Printed in Straits Times Forum Page, 8 March 2011
MANY elderly people opt to be insured under basic MediShield to cover their medical expenses at an affordable premium ('Stumped by low MediShield payout' by Ms Goh Poh Kheng; yesterday). They accept treatment in a subsidised ward and must pay the deductible and co-insurance of 20 per cent from their Medisave accounts.
They should not be subject to the further uncertainty caused by the pro-ration of the bill due to means testing.
The Ministry of Health should allow patients to pay a slightly higher premium to be excluded from this pro-ration formula. This will allow for greater transparency and give them more certainty on the coverage under basic MediShield.
Many people are now advised to transfer to a private Shield plan to obtain higher coverage. However, the premium for such a plan can be much costlier and the co-payments, in the event of a claim, can also be higher.
This will be outside the financial means of many elderly patients, who need to conserve their Medisave for their old-age needs. Private Shield plans should be only for those who are well-off.
I hope the ministry will consider making basic MediShield the default plan for the large number of seniors who cannot afford to use their Medisave for higher insurance premiums and co-payments.
Tan Kin Lian
Monday, March 7, 2011
TKL Blog posting to Facebook
I need help from an expert in Facebook. In my blog, I add a "Like" feature. A user who click on the the "Like" button will have an automatic posting into his or her Facebook with the information shown on here. At present, the posting shows the message from my blog introduction, i.e. "I retired from NTUC Income .....". How do I change this posting to show the actual content of the blog, rather than the introduction? Send your answer to kinlian@gmail.com or post here in this comment..
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Letters to SGEP
SGEP receives a few letters from the public. You can view some of these letters here (Letters to SGEP).
SGEP also invites readers to send your letters and views to sgeportal@gmail.com. We hope that more citizens will use this new channel to give your views and suggestions on how to improve the political and social environment in Singapore.
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SGEP also invites readers to send your letters and views to sgeportal@gmail.com. We hope that more citizens will use this new channel to give your views and suggestions on how to improve the political and social environment in Singapore.
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Letter to SGEP - vote against the PAP
There is a letter published in the SGEP that citizens do not have to vote for the opposition candidates, but they should vote against the PAP for their bad policies. Read SGEP or click here.
Low payout on Medishield plan
There is a letter in the Straits Times on the low payout on Medishield plan. This appears to be caused by the pro-ration formula that is applied due to means testing.
I have written a letter to the St Times to urge the Minister for Health to review basic Medishield to remove the proration formula, and if necessary to raise the premium slightly for this situation. I urge the elderly people to stay on basic Medishield and avoid going to private Shield, as the premium and co-payment will be much higher under Private Shield.
Wait for my letter to be published. Meanwhile, you can read my FAQs on "Shield" or "Medishield" in Ask Mr. Tan
Tan Kin Lian
I have written a letter to the St Times to urge the Minister for Health to review basic Medishield to remove the proration formula, and if necessary to raise the premium slightly for this situation. I urge the elderly people to stay on basic Medishield and avoid going to private Shield, as the premium and co-payment will be much higher under Private Shield.
Wait for my letter to be published. Meanwhile, you can read my FAQs on "Shield" or "Medishield" in Ask Mr. Tan
Tan Kin Lian
Fixed enlistment date
Several letters were published in the St Times about the delay faced by private school students in getting enlisted into National Service. This delay adds to the time before they can enter the workforce or continue their university education.
I have written a letter to the Straits Times to urge the Ministry of Defence to give a fixed enlistment date for call up for National Service, several months in advance. This will allow the male citizens to plan their personal schedule around a known enlistment date and minimize the disruption to their personal lives.
If the Ministry finds it difficult to plan the training of the enlisted men, they can find interim arrangements, but it should not be at the expense of the citizens.
Tan Kin Lian
I have written a letter to the Straits Times to urge the Ministry of Defence to give a fixed enlistment date for call up for National Service, several months in advance. This will allow the male citizens to plan their personal schedule around a known enlistment date and minimize the disruption to their personal lives.
If the Ministry finds it difficult to plan the training of the enlisted men, they can find interim arrangements, but it should not be at the expense of the citizens.
Tan Kin Lian
Shares in CDP
Hi Mr Tan,
I have just started investing in stocks. I read that our shares and other form of securities are held under the custody of CDP. I am curious about how safe are our shares in the custody of CDP. I read from the CDP website that they are not liable for any loss, destruction or mis-delivery of any Securities, any fraud or forgery in connection with the Depositor’s signature, instructions or requests etc.
Does this means that they are not responsible should any fraud, forgery or other forms of damages that happened? If that's the case how do retail investor prevent this from happening and does it help to have a securities account operated with a thumb print? I feel that other investors would be interested to have some knowledge on this issue as well. I sincerely hope that Mr tan you can shed some lights on this issue.
REPLY
I have kept all my shares in CDp for 20 years and have no worry about this matter. I have also not heard of any problem with the security of the shares of other investors. Most transfers are now done electronically and are backed by an actual sale made through a broker.
I have just started investing in stocks. I read that our shares and other form of securities are held under the custody of CDP. I am curious about how safe are our shares in the custody of CDP. I read from the CDP website that they are not liable for any loss, destruction or mis-delivery of any Securities, any fraud or forgery in connection with the Depositor’s signature, instructions or requests etc.
Does this means that they are not responsible should any fraud, forgery or other forms of damages that happened? If that's the case how do retail investor prevent this from happening and does it help to have a securities account operated with a thumb print? I feel that other investors would be interested to have some knowledge on this issue as well. I sincerely hope that Mr tan you can shed some lights on this issue.
REPLY
I have kept all my shares in CDp for 20 years and have no worry about this matter. I have also not heard of any problem with the security of the shares of other investors. Most transfers are now done electronically and are backed by an actual sale made through a broker.
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