[GE2025] PAP Discussion Thread

[JonWeak]

one hour a week, four hours a month cannot squeeze out meh?

You forgot to factor in going there and preparing for radio appearance. High chance more than 1hrs lol

 

[miko66]

With pap SG can weather the storm

Proven 60y

Put heart

 

[idiot444]

Need to collect more money from people on the ground to fund ministers' $1,000,000 celery leh.....what Chu think

 

[gamerx]

Actually we got strong civil service more impt than jlb mp. Monitor lizards nia

Do we? How do we know for a fact? Because that is what we have been told? By the government themselves? Because some ranking said so? Like NUS and NTU are ranked better than MIT and Harvard?

A lot of the success we enjoy today were born from the work and policies made decades ago, not last year or a short 5 years back.

If we focus on the recent decades (i.e post 2000s), we don't seem to be very effective at all. The poor infra planning given an aggressive immigration policy, BTO scheme and housing prices, perpetually falling TFR, high cost of doing biz and jobs being relocated, etc. We don't seem to have made much headways in tackling any of these critical issues.

 

[li9ht5peed]

trump wants the world to cover trillions of american debt. the solution is many years of pain. why can't ppl accept pain? are you drug addicts? everyday must song song until jurong? everyday must huat? cannot lose money?

 

[doogyhatts]

Most useless taskforce in the history of mankind

1st task : Monitor
2nd task : Appear Confident & say confident things
3rd task : Wait for Trump to remove Tariffs or Leave the whitehouse
4th task : Claim credit or Shift blame depending on the outcome

Wait for Trump's additional tariffs on digital goods and services.

 

[comlasa]

Peasants don't really border with tariffs as cost of living already at one of the peaks. Is it getting bad to worst from 5/10/15 years ago

 

[saltydog]

raise gst, raise minister celery sho dey can brainstorm moar ideas on how to navigate the new landscape

 

[hardindex]

Most useless taskforce in the history of mankind

1st task : Monitor
2nd task : Appear Confident & say confident things
3rd task : Wait for Trump to remove Tariffs or Leave the whitehouse
4th task : Claim credit or Shift blame depending on the outcome

no solution, i think the party will split between pro-china or pro-us. that's why they shut down parilament at earliest possible date and call for election,

 

[hardindex]

most people can see lw is quite pro-china, but older one seem pro-us. that's why many old one stepped down

 

[mummynew]

There are many 'premium wastages' in Shield/ISP plans for those who are working with company's hospitalisation benefits (in terms of double insurance).

My son's company's medical/hospitalisation benefits make more sense to allow staff to choose whether to opt-in/opt-out of hospitalisation benefits. Opt-in if one doesn't have ISP but prefers to stay higher wards than basic shield. Opt out if one already has ISP (if opt-out, can get extra medi-dollars that will be paid in cash if not utilise for that year). Even can choose to use medi-dollars to opt-in coverage to pay for deductible/co-insurance (remember cost about 150 medi dollars to buy $10K).

Companies should explore more on this to help staff to save premiums with a chance to make a bit from such benefits - win-win situation.

 

[nyxator]

The main problem here is most of the elitists party MPs do not really speak up. Parliament is most of the time empty and those who can really speak up are not participating in the coming election...e g...Louis Ng and Tan Wu Meng. The way the incumbent attacks the opposition in a condescend manner makes people wonder whether that is their true self and if it is, what makes them better?
As a matter of facts, you have painted the worst scenario and also making an assumption that all members from the incumbent are capable of negotiation with world leaders... again, that may not be the case...

yes. so I ask you to vote for the individual who can speak up.. you are not neutral enough to see the gist of the arguments and assume I pro Govt..



Read HWZ Forum Rules!

 

[Linguist]

Premiums could increase by as much as 35%, with hikes being phased over three years, from April 2025 to March 2028.
By the end of this period, the average increase per policyholder is expected to be around 22%. A one-off S$600 million release from the MediShield Life Fund will be used to cap the premium increase at 35%, and the increases will be phased evenly.

​

Key MediShield Life Enhancements​

The higher premiums will fund several improvements to the scheme. Among the most notable changes is an increase in the policy year claim limit from S$150,000 to S$200,000.

