There are now low-cost medical insurance available to the following two categories of workers :-
a) Foreign workers on Work Permit or S Pass and foreign domestic workers;
b) Local and foreign contract and casual workers.
The Ministry of Manpower has announced that it will withdraw the medical subsidies for foreigners with effect from 1 Jan 2008. Hence, employers are required to purchase medical insurance for their foreign workers on Work Permit or S Pass and all new foreign domestic workers, and existing foreign domestic workers when employers renew their Work Permits, from 1 January 2008.
The coverage per annum must be at least $5,000 without any surgical table sub-limit in Government/Restructured Hospital. Employers now can purchase from three insurers, NTUC Income Insurance Co-Operative Ltd, Great Eastern Life Assurance Co Ltd (GE), or Overseas Assurance Corporation Ltd (OAC). However, NTUC Income is the only insurer that offers insurance for both foreign workers and foreign domestic workers. GE offers insurance for foreign workers whereas OAC offers insurance for foreign domestic workers.
For the local or foreign contract/casual workers, NTUC Income provides hospitalization and surgical coverage of up to $5,000 for a 12-month period with annual premium of $40 to $60 per worker, depending on the age of workers. So employer, get your workers insured so that you will be able to take care of their healthcare needs as your basic obligation.
