Using legislations to cover-up Medishield Price Hike

• Atobe

  29 Aug 04, 03:30

  From the Straits Times Forum Page, 28 August 2004.
  
  More convincing case for Medishield hike needed
  
  THE Government should put up a more convincing case for the imminent increase in Medishield premiums by providing more facts and figures, rather than resort to a change of law to effect an enlarged Medishield 'risk pool'. The increase will be as good as giving the green light to private insurers to hike their premiums.
  
  Instead of forcing everyone to be part of Medishield's 'risk pool', the Government should find out why Medishield continues to lose out to other insurance schemes. For example, NTUC Income offers Incomeshield, a similar if not better health-insurance scheme. The coverage under its various plans is sufficient for all.
  
  If the different plans under Medishield are insufficient, more plans could be introduced. And, again, members should be given a choice as to whether to upgrade.
  
  The Government could reach out to less-informed members through newsletters and grassroots leaders.
  
  Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said that changes are needed because premiums are outdated. Why are only premiums for Medishield outdated?
  
  It is said that other insurers are in direct competition with Medishield. Is this not positive as premiums are thus made lower and more affordable for Cannot distribute vertically CPF members?
  
  Privatisation of the CPF Dependants' Protection Scheme was recommended by the Economic Review Committee in 2002, with the aim of 'generating healthy competition among private insurers and provide better benefits and services to CPF members', as noted by the CPF Board. Does the Government now feel that there are no positive benefits from healthy competition?
  
  Many CPF members are also more than adequately covered by private insurers. It is unfair to force them to increase their coverage to more than what is necessary.
  
  The Government is forward-thinking in that it realises demographic changes will burden the state financially. However, if it has to resort to legislation to effect change, it will be reverting to a nanny-state mentality. This does not sit well with many.
  
  PHILLIP ANG KENG HONG
  
  The following site will be archived and no longer accessible after three days
  http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/forum/story/0,4386,269685,00.html?
  
  
• paperchicken

  4 Sep 04, 18:17

  As usual Atobe is blind to the facts before him and oppose for the sake of opposing and opposing everyone who oppose him and wanting to be right and win every arguement every time.
• reyes

  5 Sep 04, 22:45

  well written article.informative.
  by the way why this paperchicken always pick on you??
  
• paperchicken

  5 Sep 04, 22:49

  Originally posted by reyes:

  well written article.informative.
  by the way why this paperchicken always pick on you??
  

  Dun like him simple as that. He like to argue with everybody and always think he is right.
• Atobe

  6 Sep 04, 03:12

  Originally posted by reyes:
  well written article.informative.
  by the way why this paperchicken always pick on you??
  

  Thought that the Article was well written too, and may be informative to those who are in the dark about the proposed changes to the Medishield.
  
  Not so sure about this "paperchicken" agenda, as it is a recent phenomena that has something to do with the "Bird Flu".
  
  Never expected it to have any effect on chicken made of paper.
  
  
• Atobe

  6 Sep 04, 03:16

  Originally posted by paperchicken:
  Dun like him simple as that. He like to argue with everybody and always think he is right.

  Nothing personal, but it will be interesting to know what happened to make you dislike me ?
  
  Is this not a public forum in which everyone's position is open to being challenged ?
  
  If challenging is seen to be an argument, I am not sure how the view is like from a "paperchicken" point, but can only imagine that it must be flat as a paper to see things in that perspective.
  
  
• raihanraihan

  6 Sep 04, 21:37

  A cautious piece, too!
  
  I feel that all of Khaw's good work would be negated if he uses legislation to hike Medishield premium and forces everybody to buy the coverage.
• shoutcast

  6 Sep 04, 23:41

  http://www.google.com.sg/search?q=cache:w7Np6acz_HEJ:straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/forum/story/0,4386,269685-1093730340,00.html+Medishield+hike+site:straitstimes.asia1.com.sg&hl=en
  
  for those who want to see the report again
  
  googled it