This adjustment provides greater assurance for patients with exceptionally large bills, particularly those requiring extended hospital stays. Additionally, daily claim limits for inpatient treatments will be raised.

For example, the claim limit for the first two days of a hospital stay will increase from S$1,000 to S$1,630, while limits for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stays will more than double, rising from S$2,200 to S$5,140.

Outpatient care is also a focus of the reforms. The claim limits for treatments such as kidney dialysis will rise from S$1,100 to S$1,750 per month. In addition, new outpatient treatments, including home-based care and therapies such as repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for depression, will be covered.

A new outpatient deductible of S$500 per year will be introduced on 1 January 2026, and co-insurance rates for outpatient treatments will shift from a flat 10% to a tiered structure ranging from 3% to 10%, depending on the size of the bill.
These changes aim to keep coverage focused on larger, more expensive bills, helping to moderate the extent of premium growth.

Expanded Coverage for High-Cost Treatments​

MediShield Life will also begin covering high-cost treatments that are both clinically effective and cost-effective. This includes Cell, Tissue, and Gene Therapy Products (CTGTPs) for the treatment of cancers and other serious conditions.

Starting in October 2025, the government will extend MediShield Life and MediSave coverage to CTGTPs on the Ministry of Health’s approved list. The coverage limits will be sized to fully support two-thirds of subsidised patients, helping to make these cutting-edge therapies more accessible.

In addition, high-cost drugs for blood conditions and childhood-onset diseases will now be covered under the scheme. This expansion aims to improve affordability for Singaporeans needing expensive, life-saving treatments.

Premium Adjustments and Support Measures​

The total premium increases over the next review cycle of three years will amount to S$1.8 billion, largely driven by the higher claims limits and expanded coverage. Older Singaporeans will experience larger premium increases, with adjustments reflecting the growing costs of healthcare.

To mitigate the impact of these increases, the government will provide an additional S$4.1 billion in support over the next three years. This support package includes S$3.4 billion in MediSave top-ups and S$700 million in premium subsidies. For the vast majority of Singaporeans—more than nine in ten—the combination of these top-ups and subsidies will more than offset the premium increases.
Premium subsidies will be enhanced by five to ten percentage points for lower- and middle-income Singaporeans in older age groups, allowing them to receive subsidies of up to 60%, up from the current cap of 50%.

The government will also provide MediSave top-ups for various groups, including an increase of S$300 in annual top-ups for the Pioneer Generation, bringing the maximum annual top-up to S$1,200.
Other one-time bonuses and top-ups will be provided as part of the Majulah Package. Singaporeans born in 1973 or earlier will receive a S$1,500 MediSave Bonus in December 2024, which has been enhanced by S$500.
Similarly, seniors from the Merdeka Generation and younger will receive an additional S$500 MediSave Bonus in 2025, aimed at helping those with lower balances cover rising premiums. For newborns, the MediSave grant will increase from S$4,000 to S$5,000 from April 2025, ensuring their premiums are fully covered until age 21.

Healthier SG: Incentives for Leading a Healthy Lifestyle​

In support of the Healthier SG initiative, policyholders aged 40 and above will be able to redeem MediShield Life premium discounts via the Health Promotion Board’s Healthy 365 app.
Participants can earn Healthpoints by engaging in healthy activities, which can then be converted into premium discounts. For instance, an individual who engages in 30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily could redeem up to S$80 in premium discounts. The programme will start in the third quarter of 2025 as a three-year pilot.
The government will review the pilot’s outcomes before deciding whether to make it a permanent feature of MediShield Life.

Adjustments to Deductibles and Withdrawal Limits​

The government will also adjust MediSave withdrawal limits so that patients can use MediSave to cover both the co-insurance and the revised deductibles.
This adjustment will help to alleviate the financial burden on patients as the first phase of the inpatient deductible increase is implemented in April 2025. The outpatient deductible will take effect on 1 January 2026, with the second phase of inpatient deductible increases following in April 2027.

