SINGAPORE — When universal health insurance scheme MediShield Life kicks in later this year, authorised public servants will have access to policyholders’ medical and financial records, and the Government will be able to impose penalties — as a last resort — on those who fail to pay premiums.

Under a Bill tabled in Parliament today (Jan 19), authorised personnel from the Central Provident Fund Board and the Ministry of Health (MOH) will be able to tap into government and administrative databases to conduct eligibility checks for premium subsidies. They can access information ranging from one’s residential address to monthly income.

Such checks will also allow for the identification of policyholders with pre-existing conditions, and allow the MOH to review their health status, without the need for additional check-ups or resubmissions of medical reports. It was previously announced that those with pre-existing conditions will be covered under MediShield Life, at an additional premium of 30 per cent for a decade.

Individuals can bar access to these records, but this will make them ineligible for income-tied subsidies, or result in them paying unnecessary additional premiums.

The MOH stressed that there will be safeguards to prevent the abuse of the databases. Anyone found to access, use or disclose the information without permission may be fined up to S$5,000,or  jailed up to a year, or both.

Dr  Chia Shi-Lu, chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Health, noted that many patients in government healthcare institutions complain that whenever there are new assistance schemes, they have to re-apply even though they have given out their personal particulars several times. “This would reduce additional work, administrative cost and delayed administration of the entire scheme,” he added.

Under the MediShield Life Scheme Bill, payment defaulters will have to pay penalties of up to 17 per cent of outstanding premiums and interest on late premiums. Other recovery measures — adapted from income tax laws — include sending warning letters and appointing agents, such as one’s employer or bank, to make payment from funds meant for the defaulter. Defaulters may also be sued.

Ms Tin Pei Ling, deputy chairman of the health GPC, noted that these were fair measures, meant for the “willful”.

“I’m curious to know how long (a period of defaulting) or how many times (of sending out reminders) will be considered fair. Chasing for three to six months is a reasonable timeframe.”

The Bill also provides for the settting up of a MediShield Life Council – consisting of public and private sector individuals – to review and make recommendations to Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on the administration and parameters of the health insurance scheme.

Once the Bill is passed, it will be a crime for a person to provide false or misleading information, or omit key information deliberately. Offenders may be fined up to S$5,000, or jailed a maximum of one year, or both.