Source : The Straits Times, Forum, Sep 8, 2007
FIRST of all, I would like to thank the Government for doing all it can to help senior citizens and retirees to cope with the rising cost of everyday living.
Our Prime Minister has introduced Workfare and the goods and services tax rebate which benefit most senior citizens and retirees.
Recently, he announced the HDB lease buyback scheme which is very practical for asset-rich but cash-poor elderly Singaporeans as most of them live in two- and three-room flats on their own as they do not want to inconvenience their children who have their own families.
May I suggest that the Government look into the mode of payment of the Dependants' Protection Scheme (DPS) which requires senior citizens and retirees to pay the annual premium in cash and not from their Medisave Account.
Most senior citizens and retirees have 'ample' savings in their Medisave Account, yet they are not allowed to use these savings to pay the DPS annual premium though they can do so for MediShield and ElderShield.
After all, the DPS is another protection scheme implemented by the Government.
Every year, this group of people aged 55 and over has to pay more than $200 in cash towards the annual premium.
This is a big burden. The money could be used to pay for other daily necessities such as utilities, buying groceries and polyclinic visits.
David Soh Jin Hoe
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