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Hi, this few days having back pain directly behind the inverted V or my rib cage, would like to ask if I go for a CT scan, or what ever scan, can I claim from medishield or medisave?

Anyone knows what are the difference of a private medical insurance (paid with cash) vs a medishield private integrated plan which allows you to pay via medisave. I understand that you can add a rider(pay cash) to the medishield one to take care of the deductible and co-insurance. so in that case then there is no difference to the pure private vs the medishield private plans? or is there a catch somewhere? because it seems that the medishield private plans offer a better deal for the same type of benefits.

SINGAPORE: From January next year, the Medisave Required Amount (MRA) in the Central Provident Fund (CPF) will be raised to S$38,500 from the current S$32,000. The MRA refers to the amount that must be set aside in the Medisave Account, after the CPF Minimum Sum requirement has been met. The CPF Board said those who have met the CPF Minimum Sum and have an MRA shortfall at the point of withdrawal have to make a top-up to the Medisave Account. This can be done with part of the balances from the Ordinary Account and/or Special Account to meet the prevailing MRA. CPF said the requirement for members to set aside the MRA in their Medisave Account is to enable them to have enough savings to meet their healthcare needs during old age. Central Provident Fund members will also continue to enjoy a risk free interest rate of four percent on their Special and Medisave Accounts (SMA) for the next three months, from 1 January to 31 March 2013. The interest rate on their Retirement Accounts (RA) for the whole of next year will also remain at four percent. The CPF Board said this was in line with the government's announcement in September that it would maintain the four percent per annum floor rate for interest earned on all monies in the Special and Medisave Accounts as well as savings in the Retirement Account until the end of next year. Savings in the SMA currently earn either 4 percent or the 12-month average yield of 10-year Singapore Government Securities (10YSGS) plus 1 percent, whichever is the higher. The interest rate on SMA savings is adjusted quarterly, based on interest rates on 10YSGS over a preceding 12-month period. Since the average yield of the 10YSGS plus 1 percent, from 1 December 2011 to 30 November 2012, works out to be 2.49 percent, the SMA interest rate payable to CPF members from 1 January 2013 to 31 March 2013 will be maintained at the current floor of 4 percent, CPF said. New RA savings are invested in SSGS which earn a fixed coupon equal to either the 12-month average yield of the 10YSGS plus 1 percent at the point of issuance, or 4 percent, whichever is the higher, adjusted yearly. CPF said given the lower 10YSGS yield, new RA savings will earn a fixed coupon of 4 percent. - CNA/al http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin...1243869/1/.html

, since we always use up OA, most people will probably have more in their MA

SINGAPORE: From January next year, the Medisave Required Amount (MRA) will be raised to S$32,000, higher than the current S$27,500. The MRA refers to the amount that must be set aside in the Medisave Account, after the CPF Minimum Sum requirement has been met. Those who have met the CPF Minimum Sum and have a MRA shortfall at the point of withdrawal have to make a top-up to the Medisave Account with part of the balances from the Ordinary Account and/or Special Account to meet the prevailing MRA. The Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board, which announced the change on Monday, also said members will continue to enjoy a risk-free interest rate of 4 per cent on their Special and Medisave Accounts (SMA) between January 1 and March 31, 2012. The interest rate is also set at 4 per cent for the Retirement Account (RA) - from January 1 to December 31, 2012. This is in line with the government's announcement made in September 2011 to maintain the 4 per cent per annum floor rate for interest earned on all SMA monies and RA monies until December 31, 2012. The CPF Board said savings in the SMA currently earn either 4 per cent or the 12-month average yield of 10-year Singapore Government Securities (10YSGS) plus 1 per cent, whichever is the higher. The interest rate on SMA savings is adjusted quarterly, based on interest rates on 10YSGS over a preceding 12-month period. The average yield of the 10YSGS plus 1 per cent from December 1, 2010 to November 30, 2011, works out to be 3.19 per cent. The SMA interest rate payable to CPF members from January 1 to March 31, 2012 will be maintained at the current floor of 4 per cent. source:http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1172162/1/.html. 5k less to take out from CPF when u retire

Goodies are coming fast and furious. There can only be one reason............HUAT AH! Older Singaporeans to receive medisave top-up Wed, Sep 15, 2010 AsiaOne About 1.1 million Singaporeans aged 50 and above will receive a one-off top-up to their Medisave Accounts ranging from $200 to $500. The higher amounts will go to those who are older and less well-off. This measure was announced earlier this year during Budget 2010, and is aimed at helping older Singaporeans with their healthcare expenses. The CPF Board will be sending letters to eligible Singaporeans from today to inform them of the amounts they will receive. Singaporeans who are CPF members and have earlier signed up for the GST Credits, will receive the top-up automatically and there is no need to sign up again for the Medisave Top-Up. They can expect the top-ups on September 30. Eligible Singaporeans who do not have CPF Accounts and have not signed up for their GST Credits are reminded to do so by December 31 to receive the Medisave Top-Up. They can check their eligibility and sign up via the GST website: www.gstoffset.gov.sg. Alternatively, they can also sign up by completing the GST sign-up form available at all Community Centres, Community Development Council offices or CPF Service Centres For further information, please visit www.cpf.gov.sg or call 1800-2222-888.

FURTHER MEDISAVE LIBERALISATION MOH will launch two new initiatives this year, to allow Singaporeans to make greater use of their Medisave accounts: (a)to cover elective (i.e. non-urgent) hospitalisation in approved hospitals overseas; (b)to cover home palliative care. (a) Elective Hospitalisation for Treatment Overseas 2.Medisave is meant to cover treatment in Singapore; but we have allowed the use of Medisave overseas under strict conditions such as emergency treatment (e.g. a heart attack while overseas). 3.Over the years, we have received requests from many Singaporeans about allowing the use of their Medisave for elective hospitalisation overseas. The unionists have asked for this at a public dialogue with the Minister for Health. More recently, the issue was raised in Parliament by several MPs. 4.MOH has decided to allow this. This will give Singaporeans a wider choice of hospitals when considering elective treatment, so as to help them stretch their Medisave dollars and save money. There are however, concerns over ensuring safety and adequate standards, while guarding against fraudulent claims. 5.We will hence allow this use cautiously, with suitable safeguards. Overseas Medisave use will only be limited to hospitalisations and day surgeries. The overseas hospital should have an approved working arrangement with a Medisave-accredited hospital in Singapore. Medisave claims can only be made through the Singapore hospitals, and subject to the following conditions: (i)Overseas use of Medisave should be limited to patients normally resident in Singapore; (ii)The local attending doctor should certify the patient