Mr. Bak Kwa - NOT everybody can afford $25-50 for screening

[Kopitam]

If Medisave is going to be used for BIG BILLS only

the problem

(1) medisave is used for medical expenses and should not be abuse but if one cannot decide on how to use THEIR OWN MONEY ?????

(2) chicken and egg problem, if I cannot afford cash (out of pocket) to do screening to detect eg cancer early, what is use of using MEDISAVE when the disease is in their advance stage when then the BIG BILLS come

(3) the median salary of Singaporean is $2K + (every can figure out if they can yearly put out that kind of sum just for check)

 

strange that many things (include our own hard earn money, even when we decide for our own good) are beyond our control

 

 

this is not a political issue but a policy issue that does not include a safety net for the less able, who the only money that can be use for check-up is from their MEdisave account

 

 

if MOD thinks this is too political please delete it

 

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin...1032782/1/.html

 

"If the people think they can do a better job than Khaw Boon Wan, then so be it. I think that is the beauty of democracy - one man one vote."

Mr Khaw also commented on a suggestion to allow Medisave fund to be used for mammograms. Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Hwee Hua suggested this at a breast screening event on Saturday.

But Mr Khaw disagreed with the suggestion. He said: "My general rule of thumb is this - anything less than $100 - $20, $30 - please pay out of your own pocket. I think Medisave should be reserved for big bills. So let's don't abuse Medisave. This is not to say I'm against (using) Medisave for screening, because some screenings can be very expensive."

 

Mammograms, if subsidised, cost between $25 and $50.

Edited January 24, 2010 by Kopitam

[Ladykillerz]

Correction..

 

The median salary in SG should be ~$6.6k

The average salary in SG should be ~$3.75k (excluding annual income of < $20k)

Based on rough estimation, including annual income of < $20k, should be ~$3k?

 

Here

[Emils]

Can't figure how you have worked out the median salary from your link, but this is what was given on AsiaOne's website:

 

AsiaOne

 

Extract:

The median income for all employed residents dipped by 1.2 per cent from $2,450 in 2008 to $2,420 in 2009.

 

[Ladykillerz]

maybe you are right.

but one data can be manipulated in many ways.

 

so if we based on your link, median income of $2,420 in 2009 is really bad.

If I remember correctly, SG govt is trying to lift up all low-income employees to mark up to min. $2.5k...

 

end of the day, the KPI did not meet but their salary is increased...~

but I believe after data being manipulated, they will claim that they had met their KPIs. =P

Edited January 24, 2010 by Ladykillerz

[Ysc3]

errrr... if i am not wrong, the TS is actually talking abt the right to use one's medisave ..... not abt income right ??

 

anyway, on the right's issue, imo, the auth are just worried that the person might not have enuff money to fund his necessary treatments if he spends his medisave away on minor issues in the early years, after which he will rely on "handouts" from public donations and the auths.

[Lab4games]

errrr... if i am not wrong, the TS is actually talking abt the right to use one's medisave ..... not abt income right ??

 

anyway, on the right's issue, imo, the auth are just worried that the person might not have enuff money to fund his necessary treatments if he spends his medisave away on minor issues in the early years, after which he will rely on "handouts" from public donations and the auths.

 

some people can't even afford the screening to detect the problem.

if detect early, maybe there's a chance to avoid hefty medical costs.

 

the point is that we are not allowed to use medisave for screenings which is important...

[Vroomtattat]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin...1032782/1/.html

 

"If the people think they can do a better job than Khaw Boon Wan, then so be it. I think that is the beauty of democracy - one man one vote."

Mr Khaw also commented on a suggestion to allow Medisave fund to be used for mammograms. Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Hwee Hua suggested this at a breast screening event on Saturday.

But Mr Khaw disagreed with the suggestion. He said: "My general rule of thumb is this - anything less than $100 - $20, $30 - please pay out of your own pocket. I think Medisave should be reserved for big bills. So let's don't abuse Medisave. This is not to say I'm against (using) Medisave for screening, because some screenings can be very expensive."

 

Mammograms, if subsidised, cost between $25 and $50.

 

Foot-in-the-mouth disease? Someone bring him go see doctor . . .

[Kelpie]

some people can't even afford the screening to detect the problem.

if detect early, maybe there's a chance to avoid hefty medical costs.

