Background

The Government introduced tax incentives in 2004 to encourage employers to implement portable medical benefits for their employees. The tripartite partners share the view that portable medical benefits are beneficial to workers as they ensure workers do not lose the inpatient and hospitalisation benefits they have accrued when they join a new company or when they retire.

Today, employers can receive a higher tax deduction for medical expenses of up to 2% of total employees’ remuneration, if they implement any one of the three portable medical benefits options here. Employers can also receive tax deductions for ad-hoc Medisave contributions to their employees’ accounts.

For more information: http://www.mom.gov.sg/employment-practices/schemes-for-employers-and-employees/portable-medical-benefits.

Encouraging shift to Portable Medical Benefits built on MediShield Life

With the introduction of MediShield Life in end 2015, all employees who are Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents will be protected by a portable layer of basic healthcare insurance for life, regardless of their age or health condition. MediShield Life premiums are fully payable by Medisave and the Government will provide significant subsidies to keep premiums affordable.

The tripartite partners will continue to encourage and support more companies which currently already provide medical benefits to shift to portable medical benefits built on MediShield Life. Making the shift to portable medical benefits removes duplication of coverage between MediShield Life and current employer medical benefits, and workers do not lose the portable medical benefits already accrued even if they change employer or leave the workforce.