The Ministry of Health (MOH) will increase the MediShield Life claim limit for cancer drug services from $1,200 per calendar year to $3,600 per calendar year from 1 April 2023.
2. To ensure the affordability of cancer drug treatments and sustainability of insurance premiums in the long term, MOH regularly reviews the financing schemes for cancer drug treatments. Since 1 September 2022, only treatments that are listed on the Cancer Drug List are covered under MediShield Life and MediSave. Integrated Shield Plan coverage will also be adjusted to cover only treatments on the Cancer Drug List from 1 April 2023, upon policy purchase or renewal.
3. As part of the cancer drug financing changes, a separate claim limit for outpatient cancer drug services was introduced on 1 September 2022 to cover costs of services that might be incurred over the course of one’s cancer drug treatment. These include scans, blood tests, doctor consultations and supportive care drugs. The MediShield Life and MediSave limit for these services were set at $1,200 and $600 per calendar year respectively.
4. Since its implementation, we have received feedback that the MediShield Life claim limit for cancer drug services may not be adequate for some patients who require more frequent tests to monitor disease progression or who require more supportive care drugs to manage their side effects.
5. After reviewing the latest available claims data, MOH will increase the MediShield Life claim limit for cancer drug services to $3,600 per calendar year from 1 April 2023. There is no change to the MediSave withdrawal limit of $600 per calendar year. Patients who made cancer drug services claims in 2023 will be able to make additional MediShield Life claims from 1 April 2023, up to the new limit.
6. MOH will continue to review our healthcare financing schemes to ensure that they remain adequate to address Singaporeans’ needs, while ensuring the long-term sustainability of healthcare costs. Nobody will be denied appropriate healthcare due to an inability to pay.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
4 MARCH 2023