CareShield Life And MediSave Care: Everything You Need To Know

CareShield Life and MediSave Care offer enhanced support for those living with disabilities. Here’s what you need to know about these two national healthcare schemes.

Did you know that 1 in 2 healthy Singaporeans aged 65 could become severely disabled in their lifetime, and may end up requiring long-term medical care? Good thing then, that Singaporeans can now look forward to greater cash support to help pay for long-term or disability care. 

In 1 October 2021, two new healthcare schemes –– CareShield Life and MediSave Care –– were launched, providing monthly cash payouts to Singaporeans aged 30 and above who suffer from severe disability or as long as they require long-term care. This benefit is available for life. 

CareShield Life replaces the old ElderShield scheme, whereas MediSave Care introduces a new option for individuals to use their MediSave balance. 

Here’s a detailed breakdown of these two new schemes.

CareShield Life: A bigger, better Eldershield

Calling CareShield Life a bigger and better ElderShield isn’t just hyperbole. It is literally true in three important ways. 

Right out of the gate, CareShield Life offers higher payouts, providing cash of between S$600 and S$1,200 each month. 

In comparison. ElderShield pays either $300 per month for up to 5 years, or $400 per month for up to 6 years, depending on which plan you enrol in. 

CareShield Life also lasts longer, offering coverage for life. Meanwhile, ElderShield payouts only last 6 years at the most. 

Thirdly, CareShield Life has a lower auto-inclusion from age 30 onwards, and covers pre-existing disabilities. ElderShield coverage only starts from age 40 onwards. 

Related to this topic: Best CareShield Life Supplement Plans In Singapore (2023)

More inclusive long-term disability support scheme

With these changes, CareShield Life proves to be a more inclusive support scheme catered to Singaporeans with severe disabilities or those who require long-term care. 

With a lower auto-inclusion age of 30, persons with disabilities can receive financial assistance earlier in life. It also helps the scheme stay affordable, as premiums are now paid starting from age 30 (instead of age 40, in the case of ElderShield).

More importantly, CareShield Life is automatically extended to all eligible Singaporeans, regardless of pre-existing medical conditions and disability.

Pay premiums until age 67 for higher monthly payouts

CareShield Life offers monthly payouts that increase as you continue paying premiums, so the further you go without making a claim, the higher payout you can eventually receive (should you need it).

It works like this. When you are auto-enrolled at 30 years old, you will start paying premiums for CareShield Life, until you hit age 67. If, during this period, you decide to make a claim for long-term care, you won’t have to make any more premium payments.

For example, if you are enrolled into CareShield Life in 2020 and make the claim at age 30, you’ll receive S$600 per month for as long as you remain severely disabled. You also stop paying premiums.

If you do not make any claims and continue to pay premiums, this payout increases each year, reaching S$1,200 per month if you make a claim at age 67. If you make your claim at any age between 30 and 67, your monthly payout will be correspondingly adjusted. 

At present, premiums and payouts for CareShield Life are pegged to grow by around 2% per annum for the next 5 years, with adjustments to be made as the need arises. 

Auto-enrolment for those born in 1980 onwards

All Singaporeans born in 1980 to 1990 were automatically enrolled on 1 October 2021, or upon turning 30.

For those born in 1990 or after, you will be automatically enrolled when you turn 30. 

For those born in 1979 or earlier, CareShield Life is optional. However, if by end 2021, you are not suffering from severe disability, you may apply to switch over from ElderShield to CareShield Life. There is no age limit for this conversion.

And for those born between 1970 and 1979, who are on ElderShield 400 and not severely disabled, you will also be automatically enrolled. However, you may opt out of CareShield Life (thereby remaining on ElderShield) before end-2023 should you so wish. 

What if I want a higher disability income?

Given the high cost of living in Singapore, you may be wondering if a payout of S$600 to S$1,200 would be sufficient. This is a fair assessment, and those who desire higher disability income can have a few options. 

One is to get a disability income plan from a private insurer. Such plans pay out a portion of your income, typically up to 75%, should you become severely disabled and unable to work. You may also be entitled to other benefits, depending on the insurer you choose. 

On a related note, insurance plans with Total and Permanent Disability benefits will pay the sum assured of the policy, which can also be used to make up for loss of income. 

Alternatively, purchase a CareShield Life rider plan from a private insurer, which will increase your monthly payouts received during disability. These supplement plans can be partially funded using your Medisave, up to S$600 each year.

At present, there are three insurers offering CareShield Life supplement plans. For the full details of each plan, be sure to consult the respective insurer.

Best CareShield Life supplements plans: Great Eastern Life vs Singlife vs NTUC Income

* Sample premium for a 30-year-old male

MediSave Care: Cash booster for long-term care

CareShield Life is a big step in the right direction, and will no doubt help many disabled families cope with necessary medical costs. But what if you need just that tiny little bit more cash to make ends meet?

From 1 October onwards, Singaporeans and Permanent Residents with long-term care can help fund their budget using their MediSave savings.

Under the new MediSave Care scheme, Singaporeans with severe disability may withdraw up to $200 per month from their MediSave accounts as a cash supplement. 

However, there must be a minimum balance of $5,000 in MediSave so as to ensure premiums for MediShield Life, hospitalisations and other crucial medical costs remain covered. 

Individuals who do not have enough MediSave savings may tap on their spouse’s MediSave account for the cash supplement. 

Refer to the table below to see how much MediSave Care cash you may withdraw.

Other good-to-knows about CareShield Life and MediSave Care: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is CareShield Life?

Replacing the ElderShield Scheme, CareShield Life provides greater financial support to help alleviate long-term or disability care costs for Singaporeans with payouts that range from $600 to $1,200 each month. 

Who is covered by CareShield Life?

CareShield Life covers Singaporeans and Permanent Residents for life in the event of severe disability (unable to perform 3 or more Activities of Daily Living). If you are between the age of 30 to 40 years old in 2020, you are automatically enrolled in this national insurance scheme and will start monthly premium payments effective from 1 October 2020.

Can I opt-out of CareShield Life?

Yes, if you are born after 1980 and wish to remain covered by ElderShield, you’re free to opt-out of CareShield Life as long as you do it by 31 December 2023. Those born in 1979 or earlier are not auto-joined to CareShield Life and have the option to opt-in if they choose to be covered. 

What is MediSave Care?

MediSave Care provides financial aid to Singaporeans afflicted with severe disability (unable to perform 3 or more Activities of Daily Living) by supplementing cash support of up to $200 per month from their MediSave accounts. To qualify for this scheme, you need to be 30 years old and above with sufficient funds in you or your spouse’s MediSave account. 

Who is covered by MediSave Care?

In the event of severe disability, MediSave Care provides financial support for an extended duration in the form of cash withdrawals for Singaporeans aged 30 years old and above. Those eligible will receive a monthly withdrawal quantum of up to $200 a month.

Can I withdraw funds under MediSave Care?

As long as you meet the eligibility criteria, you’re able to withdraw funds from your MediSave Care account. This would require submitting an application to the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC). AIC is a Ministry of Health-accredited severe disability assessor.

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