Singapore Immigration information: The medical subsidies available for the Pioneer Generation have been in effect for nearly a month. Interviewed chain private clinics and dental clinics have noted a significant increase of about 20% in elderly patients seeking home medical services over the past month.
Dr. Xu Haode, Medical Director of the Healthway Medical Group, stated that since the various medical benefits of the Pioneer Generation Card came into effect at the beginning of this month, the number of elderly patients visiting the group’s more than 30 Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) clinics has increased by 20%.
A spokesperson for Raffles Medical Group pointed out that the number of Pioneer Generation patients visiting its 47 CHAS private clinics and 13 CHAS dental clinics has also significantly risen over the past month.
Meanwhile, the number of elderly patients visiting dental clinics has also increased. Dr. Huang Zhenxiao, President of Q&M Dental Group, said: “In the past month, we have noticed more elderly individuals coming to our CHAS dental clinics with the Pioneer Generation Card for dentures, oral examinations, and more.”
There are also private clinics that were not originally part of the CHAS program, such as the Jianqiao Pharmacy in the Chinatown area, which decided to apply to become a CHAS private clinic due to the implementation of the Pioneer Generation medical benefits.
Dr. Cai Tianrong of this private clinic said: “Many elderly patients have requested that I apply to become a CHAS clinic so that they can enjoy medical subsidies, so I went ahead and applied. The clinic was just approved to become a CHAS private clinic a week ago.”
Singapore has about 1,500 private clinics, with 720 already having joined the CHAS program; there are 460 CHAS dental clinics.
Starting this month, as long as they present the Pioneer Generation Card, elderly individuals visiting CHAS clinics, CHAS dental clinics, polyclinics, and public hospital specialist outpatient clinics will be able to enjoy additional subsidies.
Furthermore, once the medication subsidy measures take effect on January 1 next year, the Pioneer Generation will also receive an additional 50% discount on medications when visiting polyclinics and public hospital specialist outpatient clinics.
Our report visited several private clinics, polyclinics, and public hospitals, and found that most elderly patients interviewed were aware that the new medical subsidies had come into effect, but were still unclear about the details of the subsidies.
Private clinic operators have found that many elderly individuals are confused about which card they should present when seeking medical treatment, unsure whether to show the Pioneer Generation Card or the CHAS card.
Yesterday morning, 76-year-old Mai Liqiu, who visited the Bedok Polyclinic, was worried about not receiving the medical subsidies she was entitled to. She said: “The clinic staff did not check my Pioneer Generation Card when I was checking out, and I didn’t know if I could receive the Pioneer Generation subsidy.”
In fact, the status of the Pioneer Generation is already recorded in the computer system of public medical institutions, so even if elderly individuals forget to bring their card or do not present it, they will still receive medical subsidies. However, not all CHAS clinics and dental clinics have the information of the Pioneer Generation.
Therefore, the Ministry of Health recommends that elderly individuals should bring their Pioneer Generation Card when visiting CHAS clinics, dental clinics, polyclinics, or public hospital specialist outpatient clinics, but there is no need to bring the CHAS card.
Under the Pioneer Generation package, when elderly individuals visit polyclinics and hospital specialist outpatient clinics, they can receive an additional 50% subsidy on top of the existing subsidies; when visiting CHAS clinics and dental clinics, the subsidies provided to elderly individuals with the Pioneer Generation Card are greater than those with the CHAS card, so presenting the Pioneer Generation Card is sufficient.
