St Luke's Hospital, Singapore - Patient Subsidies

Patient Subsidies

The means test was introduced by MOH in 2000 to provide financial assistance to elderly patients who could not afford the intermediate healthcare services, especially if the period of hospitalization was long. Patients qualify for varying levels of subsidy from the government using the means test as an income assessment framework. The rate of subsidy that a patient qualifies for depends on the per capita income of the patient’s family. Ownership of major assets such as private property is also taken into consideration. The means test was also introduced as part of the changes proposed by an inter-ministerial committee on healthcare for elderly patients. The committee proposed that voluntary welfare organizations expand their services to cater to the elderly from middle income families as well, a departure from the traditional practice of catering to the poor only. As such, means testing facilitates the allocation of scarce healthcare resources to patients who have genuine financial difficulties.

Besides means testing, the hospital has also put in place several policies to help patients who have genuine financial difficulties. Patients under public assistance do not have to pay their hospitalization fees. For patients who do not qualify for public assistance but are in need of financial assistance, the St Luke’s Patient Welfare Fund enables them to undergo rehabilitation even though they are not able to pay. The Patient Welfare Fund is funded by donations from Christian organizations and the public. In the year 2000, more than 110 patients benefitted from the Patient Welfare Fund.