Singapore's 'Pioneer Generation' to benefit from special health-care package
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong paid special tribute to Singapore's "Pioneer Generation" on Sunday, outlining a special health-care package that will benefit up to to 450,000 first-generation of Singapore citizens.
The package, details of which will be revealed on next Friday's Budget Day, will be for Singaporeans born in 1949 and earlier, and who received citizenship before 1987.
Meant to help older Singaporeans cope with health-care costs, the package is expected to include increased subsidies for outpatient treatment and annual MediSave top-ups, as well as help with premiums for new national insurance scheme, MediShield Life.
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Addressing a crowd of about 1,000 of such pioneers at the Istana on Sunday morning, PM Lee said, "This is a special package for a special generation. No matter how we design the package, it can never fully reflect the contributions our pioneers have made to our nation. Nevertheless, I hope you will accept it as a sincere expression of our gratitude, and I hope that it will be of help to you and to your families."
He paid special tribute to the Malay community, and acknowledged how the separation from Malaysia in 1965 meant a moment of choice -- between joining Malaysia as part of the majority and remaining in Singapore as a minority.
"Many of you chose to stay in Singapore to start a new life here, together. Your choice enabled Singapore to grow into a unique multi-racial and multi-religious society," he said in Malay.
PM Lee said in a Facebook post later on Sunday that he hoped the package will reduce older Singaporeans' medical expenses, let them save more for other needs, and lighten the burden on their children too.
"Let us build on our pioneers’ legacy and maintain their never-say-die spirit, and take Singapore to greater heights in the next 50 years," he concluded.
