SINGAPORE — Mr Choo Kim Boon, 75, worries about his and his wife’s healthcare costs, even though he works as a jackpot operator, bringing home about S$1,000 each month.

Every four months, he visits the polyclinic for check-ups and to buy medication to keep chronic ailments such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol level in check. Together with his wife’s medical expenses, this amounts to about S$100 every few months.

Now, following the announcement of details of the Pioneer Generation Package announced at the Budget speech yesterday, Mr Choo said he expects his subsidised medical expenses at the polyclinic to be halved.

“We are always worried about our long-term illnesses; it’s good that they help us reduce our burden,” said Mr Choo in Mandarin.

The former-salesman has served the community for more than a decade, from helping out as a committee member with the Kebun Baru Community Centre to spending about 10 years as a volunteer with the National Crime Prevention Council.

Not once did he expect the Government to reward pioneers such as himself for their contributions, Mr Choo said. “I never thought the Government would repay us, I just wanted to contribute whenever I can,” he said.

Although his company pays his medical bills, trade relations coordinator Joseph Tan said the subsidies would come in “handy” for his retired wife, who spends about S$150 on medication and consultation fees whenever she visits the polyclinic every five months.

The subsidies and top-ups in the package will also reduce the burden on the younger generation, who often have to help pay their parents’ medical bills, added the 74-year-old, who was an active unionist and has been involved in grassroots work for more than 30 years.

“One day, I’ll retire too and I hope I’ll have sufficient funds to pay for my own healthcare and not burden the younger generation,” Mr Tan said.

Dr Kang Soon-Hock, Head of the Social Science Core at the School of Arts and Social Sciences in SIM University, felt the Pioneer Generation Package was an “excellent move in the right direction”.

He was particularly impressed with the assistance provided for out-patient care, adding that the pioneer generation — those aged 65 years and above this year and who became citizens before 1987 — will likely see a visible reduction in their bills at specialist outpatient clinics and polyclinics, as well as a reduction in out-of-pocket costs once the subsidies are applied.

Dr Kang, however, disagreed with how some might interpret the package, which will benefit about 450,000 people for the rest of their lives, as a “paradigm shift” in the Government’s approach to social assistance.

“In fact, family continues to be the primary pillar of support … What might have changed is the recognition of the variations of family care existing on the ground,” he said.