Insurance & Costs of having and raising a child

[Hongwei]

No one should opt out of the Basic medishield unless you are buying the private hospitalisation insurance like from Aia or prudential. Medical expenses are sky rocketing and having basic coverage ensures your family don't need to worry when something untoward happens.

I have an ex-colleague whose father died of cancer as he was not given medical attention in time when they couldnt pay the expensive bills. Her father had opted out of medishield and all his cash are tied up in his business, property and CPF. Needless to say, CPF wouldn't allow withdrawal even if the person is going to die and without immediate medical surgery, he didn't make it until the sale of their property. To think that the family was quite well off but just hit a dry spell with cash..

I don't know why the hospital had the heart to refuse treatment, maybe it's a private hospital and things happened so fast. But I believe bread winners should buy enough insurance to ensure their family need not be flustered when bad things happened and there's no one to make all the wise decisions.!

[CityFarmer]

I am really amazed by reasons people refusal to do something

- Disagree with medishield and other medical insurance plans, so proving it by exposing yourself and your family to financial pain upon huge medical fee in future.

- Not to succumb to "threatening" fact i.e. no exit plan as private shareholder, so proving it by refusing the exit offer and put yourself into a difficult position as minority private shareholder.

[sgd]

No one should opt out of the Basic medishield unless you are buying the private hospitalisation insurance like from Aia or prudential. Medical expenses are sky rocketing and having basic coverage ensures your family don't need to worry when something untoward happens.

I have an ex-colleague whose father died of cancer as he was not given medical attention in time when they couldnt pay the expensive bills. Her father had opted out of medishield and all his cash are tied up in his business, property and CPF. Needless to say, CPF wouldn't allow withdrawal even if the person is going to die and without immediate medical surgery, he didn't make it until the sale of their property. To think that the family was quite well off but just hit a dry spell with cash..

I don't know why the hospital had the heart to refuse treatment, maybe it's a private hospital and things happened so fast. But I believe bread winners should buy enough insurance to ensure their family need not be flustered when bad things happened and there's no one to make all the wise decisions.!

All the hospital in sg is about money, even you go to NUH you have to pay 1st bef they let you into consultation room.

Best is to buy your own hospitalization plan with rider, mine is around $500-$600 a year, must buy with the rider hor, without rider the first 12k-15k of the bill they don't cover means you have to fork out cash pls don't think can "get by" without it try to save a few hundred dollar is not worth it. I kena paid once wah piang so painful never again.

just to give an idea if you stay at private hospital for 1-2 nights the bill can reach nearly 10k and that is without any operation yet just stay overnight for "observation" your medisafe got how many hundred thousand in there that can let you stay hospital for how long? So you tell me cpf medisafe can do what?

some of you may think going private hospital is unnecessary excess and extravagance why not try going to nuh? if you lucky you might be to get treatment fast at nuh but if you unlucky they may say your condition must wait for availability because many people also need treatment so no vacancy join the queue wait 2 month, if you are dying or in terrible pain want to wait 2 month issit?

[CityFarmer]

No one should opt out of the Basic medishield unless you are buying the private hospitalisation insurance like from Aia or prudential. Medical expenses are sky rocketing and having basic coverage ensures your family don't need to worry when something untoward happens.

I have an ex-colleague whose father died of cancer as he was not given medical attention in time when they couldnt pay the expensive bills. Her father had opted out of medishield and all his cash are tied up in his business, property and CPF. Needless to say, CPF wouldn't allow withdrawal even if the person is going to die and without immediate medical surgery, he didn't make it until the sale of their property. To think that the family was quite well off but just hit a dry spell with cash..

I don't know why the hospital had the heart to refuse treatment, maybe it's a private hospital and things happened so fast. But I believe bread winners should buy enough insurance to ensure their family need not be flustered when bad things happened and there's no one to make all the wise decisions.!

All the hospital in sg is about money, even you go to NUH you have to pay 1st bef they let you into consultation room.

Best is to buy your own hospitalization plan with rider, mine is around $500-$600 a year, must buy with the rider hor, without rider the first 12k-15k of the bill they don't cover means you have to fork out cash pls don't think can "get by" without it try to save a few hundred dollar is not worth it. I kena paid once wah piang so painful never again.

just to give an idea if you stay at private hospital for 1-2 nights the bill can reach nearly 10k and that is without any operation yet just stay overnight for "observation" your medisafe got how many hundred thousand in there that can let you stay hospital for how long? So you tell me cpf medisafe can do what?

some of you may think going private hospital is unnecessary excess and extravagance why not try going to nuh? if you lucky you might be to get treatment fast at nuh but if you unlucky they may say your condition must wait for availability because many people also need treatment so no vacancy join the queue wait 2 month, if you are dying or in terrible pain want to wait 2 month issit?

I agreed with you rider is necessary to avoid payment of the deductible and co-insurance which is below $8K IIRC

Medisave is for basic medical needs. I have gone to restructured hospital and private hospital for treatments. It is acceptable for restructured hospital treatment IMO.

