Insurers Aviva and Prudential are expected to be the first to tell policyholders that their premiums for Integrated Shield plans (IPs) are going up.

The rises are tipped to be announced next month after the 12-month moratorium, imposed when MediShield Life was introduced on Nov 1, is lifted.

The Straits Times understands that the average premium increases will be between 9 per cent and 15 per cent and likely to impact IP plans covering private hospitals.

This is because the number and dollar amount of claims made at private hospitals have shot up, compared with those at public hospitals.

Six insurers offer IPs here, with AXA the last to get on the bandwagon in May. The others are AIA, Aviva, Great Eastern, Prudential and NTUC Income.

It is only a matter of time before the other IP providers announce their premium hikes.

NTUC Income has said it plans to increase the premiums of some plans next year. Sources said the firm’s premium increase may not be confined to the highest class IPs as its claims experience appeared to be broad-based.

As AXA is the latest kid on the block, observers say that it is unlikely that the French insurer will raise premiums until its first year as an IP provider is up, at the very least.

AXA declined to comment.

The potential timing of Aviva and Prudential’s IP renewal letters announcing the premium increase indicates that the affected customers would be those whose renewals are up in December.

There is typically a 30-day notice period before plan changes are made for existing policyholders so those whose IP policies are renewed in November get to enjoy another 12 months with their premium rates maintained.

According to sources, affected Aviva and Prudential customers will be those who own IPs covering private hospitals.

Prudential is likely to offer enhanced benefits with the premium hikes.

For those whose plans cover private hospitals, their policy annual limit will be raised to $1.2 million from the current $632,700.

All new Prudential IP customers will be offered a higher benefit of a 365-day post-hospitalisation cover, up from the current 180 days.

AXA is the only insurer to offer the longest post-hospitalisation cover among IP insurers at 365 days as well as the highest policy annual limit at $1 million.

Aviva is likely to remove some benefits for new IP customers on Nov 15, according to sources.

This could include lowering the number of medical conditions in which a five-year moratorium underwriting can be applied.

The moratorium allows certain pre-existing conditions to be covered after an absence of symptoms, treatments or medication for five years from the time the policy is in force.

It has been reported that AIA and GE have been making only marginal profits on IP policies, with Aviva, Prudential and Income racking up losses.

lornatan@sph.com.sg

Get MyPaper for more stories.

An internet marketeer was jailed for six months yesterday for online postings containing incitements to violence.

Between Feb 2 and 5 this year, Chia Choon Kiat, 41, who used the moniker Rambo Power, posted on his Facebook page a link to a Yahoo news article on the death of 14-year-old Benjamin Lim with a comment to “take matters into our own hands”, reveal the identities of the five plainclothes policemen and “handle them ourselves. Kill them”.

On Jan 24 this year, he also put up on his Facebook page titled CigButtWarriors a post containing an incitement to violence by targeting National Environment Agency (NEA) officers and their family members.

Chew had admitted to three of eight charges.

The third charge was for posting a video depicting the ritualistic killing of a pig, and a comment to “Let’s do this to NEA Cigarette Butt Officers”.

The police found out about his postings after they were alerted to an article on the Facebook page of news outlet All Singapore Stuff on Feb 5 on Benjamin’s suicide shortly after being released from police custody for allegedly molesting a girl.

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The New Paper, Shin Min Daily News

The article highlighted a post by a “raging netizen” that had encouraged violence against the police, and called for action to be taken against him.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Sanjiv Vaswani told the court that investigations showed that Chia was behind the post.

Chia had commented: “When people buay lun (Hokkien for cannot tolerate) already… will need to take matters into our own hands. Please reveal the identify of the 5 plainclothes officers and we go handle them ourselves. Kill them.”

Chia later admitted setting up a Facebook page Cigarette Butt Warriors which contained several incendiary posts against NEA enforcement officers. He did this because he had been fined some

10 years ago for throwing a cigarette butt in a drain.

DPP Sanjiv said even before the post connected with Benjamin’s death, Chia had been engaging in an online hate campaign against NEA officers since Dec 13 last year.

DPP Sanjiv, who sought a total sentence of six months’ jail, drew the court’s attention to Chia’s escalating behaviour, which culminated in the posting of the video of the killing of the pig.

He said Chia shut down his Facebook page and Cigarette Butt Warriors page shortly after the All Singapore Stuff posts went viral.

He submitted that Chia did it to avoid detection.

Chia’s lawyer Alfred Dodwell said his client was remorseful and very unlikely to re-offend.

An Institute of Mental Health psychiatrist had stated that Chia did not have mental illness while private psychiatrist Y. C. Lim said he had a condition of “over valued ideas” which could evolve into delusions.

elena@sph.com.sg

Get MyPaper for more stories.

An internet marketeer was jailed for six months yesterday for online postings containing incitements to violence.

Between Feb 2 and 5 this year, Chia Choon Kiat, 41, who used the moniker Rambo Power, posted on his Facebook page a link to a Yahoo news article on the death of 14-year-old Benjamin Lim with a comment to “take matters into our own hands”, reveal the identities of the five plainclothes policemen and “handle them ourselves. Kill them”.

