Living in Singapore

[starlight1968sg]

Imp75\" post_id=\"2106394\" time=\"1682300656\" user_id=\"2358:

You mean public service employees don’t hv outpatient medical benefits?

Am on the old scheme.
I pay 15% of the bills in polyclinic and restructured hospitals. The amt will be deducted from my salary and I dont hv to pay any cash upfront.

[sharonkhoo]

Imp75\" post_id=\"2106394\" time=\"1682300656\" user_id=\"2358:

You mean public service employees don’t hv outpatient medical benefits?

This is what I found online as my kids are working today (no off in lieu for PH for them, but they get an additional day of annual leave, so they are quite happy) so don't want to disturb them:
https://www.careers.gov.sg/who-we-are/benefits
Medical Benefits
As a public officer on the Medisave-cum-Subsidised Outpatient (MSO) medical benefits scheme, you will receive an additional 2% of your gross monthly salary into your Central Provident Fund Medisave Account.

You will also receive a subsidy of up to $500 per calendar year for your medical expenses. Any unused amount of the first $350 subsidy will be credited into your Medisave account, while the remaining $150 will be on a reimbursement basis.

I believe the additional money in Medisave is intended for buying medical insurance, so the idea is that they should cover whatever they feel necessary. My kids don't have insurance for outpatient treatment (assuming that can be purchased), and our family doesn't qualify for CHAS (the ones that subsidise outpatient visits).

I've not heard about the $500 subsidy - must ask them later. I expect they may feel that it might be too much of a hassle, or maybe they don't know about it!

Added info: One blur daughter didn't know that she can claim up to 85% of outpatient fees (subject to per visit cap of $20 if at a private clinic)! Total claims capped at $500 per year. The other daughter knew, but hasn't seen the need to mention it to us (we never asked) or thought to advise her (blur) sister.

[Estéema]

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"2106392\" time=\"1682300393\" user_id=\"43981:

Dd went to Polyclinic abt 1-2mths ago coz she was having some mucos. We did home ART test -ve and her friends kept asking her to see doctor etc etc..so just to give some comfort to all we went Polyclinic for another test and it costs us $20+ just for the test. Without test I think should be around $10 with med. Next time I will ask them not to give us med as we don't take it anyway...then few bucks for consultation for kids.

The last my son did his dengue tests at Polyclinic, the consultation is $9. Not sure if diff charges since last year.

[sharonkhoo]

Estéema\" post_id=\"2106402\" time=\"1682302123\" user_id=\"66413:

The last my son did his dengue tests at Polyclinic, the consultation is $9. Not sure if diff charges since last year.

Kids and elderly have lower charges.
https://polyclinic.singhealth.com.sg/patient-care/charges-payment
https://www.nhgp.com.sg/our-polyclinics/Pages/charges-payments.aspx

Elderly means 65 and over, apparently.

[lee_yl]

phtthp\" post_id=\"2106372\" time=\"1682297299\" user_id=\"35251:

Yes, u are right.

Last time, in the past years ago, I could go Polyclinic & just wait for a few hours, even though I did not book any slot last time on that day of visit. But lately, things have changed.

Not only booking a slot changed. But also, last time, if I need doctor to write me a referral letter, I could receive the referral letter after waiting for a period of time, within the same day. But now, cannot. Things have changed, for this too. The staff at Polyclinic said that if I still do not receive any notification from anyone AFTER ONE week's time awaiting to go to a certain department in a hospital, I can call them back at this telephone number (a number which they gave me), to check the status.

I asked the staff, why must wait for one week so long ? Staff replied that I am not the only one in entire SG, from Polyclinic (Bedok) visit alone that day, that requests to see doctors at NUH hospital, at subsidized costs. She said no choice, wait lor.

5yrs ago, I had tummy cramps and I thought it was just mild food poisoning. Saw a GP and was told to check in hospital for further assessment.

I chose to go to a private hospital. Though I paid more (subsequently claimed back from insurance), I did a CT scan almost immediately and started first dose of treatment on the same day I checked into the hospital ward. My sis who is in public healthcare told me I did the right thing as the waiting time to do a CT scan at next door TTSH, can take up to 7 days as the waitlist to use the machine is very, very long!! :shock:

Luckily I went to a private hospital because the scan showed acute colon inflammation and not mild food poisoning.

Moral of the story, for non critical cases can slowly wait at polyclinic or public hospital for bed. But when in acute pain, no choice just pay for private hospital.

[starlight1968sg]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2106407\" time=\"1682302983\" user_id=\"17023:

5yrs ago, I had tummy cramps and I thought it was just mild food poisoning. Saw a GP and was told to check in hospital for further assessment.

I chose to go to a private hospital. Though I paid more (subsequently claimed back from insurance), I did a CT scan almost immediately and started first dose of treatment on the same day I checked into the hospital ward. My sis who is in public healthcare told me I did the right thing as the waiting time to do a CT scan at next door TTSH, can take up to 7 days as the waitlist to use the machine is very, very long!! :shock:

Luckily I went to a private hospital because the scan showed acute colon inflammation and not mild food poisoning.

