Higher Medisave withdrawal limits for community hospital patients

The daily Medisave withdrawal limit for community hospital patients will be raised from S$150 to S$250 from the middle of this year, and the annual cap on withdrawals will also go up from S$3,500 to S$5,000.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan announced this in Parliament on Tuesday.

The Health Ministry's budget for subsidising patients for treatment has increased by 10 percent to S$2.2 billion this financial year. This increase in subsidies is on top of the S$710 million top-ups Singaporeans will receive in their Medisave, Medifund and Eldercare funds.

Mr Khaw said such subsidies form the first layer of protection - which ensures universal access to basic healthcare.

Medisave - the 26-year-old, S$45 billion national healthcare savings scheme - is the second layer. MPs wanted to see this scheme freed up to cover more areas.