Looking Ahead: The Future of MediShield Life​

The changes to MediShield Life are designed to restore the scheme’s original mandate of fully covering nine in ten subsidised bills in public healthcare institutions.
With the growing shift in healthcare delivery towards outpatient, community, and home settings, as well as the rising costs of medical treatments, the council’s recommendations ensure that MediShield Life remains sustainable and continues to offer meaningful protection for Singaporeans.
As noted by the MediShield Life Council, these updates are essential to keep the scheme effective in the face of rising healthcare costs and evolving medical technology.
The government has assured that no one will be denied coverage due to an inability to pay.

---

Previous ChapterNext Chapter

***.... still got that simi careshield too right

 

[Mr Duck]

How to solved? Coe in 2019 for cat A is $26k and now 2025 for cat A is $97k

 

[nyvrem]

How I wish my celery can increase this fast

 

[singsangsong]

Premiums could increase by as much as 35%, with hikes being phased over three years, from April 2025 to March 2028.
By the end of this period, the average increase per policyholder is expected to be around 22%. A one-off S$600 million release from the MediShield Life Fund will be used to cap the premium increase at 35%, and the increases will be phased evenly.

​

Key MediShield Life Enhancements​

The higher premiums will fund several improvements to the scheme. Among the most notable changes is an increase in the policy year claim limit from S$150,000 to S$200,000.

This adjustment provides greater assurance for patients with exceptionally large bills, particularly those requiring extended hospital stays. Additionally, daily claim limits for inpatient treatments will be raised.

For example, the claim limit for the first two days of a hospital stay will increase from S$1,000 to S$1,630, while limits for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stays will more than double, rising from S$2,200 to S$5,140.

Outpatient care is also a focus of the reforms. The claim limits for treatments such as kidney dialysis will rise from S$1,100 to S$1,750 per month. In addition, new outpatient treatments, including home-based care and therapies such as repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for depression, will be covered.

A new outpatient deductible of S$500 per year will be introduced on 1 January 2026, and co-insurance rates for outpatient treatments will shift from a flat 10% to a tiered structure ranging from 3% to 10%, depending on the size of the bill.
These changes aim to keep coverage focused on larger, more expensive bills, helping to moderate the extent of premium growth.

Expanded Coverage for High-Cost Treatments​

MediShield Life will also begin covering high-cost treatments that are both clinically effective and cost-effective. This includes Cell, Tissue, and Gene Therapy Products (CTGTPs) for the treatment of cancers and other serious conditions.

Starting in October 2025, the government will extend MediShield Life and MediSave coverage to CTGTPs on the Ministry of Health’s approved list. The coverage limits will be sized to fully support two-thirds of subsidised patients, helping to make these cutting-edge therapies more accessible.

In addition, high-cost drugs for blood conditions and childhood-onset diseases will now be covered under the scheme. This expansion aims to improve affordability for Singaporeans needing expensive, life-saving treatments.

Premium Adjustments and Support Measures​

The total premium increases over the next review cycle of three years will amount to S$1.8 billion, largely driven by the higher claims limits and expanded coverage. Older Singaporeans will experience larger premium increases, with adjustments reflecting the growing costs of healthcare.

To mitigate the impact of these increases, the government will provide an additional S$4.1 billion in support over the next three years. This support package includes S$3.4 billion in MediSave top-ups and S$700 million in premium subsidies. For the vast majority of Singaporeans—more than nine in ten—the combination of these top-ups and subsidies will more than offset the premium increases.
Premium subsidies will be enhanced by five to ten percentage points for lower- and middle-income Singaporeans in older age groups, allowing them to receive subsidies of up to 60%, up from the current cap of 50%.

The government will also provide MediSave top-ups for various groups, including an increase of S$300 in annual top-ups for the Pioneer Generation, bringing the maximum annual top-up to S$1,200.
Other one-time bonuses and top-ups will be provided as part of the Majulah Package. Singaporeans born in 1973 or earlier will receive a S$1,500 MediSave Bonus in December 2024, which has been enhanced by S$500.
Similarly, seniors from the Merdeka Generation and younger will receive an additional S$500 MediSave Bonus in 2025, aimed at helping those with lower balances cover rising premiums. For newborns, the MediSave grant will increase from S$4,000 to S$5,000 from April 2025, ensuring their premiums are fully covered until age 21.

