ElderShield is an insurance scheme which helps to cover the cost of long-term care. On 1 October 2020, it was replaced by CareShield Life.
DISCLAIMER: This guide is for informational purposes only. It should not be taken as financial advice. If you are in need of such advice, please approach a trusted financial advisor as they will be able to give recommendations which consider your personal needs and situation.
According to Ministry of Health (MOH), intermediate and long term care (ILTC) services are typically required for persons who need further care after being discharged from an acute hospital as well as community-dwelling seniors who may be frail and need someone to watch over them or to help them with their daily needs. An example of long-term care is caregiving services which involve a care aide or trained nurse attending to a patient and assisting them with their daily activities.
This depends on when you and/or your loved one joined the scheme.
If you and/or your loved one joined ElderShield before 30 September 2007:
You and/or your loved one are covered under ElderShield 300. Under this scheme, you and/or your loved one will be entitled to $300/month for up to 60 months (5 years) in the event of severe disability.
If you and/or your loved one joined ElderShield from 30 September 2007 onwards:
You and/or your loved one will be covered under ElderShield 400. Under this scheme, you and/or your loved one will be entitled to $400/month for up to 72 months (6 years) in the event of severe disability.
For both ElderShield 300 and 400, the payouts do not increase as you continue to pay your premiums
To be eligible for payouts, applicants must meet the following criteria:
They have ElderShield payouts?
From 2002 to 2019, Singapore citizens and permanent residents with MediSave accounts were automatically enrolled under the scheme once they turned 40 years old. However, they could choose to opt out.
Coverage is administered by 3 government-appointed insurers:
Besides basic coverage, these insurers also offered supplements which provided extra benefits in exchange for higher premiums.
You can head to the CPF website to check your coverage.
They are deemed severely disabled.
The severity of disability is determined by the patient’s ability to do the 6 activities of daily living (ADLs):
If the patient is unable to do 3 out of 6 ADLs, they are deemed severely disabled and are then eligible to make a CareShield Life claim.
However, only MOH-accredited disability assessors can verify and certify the severity of someone’s disability. This is called a severe disability assessment.
This assessment can be conducted in either an assessor’s clinic or in the applicant’s home. As both have their own advantages and disadvantages, be sure to select the location which is more convenient based on your own circumstances.
Jaga-Me is an MOH-accredited disability assessor which conducts home-based disability assessments. This makes it easier for applicants who have difficulty moving or have tight schedules as they do not need to spend time and effort on travelling and waiting in line.
Once again, this depends on when you and/or your loved one joined the scheme.
If you and/or your loved one joined ElderShield before 30 September 2007:
You and/or your loved one will be covered under ElderShield 300. Under this scheme, you and/or your loved one will be entitled to $300/month for up to 60 months (5 years).
If you and/or your loved one joined ElderShield from 30 September 2007 onwards:
You and/or your loved one will be covered under ElderShield 400. Under this scheme, you and/or your loved one will be entitled to $400/month for up to 72 months (6 years).
For both ElderShield 300 and 400, the premium amount does not increase annually