Use Medisave to pay for chronic diseases

June 23rd, 2009Health News, Healthcare Financing0 comments

More people are using their Medisave funds to cover part of the cost of treating chronic conditions. The number has jumped 5 times from 20,092 in 2006 to 98901 in 2008.

It was found that those patients who joined the Medisave programme are in better control of their health. The proportion of diabetics with optimal blood sugar and cholesterol levels have improved after they joined the Medisave programme.

But there were also some who started with optimal readings but ended up with poorer result after the 2 year study.

Medisave funds can be used to cover the treatment bills for diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, stroke, asthma and chronic obstructive lung diseases. Depression and schizophrenia will be added at the end of this year.
Most of the patients on the programme are above 50 and majority have more than one chronic conditions. Diabetes is the leading condition under this programme.

Under the Medisave programme, patients pay the first $30 of the bill and 15% of the balance. Medisave fund is used to cover the rest of the bill.

The purpose of the programme was to encourage patients with long tern conditions to work closely with their doctors to manage diseases better and to avoid, delay or reduce the complications which could lead to costly hospitalisation

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