Pioneer generation get generous subsidies for outpatient treatment

Announcing generous subsidies for citizens 65 years or older this year, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said on Saturday that their benefits will be "unique".

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Here is a statement from the Ministry of Health:

The Government has introduced the Pioneer Generation Package to honour and thank our Pioneers for their hard work and dedication. About 450,000 Singapore Citizens will benefit from the Pioneer Generation Package, which will help our Pioneers with their healthcare costs for life.

One key component of the Pioneer Generation Package is to help our Pioneers receive quality primary care at a network of more than 1,000 CHAS GP and dental clinics near their homes. This way, long-term relationships can be built between our Pioneers and their trusted doctors in their neighbourhoods.

From 1 September 2014, all Pioneers will be able to benefit from special CHAS subsidies for common illnesses, chronic conditions under the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP), selected dental services, and health screening recommended by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) under its Integrated Screening Programme (ISP).

As with all CHAS beneficiaries, Pioneers who are assessed to require specialist care can be referred by the CHAS clinics to Specialist Outpatient Clinics (SOCs) in the public institutions. They can be referred as subsidised patients.

To receive the above benefits, Pioneers are required to bring their Pioneer Generation card and NRIC when visiting a CHAS clinic. Every Pioneer will be issued an individual Pioneer Generation card, which will automatically be sent to his/her NRIC-registered address by September 2014.