Some good may come out of uproar over health insurance pre-authorisation
Great Eastern has decided to suspend pre-authorisation of treatments for policyholders using Mount Elizabeth Hospital (MEH) and Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital (MNH). The reactions seem to have been a bit over the top when, in fact, the move could pave the way for much-needed discussion on healthcare costs.
Some doctors and patients have claimed that GE's move restricts their choices, despite the high premiums they pay for treatment at private hospitals. Even the Ministry of Health (MOH) has chipped in to say that it is engaging GE to better understand the impact of its decision.
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Business Times
a day ago
- Business Times
How tech can close the care gap for an ageing nation with dignity
SINGAPORE is facing a stark demographic reality. By 2030, one in 25 Singaporeans will be aged 80 and above, while the number of people available to care for them is shrinking fast. This is not about longer wait times at the nearby clinic or the higher cost of healthcare. We are, in fact, heading towards a point where there simply are not enough hands for basic human needs: getting dressed, taking medication or having someone help you up after a fall. The uncomfortable question becomes: When traditional care is no longer feasible, what happens to dignity? What happens to the quality of care we want for our own parents? We must rethink how care is delivered, and technology is an ideal way to bridge the gap between our ageing population's needs and our shrinking workforce's capacity. Freeing caregivers to care On the ground, caregivers are burning out fast. They spend precious time on administrative tasks, wheeling meal trays, hunting for clean linen and tracking medication. These tasks eat into hours they could spend providing quality care. Meanwhile, most aged care facilities disallow smartphones, leading caregivers to secretly use WhatsApp and Telegram to coordinate and communicate with colleagues. What if we used technology to return that time to them? Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are already doing the heavy lifting in 16 Singapore nursing homes, managing routine transport tasks and freeing up at least 10 per cent more staff time for direct patient care. This is not about replacing caregivers, but about letting them focus on what they do best – providing the human connection that no robot can replicate. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Instead of disallowing smartphones, aged care facilities should embrace them. With the right tools, a smartphone can become the central hub for everything from instant communication with colleagues to real-time care plan updates and emergency alerts. Sensor networks for emergency alert systems let caregivers instantly call for help during medical emergencies. Add artificial intelligence (AI)-powered cameras that spot falls or wandering incidents, and you have caregivers who can respond to real emergencies instead of constantly checking 'just in case'. This digital-first approach also appeals to incoming Gen Z caregivers who expect modern, tech-enabled work environments. Preserving dignity through patient-centric technology But technology for caregivers is only half the equation. The real test of technology in aged care is whether it serves the people receiving care – and their expectations are changing, too. Tomorrow's seniors are already familiar with technology, and have no intention of handing over control of their lives just because they need some extra support. They want to stay in charge, not be managed. This insight changes our approach to technology in aged care. Instead of being nagged to take medication, a gentle robot can offer a reminder. The difference is between being watched and being supported. This is where it gets a little tricky – AI-powered monitoring should preserve dignity, not compromise it. Nobody wants to feel they are living under surveillance, even if it is 'for their own good'. The systems we build must have ethics and transparency at their core. Seniors should know exactly what is being monitored, and who can see the data. The goal is not a fully automated aged care facility, but giving our seniors the tools to stay independent for as long as possible. That includes everything from smart sensors that prevent falls to user-friendly bedside devices that help them stay connected to family. Ultimately, technology should amplify human dignity, not diminish it. An integrated approach to modern aged care Solving this crisis at scale requires more than individual facility upgrades. It demands coordinated leadership to create an ecosystem of innovation. Singapore's government, for example, is not just debating policy, but putting real money behind such efforts. The Productivity and Digitalisation Uplift Grant has already supported nursing homes by deploying the AMRs mentioned earlier. This commitment is further deepened with the government's S$107 million investment in Active Ageing Centre infrastructure upgrades through 2027. This is certainly not about buying a few robots and calling it done. Modern aged care facilities must be smart ecosystems built around innovative care models from the ground up. In a project with a large social service organisation in Singapore, we deployed AI-powered closed-circuit television networks that actively monitor for falls, violence, loitering and other safety concerns