Healthcare in Singapore is based on access to good, affordable and appropriate healthcare for all Singaporeans, through a combination of market forces and Government intervention and infrastructure. Complementing these measures is the national healthcare financing framework, which is based again on individual responsibility, supported by Government subsidies. The Medisave national medical savings scheme, introduced in April 1984, helps individuals to put aside part of their income in personal accounts to meet future medical needs for themselves or their immediate family. MediShield, introduced in 1990, is a co-paid, low-cost insurance scheme, which helps meet medical expenses from major or prolonged illnesses that Medisave balances would not be sufficient to cover. MediFund>⁶ is an endowment fund set up by the Government in April 1993 to help needy Singaporeans who are unable to pay for their medical expenses. 

As part of this national framework, healthcare affordability for seniors is ensured through significant government subsidies in “Class B2” and “Class C” restructured hospital wards. ElderShield was introduced in 2002; it is an insurance scheme established to cover severe disabilities, especially at old age. 

Healthcare and Eldercare policies also address the basic needs of the less privileged. In 2001, an Eldercare Fund was established to subsidise step-down healthcare services to the needy. Less well-off Singaporeans have their Medisave accounts topped up when the national budget permits. Through a public assistance scheme, destitute persons also receive a monthly allowance and free medical services during occasions of illness.

Passage quoted fromhttps://www.cscollege.gov.sg/Knowledge/Ethos/Issue%201%20Oct%202006/Pages/Successful-Ageing-A-Review-of-Singapores-Policy-Approaches.aspx 

All Pioneers will receive special subsidies at CHAS General Practitioner (GP) and dental clinics. 

Pioneers will receive an extra 50% off their bill for subsidised services from 1 September 2014.  From 1 January 2015, Pioneers will receive an extra 50% off for subsidised medications at polyclinics and SOCs.

Pioneer Generation benefits for outpatient treatments are available at the following public hospitals and institutions:

(i) Polyclinics
· SingHealth Polyclinics
· National Healthcare Group Polyclinics.

^2]  Includes BreastScreen Singapore (BSS) services offered by Medi-Rad Associates Ltd at Outram Polyclinic.

·         Alexandra Hospital
·         Changi General Hospital
·         Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
·         KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital
·         National University Hospital (Singapore)
·         Ng Teng Fong General Hospital
·         Singapore General Hospital
·         Tan Tock Seng Hospital

 

·         Institute of Mental Health
·         Jurong Medical Centre
·         National Cancer Centre of Singapore
·         National Dental Centre of Singapore
·         National Heart Centre of Singapore
·         National Neuroscience Institute of Singapore
·         National Skin Centre (Singapore)
·         Singapore National Eye Centre


^[1]   
Only for subsidised patients at the Specialist Outpatient Clinics at the hospitals and specialist centres.

Pioneers will receive Medisave top-ups yearly, for life. The amount is fixed, depending on the year the Pioneer was born.

Born in | Amount of Medisave top-up
1945 – 1949 | $200
1940- 1944 | $400
1935-1939 | $600
1934 or earlier | $800

Pioneers will receive generous generous Pioneer Generation Subsidies of between 40 – 60%, depending on age.

Pioneers with moderate or severe disabilities can receive cash assistance of $1,200 per year to help with their care expenses.