Careshield Life: Key Considerations when Choosing a Supplement Plan

Mild disability refers to the inability to perform one ADL, moderate disability means the inability to perform two ADLs, and severe disability refers to the inability to perform at least three ADLs.

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CareShield Life is a long-term care insurance scheme that provides financial support and monthly payouts for Singaporeans who are severely disabled.

But more often than not, the financial support from CareShield Life is usually insufficient because of the high expenses you'll incur from long-term disabilities.

As such, getting a CareShield Life supplement plan can help boost your payouts and lessen the financial burden on you and your loved ones. On top of that, with a CareShield Life supplement plan, you’ll be able to receive the monthly benefit when you are unable to do 2 ADLs, instead of 3 ADLs under CareShield Life.

CareShield Life covers only Singaporeans and Permanent Residents for life in the event of severe disability (unable to perform 3 or more Activities of Daily Living). From 2020 onwards, all Singaporeans who turn 30 will be automatically enrolled.

You’ll continue to pay your CareShield Life premiums until aged 67 or 10 years after joining, whichever is later, as the scheme aims to provide you with protection and a peace of mind for life, should you become severely disabled.

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.

If you were born in 1979 or earlier and have applied to join CareShield Life, you will have a 60-days free-look period. If you withdraw during this period, you will receive a full premium refund. If you were on ElderShield 300 or 400, your original ElderShield scheme will be reinstated.

However, if you do not withdraw within this free-look period, you will be covered under CareShield Life for life and have no option to opt out.

Premiums can be fully paid with your MediSave funds or with your family members’ MediSave funds.

You have to first be assessed by a severe disability assessor to determine if you are considered severely disabled. To be eligible, you will have to be unable to perform at least three out of six activities of daily living (ADL), and this includes feeding, washing, toileting, moving or walking around, dressing, and transferring from a bed to a chair.

ElderShield is a severe disability insurance scheme that provides a basic cash payout to Singaporeans who require long-term care. You’ll be enrolled in one of the two plans — ElderShield 300 and ElderShield 400.

CareShield Life, which replaces ElderShield 300, is a long-term care insurance scheme that can alleviate the costs of personal and medical care if you become severely disabled.

Unlike ElderShield, which was optional, CareShield Life is compulsory. Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents who are 30 years and above, or those born in 1980 or after, are automatically enrolled. It’s optional for those born in 1979 and before.

	CareShield Life	ElderShield
Coverage	Optional for those born before or on 1979 Compulsory for those born on or after 1980	Optional
Pre-existing severe disabilities	Future cohorts will be covered as long as the first premium is paid	Not allowed to join
Payout	S$637/month in 2023 and increases 2% p.a. for those born in 1956 and later (only till age 67)	Fixed at S$300/month for ElderShield 300 Fixed at S$400/month for ElderShield 400
Duration of payout	Lifelong	Up to 5 years for ElderShield 300 or up to 6 years for ElderShield 400
Premium duration	Payable till 67 or 10 years for those who join CareShield Life or older	Payable till age 65

Yes, you can always upgrade your ElderShield to CareShield Life as long as you do not have any severe disabilities. CareShield Life does not cover those with severe disabilities.

Once you join CareShield, your ElderShield will be terminated, and the premiums you have paid for ElderShield will be accounted for in your CareShield Life premiums.

To apply, head over to CareShield Life’s website.

CareShield Life supplements provide more coverage for both moderate and severe disability, coupled with higher long-term care payouts to minimise any out-of-pocket expenses.

Better yet, CareShield Life supplements’ premiums are eligible for a MediSave deduction, capped at S$600 a year. In fact, you can even increase your monthly CareShield Life supplement payouts to up to S$5,000 a year, depending on the plan and premium.

You can enjoy higher payouts of up to S$5,000 depending on the plan you choose and the premiums you pay. Certain CareShield Life supplements also have lower criteria for receiving payout, like being unable to perform at least one out of the six ADLs.

Other additional benefits that some supplements offer include Dependent Benefits and Caregiver Relief Benefits. There is also a premium waiver when you are unable to perform at least one or two out of the six ADLs.

Do note that you need to be an existing policyholder under ElderShield or CareShield Life to purchase Supplement plans.
If you require more assistance, click on our chat/call function to get linked up with an license agent to help you choose a plan catered to your needs.

Supplements go by a level or escalating premium structure, and premiums differ depending on the payout you want and your age.

Refer to each supplement plan’s pricing structure to see how much your premiums will be.

Premiums can be paid by cash or by your own or your family member’s (e.g. spouse, parents or children, sibling or grandchild) MediSave, up to a limit of S$600 per calendar year per person insured.

Yes, you can. There is no limit on the number of CareShield Life supplements you can purchase to enhance your coverage.

Birth Year	Monthly payout for the duration of severe disability if a succesful claim is made in Year X
	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
1954 and earlier	NA¹	$612
1955		$612	$624
1956			$624	$637
1957				$637	$649
1958					$649	$662
1959 to 1979
1980 and later	$600

CareShield Life Supplements

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Fequently Asked Questions

How do you define disability?

What is CareShield Life?

Who is eligible for CareShield Life?

How long do I need to pay CareShield Life Premium?

Can I opt out of CareShield Life?

How do I pay for CareShield Life premiums?

How do I claim payouts under CareShield Life?

What is the difference between ElderShield and CareShield?

I am on ElderShield currently. Can I be on CareShield?

What are CareShield Life supplement plans?

What additional coverage can I get with CareShield Life supplements?

How much are CareShield Life supplement premiums?

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