FAQs – Choice
of Ward Accommodation
Choice of Ward Accommodation
1. Can I choose my class of ward?
Patients can choose the type of ward they
would like to stay in. The affordability of the
ward should take the highest priority. Non-residential
patients, however, are only able to choose the non-subsidized
wards.
2. How much will my hospital stay cost?
The ward charges can be found at http://www.slh.org.sg/admission/admission.php.
The actual bill however might vary depending on
the medical condition and treatment of the individual.
Patients requiring Government subsidies will be
Means Tested to determine their eligibility.
To take an online Means Test, please visit: http://www.ics.com.sg/ICS2006/EMT/EMTCal/Default.aspx
3. How do I pay for the hospital charges?
Hospital charges can be paid through Medisave,
Medishield and/or cash or a combination of all three.
Patients who are experiencing financial difficulties
and are looking for admission into the 8-9 bedded
wards may wish to seek help from the Medical Social
Workers in St. Luke’s Hospital for assistance.
4. Can I pay my charges through my insurance?
All fees and charges must be paid in full
before seeking reimbursements from the insurer.
FAQs – Deposit
1. Is a deposit required for admission to St Luke’s
Hospital?
A deposit must be made upon admission into
the hospital in the event that Medisave and/or Medishield
is insufficient to cover the cost of the entire
hospital charge. Deposits can be made in cash, cheque
or NETS.
For more information on the deposit amount, please
visit:
http://www.slh.org.sg/admission/admission.php
2. What happens if I do not have the money
to pay the deposit?
Patients looking for admission into the
8-9 bedded wards and are experiencing financial
difficulties may wish to seek help from the Medical
Social Workers in St Luke’s Hospital for assistance.
Patients who are seeking admission into the other
types of wards are advised to reconsider their choice
based on the affordability.
3. Is the deposit refundable?
The deposit will be refunded if Medisave
and Medishield coverage is sufficient to cover the
hospital charges.
4. When can I have my deposit refunded?
The deposit will be refunded upon confirmation
from the CPF Board that Medisave and/or Medishield
was sufficient to cover the hospital charges and/or
the final bill has been settled. The process will
take approximately three to four weeks upon patient
discharge.
FAQs – Medisave
1. Who can I use my Medisave for?
Medisave may be used for all immediate
family members including spouse, children, parents
and grandparents (grandparents must be Singapore
citizens or Permanent Residents).
Medisave can also be used for non-immediate family
members (e.g.: siblings or other relatives) if the
patient:
| • |
Is a Singapore citizen or Permanent
Resident. |
| • |
Does not have a Medisave account or has
already exhausted the funds in his Medisave
Account. |
| • |
Has an immediate family member who does
not have funds in their Medisave account and
cannot afford to pay the hospital bill. |
| • |
Is a dependant of the Medisave account holder.
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2. What happens if the patient and / or Medisave
account holder are found to have given a false declaration?
Penalties will be imposed on any person(s)
found to have given a false declaration. Unauthorized
use of another person’s Medisave account is
considered a criminal offence and will be referred
to the police.
3. Is documentary proof of relationship
required?
The patient and/or Medisave account holder
will need to produce the necessary documentation
if requested by the Hospital or CPF Board for verification.
4. What are the Medisave withdrawal limits?
The use of Medisave is subjected to a maximum
withdrawal of $150 per day and $3,500 a year for
Inpatient charges in community hospitals.
5. Why are withdrawal limits imposed?
Medisave withdrawal limits are imposed
to conserve funds for future medical needs especially
for retirement and old age.
Outstanding bills not covered by Medisave must be
paid through cash, cheque or NETs.
6. How do I use Medisave?
The Medisave Authorization Form must be
completed and submitted, together with the NRIC/Passport
of the patient and the Medisave account holder.
For more information on Medisave, please visit:
http://mycpf.cpf.gov.sg/Members/home.htm
FAQs – Medishield
1. What is Medishield?
Medishield is a low-cost medical insurance
scheme which helps Medisave account holders and
their dependants meet part of the cost of treatment
for serious and/or prolonged illnesses.
2. Who is covered under Medishield?
CPF members who are Singapore citizens
or permanent residents, not more than 80 years old
and who have not opted out of Medishield are covered
under this scheme.
3. Which part of my hospital bill will
Medishield cover?
Claims can be made if the patient is covered
under Medishield at the time of hospitalization.
However, Medishield schemes vary based on the individual.
4. What will Medishield not cover?
Medishield will not cover the cost of treatment
for serious pre-existing illnesses for which the
patient has received treatment within 12 months
prior to the start of Medishield coverage. Other
categories of treatment not covered under Medishield
include congenital anomalies, mental illness and
personality disorders.
5. How do I claim from Medishield?
The hospital must be informed of the intention
to claim from Medishield. The hospital will then
submit a Medishield claim to the CPF Board which
will pay the hospital directly upon approval. The
outstanding bill may then be paid through Medisave,
cash or both.
For more information on Medishield, please visit:
http://mycpf.cpf.gov.sg/Members/home.htm
FAQs – Medifund
1. What is Medifund?
Medifund is a financial assistance scheme
which helps needy Singaporean patients pay for their
medical care.
2. Who qualifies to apply for Medifund
assistance?
Singaporeans who are subsidized patients
in Medifund approved institutions and who are
unable afford the medical charges are qualified
for this assistance scheme. Application for Medifund
assistance can be done through the Medical Social
Workers in St. Luke’s Hospital.
