Latest news with #MountElizabeth
CNA
12-08-2025
- Health
- CNA
Deep Dive Podcast - What's the impact from Great Eastern-Mount Elizabeth pre-authorisation fallout?
When insurer Great Eastern suspended pre-authorisation for admission to Mount Elizabeth hospitals, it raised questions about the way health insurance is managed in Singapore. With increased medical bills and insurance premiums, who is paying for what and where are the gaps? Steven Chia and Otelli Edwards speak with Associate Professor Jeremy Lim of Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and Dr Yoong Siew Lee, a health services consultant.
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Solo 4WD traveller reveals 'confronting reality' of notorious Aussie road
A 4WD driver who braved a notorious stretch of road in the outback alone is urging Australians not to get swept up in the rising popularity of 4WD holidays unless they truly understand what one entails. After months of building up the courage to drive the infamous Gibb River Road in WA's Kimberley Region, a 660-kilometre dirt track with the reputation of being a 'vehicle wrecker', Jade Nicolle, 44, admitted to Yahoo News there were moments the "confronting reality" of being alone in the Aussie wilderness almost got the better of her. This was definitely the case when she drove out to Wunnamurra Gorge at the start of the month. Despite asking for advice from station staff at Mount Elizabeth, and being reassured that her vehicle and beginner 4WD skills would be enough for the journey, she quickly found herself in over her head — almost literally. "It very quickly became apparent that there was probably a difference in the definition of what a standard track was. I don't know why I didn't turn around and go home," Jade told Yahoo, explaining the terrain was rugged and unpredictable, and the incline steep and ever-changing. "I was terrified, my Garmin watch kept telling me to relax because it was picking up that I was so distressed," she said. "The sun was in my face, and the dust was all over my windscreen. I could barely see because in many areas the roads point upwards and you're doing rock climbing, I had to drive with my head out the window." "It took me an hour to drive seven and a half kilometres." The 'confronting reality' abundantly clear to solo 4WD driver In the moments when Jade was steering white-knuckled along the track, she realised it was down to her to get herself and her car out in one piece. "It does become very confronting when you're a solo traveller, and you're the only car on the road, and you're faced with the reality that if you do something wrong and you break your car, then your holiday is potentially over, or you could be in trouble," she told Yahoo. "I genuinely contemplated just pulling the car over and walking the 12km back," she confessed. However, chose against it as she didn't want to block the road for any other drivers eager to make the journey. The dangers of solo travelling in the outback were apparent when German backpacker Caroline Wilga, 26, went missing for 11 nights following a vehicle accident. Caroline was later found by a driver and airlifted to hospital, with police explaining she survived by drinking from puddles and sheltering in a cave. 🌶️ Caravanning couple travel Australia thanks to OnlyFans 😲 Travelling couple stunned by free detail at servos during 4WD trip 🧐 4WDs making 'dangerous' mistake on Aussie roads The one thing 'mandatory' for Aussie 4WD holiday Jade was relieved to reach Wunnamurra Gorge, which she claims was "totally worth it", and return back to the highway without any major vehicle damage. Despite it being a moment of pride from the trip, she said she "wouldn't do it again", content that it was a once-in-a-lifetime moment. When Yahoo News questioned what she'd do differently, she instead highlighted the one thing that was her lifeline. She urged anyone eager to follow in her footsteps to ensure they have one thing. "In my eyes, a UHF is mandatory," she said. Ultra-High-Frequency radios allow vehicles to communicate with one another in the outback, and Jade claims having one not only helped ease her mind, but it also was exceptionally practical. "For instance, if I've got a caravan coming up behind me, I can contact it and say, caravan travelling westbound on Gibb River Road. This is the silver Navara in front of you. I can see that you want to overtake. I'll let you know when it's clear and you can get past," she explained. Jade isn't the only long-distance driver who has found a UHF hugely beneficially. In Feburary, truckie Ben was caught behind a caravanner who quickly contacted him on the radio to let him know whenever he wanted to overtake, he would slow down to make the process more efficient. The UHF radio was also used between a driver and a caravanner in a separate incident in March, to notify a caravanner that his vehicle was swaying on the road. Despite having moments of realisation that Jade had to get herself out of potentially dangerous situations, she told Yahoo the journey was incredible, and Aussies along the way are more than willing to lend a helping hand. "I was technically travelling alone, but I have never been alone. People you meet on the road are spectacular... the Aussie spirit is incredible," she said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
South China Morning Post
08-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Do Singapore's insurers and private hospitals need a rethink as costs surge?