 

the point is that we are not allowed to use medisave for screenings which is important...

 

I think there is an issue on what screening to be allowed in the 1st place. They have to 1st decide what are covered under Medisave and which are not.

 

Perhaps, to make thing really simply, just allow a sum of S$300 a year for any approved screenings. If exceed, you pay cash. I suppose S$300 a year is nothing to shout again comparing with the thousands of dollar we have in our CPF account.

 

Currently, only senior executives in the corporate world enjoy free or subsidized health screening once a year. So this will really benefit those who earned less and the junior workers.

 

Regards,

 

 

[Donut]

garment talking c0ck again.....

 

the bottomline is they dun want to pay for people's medical costs.... everything must come from each individual. So whether u are rich or poor or middle class, its your own problem if you get sick. PERIOD

 

Garment doesnt even wan to plan for the old age homes to be setup (they convienently tell us to stay in JB old age homes), so obviously they won't even bothered to think about our medical bills liao......

 

And this MOH minister proposed the insurance for medical bills system, similiarly to US style. The US style already proven to be a disasterious system...... Obama is having a hard time trying to rectify it.

 

 

[Noobcar]

garment talking c0ck again.....

 

the bottomline is they dun want to pay for people's medical costs.... everything must come from each individual. So whether u are rich or poor or middle class, its your own problem if you get sick. PERIOD

 

Garment doesnt even wan to plan for the old age homes to be setup (they convienently tell us to stay in JB old age homes), so obviously they won't even bothered to think about our medical bills liao......

 

And this MOH minister proposed the insurance for medical bills system, similiarly to US style. The US style already proven to be a disasterious system...... Obama is having a hard time trying to rectify it.

 

But the problem is Medisave is actually our own money, if the lower income can't even tap on their own $$ then....really want to have the cancer get out of control before u can use it for the "big bill" by then it might to too late...

[Alechi]

I think no need to talk so much ... I quote what the minister said:

 

"If the people think they can do a better job than Khaw Boon Wan, then so be it. I think that is the beauty of democracy - one man one vote."

[Donut]

Yeah! medisave is our own money.... why can't the garment co-pays the medical costs and keep it free for us?

 

they can use our medisave + their own reserves to make medical costs free.... they just simply refused to take out $$ to do it

[Noobcar]

Yeah! medisave is our own money.... why can't the garment co-pays the medical costs and keep it free for us?

 

they can use our medisave + their own reserves to make medical costs free.... they just simply refused to take out $$ to do it

 

better to spend it on the citizens then squander billions of $$ in failed investment...

[Babyt]

i find it stupid for him to say that:

 

1) all singaporeans can afford to spend money to take screening tests ... Even though it may be small amt to MIW, that 20-30 bucks can be alot for poor family.

 

2) Medisave is used for big illness...whats the purpose of spending money on big illness when you could have early treatments thru screening?

 

3) Singaporeans will be more willing to go for regulary screening if Medisave can be used coz otherwise, healthy ppl will feel its a waste of money to screen even if the amt is small. If more ppl go for screening, at least, early treatment can be given and less serious ill ppl need to depend on govt later.

[Dtitan]

One man, one vote.

I know who will have my vote very soon...

[Kopitam]

One man, one vote.

I know who will have my vote very soon...

i live so long in singapore and i had NOT had the pleasure to exercise my RIGHTS

always walk over

also got benefit

holiday

[Picanto]

HIS PAY IS SO HIGH. to him, that is small $$. to many of us, its hard earned $$.

he will never understand.

[Watwheels]

i find it stupid for him to say that:

 

1) all singaporeans can afford to spend money to take screening tests ... Even though it may be small amt to MIW, that 20-30 bucks can be alot for poor family.

 

2) Medisave is used for big illness...whats the purpose of spending money on big illness when you could have early treatments thru screening?

 

3) Singaporeans will be more willing to go for regulary screening if Medisave can be used coz otherwise, healthy ppl will feel its a waste of money to screen even if the amt is small. If more ppl go for screening, at least, early treatment can be given and less serious ill ppl need to depend on govt later.

Yeah. Maybe he should make it clear that this medisave is being prioritized for medical emergency use only. For precautionary screening, draw from your own bank account. Or maybe it was made clear but too many things for ppl to remember.