No hospitalisation coverage for individuals who violate Singapore's travel advisory and are admitted for suspected COVID-19

| 06 Apr 2020

In line with the Ministry of Health's (MOH) announcement on 24 March 2020, Singapore Residents and Long-Term Pass Holders will not be able to claim under MediShield Life (MSHL) or Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) if they:

• Leave Singapore from 27 March 2020, in disregard of prevailing travel advisories; and
• Are admitted for suspected COVID-19; and
• Have onset of symptoms within 14 days of returning to Singapore.


Singapore residents (i.e. Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents) who meet the above criteria
will not be able to claim from MSHL or IP for treatments at public or private hospitals. This is with
immediate effect.

Similarly, foreigners who meet the above criteria will also not be able to claim from Medisaveapproved
non-integrated shield plans as these are subject to the same requirements as IPs.

Life insurers in Singapore are aligned with the government’s position on this matter, and support
efforts to minimise the spread of COVID-19. This includes discouraging actions which run counter to
the government’s containment and mitigation efforts.
 

Read: Malaysia: NAMLIFA appeals for greater relief measures in COVID-19 crisis
 

FAQs

1. How does coverage for COVID-19 provided by private life insurers fit in with the funding for this
already provided by the government?


The government is covering the cost of medical care for COVID-19 patients incurred in public
healthcare institutions. Private insurance policies complement this by covering additional
expenses not paid for by the government, providing additional support for individuals affected by
the virus. This includes treatment at private hospitals, and pre or post-hospitalisation expenses at
private healthcare providers.

Most of the personal and group health plans in Singapore provide coverage for medical expenses
related to COVID-19. This includes Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) and IP riders, Group health plans
and non-IP health plans.
 


2. On 24 March 2020, the MOH announced measures against Singapore Residents and Long-Term
Pass Holders who disregard travel advisories. How does this affect my insurance coverage for
COVID-19?

Despite clear advisories to defer all overseas travel, MOH has noted that there are still Singapore
residents and Long-Term Pass holders who are travelling abroad. As the COVID-19 situation
overseas is worsening, such travellers risk the health of other Singaporeans and residents when
they return.

In light of this, the MOH announced on 24 March 2020 that Singapore Residents or Long-Term
Pass holders will be charged at unsubsidised rates for their inpatient stay at public hospitals, if
they:

• Leave Singapore from 27 March 2020, in disregard of prevailing travel advisories; and
• Are admitted for suspected COVID-19; and
• Have onset of symptoms within 14 days of returning to Singapore.

Singapore residents (i.e. Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents) meeting the above criteria
will not be able to claim from MediShield Life or Integrated Shield Plans for treatments at public
or private hospitals.

Similarly, foreigners meeting the above criteria will not be able to claim from non-integrated
shield plans which are Medisave-approved, as these are subject to the same requirements as
Integrated Shield Plans.

 

3. Will I be able to claim for miscellaneous benefits such as Daily Hospital Incentives if I violate the
travel advisory?

No, you will not.

Daily Hospital Incentive is a feature of some IP riders wherein policyholders receive a daily cash
benefit if hospitalisation is in a ward class that is lower than their maximum eligibility based on
plan type.

For Daily Hospital Incentive to be payable, the hospitalisation itself must be claimable. As
individuals who have contravened a travel advisory will not be allowed to claim if they are
hospitalised for suspected COVID-19, the Daily Hospital Incentive will also not be claimable.
In addition, payment of Daily Hospital Incentive for such cases would run against the MOH’s intent
of discouraging individuals from violating travel advisories.

 

4. Will I be able to claim under my IP’s Emergency Overseas Hospital benefit if I’m hospitalised
overseas due to COVID-19, having left Singapore from 27 March 2020 in violation of MOH’s
travel advisory?

No. MOH’s direction is that individuals who leave Singapore in violation of a travel advisory will
not be covered under the Emergency Overseas Hospitalisation benefit in the event that they are
hospitalised overseas for suspected COVID-19. Providing such cover would run against the intent
of discouraging individuals from violating travel advisories.

LIA members are aligned with the government’s position on this matter. Our priority is to support
efforts to minimise the spread of COVID-19, and discourage actions which run counter to the
government’s containment and mitigation efforts.

 

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