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    MOH to provide more support for middle income households with elderly

    By kaifong | SingaporeScene – Mon, Feb 20, 2012
    Households with a maximum income of S$2,200 per family member are now qualified to receive government subsidies for elderly healthcare services. (Yahoo! photo)Households with a maximum income of S$2,200 per family member are now qualified to receive government subsidies …

    To support more elderly to be cared for at home, the qualifying per capita monthly income for subsidies for home and community-based services will be raised from S$1,400 to S$2,200, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Monday.

    Now covering two-thirds of households, subsidies will be raised to as much as 80 per cent, with the middle income seeing the highest increase.

    All part of this year's Budget to make healthcare more affordable and accessible to Singaporeans, MOH and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) will spend S$250 million annually, which is about S$60 million more towards the care of some 40,000 elderly.

    This represents an increase of about 30 per cent more in subsidies given out per year, benefiting 30 per cent more elderly and served by around 100 healthcare and eldercare providers.

    Families with a per capita monthly income of up to S$2,200, which employ foreign domestic workers (FDW) instead of tapping on home help to care for their frail or disabled elderly, will also receive a grant of S$120 per month, on top of the S$95 FDW levy concession.

    However, these households will be required to send their foreign maids for relevant training in care giving, which the Centre for Enabled Living (CEL) will provide an annual grant of S$200.

    In line with the revised subsidy framework for intermediate and long-term care (ILTC) services, there will also be higher cash payouts for elderly under the Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly (IDAPE) scheme.

    In addition, Goods and Service Tax (GST) charged for healthcare services will be absorbed by MOH for all subsidised patients in MOH-funded ILTC institutions.

    MCYS will also adopt the same enhanced subsidy framework.

    On MOH's initiatives, Minister of State for Health, Amy Khor said, "The enhancements will not only make aged care more affordable, but also free up charity dollars that have been used to subsidise care, thus allowing more resources for voluntary welfare organisations to scale up their services and enhance the quality of care."

    Added Halimah Yacob, Minister of State for MCYS, "With the enhanced subsidies and the absorption of GST, we believe that more families will be encouraged to use community based facilities or care for their frail elderly and adult disabled family members at home."

     

    41 comments

    • Ministermental
      Ministermental  •  3 months ago
      For citizens above 80 years of age, healthcare should be free-of-charge!
      • Koh
        Koh 3 months ago
        Amen!
      • tweetybird209
        tweetybird209 3 months ago
        yah, why not make it 75-100 years old - free healthcare @all govt hospitals/clinics!!! I believe not alot of our singaporean live till 80-100 years' old. By then, insurance will not cover you. The poor elderly have no money to buy policy at all.
    • Lesley
      Lesley  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      What Budget all are bullshit. LKY already had said there is no free lunch, don't expect our Government being so kind to give to the elderly, all are gimmick. Just paint a nice picture to see and show.
      • Raymond
        Raymond 3 months ago
        gimmick??? well at least 60.1% still fall into it... kekeke!!!
      • Devil at Work
        Devil at Work 3 months ago
        cheers
    • WindsOfChange
      WindsOfChange  •  3 months ago
      @Melbourne002000......From what I gather you are probably a foreigner, and if so, I somehow personally feel weird having a foreigner telling us Singaporeans what to say and what not to. Furthermore its an issue regarding our very own country, which I personally also see no reason for you to be poking into. Y are you so concern anyway?
      I hope you are not implying that most of us Singaporeans are stupid, clueless, idiotic and uncivil.
      • Cheemeng Leong
        Cheemeng Leong 3 months ago
        Melbourne002000 has ran out of the forum . Whatever he said , everything is happening in his own back yard . He need to go back to his own country to trash it out with his own ppl before porking into SG issues.
      • Cheemeng Leong
        Cheemeng Leong 3 months ago
        & the FTs are so good at running away from problem . Hehehehhe
      • Uncle John
        Uncle John 3 months ago
        May be he is going to get citizenship soon....
    • KenluckyL
      KenluckyL  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      They say giving you help here and there, everything give and give, but they also increase the car park charges, ERP, COE, medical bills, electricity and other essentials, all prices goes up, in the end all goes back to not just square one, but we have to pay more in extras for they'll tell you they are providing a first world services.
      • Chang
        Chang 3 months ago
        Of course, you can't expect our government to be giving so may handouts for free, right? If they don't increase price, how to balance the budget? Personally, I support the government's move to keep lowering corporate & personal income tax to 10% to attract companies & talented people here. On the other hand, GST should be gradually increased from 7% to 10%, then 15% and finally 20% to balance the budget. After all, the amount of GST that we pay is currently very low.
    • rangerboi
      rangerboi  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      Why is it that I'm being forced to ask: Why middle income and NOT the lower income end for this article? I mean yeah I know abt ComCare, but I'm still not assured due to inflation NOT being a case of fixed maths. -.-'
      • David
        David 3 months ago
        @Melbourne002000, Communication is more than just English Language. We need to be humble while living in this small world. Australians are no better in the English Language reported in a survey done by your government. In the event that Australians take the IELTS, an English language test requirements for general skilled migration, more than 50% of the population will fail, including the professionals. So let's be humble!
      • Ritchie Gan
        Ritchie Gan 3 months ago
        @Rangerboi
        The middle income forms the bulk of the population, so that's where help is targeted. The low income already receive numerous subsidies (medical, education, transport, utilities, housing), and frankly, there are only a handful of low income people, so it's not worth spending too much time on them. There are some low income people who don't deserve any subsidy because they are lazy & refuse to upgrade their skills, but our government still has been generous enough to subsidize them. Be grateful & stop complaining.
      • tweetybird209
        tweetybird209 3 months ago
        The middle income range from $2500 - $8000 ?? Then above should classified as upper class earning $9000 - $12,000 per household?? Rich ones - Ministers $20k/mth - $100k/mth?? Actually $2500 - $4500 should classisifed under lower class (ususally combined income from both husband & wife is not much) to run a small family with a kid, a maid to look after kid & aged parents.