I am not against going for Private hospital if necessary. Private hospital room rate is $250/day for 2-bed room. Of course suite room will cost close to $1k/day.

2 days stay for observation cost $10k? Not sure how it work out? Hidden cost that i have missed probably?

[sgd]

No one should opt out of the Basic medishield unless you are buying the private hospitalisation insurance like from Aia or prudential. Medical expenses are sky rocketing and having basic coverage ensures your family don't need to worry when something untoward happens.

I have an ex-colleague whose father died of cancer as he was not given medical attention in time when they couldnt pay the expensive bills. Her father had opted out of medishield and all his cash are tied up in his business, property and CPF. Needless to say, CPF wouldn't allow withdrawal even if the person is going to die and without immediate medical surgery, he didn't make it until the sale of their property. To think that the family was quite well off but just hit a dry spell with cash..

I don't know why the hospital had the heart to refuse treatment, maybe it's a private hospital and things happened so fast. But I believe bread winners should buy enough insurance to ensure their family need not be flustered when bad things happened and there's no one to make all the wise decisions.!

All the hospital in sg is about money, even you go to NUH you have to pay 1st bef they let you into consultation room.

Best is to buy your own hospitalization plan with rider, mine is around $500-$600 a year, must buy with the rider hor, without rider the first 12k-15k of the bill they don't cover means you have to fork out cash pls don't think can "get by" without it try to save a few hundred dollar is not worth it. I kena paid once wah piang so painful never again.

just to give an idea if you stay at private hospital for 1-2 nights the bill can reach nearly 10k and that is without any operation yet just stay overnight for "observation" your medisafe got how many hundred thousand in there that can let you stay hospital for how long? So you tell me cpf medisafe can do what?

some of you may think going private hospital is unnecessary excess and extravagance why not try going to nuh? if you lucky you might be to get treatment fast at nuh but if you unlucky they may say your condition must wait for availability because many people also need treatment so no vacancy join the queue wait 2 month, if you are dying or in terrible pain want to wait 2 month issit?

I agreed with you rider is necessary to avoid payment of the deductible and co-insurance which is below $8K IIRC

Medisave is for basic medical needs. I have gone to restructured hospital and private hospital for treatments. It is acceptable for restructured hospital treatment IMO.

I am not against going for Private hospital if necessary. Private hospital room rate is $250/day for 2-bed room. Of course suite room will cost close to $1k/day.

2 days stay for observation cost $10k? Not sure how it work out? Hidden cost that i have missed probably?

Quite recent a close relative had "sudden stroke like symptoms" so rushed to NUH bef consultation cashier ask us to pay over $200 1st (I guesss what they say is true that government is pay 1st then work)

after dat had to go thru several young doctor all checked and said cannot find any problems maybe that's why had to go thru several doctors.

So in the end they told us full checks will cause around $5k must queue 3 month for treatment.

huh wtf? Already cannot tahan how to still wait 3 month? Since we also are not medically trained and dunno what the heck they want to check or why and they also not very confident that's why they wanted to do a full check. So how to make any informed decision if the experts themselves aren't even sure?

So on the spot we decided to go for private healthcare, I remember it was already friday and almost evening nobody knew which hospital had treatment for such issues so we called friends and asked around and somebody recommended. Won't mention the hospital here but suffice to say they had very experienced people, the doctor nailed the possible cause within hours but had to stay about 2 nights over the weekend for further observation those folks later informed us no treatment required at all the 13k bill we paid in several stages over the few days she was there in the end it was all out of pocket because no rider.

harsh painful lesson, don't be a cheapskate when it comes to healthcare buy proper insurance.

[yeokiwi]

Quite recent a close relative had "sudden stroke like symptoms" so rushed to NUH bef consultation cashier ask us to pay over $200 1st (I guesss what they say is true that government is pay 1st then work)
after dat had to go thru several young doctor all checked and said cannot find any problems maybe that's why had to go thru several doctors.
So in the end they told us full checks will cause around $5k must queue 3 month for treatment?
huh wtf? Already cannot tahan how to still wait 3 month? Since we also are not medically trained and dunno what the heck they want to check or why and they also not very confident that's why they wanted to do a full check. So how to make any informed decision if the experts themselves aren't even sure?
So on the spot we decided to go for private healthcare, I remember it was already friday and almost evening nobody knew which hospital had treatment for such issues so we called friends and asked around and somebody recommended. Won't mention the hospital here but suffice to say they had very experienced people, the doctor nailed the possible cause within a hours but had to stay about 2 nights over the weekend for further observation those folks later informed us no treatment required at all the 13k bill we paid in several stages over the few days in the end it was all out of pocket because no rider.

harsh painful lesson, don't be a cheapskate when it comes to healthcare buy proper insurance.

