NTUC Income will offer a free upgrade to its hospitalisation-and-surgical plan, Enhanced Incomeshield Basic plan, for the children of all NTUC members.

This move follows its announcement last week that it would offer all children in Singapore a one-year free upgrade from MediShield to its integrated Shield plan, the Standard Incomeshield Plan B.

Similar to last week's offer to the public, the offer to NTUC members is valid for one year and is available to their children who are Singapore citizens and permanent residents aged 16 and below, and who do not hold an integrated Shield plan from NTUC Income or other insurers.

NTUC Income's Enhanced Incomeshield Basic Plan is an 'as-charged' plan with an annual claim limit of $150,000, which is three times that of MediShield's. It also offers other benefits not found with MediShield, such as a congenital abnormality benefit, unlimited lifetime coverage and an unlimited lifetime-claim limit.

Incomeshield plans provide cover against a gamut of ailments and defray the hospitalisation expenses incurred on medical treatments.

NTUC members who upgrade their children's MediShield to this plan will continue paying only the $33 yearly premium for MediShield.

As the Enhanced Incomeshield Basic Plan costs $70 a year, this works out to a discount of $37. This discount may be applied to other higher Enhanced Incomeshield Plans as well, with the offer similarly limited to a one-year term.

The free Incomeshield upgrade also comes as a follow-on initiative to help needy Singaporeans cope with the downturn, on the back of the Incomeshield Assistance Scheme, a $6-million plan which was launched last December to help low-income and elderly Singaporeans with their Incomeshield premiums.

For more my paper stories click here.