        @Max, agreed. There are some low income people who don't deserve any subsidy because they are lazy & refuse to upgrade their skills and want the govt to give them free everything.
    • VisVis
      VisVis  •  3 months ago
      CPF is our $ why should we be paying 2.6% for housing interest ? if they just paying 2.5% to us n we needs pay 2.6% interest ?
    • Moon Lee
      Moon Lee  •  3 months ago
      McDonald fast food restaurants one very good example, hired a lot of FTs and cut the locals working time changing their schedule, made locals earning lesser! Till no enhancements much in our life!
    • henry
      henry  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      250,000,000 / 40,000 = 6250??
      kindly make sure these 40,000 elderly get SGD $6250 each...
      if not, sumthing must be wrong....
      btw, who can help us make sure???
    • Cool C
      Cool C  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      This year budget is B_LL_H_T. All the things the government so call aid, subsidy, rebate, voucher and whatever else are gimmick.
      Especially this so called support middle income household with elderly.
      per capita income
      Definition :
      Income per person in a population. Per capita income is often used to measure a country's standard of living.

      ' Families with a per capita monthly income of up to S$2,200, which employ foreign domestic workers (FDW) instead of tapping on home help to care for their frail or disabled elderly, will also receive a grant of S$120 per month, on top of the S$95 FDW levy concession" Why have to cap it at 'per capita income of up to $2,200'???

      Why not put on basis of household total maximum income? Imagine some household who have 2-3 working members earning $2,000 so total household income is $6000 versus a household with a single working member and earning $3000 - both household taking care of elderly. this mean the household with 3 working members can claim this so call support while the single can't, IS THIS FAIR?

      If the government really sincere in helping the elderly forget about giving this support with so rediculous conditions. Just basis on certain maximum per household income, this support will be given. Just give the $120 grant towards the levy payment or best just scrap the levy for household employing the maid for elderly. Give subsidy for elderly medical at certain amount no matter treatment at government or private clinics. Remember whether the elderly are rich or poor they are still SINGAPOREAN.
    • Zorro007
      Zorro007  •  3 months ago
      If really the SG wish to help then make health care really cheap for the old, poor, sick and weak. The money collected from gambling, ERPs, summonses, fines, donations please channel it to them, case by case basis!!!.
    • Jiminy Cricket!
      Jiminy Cricket!  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      more affordable so what? still another five months wait before I get to see the dentist at polyclinic
    • amransan
      amransan  •  3 months ago
      every time i hear this help words being used i almost 40years old since 30years ago the the medical getting more and more expensive!!!

      if u people up there really want to help make medical free for the people then i respect u guys :)
      thats show u care well its only in my dream lah and it will never happen :)

      cheers!
    • Devil at Work
      Devil at Work  •  3 months ago
      subsidies increase, hope prices don't, otherwise is LPPL
    • SK
      SK  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      Dear MCYS, MPS & Ministers,
      "Singapore the world's 9th most expensive city"
    • Kumar
      Kumar  •  3 months ago
      if u look at the government contributions in the last 2 decades its always thos above 60 have gotten the most. i wonder why?
    • VisVis
      VisVis  •  3 months ago
      1400-2200is how many person working for a family ? this govt tabling of income for family to hv subsidy is way outdated . trying to do what ? playing trick on citizens or what ? idoits tabling n this type of elitist sucks.
    • VisVis
      VisVis  •  3 months ago
      If this PAP ruling party really sincere to help then open up to all aged person then telling the citizens there a salaries cap to it ?or telling the citizens we helping the poor or saying they have spend 190mil-250mil a increase of so n so ... they really not sincere to help at all.
    • David
      David  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      Why no subsidy for hiring local maids to take care of our elderly? Are we still encouraging FDW and not promoting local jobs? It seems like some people are talking through their S!
    • Hai Chew
      Hai Chew  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      How to help increase prices than help.Just give free medical benefit to all singaporean,GST 7% collected is enough to give free medical for all singaporean.
    • Raymond
      Raymond  •  3 months ago
      well... talking is cheap... just make sure tht they deliver... & like they promise "SINGAPORE FIRST" - true local born who ownself or children had spent 2 - 2 & 1/2 yrs in NS... not those spammer FTs, FWs or FSs... not to mentioned those PRs or so called new citizens... :@ agree true blue local born SG???
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