All seniors eligible for the Pioneer Generation Package will get subsidies when they visit participating general practitioners and private dentists from September, instead of in January next year.

Their earlier inclusion in the Community Health Assist Scheme was decided after careful study by the authorities, said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

The 450,000 individuals who are part of the Package — those born before 1950 and who became citizens before 1987 — will also receive a Pioneer Generation card before September, while top-ups to their Medisave accounts will be done by early July.

Those already on Medisave-approved private integrated Shield plans will receive the same amount in premium subsidies as for MediShield Life, Mr Tharman said, in response to a question from Aljunied Member of Parliament Sylvia Lim.

Pioneers also do not need to have Central Provident Fund accounts to receive benefits from the Package, he said. A Medisave account, which over 430,000 of them already possess, will suffice.

The remaining 3 per cent or so without such accounts have been uncontactable over the years, said Mr Tharman, either because they may have died overseas without their next-of-kin informing the authorities, or have invalid addresses on their identity cards. But efforts will continue to reach out to this “very small group”, he added.

Mr Tharman also reassured seniors that benefits of the Package will be provided automatically — even if they forget their Pioneer Generation cards when they go to the doctor’s, computer systems would have a record of their identities.

There are also plans for broader recognition of the pioneers. The ministerial committee on ageing has called for a “special SG50 Seniors Programme” as Singapore celebrates its 50th birthday next year, and businesses and the community will be engaged to help seniors stay active, such as through discounts to places of recreation. NEO CHAI CHIN