More under MediShield

[Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan told Parliament on Tuesday that
he was confident of attaining this goal because of the effectiveness
of new measures introduced in December 2007.]

THE Health Ministry is working to reduce the number of Singaporeans not covered by a basic health-care insurance scheme.
It wants to slash the percentage of those not covered by MediShield - designed for those choosing subsidised wards B2 and C - from the current 16 per cent to a single digit number.
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan told Parliament on Tuesday that he was confident of attaining this goal because of the effectiveness of new measures introduced in December 2007.
The Government implemented automatic coverage for newborns, which starts when the birth of the child is registered.
Parents opposed to it can opt out when registering the birth. Currently, 98 per cent of newborn babies are covered.
Similarly, this medical insurance is bought for uninsured Primary 1 pupils.
Again, parents will pay for it and can opt out. So far, less than four per cent of parents have opted out of this scheme, said Mr Khaw.
His ministry is also currently working with schools to extend coverage to students in mainstream schools.
For adults, it is working with NTUC to get their members to sign up for their spouses.
As a result of these measures, MediShield coverage increased by 200,000 members last year, said Mr Khaw.

Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Time.