Healthcare subsidies for Singapore PRs reduced

Beginning 3Q12 PRs across most income bands will receive just half the subsidies given to citizens.

The Ministry of Health said the reduction of PR healthcare subsidiy was made to "sharpen the distintiction of benefits received between citizens and PRs."

Adjustments will affect inpatient services such as the availment of Class B2 and C wards, day surgery and specialist outpatient clinics in the restructured hospitals, as well as intermediate and long-term care services.

"For lower-income PRs, some of whom may be members of citizen households, the Ministry is mindful of the impact of the subsidy adjustments on their bills and has moderated the adjustments to the subsidy framework for this group of PRs," said MOH.

"For the intermediate and long-term care sector, the subsidy adjustments will be implemented in the third quarter of 2012," it addded. "The changes in the restructured hospitals will be implemented in two phases – in October 2012 and April 2013 – to mitigate the impact of these adjustments on PRs."

The new list of PR healthcare subsidy rates can be found at moh.gov.sg.