect the health data in electronic health records (EHR) system.

Given that EHR contains a wealth of information that can be used to file fraudulent insurance claims, obtain prescription medication, and advance identity theft, personal health information is more valuable on the black market compared to other industries in which only a credit card number can be compromised. Indeed, according to FBI, cybercriminals are selling EHR on the black market for $50, compared to $1 for a stolen social security number or credit card number. EHR is valued more not only because of the data but also because it is hard to detect and mitigate identity theft in healthcare. Unlike credit cards that can be easily canceled and replaced if get compromised, there is often no straightforward contingency plan for healthcare records once they have been breached.

As a result, there has been a spike in growth of sophistication of cyberattacks in the healthcare sector. According to HIPAA Journal, between 2010 and 2014, approximately 41 million healthcare records were exposed in data breaches, but in 2015 alone, more than 113 million healthcare records were exposed. Over the past few years, there is also an increase in the number of breaches. Although the health care organisations have made great progress in leveraging technology to drive improvements in providing quality and efficiency of healthcare services, they are also drawing the attention to the cybercriminals.

Cybercriminals are finding more stealthy ways to get around security measures and obtaining the information they want as healthcare organisations are trying to protect against these data breach. Therefore, healthcare organisations should always be proactive in preparing security measures to counter any new security threats and not wait until for an attack happens. Aside from coming up with great security strategy to protect the assets, healthcare organisations should also remember to educate their users and employees as humans are often the weakest link in computer security.

Symantec has proposed the following steps to help organization manage cybersecurity to move from a reactive to a sustainable, business-driven approach:

1.     COMPLY with key mandates; base security controls
2.     STAY AHEAD of threats
3.     Let risk assessment DRIVE priorities
4.     IMPLEMENT a sustainable risk-management program
5.     Let business priorities ADVANCE the security strategy

Award winning Home Care trusted by health professionals – Jaga-Me

Difference between Medisave and Medishield life

Medisave is a personal savings account for all Singaporeans to help tackle heavy medical expenses should the need arise in the future. The Medisave account is part of the 3 accounts under our Central Provident Fund (CPF) and is contributed by a withdrawal of a part of our monthly income. More information about Medisave contributions and when we can use Medisave can be found here.

MediShield Life, on the other hand, is a low-cost medical insurance initiative to help Singaporeans pay for larger B2/C class wards hospitalisation bills. MediShield Life replaced MediShield at the end of 2015 to provide lifelong protection for all Singaporeans against large hospitalisation bills. For more information about MediShield Life and premiums and subsidies, read more here.

Medisave and Medishield Life can be used together to pay hospitalisation bills, The difference is that Medishield life is designed to help pay larger B2/C hospitalisation bills, while Medisave for smaller ones. Of course, you still can reap the benefits of Medishield life whichever ward class (A/B1) you choose to stay in, or in a private hospital. The benefits are just pegged based on the costs of class B2/C wards.

Medisave has also been expanded for more outpatient uses such as long-term treatment for chronic illnesses ie. cancer treatment, and preventive health measures such as health screenings and newborn vaccinations.

The needs for outpatient treatments are greater in old age when one is more likely to have more health problems, and incur higher medical expenses, especially towards the end of life. This is why there are withdrawal limits for Medisave so that you have enough Medisave for your lifelong needs. Hence, we have to use our Medisave wisely to ensure enough to pay for Medishield Life premiums and higher medical expenses in the future.

Through Medisave and Medishield Life, Singapore’s government ensures affordable, dependable and accessible healthcare for the masses.

Related article: Everything you need to know about Medishield Life

Related article: Essential Medisave facts every Singaporean should know

About Jaga-Me

Jaga-Me is a home care service platform that brings nursing care and caregiving services to your doorstep, allowing your loved ones to recover at home. If you have a family member that is just discharged from the hospital and in need of a professionally trained caregiver/ nurse, or you require respite care, please do not hesitate to call us at 6717 3737, find us at our website, or find us at our Facebook page here.

Award winning Home Care trusted by health professionals – Jaga-Me