A major insurer in Singapore has suspended pre-treatment approval for policyholders seeking treatment in two private hospitals due to high costs, in a case that has prompted scrutiny of the city state's reputable healthcare industry. Great Eastern's move has spurred industry experts to call for calibrated adjustments to the healthcare insurance system involving the key stakeholders instead of an overhaul, and greater data transparency to help policyholders make informed decisions as expenses continue to rise across the industry. Last month, Great Eastern announced it would stop issuing pre-authorisation certificates for policyholders admitted to Mount Elizabeth hospitals in Novena and Orchard owing to what it said were high costs at the two facilities. Pre-authorisation refers to the insurer's approval of coverage for medical costs before treatment. The certificates minimise the upfront cash deposit needed for certain costs such as hospitalisation and surgical expenses, doctors' fees, tests conducted in hospital and some outpatient treatments by having the insurer settle these pre-approved expenses directly with the hospital. Without the certificates, patients may have to foot the bill for their treatments first before filing a claim with the insurer for assessment. Great Eastern told local media it observed that over the past few years 'certain private hospitals have been charging significantly more for similar treatment' and that the move was part of 'ongoing efforts to manage rising healthcare costs and ensure long-term affordability for all policyholders'.
CNA
01-07-2025
- Health
- CNA
Current state of private insurance, private healthcare not sustainable: Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE: The current state of private insurance and private healthcare is unsustainable, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Tuesday (Jul 1), as he spoke of a "knot" in the relationship between the insurers and private hospitals. Mr Ong was giving the Ministry of Health (MOH)'s perspective on Great Eastern's suspension of its pre-authorisation certificates for admission to Mount Elizabeth hospitals since Jun 17. The insurer said then that the move is part of the its "ongoing efforts to manage rising healthcare costs and ensure long-term affordability for all policyholders", citing its observation that over the past few years, "certain private hospitals have been charging significantly more for similar treatment". In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Mr Ong said that private health insurers and private hospitals have "gotten themselves tied up in a knot, to the detriment of all stakeholders, including patients". The "knot" came about in big part due to insurance design, he said. "Insurers know that policyholders are worried about incurring an unexpected huge hospital bill, so they launch insurance products that offer generous coverage to win customers and market share." These products include "as-charged" or no-limit coverage, as well as riders - add-ons to the insurance plan - that will cover almost all costs. In such cases, as insurers are footing almost the entire bill, there is the tendency to "use more than is necessary", said Mr Ong, calling it "human nature". To illustrate this point, he said that the likelihood of a patient with such riders making a claim is 1.4 times that of a patient without one, and the size of the claim is also on average 1.4 times more. This leads to higher claims and insurers realising that the premiums they collect can no longer cover those claims. Insurers then respond by introducing more safeguards into the claims process, such as suspending pre-authorisation for hospitals with higher claims or entering into panel arrangements with doctors, he said. They also respond by raising premiums, he said, noting that premiums for riders have increased sharply over the past few years. This causes policyholders, insurers, doctors, and hospitals to all be caught in a "knot". "Policyholders are naturally unhappy that they are paying rising premiums but with more restrictions. Healthcare providers are finding it more cumbersome to make claims. Insurers are struggling to stay viable for their health portfolios. "As for (the) Government, with all these developments, we can see that more patients with private insurance are opting for subsidised public health care," said Mr Ong. He added that this will increase the pressure on the public healthcare system, noting that public healthcare currently accounts for about 80 per cent of hospital beds in Singapore but provides care for 90 per cent of all inpatients. MOH INTERVENTION INSUFFICIENT SO FAR To tackle the issue, MOH has intervened in a few ways, said Mr Ong. One way it did so was to introduce fee benchmarks to guide pricing and prevent over-charging of medical bills. Since 2018, it has done so for private professional fees. Now, over 90 per cent of cases fall within the surgeon fee benchmarks, compared with 80 per cent in 2018, said the health minister. The average annual growth in private surgeon fees has also