FROM Dec 1, all newborn Singaporeans and permanent residents (PRs) will be offered MediShield coverage on an opt-out basis, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said over the weekend.
The government will also facilitate coverage for all Singaporean and PR youths from the middle of next year.
The Health Ministry says about half of youths below 20 years old are not yet covered by the scheme. It will systematically facilitate MediShield coverage for the newborn, children aged 6 years and below, and those aged 7-20. Between July 2008 and April 2009, an exercise will also be conducted to extend the coverage to students in mainstream schools as at May 1 next year.
MOH said that early coverage will benefit youths and their parents, helping them to meet medical expenses in the event of major or prolonged illnesses.
It is also beneficial as "it would be difficult to obtain subsequent coverage if a person develops an illness in his youth", it said in a statement. "While the above coverage is being systematically put in place, we encourage parents who wish to more proactively insure their children under MediShield to submit an application online now, instead of waiting for the respective mailers," it added.
