Article: Towards universal health coverage: the national health insurance in Singapore Journal: International Journal of Applied Systemic Studies (IJASS) 2015 Vol.6 No.2 pp.121 - 136 Abstract: This paper investigates the factors resulting in Singapore's health insurance coverage expansion through MediShield Life. A questionnaire-based survey is used to identify these factors. It is found that the Singaporean Government is rolling out MediShield Life to enhance coverage, but it remains to be seen whether this will alleviate the health insurance cost burden for Singaporeans. In practice, MediShield has not provided adequate coverage owing to exclusions of people bearing congenital or chronic illnesses, the elderly, and those who cannot afford private health insurance; MediShield Life aims at addressing these issues. The social implications are that although Singapore's healthcare system has been recognised as world-class, the healthcare services there are not perceived by citizens to be affordable; MediShield Life attempts to alleviate this concern. This paper provides a discussion about the affordability vs. coverage of Singapore's national health insurance, optimal balance between public and private health insurance, gaps and necessary reforms. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Towards universal health coverage: the national health insurance in Singapore

Authors: Aurelija Ulbinaite; Gena Pih Choon Wong

Addresses: Business Department, Faculty of Economics, Vilnius University, Saulėtekioave. 9, I building, LT-10222 Vilnius, Lithuania ' Department of Economics, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore, The Shaw Foundation Building, Block AS7, Level 5, 5 Arts Link, Singapore 117570, Singapore

Abstract: This paper investigates the factors resulting in Singapore's health insurance coverage expansion through MediShield Life. A questionnaire-based survey is used to identify these factors. It is found that the Singaporean Government is rolling out MediShield Life to enhance coverage, but it remains to be seen whether this will alleviate the health insurance cost burden for Singaporeans. In practice, MediShield has not provided adequate coverage owing to exclusions of people bearing congenital or chronic illnesses, the elderly, and those who cannot afford private health insurance; MediShield Life aims at addressing these issues. The social implications are that although Singapore's healthcare system has been recognised as world-class, the healthcare services there are not perceived by citizens to be affordable; MediShield Life attempts to alleviate this concern. This paper provides a discussion about the affordability vs. coverage of Singapore's national health insurance, optimal balance between public and private health insurance, gaps and necessary reforms.

Keywords: compulsory national social insurance; universal health coverage; healthcare services; healthcare affordability; MediShield Life; national health insurance; Singapore; public health insurance; private health insurance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJASS.2015.072484

International Journal of Applied Systemic Studies, 2015 Vol.6 No.2, pp.121 - 136

Received: 08 Sep 2014
Accepted: 22 Jun 2015
Published online: 14 Oct 2015 *

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Title: Towards universal health coverage: the national health insurance in Singapore

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