Healthier SG: Incentives for Leading a Healthy Lifestyle​

In support of the Healthier SG initiative, policyholders aged 40 and above will be able to redeem MediShield Life premium discounts via the Health Promotion Board’s Healthy 365 app.
Participants can earn Healthpoints by engaging in healthy activities, which can then be converted into premium discounts. For instance, an individual who engages in 30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily could redeem up to S$80 in premium discounts. The programme will start in the third quarter of 2025 as a three-year pilot.
The government will review the pilot’s outcomes before deciding whether to make it a permanent feature of MediShield Life.

Adjustments to Deductibles and Withdrawal Limits​

The government will also adjust MediSave withdrawal limits so that patients can use MediSave to cover both the co-insurance and the revised deductibles.
This adjustment will help to alleviate the financial burden on patients as the first phase of the inpatient deductible increase is implemented in April 2025. The outpatient deductible will take effect on 1 January 2026, with the second phase of inpatient deductible increases following in April 2027.

Looking Ahead: The Future of MediShield Life​

The changes to MediShield Life are designed to restore the scheme’s original mandate of fully covering nine in ten subsidised bills in public healthcare institutions.
With the growing shift in healthcare delivery towards outpatient, community, and home settings, as well as the rising costs of medical treatments, the council’s recommendations ensure that MediShield Life remains sustainable and continues to offer meaningful protection for Singaporeans.
As noted by the MediShield Life Council, these updates are essential to keep the scheme effective in the face of rising healthcare costs and evolving medical technology.
The government has assured that no one will be denied coverage due to an inability to pay.

---

Previous ChapterNext Chapter

Please don't kajiao OYK ... He is very hardworking on social media hokay, even go intern as radio DJ!

 

[RolexGMT2]

We had a lot of paper generals believed US had to give us face

 

[yesman2978]

Premiums could increase by as much as 35%, with hikes being phased over three years, from April 2025 to March 2028.
By the end of this period, the average increase per policyholder is expected to be around 22%. A one-off S$600 million release from the MediShield Life Fund will be used to cap the premium increase at 35%, and the increases will be phased evenly.

​

Key MediShield Life Enhancements​

The higher premiums will fund several improvements to the scheme. Among the most notable changes is an increase in the policy year claim limit from S$150,000 to S$200,000.

This adjustment provides greater assurance for patients with exceptionally large bills, particularly those requiring extended hospital stays. Additionally, daily claim limits for inpatient treatments will be raised.

For example, the claim limit for the first two days of a hospital stay will increase from S$1,000 to S$1,630, while limits for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stays will more than double, rising from S$2,200 to S$5,140.

Outpatient care is also a focus of the reforms. The claim limits for treatments such as kidney dialysis will rise from S$1,100 to S$1,750 per month. In addition, new outpatient treatments, including home-based care and therapies such as repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for depression, will be covered.

A new outpatient deductible of S$500 per year will be introduced on 1 January 2026, and co-insurance rates for outpatient treatments will shift from a flat 10% to a tiered structure ranging from 3% to 10%, depending on the size of the bill.
These changes aim to keep coverage focused on larger, more expensive bills, helping to moderate the extent of premium growth.

Expanded Coverage for High-Cost Treatments​

MediShield Life will also begin covering high-cost treatments that are both clinically effective and cost-effective. This includes Cell, Tissue, and Gene Therapy Products (CTGTPs) for the treatment of cancers and other serious conditions.

Starting in October 2025, the government will extend MediShield Life and MediSave coverage to CTGTPs on the Ministry of Health’s approved list. The coverage limits will be sized to fully support two-thirds of subsidised patients, helping to make these cutting-edge therapies more accessible.

In addition, high-cost drugs for blood conditions and childhood-onset diseases will now be covered under the scheme. This expansion aims to improve affordability for Singaporeans needing expensive, life-saving treatments.

Premium Adjustments and Support Measures​

The total premium increases over the next review cycle of three years will amount to S$1.8 billion, largely driven by the higher claims limits and expanded coverage. Older Singaporeans will experience larger premium increases, with adjustments reflecting the growing costs of healthcare.