across communal areas. When an incident is detected, the system does not just sound an alarm, but it sends targeted alerts to nearby nurses' smartphones via Wi-Fi. These alerts come with context: the incident type, its exact location and three actionable buttons. One shows the live camera feed from the incident location. Another opens medical records of the patient identified via facial recognition, eliminating precious time spent on identification and medication checks. The third connects directly to relevant personnel like the head nurse or other caregivers for additional support. This is representative of the kind of integrated approach that modern aged care facilities need: networks where your building's CCTV infrastructure 'talks' to workflow automation systems, with high-performance Wi-Fi seamlessly connecting everything from emergency response tools to mobile collaboration platforms. Existing aged care facilities make excellent testing grounds for breakthrough solutions like this. From crisis to global leadership in digital care Developed countries worldwide, like Japan and South Korea, face similar challenges with aged care. With its government support, innovative capacity and demographic urgency, Singapore can solve this puzzle first. Ageing populations in Asia are creating significant investment opportunities. The silver economy market value in Asia is expected to surpass US$4 trillion this year, with a projected 7 per cent compound annual growth rate through 2032. By developing world-class aged care technologies and operational models that can be exported globally, Singapore's aged care providers can transform the nation's demographic challenge into a blueprint for dignified ageing. If they crack this code first, the rest of the world will come calling. The writer is director of vertical partnerships, Asia-Pacific, at Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise
Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Straits Times
What's in store for policyholders after GE removes pre-authorisation letters for two private hospitals
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox GE temporarily stopped issuing pre-authorisation certificates for admissions to Mount Elizabeth Hospital and Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital from June 17. SINGAPORE - Some policyholders of Great Eastern (GE) found themselves in a pickle after the insurer temporarily stopped issuing pre-authorisation certificates for admissions to Mount Elizabeth hospitals from June 17. Policyholders will now have to re-evaluate whether they want to go to Mount Elizabeth Hospital or Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital for treatment; switch to another private hospital; or change insurance provider altogether. The incident has also highlighted the need for a separate pool of funds for unexpected medical expenses, even though the verdict on such a fund is mixed. Integrated Shield Plan (IP) holders of GE policies have to make some choices now that pre-authorisation for planned medical procedures has been suspended at the two Mount Elizabeth hospitals. Pre-authorisation is not required for emergency situations, where immediate medical attention is needed. Mr Alex Lee, president of the Singapore Actuarial Society (SAS), said those who still decide to go to the two hospitals for treatment will have to foot the bill out of their own pockets first and claim it back later. Mr Lee added that GE may reimburse the claim if it is deemed as reasonable. This will be no different from the scenario in which the policyholder has received pre-authorisation for the medical procedure. However, the insurer could also reject the claim if the treatment is excluded under the policy conditions, he said. Mr Kyith Ng, senior solutions specialist at insurance advisory firm Havend, said these GE policyholders will have to face the uncertainty over whether their insurance will cover their hospital expenses and how much of the bill it will cover. SAS' Mr Lee said other policyholders, who want peace of mind before their medical treatment starts, could choose to move to another private hospital where GE continues to offer pre-authorisation for admissions. There are eight private hospitals in Singapore, including the two Mount Elizabeth ones: Gleneagles, Parkway East, Farrer Park, Raffles, Thomson Medical Centre and Crawfurd Hospital. There is also one private not-for-profit hospital, Mount Alvernia. The process of pre-authorisation allows an insurer to assess whether a medical procedure recommended by the doctor is necessary and at a reasonable cost, said Associate Professor Chen Renbao from the department of finance at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School. Upon approval, policyholders have a gauge of the estimated treatment costs and know how much their insurance policy will cover prior to hospitalisation. There are some GE policyholders who are contemplating whether to switch to another insurance provider. They can do so if they do not have pre-existing illnesses, which will exclude these medical conditions from any new insurance coverage. One policyholder who wishes to remain anonymous told The Straits Times that his entire family uses Mount Elizabeth hospitals. He is thinking of switching to another IP insurer but is concerned about any exclusions that will not be covered. He told ST that GE should not impose such restrictions on existing policyholders and that these restrictions should only apply to new ones. Of the seven private insurers that offer IPs, Income and Singlife do not offer pre-authorisation for medical procedures. The other four, AIA, Prudential, HSBC Life and Raffles Health, do but Havend's Mr Ng said there is no certainty they will continue to do so. 