Parliament: Interesting replies not reported in the media? (part 5)

March 27, 2014

I refer to the recent Parliamentary proceedings on 17 February, reported in Hansard.

Replies not reported in media?

I found some interesting replies to questions that I do not remember reading in the media.

17 February, 2014

PROFILE OF THOSE REGISTERED ON COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSIST SCHEME

59 Mrs Lina Chiam asked the Minister for Health to date, how many Singaporeans have been successfully registered for the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) out of the estimated number of potential eligible applicants and out of the total number of applicants who live in HDB rental flats respectively.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: About 520,000 Singaporeans have signed up for the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) as at 31 December 2013. Based on our records, we have successfully registered close to 20,500 households living in HDB rental flats for CHAS. This translates to about 40% of all households living in HDB rental flats. The remaining 60% who are not on CHASincludes Singaporeans on the Public Assistance (PA) scheme who enjoy free medical services at public healthcare institutions, as well as younger families who can now qualify for CHAS following the removal of the age floor on 1 January 2014.

Working closely with the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), the Health Promotion Board (HPB) and grassroots organisations, MOH will continue to explore ways to target our outreach to the lower- and middle- income Singaporean households to encourage more eligible Singaporeans to sign up for the scheme. In particular, for residents of HDB rental flats, AIC has been conducting door-to-door visits together with grassroots leaders to assist them in their applications if required.

Never answer the question?

In my view, the Minister did not answer NCMP Mrs Lina Chiam’s question. 520,000 have signed up out of how many who are eligible?

I believe this number may be about a million by now.

Only 40% of HDB rental households signed up? 

Since the 20,500 households in HDB rental flats is about 40% of all HDB rental households – does it mean that a whopping 30,750 or about 60% did not sign up?

Since the number on PA is only about 3,100 in 2013 – a lot of the 27,650 balance rental households who did not sign up must have Singaporeans are eligible.

Look good, but … ?

The above statistics can best be described as pathetic since the scheme was announced more than 2 years ago in August 2011.

I believe we have the income data. So, why make the scheme so difficult to apply – such that perhaps only half of those eligible todate have applied?

Leong Sze Hian

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About the Author

Leong
Leong Sze Hian has served as the president of 4 professional bodies, honorary consul of 2 countries, an alumnus of Harvard University, authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been a radio talkshow host, a newspaper daily columnist, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for theonlinecitizen and Malaysiakini, executive producer of Ilo Ilo (40 international awards), Hotel Mumbai (associate producer), invited to speak more than 200 times in about 40 countries, CIFA advisory board member, founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of 2 countries. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional  qualifications.