To mitigate the impact of these increases, the government will provide an additional S$4.1 billion in support over the next three years. This support package includes S$3.4 billion in MediSave top-ups and S$700 million in premium subsidies. For the vast majority of Singaporeans—more than nine in ten—the combination of these top-ups and subsidies will more than offset the premium increases.
Premium subsidies will be enhanced by five to ten percentage points for lower- and middle-income Singaporeans in older age groups, allowing them to receive subsidies of up to 60%, up from the current cap of 50%.

The government will also provide MediSave top-ups for various groups, including an increase of S$300 in annual top-ups for the Pioneer Generation, bringing the maximum annual top-up to S$1,200.
Other one-time bonuses and top-ups will be provided as part of the Majulah Package. Singaporeans born in 1973 or earlier will receive a S$1,500 MediSave Bonus in December 2024, which has been enhanced by S$500.
Similarly, seniors from the Merdeka Generation and younger will receive an additional S$500 MediSave Bonus in 2025, aimed at helping those with lower balances cover rising premiums. For newborns, the MediSave grant will increase from S$4,000 to S$5,000 from April 2025, ensuring their premiums are fully covered until age 21.

Healthier SG: Incentives for Leading a Healthy Lifestyle​

In support of the Healthier SG initiative, policyholders aged 40 and above will be able to redeem MediShield Life premium discounts via the Health Promotion Board’s Healthy 365 app.
Participants can earn Healthpoints by engaging in healthy activities, which can then be converted into premium discounts. For instance, an individual who engages in 30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily could redeem up to S$80 in premium discounts. The programme will start in the third quarter of 2025 as a three-year pilot.
The government will review the pilot’s outcomes before deciding whether to make it a permanent feature of MediShield Life.

Adjustments to Deductibles and Withdrawal Limits​

The government will also adjust MediSave withdrawal limits so that patients can use MediSave to cover both the co-insurance and the revised deductibles.
This adjustment will help to alleviate the financial burden on patients as the first phase of the inpatient deductible increase is implemented in April 2025. The outpatient deductible will take effect on 1 January 2026, with the second phase of inpatient deductible increases following in April 2027.

Looking Ahead: The Future of MediShield Life​

The changes to MediShield Life are designed to restore the scheme’s original mandate of fully covering nine in ten subsidised bills in public healthcare institutions.
With the growing shift in healthcare delivery towards outpatient, community, and home settings, as well as the rising costs of medical treatments, the council’s recommendations ensure that MediShield Life remains sustainable and continues to offer meaningful protection for Singaporeans.
As noted by the MediShield Life Council, these updates are essential to keep the scheme effective in the face of rising healthcare costs and evolving medical technology.
The government has assured that no one will be denied coverage due to an inability to pay.

---

Previous ChapterNext Chapter

$3600 per capita household income is considered upper middle income ah?

Fresh grad couple making $4k starting pay is high income?

 

[yesman2978]

What is the health minister doing?

Interning at radio station working as part time DJ

 

[mummynew]

SG's healthcare is getting increasingly unsustainable, costs just keep rising but hospital beds/waiting time issue getting worse.

Nurses and the lower/middle levels getting lowly paid relatively to the amount of work they done,
whereas the corporate shareholders and the upper management, etc. getting highly paid.

The insurance companies who provide insurance services to the people are also making a killing, every year insurance premiums just keep increasing.


As Paul Tambyah mentioned, we are really heading in US's direction in terms of healthcare now. If nothing changes, we will repeat their mistakes.

I was trying to read the below book but NLB only have e-book with queue of at least 6 months:



The US insurance industry is quite bad in terms of claim experiences. So far my experience with Spore insurance is still at 85/100 in terms of claims and I hope our regulatory authorities would not allow ours to follow US' footsteps. Claims, unless straight forward kind, would require the insured to know how to file and 'fight' for claims that fall in the grey areas - something that inexperienced claimants will be lacking (and give up the claims).

If keen, can listen to the summary of the book that sums up the general "insurance 吃人" belief.