'What GE does may make the other insurers wonder if they can do the same,' he added. If policyholders switch insurers and that insurer later makes changes to its claims policy, they could be caught in a bind, Mr Ng noted. Health insurance provides a safety net against unexpected health issues and offers individuals and their families protection in case major medical treatment becomes necessary. Mr Ng said an individual could build up savings specific for medical needs as another safety net. The fund can be used to pay any pre-hospitalisation procedures such as scans, blood tests or post-hospitalisation expenses like physiotherapy or speech therapy. Policyholders have to pay pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses in cash and then submit the claims for approval, Mr Ng added. Furthermore, some claims might take longer than usual to process. Mr Ng has seen cases drag out for as long as six months. Claimants will face a cash-flow crunch if they do not set aside enough cash on hand, he added. There are situations where individuals will need to pay medical costs upfront, though this is not always so, Mr Ng noted, adding that they just need to ensure they have an adequate amount to supplement those needs. Otherwise, they may be compelled to use the money set aside for other purposes, like their children's education or their own retirement. 'The money has to come from somewhere.' So, by setting aside say $20,000, individuals know how much money they have for such exigencies and will not have to take the money from their other financial funds, Mr Ng said. However, Associate Professor Walter Theseira from the Singapore University of Social Sciences, said it is not efficient for most people to maintain 'substantial funds in cash for medical needs', given that these are infrequent and large. He said the point of having more comprehensive insurance is to reduce the need to maintain funds just for medical purposes. If insurance does not give individuals such assurance, 'it is not of much value as an insurance product'. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has said it is engaging with GE to better understand the impact of its decision to suspend pre-authorisation certificates for Mount Elizabeth hospitals. In its reply to queries from the media on June 19, MOH said IP insurers 'would have to ensure that policyholders continue to be able to access the full benefits of their policies in accordance with the terms and conditions for claims, as stated in their policy contracts'. SAS' Mr Lee said GE is not in breach of contractual obligations. This is because 'issuance of Certificate of Pre-authorisation is at Great Eastern's discretion', according to the policy contract that SAS has sighted. According to GE's website, the insurer states that it has 'observed that, over the past few years, certain private hospitals have been charging significantly more for similar treatment or the same clinical outcomes'. Mr Lee noted that by withdrawing pre-authorisation for the two hospitals, GE hopes that it will help address 'the issue of rising charges from the two hospitals'. Prof Chen from the NUS Business School said that GE is prioritising healthcare providers that offer high-quality care and better cost management, specifically those that are more cost-effective and transparent about pricing. Having looked through the financials of all the IP insurers which filed their latest 2024 results with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Havend's Mr Ng said he can see that GE is 'trying to control the cost levers' within its control. The insurer posted an underwriting profit in 2024 of $4.8 million, after making an underwriting loss of $44.9 million in 2023. This makes GE one of the three IP insurers which turned in a profit in 2024. The other two are Prudential and AIA. Three other IP insurers, Singlife, Income and HSBC Life, widened their underwriting losses while the last one, Raffles Health, narrowed its underwriting losses. Mr Lee said that insurance, especially in cases requiring little or no out-of-pocket expense, strengthens policyholders' sense of affordability. Demand induced by this stronger sense of affordability can drive up medical costs, he noted, adding that this never-ending cycle of medical cost inflation can be broken if the sense of affordability gets meaningfully dampened. However, Mr Lee pointed out that there are other factors such as shortage of medical professionals, supply chain disruptions and medical innovations that will drive up medical inflation. He added that if medical costs continue to rise, insurers will have no choice but to raise premiums because there is hardly any pricing buffer left in the rates being charged. Mr Lee said: 'At its core, this pre-authorisation withdrawal aims to address rising medical costs that, if poorly controlled, lead to premium rates spiralling upwards in future.' Prof Theseira added: 'This certainly could be perceived as a shot across the bow for private hospitals and doctors who have higher than average charges. 'If the decision changes patient behaviour, it would pressure private healthcare providers to moderate charges or risk similar actions being levied against them by other insurers.'
Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Straits Times
Proposed new law protecting Singaporeans' genetic data to be strengthened: Ong Ye Kung
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE – A proposed new law to protect genetic data collected on Singaporeans will be strengthened to provide greater clarity on what this hereditary information can or cannot be used for. The Ministry of Health (MOH) will be conducting broad public consultations on the topic, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said. 'For healthcare to be delivered seamlessly across all settings, and especially in the community, a patient's data needs to be captured and shared among healthcare providers whom he sought care from,' he said. Doing so immediately raises concerns about cyber security, which MOH is addressing by strengthening the legislative structure, he added. The Health Minister was speaking at the 9th CHI Innovate 2025, NHG Health's flagship innovation conference, on July 10, held at the Ng Teng Fong Centre for Healthcare Innovation. Genetic screening for medical conditions of the general public is already being carried out as part of a nationwide programme to enhance preventive care in Singapore. Starting June 30, eligible Singapore residents, for instance, can be screened for familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) , a genetic condition that causes high cholesterol levels, at a subsidised rate. The initiative aims to identify individuals with FH early and reduce the risk of premature heart disease with timely interventions. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business S'pore to launch new grant for companies, expand support for workers amid US tariff uncertainties World Trump's ambassador nominee to Singapore Anjani Sinha has a rough day at Senate hearing Asia Dr Mahathir at 100: Still haunted by the Malay Dilemma Singapore What's next for PSP following its post-GE leadership shake-up? Singapore NDP 2025: Diamond formations, 'multi-axis' fly-past to headline parade's aerial display Multimedia 60 objects to mark SG60: Which is your favourite? Singapore HDB flats less attainable in 2024 compared with 2022: Report Singapore Apex court upholds SMC's punishment of doctor who gave patients unlicensed hormones To address the worries about data privacy, Mr Ong, who is also the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, said his ministry is coming up with a new law – the proposed Health Information Act. 'Under the Act, beyond various data protection measures, a patient can choose to restrict the sharing of his medical data among the healthcare providers that he sought care from,' he said. While this may not be an ideal arrangement and may undermine quality of care for the patient, making such a choice available addresses fears and instils confidence, he added. Mr Ong said that when genetic data is easily available, there will be public concerns on how the data is used and whether technology 'will inadvertently push us across societal and ethical lines'. 'MOH is therefore working on enhancing legislative protections on the use of genetic test information and will be conducting broad public consultation. 'The legislation will provide greater clarity on what genetic information can be used for, such as for medical treatment, and what it cannot be used for, such as in deciding employment and insurance (coverage),' he said. Mr Ong said beyond addressing the fears and concerns arising from technology, everyone can be empowered to participate in innovation and leverage technology to do a better job. But he warned that as digital technology revolutionises human communications, it might have also rewired the minds of a generation. 'The evidence is still being debated, but ask any psychologist or counsellor, and they will tell you stories of how smart devices, video games or social media addiction have inflicted pain on young minds,' he said. Mr Ong said while there is no doubt artificial intelligence (AI) will have a profound impact on society , healthcare institutions need to 'use it judiciously and deploy it thoughtfully'. In employing AI, NHG Health has signed a five-year master collaboration agreement with ST Engineering to co-develop and implement engineering and smart systems to further enhance patient care and optimise health service delivery. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung at a guided tour of an AI Showcase during the Centre for Health and Innovation (CHI) Innovate 2025 conference on July 10. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI The group also signed a memorandum of understanding with Nanyang Technological University's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and Hong Kong-based Cornerstone Robotics to focus on advanced research and innovation in surgical robotics systems. This alliance will identify future robotic-assisted surgery for a wider range of conditions treated at the hospitals under NHG Health and offer safer, less invasive and more affordable procedures to the patients.