Moral of the story, for non critical cases can slowly wait at polyclinic or public hospital for bed. But when in acute pain, no choice just pay for private hospital.

Yes. This is one of the sad parts living in spore. Many cant afford private hospitals.

[sharonkhoo]

starlight1968sg\" post_id=\"2106409\" time=\"1682303228\" user_id=\"14025:

Yes. This is one of the sad parts living in spore. Many cant afford private hospitals.

I would think it's the same in every country? I doubt there is any country where most people can afford private hospitals. In some countries, many people can't even afford the public hospitals.

[Funz]

I have never been to the polyclinic for any ailments. I don’t fancy waiting for hours when I am already unwell. So far I’ve been lucky that I’ve been able to claim outpatient medical expenses for myself and dependents from my previous company or DH’s company.


As for govt hospitals, I think to be fair, if doctors suspect anything the wait for CT scan, MRI, etc is not that long. When my late aunt went to the polyclinic due to prolonged diarrhoea and stomach upset, doctors suspected more than normal stomach ailments and referred her to govt hospital and everything from polyclinic referral to surgery, it was a matter of days. Thereafter all the tests and scans to determine the spread of the cancer to scheduling the treatments were done rather quickly. Likewise for another case that I know of recently. Friend went for a surgery to remove a growth on his leg. The growth was sent for tests and within 2 days they received the call that it was cancerous, he is scheduled for MRI and further tests within the week.

Conversely, BIL, on his last health check has a slightly enlarged prostate, aside from that all his other markers are within normal range. Given that his father has been recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, his doctor strongly recommend that he go for further checks. His appointment for MRI is 3mths away.

[pirate]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2106370\" time=\"1682297228\" user_id=\"17023:

Resorting to personal attacks when you can’t win an argument?

It would seem that your view points are so coloured and fixated that you automatically reject any suggestion that may impact the PRs.

If the points raised are superfluous, why did you bother responding for 3 days non-stop?

Continue allowing in younger PRs while imposing a deadline of sort for retiree PRs as we enter super-aged status in 2030, is still small-minded?

Thank you for finally admitting that PR status is not automatically renewed. Since it is already not automatic, what is your beef?

I responded because the way you wrote, and your \"analogies\", exude green-eyed monster at PRs who for whatever reasons did not take up citizenship, even if you deny it

You do realize all your \"analogies\" are of PRs who [I]choose[/I] not to obtain citizenship right? Your analogies are of PRs who own properties back home. Your \"analogies\" a bit one sided no? That was why Esteema gave counter analogies.

The subtext of your message was choose to become a citizen or go home, stop sponging on us, you are not one of us. You may or may not realize it, but it is chauvinistic, offensive and makes Singaporeans look bad. You can see from the other comments that I am not the only one who read your message this way.

It confirms observations by many non-Singaporeans that Singaporeans are mercenary, ungrateful, and 缺乏人情. As a tiny nation dependent on open trade and investment to survive, this is not an image Singapore can afford to cultivate.

You may be a proud Singaporean, but the views you espoused embarrass the rest of us Singaporeans. Thus the response.

[lee_yl]

pirate\" post_id=\"2106415\" time=\"1682305062\" user_id=\"66252:

Thank you for finally admitting that PR status is not automatically renewed. Since it is already not automatic, what is your beef?

I responded because the way you wrote, and your \"analogies\", exude green-eyed monster at PRs who for whatever reasons did not take up citizenship, even if you deny it

You do realize all your \"analogies\" are of PRs who [I]choose[/I] not to obtain citizenship right? Your analogies are of PRs who own properties back home. Your \"analogies\" a bit one sided no? That was why Esteema gave counter analogies.

The subtext of your message was choose to become a citizen or go home, stop sponging on us, you are not one of us. You may or may not realize it, but it is chauvinistic, offensive and makes Singaporeans look bad. You can see from the other comments that I am not the only one who read your message this way.

It confirms observations by many non-Singaporeans that Singaporeans are mercenary, ungrateful, and 缺乏人情. As a tiny nation dependent on open trade and investment to survive, this is not an image Singapore can afford to cultivate.

You may be a proud Singaporean, but the views you espoused embarrass the rest of us Singaporeans. Thus the response.

From what I know, unless one commits a crime or some egregious deed else their PR status will just be renewed. This also applies to the PRs in the older age group. That is why I suggest having a age limit for review as we enter super-aged stage.

Again, your biased perspective shows. If I am jealous of PRs, then why do I suggest continue taking in younger PRs to help maintain the vitality of SG’s economy?

Easy to pin labels and assign derogatory terms when everything is based on your own biased views. How do you like to be called a foreign lapdog? A traitor who happily surrender your dignity and fellow Singaporeans’ interests in favour of foreigners? Throwing terms like chauvinist is easy but definitely not conducive for a civil discourse. Bringing in your own bias colours the arguments.

缺乏人情？I do have compassion, but my compassion will go towards the Merdeka and Pioneer generations first, followed by fellow Singapore citizens. If we no longer have to wait 2 days (or more) along corridors for a hospital bed and have adequate healthcare resources to spare then we can afford not to be so hard-nosed