moderated from 3 per cent for the period of 2010 to 2018, to 0.4 per cent for the period of 2019 to 2023. "We are now studying the possibility of going beyond professional fees, by introducing more benchmarks for hospital charges, to guide fee setting by private hospitals," added Mr Ong. MOH has also intervened in instances when doctors make errant claims. The ministry has taken action against a "small minority" of offending doctors by making them attend a "refresher course on fee setting" or suspending them from claiming from MediSave and MediShield Life. Noting the need for more affordable private hospital choices, Mr Ong said that the ministry is exploring the possibility of a new not-for-profit private hospital - first introduced in February 2024 - but that such a move will take a few years still. However, MOH's actions are insufficient, said Mr Ong. "Ultimately, private insurers need to take a hard and realistic look at their product design, particularly those of riders." THE ROLE OF PRIVATE INSURERS Mr Ong acknowledged that private insurers have made "some effort" to redesign their insurance plans. Most insurers now offer more affordable rider alternatives which do not fully cover deductibles or have a larger co-payment component, he said. "But more importantly, these riders can help to dull the incentives to over-service and over-charge, while still providing the additional protection against large cash co-payments that policyholders value. "It will help focus private hospitals and private doctors on delivering value and ensuring affordability for their patients," said Mr Ong. "In the longer term, patients seeking care in private hospitals will find that they are getting a better deal than the current situation, which is clearly unsustainable." Every stakeholder will need to do its part so that the "knot" can be gradually loosened and untied, said Mr Ong, adding that MOH will be "facilitating" this untying process. "The recent moves by insurers may be disconcerting, but we need to see them against this broader context and the need to set the private healthcare financing system on a more sustainable footing. Otherwise, everyone loses." Mr Ong added that Great Eastern's move only affects those patients on private insurance plans and who intend to receive care at private hospitals.
CNA
30-06-2025
- Health
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - A Letter to Myself: How Pranati Bagchi built a lavender spaceship to fuel young girls' confidence
CNA938 Rewind Play Pranati Bagchi the founder of The Lavender Spaceship Project, an online school that provides a "girl-centric" education in coding and other tech-related skills. Pranati shares how the seeds of her entrepreneurial journey were planted when he daughter had a dispiriting experience at a coding class, how she persevered through the early days of being a one-woman-operation, and how her students are gaining more than just technical skills but the confidence to believe that they too can reach for the stars. CNA938 Rewind - A Letter to Myself: How Pranati Bagchi built a lavender spaceship to fuel young girls' confidence Pranati Bagchi the founder of The Lavender Spaceship Project, an online school that provides a "girl-centric" education in coding and other tech-related skills. Pranati shares how the seeds of her entrepreneurial journey were planted when he daughter had a dispiriting experience at a coding class, how she persevered through the early days of being a one-woman-operation, and how her students are gaining more than just technical skills but the confidence to believe that they too can reach for the stars. 34 mins CNA938 Rewind - TalkBack: Pre-authorisation certification - Are you using more private healthcare services? Great Eastern has halted pre-authorisation certificates for admissions to Mount Elizabeth hospitals in Orchard and Novena, citing 'efforts to manage rising healthcare costs and ensure long-term affordability for all policyholders.' Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin speak with Alfred Chia, CEO of SingCapital, to discuss whether more Singaporeans are turning to private healthcare services. 17 mins CNA938 Rewind - First RTS Link train unveiled — an engineer weighs in The first of eight trains for the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System has been unveiled, as the project gains steam. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin speak with engineering expert Teo Chor Kok, a member of the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Technical Committee at the Institution of Engineers, Singapore. 10 mins CNA938 Rewind - Israel-Iran conflict: truce seems to be holding, is it over? Iran has warned that it has little faith in Israel's commitment to a fragile ceasefire that ended the most intense and destructive confrontation between the two foes to date. The truce seems to be holding, but is it over? Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin speak with Dr Rohan Gunaratna, Professor of Security Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University. 18 mins
