SINGAPORE — For Mr Roslee Matsoor, 45, who supports his family of four on his warehouse assistant salary of just over S$1,000, it has been a financial strain whenever his children fall sick and need to visit their general practitioner (GP), especially so in the case of his eight-year-old daughter who suffers from asthma.

Hence, the decision to remove the age floor for the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) — making the scheme available to low-income Singaporeans aged below 40 — comes as a welcome one.

Mr Roslee said his daughter’s visits to the GP can sometimes cost more than S$100, and the subsidy — which comes up to S$80 for chronic illnesses like asthma — comes in very handy.

Other low-income households TODAY spoke to also welcomed the change. Mr Terry Tan, 42, a taxi driver, said he will now be able to bring his three children — aged five, eight and 13 — to the family GP when they fall sick instead of to the polyclinic, especially if the children were to fall sick when the polyclinic is not open.

“When my kids fall sick and have to see my family doctor, it usually costs up to S$40 or S$50. The CHAS card’s maximum claim of S$18.50 works out to about 30 per cent of the cost,” he said. He added that healthcare expenses are a burden for him — the sole breadwinner — as he has hypertension and his wife suffers from a thyroid problem. “It’s very difficult sometimes, I pray hard that all my three kids don’t fall sick.”

Ms Yvonne Chan, a single mother who works part-time at NTUC FairPrice and at a GP clinic, echoed his views, saying that GP fees for children are very expensive. Although the doctor at her clinic treats her nine- and 11-year-old sons for free, the 48-year-old wants to make use of the CHAS scheme for their dental needs.

Mdm Soh Geok Lan, 89, whose son’s income supports the family of six, said she was very happy that her grandchildren, aged 18 and 20, will now be covered by CHAS, as the subsidies will go a long way in lightening her son’s burden.

Dr Tan Tze Lee, the GP at The Edinburgh Clinic who treats Mr Tan and Mdm Soh, said this enhancement is “a welcome help to those needy patients among us”.

“Increased subsidies for SOCs, freeing up MediSave for outpatient treatment costs — all these will help reduce the fiscal burden, especially for many of us in the sandwiched classes,” said Dr Tan, whose clinic is among those participating in CHAS. Kok Xing Hui