SINGAPORE — The Government says it will strengthen the management of healthcare costs in preparation for MediShield Life, since the scheme’s expanded benefits and higher claim limits could lead to over-consumption.

One way it will do so is by stepping up on monitoring claims experience, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong today (June 28) at the opening ceremony of the Singapore Palliative Care Conference. This monitoring is something that the Government is already doing, where it examines claims that are out of the ordinary to see if the treatment provided is necessary, he said, adding that public hospitals are generally very cost-conscious.

Mr Gan also reiterated that the co-insurance and deductibles included in the public insurance scheme “will encourage our patients to make informed decisions, to make wise decisions, with regards to their care needs”.

The minister added that while MediShield Life is a major shift in our social policy to provide better coverage to all Singaporeans for life, it is important to emphasise that “the Government’s effort alone is not enough”.

“We need the whole society to come together to stay healthy, to be informed in making a decision in our healthcare needs (and) healthcare services so that overall we can manage healthcare costs for the whole society,” he said.

“This is important for us to ensure that the system will be sustainable not only for this generation but also for many generations to come.”

Mr Gan also gave his assurance that the premiums announced yesterday will remain stable for the next five years despite rising healthcare costs and that “we will hold it for as long as we can”. Such projected cost increases, he said, were taken into account when deciding on the premiums.

At the conference, the minister also detailed how the health ministry will develop palliative care services in four main areas. He said MOH will enhance the quality of palliative care services, across different care settings, invest in expanding both residential and non-residential palliative care services, implement measures to enhance the affordability of palliative care services, and work with community partners to promote public awareness about palliative care and end-of-life issues.