Singapore to reduce COVID-19 funding support

The Health Ministry MOH announced on Thursday that Singapore will reduce its financial support for testing and treatment of COVID 19 because of changes from April 1, and will bring the financial support for COVID 19 testing and treatment in line with that of other acute illnesses.

They followed Singapore's reduction of the DORSCON level from yellow to green and further stepping down of community measures from Feb 13.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said at a multi-ministry task force press conference that COVID 19 testing and treatment were generally free of charge or at a very low fee for residents.

Since COVID 19 was an unfamiliar disease, it is important that we remove the uncertainties and concerns about the cost of testing and we have maintained that policy for almost three years.

He said that in DORSCON Green we are establishing an endemic, new norm, and living with the disease.

From April, all COVID 19 patients, including Singaporeans, permanent residents and long-term pass holders, who receive treatment at a hospital or COVID-19 treatment facility will no longer be given a 100 per cent subsidy. This is regardless of their vaccination status.

The government subsidies, MediShield Life and MediSave, will apply to Singaporeans and permanent residents to defray their healthcare expenses.

The ministry said that they wanted to assure lower-income Singaporeans that financial assistance would be available to ensure that healthcare cost remains affordable.

Community isolation facilities will no longer be required for COVID - 19, just as they are not required for other endemic diseases like influenza or chicken pox, said MOH.

The Government will maintain some community isolation facilities for COVID- 19 patients who want to self-isolate for valid reasons, but all occupants will be charged for their stay.

As these community isolation facilities are not medical facilities, Singaporeans and permanent residents will not be able to tap on government subsidies, MediShield Life or MediSave to pay for their bills, according to MOH.

All patients must pay for COVID 19 testing, subject to prevailing subsidies in primary care settings at polyclinics and general practitioner clinics.