Non-Singaporeans and permanent residents are not
eligible for this scheme.
How much help can I get from Medifund?
Medifund assistance is only available to Singaporean
patients who are facing financial hardship. Patients
have to meet certain income criteria’s before
their applications can be approved. The amount
of help received from Medifund will vary depending
on the individual circumstances and the patient’s
financial background. All Medifund applications
will be subject to approval by the Hospital Medifund
Committee.
All other funds such as Medisave and Medishield
must be exhausted by the patient before Medifund
can be considered for the outstanding bill.
For more information, please visit:
http://mycpf.cpf.gov.sg/Members/home.htm
FAQs – Means Test
1. What is the ‘Means Test’?
The Means Test is an income assessment
framework used to determine the financial status
of families applying for subsidies. This is to ensure
that the subsidies are given to the families who
truly need them. Subsidies will go directly to the
service providers who will use it to offset the
bill for the step-down care fees and charges.
‘Means Test’ is a method to calculate
the subsidies that an elderly will get if he/she
requires step-down care services. It takes into
consideration:
| • |
Gross income of the patient,
his / her spouse and the immediate family
members, |
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Number of family members and |
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Ownership of major assets such as private
property. |
2. What are Step-Down Care Services?
Many patients who are well-enough to be
discharged from hospitals may wish to return to
the comfort of their own homes. However, certain
medical conditions may make this difficult for the
patient. Hence, step-down care centres are available
to provide further care and treatment for them.
Step-down care refers to selected services such
as:
| • |
Community Hospitals |
| • |
Nursing Homes |
| • |
Hospices |
| • |
Day Rehabilitation Centres |
| • |
Home care services such as home nursing
and home medical |
3. Am I eligible for this subsidy?
Subsidies are available only to elderly
who:
| • |
Are Singaporean citizens or
permanent residents. |
| • |
Meet the admission criteria of the step-down
care services required. |
| • |
Are admitted to Government funded institutions
and services. |
4. How much is the subsidy?
Subsidy rates are determined based on the monthly
income per capita of a family. This is calculated
by taking the total monthly income of the family
and dividing it equally among the family members.
The result will determine the amount of subsidy
provided by the government for the step-down care
provided as seen in the table below.
Per Capita Income Rate of Subsidy
$0 to $300 75%
$301 to $700 50%
$701 to $1000 25%
More than $1000 0%
5. How do I apply for the subsidy?
Before applying for subsidies, it is important to
verify with the relevant doctors or health care
facilities on the need for step-down care. If step-down
care and financial assistance is required, seek
assistance from a Medical Social Worker to assess
eligibility through a Means Test.
The following steps will provide a walkthrough on
the process of the test:
Step 1 Prepare the necessary documents for submission.
The following documents will be needed for all immediate
family members:
| • |
Identity card or passport. |
| • |
Current pay slip or latest income tax returns
(Part-time workers and self-employed individuals
who are unable to provide a pay slip will
need to make a statutory declaration at the
Commissioner of Oaths). |
| • |
Documents indicating all sources of income
including wages and rentals (before CPF deduction)
of family members must be submitted together
with their NRIC numbers. These include current
pay slips or latest income tax returns of:
- All children.
- Siblings who are staying at the same address.
|
| • |
Other relevant documents such as letters
of adoption, retrenchment letters and Medisave
Statements. |
Step 2 Submit documents
Submission of documents can be done at:
| • |
The Medical Social Work Department
of all restructured hospitals and national
centres. |
| • |
Community hospitals. |
| • |
Other step-down care services such as nursing
homes, hospices, day rehabilitation centres
and others. |
Step 3 Notification of the outcome of Means
Testing
| • |
The amount of subsidy provided
will be determined upon submission of complete
documentation. |
| • |
Subsidies will be paid direct to the service
providers upon admission and/or usage of the
services and will be reflected in the bill. |
For more information on the “Means Test”
or to do an online test, please visit: http://www.ics.com.sg/ICS2006/Main/default.aspx
FAQs – Medication
1. My Relative is being transferred to St Luke’s
Hospital from another Hospital. Do I need to bring
in the Patient’s old medications on the day
of admission?
It is not necessary to bring the old medications
to the hospital. However, a Discharge Summary, containing
the list of medications, must be obtained from the
previous hospital.
2. My relative is being admitted to St
Luke’s Hospital from home. Do I need to
bring in the patient’s old medications on
the day of admission?
All medications (past and present) must
be brought, together with any documentation from
recent visits to hospitals, doctors and/or polyclinics.
3. My relative is being transferred from
another Hospital to St Luke’s Hospital.
The patient’s medications have been changed
by the transferring hospital. Which medications
should I bring?
Bring both past and present medications
as medications may sometimes change due to the
condition of the patient. This would aid the doctors
in St Luke’s Hospital to determine the best
course of action.
4. My relative is being transferred from
another hospital to St Luke’s Hospital.
The transferring hospital has asked me to purchase
Discharge Medications for my relative. How much
should I buy?
St Luke’s Hospital is able to supply
most commonly used medications. As medications may
need to be adjusted often based on the patient’s
condition, it is best to purchase a 2 week supply
of medication. If a ‘non-standard’ medication
has been prescribed to the patient, please inform
the staff at St Luke’s Hospital beforehand.
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