The NUH diagnosis was correct. The patient was not suffering from stroke.
If the patients are not in an urgent condition, they have to queue for diagnosis or pay more to jump the queue.

Everyday, there are hundreds of patients coming to public hospital and they have to prioritise their patients.
Compare to your relative, I suppose there were tens of patients in A&E that required immediate treatment.

It is natural that family members are worried but hospital resources, especially public hospitals, are not unlimited.

[Kelvin]

I am really amazed by reasons people refusal to do something

- Disagree with medishield and other medical insurance plans, so proving it by exposing yourself and your family to financial pain upon huge medical fee in future.

- Not to succumb to "threatening" fact i.e. no exit plan as private shareholder, so proving it by refusing the exit offer and put yourself into a difficult position as minority private shareholder.

agree.

dun think there are many around that can afford to self insure.
there is no point even investing if proper protection is not done.

[CityFarmer]

Quite recent a close relative had "sudden stroke like symptoms" so rushed to NUH bef consultation cashier ask us to pay over $200 1st (I guesss what they say is true that government is pay 1st then work)
after dat had to go thru several young doctor all checked and said cannot find any problems maybe that's why had to go thru several doctors.
So in the end they told us full checks will cause around $5k must queue 3 month for treatment?
huh wtf? Already cannot tahan how to still wait 3 month? Since we also are not medically trained and dunno what the heck they want to check or why and they also not very confident that's why they wanted to do a full check. So how to make any informed decision if the experts themselves aren't even sure?
So on the spot we decided to go for private healthcare, I remember it was already friday and almost evening nobody knew which hospital had treatment for such issues so we called friends and asked around and somebody recommended. Won't mention the hospital here but suffice to say they had very experienced people, the doctor nailed the possible cause within a hours but had to stay about 2 nights over the weekend for further observation those folks later informed us no treatment required at all the 13k bill we paid in several stages over the few days in the end it was all out of pocket because no rider.

harsh painful lesson, don't be a cheapskate when it comes to healthcare buy proper insurance.

The NUH diagnosis was correct. The patient was not suffering from stroke.
If the patients are not in an urgent condition, they have to queue for diagnosis or pay more to jump the queue.

Everyday, there are hundreds of patients coming to public hospital and they have to prioritise their patients.
Compare to your relative, I suppose there were tens of patients in A&E that required immediate treatment.

It is natural that family members are worried but hospital resources, especially public hospitals, are not unlimited.

Yes, patient has to decide either pay as necessary (in public hospital), or pay more for physical and psychological comfort (in private hospital). It is a choice, limited by ones resources. Medical cost in private can easily be 3x of restructured hospital IMO

I never have experience with NUH, but TTS seems better than NUH, base only on the experience described.

[sgd]

The NUH diagnosis was correct. The patient was not suffering from stroke.
If the patients are not in an urgent condition, they have to queue for diagnosis or pay more to jump the queue.

Everyday, there are hundreds of patients coming to public hospital and they have to prioritise their patients.
Compare to your relative, I suppose there were tens of patients in A&E that required immediate treatment.

It is natural that family members are worried but hospital resources, especially public hospitals, are not unlimited.

on hindsight in the end they were right but they never gave us the confidence because so many had to check and re-check it gave us the impression they didn't know what they were doing and they didn't tell us what was the cause. And because of that we didn't have confidence in their analysis at all.

My close relative had sudden seizures and breathing difficulty she described like choking suffocating. So in such situations how to decide if it is really life threatening or not if the doctors also couldn't give a conclusion?

[yeokiwi]

The NUH diagnosis was correct. The patient was not suffering from stroke.
If the patients are not in an urgent condition, they have to queue for diagnosis or pay more to jump the queue.

Everyday, there are hundreds of patients coming to public hospital and they have to prioritise their patients.
Compare to your relative, I suppose there were tens of patients in A&E that required immediate treatment.

It is natural that family members are worried but hospital resources, especially public hospitals, are not unlimited.

on hindsight in the end they were right but they never gave us the confidence because so many had to check and re-check it gave us the impression they didn't know what they were doing and they didn't tell us what was the cause. And because of that we didn't have confidence in their analysis at all.

My close relative had sudden seizures and breathing difficulty she described like choking suffocating. So in such situations how to decide if it is really life threatening or not if the doctors also couldn't give a conclusion?

I think if it was life threatening and the doctors still released the patient home, the doctors were negligence.
Normally, the A&E doctors will at least take the pulse rate, blood pressure, oxygen level, and maybe x-ray and ECG.
If these were not done, then I think the doctors were negligence.
If you have seen the doctors umpteen times, you will realise that the doctors really cannot do much in most situations.
The main priority is to make sure that you are still alive and then slowly diagnose the conditions.
In real emergency case, they basically just throw whatever treatments onto the patient, CPR, defibrillator, injections, blood infusion and even emergency ops to insert stents.

Lastly, I realise that doctors will be more opened to discussion if the enquirer is calm and perceived to have some basic medical knowledge.