medishield enhancements

the ministry of health has announced enhancements to the medishield scheme effective from March 01, 2013 and these include:

a.   annual and lifetime limits will be increased from $50,000 and $200,000 to $70,000 and $300,000 respecticely;
b.   maximum age of coverage will go up to age 90 from age 85 currently;
c.   the maximum entry age of 75 will be removed;
d.   coverage will also be extended to inpatient psychiatric treatment at $100 per day but capped up to 35 days per year; and cover short-stay wards in Emergency Departments;

on the flip side, class B2/C deductibles will go up by $500 for those aged 80 and below and premiums will be raised between $17 and $251 yearly. To help with the higher premiums charged, our government will be giving a one-off top-up to medisave of between $50 and $400 for those on medishield. At the same time, the medisave withdrawals limits will be raised to $1,000 (for those aged 76 to 80) and $1,200 for for those over 80 years of age.

my comments:

the enhancements are long overdue and is welcome news to all who are on the medishield scheme estimated to cover up to 92% of the population.
however, medishield will not extend coverage to babies born with congenital diseases or those that need neonatal care.
another request to allow medisave to pay for either the deductible or co-insurance rider was rejected which may lead to both overconsumption and overservicing of health care.
i would have been delighted if the enhancements include lifetime coverage because of increasing life expectancy and higher limits on in-patient benefits. but i guess the ministry of health is taking what i term as 'baby steps' in balancing the enhancements with the expected repricing of premiums which is still pretty hefty for those who are already elderly and living in the twilight of their years.