HEALTH Minister Khaw Boon Wan feels that means testing must fulfil five criteria to be fair:
- Patients must retain right to choose. Anybody can choose to be admitted to a subsidised ward.
- All patients in C and B2 class will be subsidised, but to different degrees.
Higher-income patients will be subsidised less than lower-income patients, but their bills will remain affordable. For example, a better-off patient in B2 class will still get a higher subsidy than if he opts for B1 class.
- A simple way to test.
The way it is done in nursing homes, where the entire family's income is ascertained, cannot be applied. Instead, MOH may base it on the patient's individual eligibility.
The assessment of the patient's financial status preferably to be automated, based on objective evidence such as wages declared to the Iras or CPF Board.
For those who are not working, the annual value of the property they live in will be considered.
- MOH to be sensitive to retirees and others who are not working.
Without any income, they are particularly fearful that any chronic disease may wipe out past savings.
If their housing type is used to assess their eligibility, MOH may deliberately set the threshold at a sufficiently high level.
- No patient will be denied treatment because he cannot afford it. All needy Singaporeans to remain protected by Medifund.
