Singapore Ministry of Health - No Vaccine? You Pay.
SINGAPORE — From Dec 8, Singapore will start charging Covid-19 patients who are not vaccinated against the disease by choice.
This will apply to all unvaccinated coronavirus patients admitted on or after Dec 8 to hospitals and Covid-19 treatment facilities, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced in a statement on Monday (Nov 8).
For patients who are partially vaccinated, they will not be charged until Dec 31 to allow them to receive the full course of their coronavirus vaccination.
Right now, the Government is paying the full Covid-19 medical bills of all Singaporeans, permanent residents and long-term pass holders, with the exception of those who test positive for the coronavirus soon after returning from overseas travel.
“For the majority who are vaccinated, this special approach for Covid-19 bills will continue until the Covid-19 situation is more stable.”
The full statement:
COVID-19 Patients who are Unvaccinated by Choice to be Responsible for their Medical Bills
The Government is currently footing the full COVID-19 medical bills of all Singaporeans, Permanent Residents and Long-Term Pass Holders (SCs/PRs/LTPHs), other than for those who tested positive soon after returning from overseas travel. This was to avoid financial considerations adding to public uncertainty and concern when COVID-19 was an emergent and unfamiliar disease. For the majority who are vaccinated, this special approach for COVID-19 bills will continue until the COVID-19 situation is more stable.
Currently, unvaccinated persons make up a sizeable majority of those who require intensive inpatient care, and disproportionately contribute to the strain on our healthcare resources.
Hence, from 8 December 2021, we will begin charging COVID-19 patients who are unvaccinated by choice.[1] This will apply to all unvaccinated COVID-19 patients admitted on or after 8 December 2021 to hospitals and CTFs. COVID-19 medical bills for those who are ineligible for vaccination will still be fully paid for by the government, i.e. children under 12 years old or medically ineligible persons.
COVID-19 patients who are unvaccinated by choice may still tap on regular healthcare financing arrangements to pay for their bills where applicable – SCs and PRs may access regular Government subsidies and MediShield Life/ Integrated Shield Plan (MSHL/ IP) where applicable, while LTPHs may tap on their usual financing arrangements, such as private insurance.
[1] We will not charge individuals who are partially vaccinated until 31 December 2021, to allow them time to be fully vaccinated. From 1 January 2022, only SC/PR/LTPH COVID-19 patients who are fully vaccinated and have not recently travelled will have their COVID-19 medical bills fully paid for by the Government.