IB Standard Plan B - Know when you should not upgrade

I was offered to upgrade to IB Standard Plan B for my mother.

My mum is on kidney dialysis thrice weekly , if I have no knowledge of this newly IB Standard Plan B.  MOH has worked with Integrated Shield Plan insurer to launch this plan from May and accepts the so call upgrade the financial impact will be great on me.

Limit for outpatient dialysis treatment for my mother's current old Plan B is $2500, on upgrade will be increased to $2750 and slap with 65% pro-ration because there is no restructured dialysis centre in Singapore except inpatient in hospital and  those run by VWOs. If a patient is not qualified to be subsidized under NKF or KDF, the patient has to seek PRIVATE outpatient kidney dialysis treatment.

This will be disastrous. I have fedback on this to MOH before it was launched, on this "flaw" but the officer just fail to see this ground problem. If you have friends with diabetes or kidney illness do not "upgrade" if there is possible future kidney failure..

Perhaps for those who are healthy Enhanced Shield Plans should be considered.

Unless someone can understand my point there is not going to be any change and I do not have another 20 years to fight for this issue. This matter can only be improved when more people can understand my concern that there is no restructure kidney dialysis centre in Singapore as most are run privately or unless in future there will be restructured outpatient dialysis centre introduced, which I hope will happen.

But if you are upgrading from Medishield Life, it makes sense.  Concern is if you have an existing old Plan B then above is a point to consider carefully.

AIC - Agency for Integrated Care

If you have aged parent or relatives who are physically disable and unable to do 3 of the 6 daily activities, and needs financial assistance, refer to AIC http://www.aic.sg/ .

Application can be by email so is rather convenient.

The other part is the Silver Care https://www.silverpages.sg/ when grant of subsidy can be given for mobility aids like wheelchairs, walking frame, comote, geriatric chair, etc. Check the silver care website.

Many have aged parents or relatives that fall into physical handicap but is not aware there is such financial assistance in place, can contact AIC. Refer to http://www.aic.sg/

 

Share this information with your friends who have aged parents and relatives that need such assistance. Government has set aside funds to help this group of aged citizen who needs help.

If you have any query, please refer to AIC or click https://www.silverpages.sg/

Do not any how let agent switch your IP plan with exclusion

I have just concluded a breast cancer claim case to pay out 2 critical illness policy.
My this client few years ago switch out her IncomeShield to company Pshield, and because of breast carcinoma in situ then, was accepted with Special Term to exclude breast cancer treatment.

As an ethical agent, would she be advised to accept to cross over? She  was advised to accept, this is the most ridiculous advice & recommendation. It was switched over and was too late, now the breast cancer treatment is not covered. Her treatment would have been easily covered under Incomeshield if she has remained.

She is fortunate Medishield Life is in place since 1 May 2016 and so can be covered to B2 ward treatment. I have always said the government has done an excellent job to make Medishield Life compulsory.

I have always advised against switching if one has existing condition and I also believe all insurers' IP  plans are more or less covering adequately with slight  differences. Go with the insurer you trust.

I hope the insurance professionals will live up to their ethics. Earning commission is livelihood, but for such a plan is a person's future lifeline. If one cannot meet sales target annually, then just shows this job is not suitable. Seek the interest of others, as one of the ethics is.

Never compromise client's interest for self interest.

IP Standard Plan pro-ration factor

I like to  raise a question - Does pro-ration factor for outpatient treatment in private institution applies to outpatient Kidney Dialysis treatment ?

It is written “One advantage of having an IP is the higher amount claimable for kidney dialysis. The standard B1 plan pays up to $2,750 a month for this while MediShield Life pays only $1,000. This is an important consideration if your income bracket does not qualify you for subsidised treatment.”.

 In the plan itself, there is a pro-ration of 65% when patient goes for outpatient treatment in private institution.

Is the above statement correct?

In Singapore all kidney dialysis are run privately unless it is done in hospital.

The old Plan A & B migrated from CPFB has no pro-ration factor, but most “as charge” today  plan has this pro-ration factor for treatment in private institution. 

I am trying to bring about the point that kidney dialysis the public has no choice to go to a “restructured kidney dialysis’ centre unless is done as inpatient in restructured hospital.

The pro-ration factor will not help people who are caught in kidney dialysis needs. I was told pro-ration will apply unless is done at VWO centres like NKF or KDF but is subject to means test.

If I am correct on this pro-ration for kidney dialysis unless there are alternatives, pro-ration factor should not apply for outpatient kidney dialysis.

 

Finally vindicated and a change will be made in parliament

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/mobile/singapore/parliament-greenlights/2559798.html