More got Medifund aid in 2010

SINGAPORE - More than $78 million of Medifund aid was given to needy Singaporean patients in 2010, $14 million more than in the previous year.

The biggest chunk of that sum, amounting to about $68.2 million, was disbursed to patients with acute needs. The remaining $10.5 million went to those who required intermediate and long-term care.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a statement yesterday that there were 480,869 successful applications for Medifund in 2010, from 393,980 successful applications in 2009, an increase of 86,889 or 22.1 per cent.

The number of successful applications does not represent the actual number of patients who received the grants, as a patient can make multiple applications.

The MOH added that it distributed $81 million of Medifund and Medifund Silver - meant for needy patients aged 65 and above - to Medifund- approved institutions such as restructured hospitals, and care facilities such as hospices and nursing homes.

There are 37 Medifund- approved institutions, according to MOH.

Of these, 13 are restructured hospitals and institutions while the rest are facilities that provide intermediate and long-term care (ILTC).

Up to 473,033 successful applications were made via restructured hospitals and institutions in 2010, while those from ILTC facilities, such as hospices and nursing homes, amounted to 7,836.

The Medifund scheme was introduced in 1993 to help needy Singaporeans who are unable to finance their medical expenses, even with funds from Medisave and MediShield.

It is meant mainly to provide a safety net for lower-income Singaporeans but it can also be tapped by better-off Singaporeans who need help with exorbitant medical bills.

Out of the total number of successful applicants in 2010, more than 92 per cent had their bills fully subsidised.

Outpatient treatment accounted for 96 per cent of the applications made via restructured hospitals and institutions.

On average, the sum given to help patients cope with their medical bills ranged from $1,321 for inpatient admission to $94 for outpatient treatment.

Grants given to needy elderly patients rose by 22.8 per cent in 2010, from about $18.9 million in 2009 to $23.2 million in 2010.