On Jan 24 this year, he also put up on his Facebook page titled CigButtWarriors a post containing an incitement to violence by targeting National Environment Agency (NEA) officers and their family members.

Chew had admitted to three of eight charges.

The third charge was for posting a video depicting the ritualistic killing of a pig, and a comment to “Let’s do this to NEA Cigarette Butt Officers”.

The police found out about his postings after they were alerted to an article on the Facebook page of news outlet All Singapore Stuff on Feb 5 on Benjamin’s suicide shortly after being released from police custody for allegedly molesting a girl.

The article highlighted a post by a “raging netizen” that had encouraged violence against the police, and called for action to be taken against him.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Sanjiv Vaswani told the court that investigations showed that Chia was behind the post.

Chia had commented: “When people buay lun (Hokkien for cannot tolerate) already… will need to take matters into our own hands. Please reveal the identify of the 5 plainclothes officers and we go handle them ourselves. Kill them.”

Chia later admitted setting up a Facebook page Cigarette Butt Warriors which contained several incendiary posts against NEA enforcement officers. He did this because he had been fined some

10 years ago for throwing a cigarette butt in a drain.

DPP Sanjiv said even before the post connected with Benjamin’s death, Chia had been engaging in an online hate campaign against NEA officers since Dec 13 last year.

DPP Sanjiv, who sought a total sentence of six months’ jail, drew the court’s attention to Chia’s escalating behaviour, which culminated in the posting of the video of the killing of the pig.

He said Chia shut down his Facebook page and Cigarette Butt Warriors page shortly after the All Singapore Stuff posts went viral.

He submitted that Chia did it to avoid detection.

Chia’s lawyer Alfred Dodwell said his client was remorseful and very unlikely to re-offend.

An Institute of Mental Health psychiatrist had stated that Chia did not have mental illness while private psychiatrist Y. C. Lim said he had a condition of “over valued ideas” which could evolve into delusions.

elena@sph.com.sg

Get MyPaper for more stories.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong left Singapore yesterday for a two-day visit to Bangkok, Thailand, to pay his respects to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Grand Palace.

The monarch, who reigned for 70 years, died on Thursday last week at the age of 88.

His death triggered an outpouring of grief in the kingdom of 68 million people.

The government has declared a one-year mourning period and asked the public to refrain from entertainment for 30 days.

332244

Photo Gallery

Thais in Singapore and Thailand mourn passing of King Bhumibol

Source:

Reuters

AFP

The Straits Times

The New Paper

• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–

During his visit, PM Lee will also meet Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha to express his condolences.

He will be accompanied by Mrs Lee and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the Prime Minister’s Office in a statement yesterday.

In a letter to Prime Minister Prayut last week, PM Lee said Singapore would remember the role King Bhumibol played in fostering the enduring friendship between both countries.

“Throughout his long and benevolent reign, His Majesty King Bhumibol had profound compassion for his people, and ceaselessly dedicated himself to improving their well-being,” he added.

yuensin@sph.com.sg

A rapidly ageing Singapore will need 30,000 more healthcare workers in five years, to add to the current 70,000 in the sector.

An entire range of workers, from doctors who specialise in geriatric medicine to highly trained nurses capable of helming nurse-led clinics, will be required to staff upcoming facilities.

These include six new polyclinics, 2,100 more public hospital beds, 9,100 extra beds in community hospitals and nursing homes and 7,600 more places in day, home and palliative care to cater to the 610,000 seniors in 2020, up from 460,000 last year.

This means “ample good jobs for Singaporeans”, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said yesterday, as he laid out the Government’s plans to attract and groom the numbers needed – stressing the importance of having a local core.

He also explained the need to shift the focus of care to polyclinics, nursing homes and other health facilities in the community to reduce the burden on hospitals and let seniors get care in familiar neighbourhoods and at home.

Speaking at the National Seminar on Productivity in Healthcare at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Mr Gan said Singapore will need to make “deep and fundamental changes” to the way care is delivered to maintain the high standards that have people here living longer, including “aggressively” promoting preventive health.

In a tight labour market, Singapore will also need to improve productivity by using “technology as multipliers”.

For instance, 35 nursing homes now use pre-packed medicine and another 10 automatically record patients’ vital signs – freeing up nurses to focus on patient care.

But thousands of locals are still needed, which is why Singaporeans – across all ages and experience levels – are being invited to join the sector.

Said Mr Gan: “Whether young or old, fresh school leavers, mid-career Singaporeans, non-practising healthcare professionals, we will help you with training and development to take on meaningful and fulfilling careers in this sector.”

Schemes includes a slew of scholarships and training programmes to equip people from outside the health industry with the skills needed.

One scheme has seen seven people in senior management, six of whom had been retrenched, retrained to work as managers and operations directors of community hospitals, nursing homes and daycare centres.

Besides expanding recruitment, workers will also be upgraded through skills training so they do more at each level.

To ensure retention, there will also be a focus on career development and improving the work environment.

salma@sph.com.sg

Get MyPaper for more stories.

Compared with the same period a year ago, there were fewer drink-driving accidents, casualties and arrests in the first half of this year, which the Traffic Police (TP) have credited to tough enforcement and heightened awareness.

According to TP statistics, there were 70 drink-driving accidents from January to June this year, down from 81 year on year.

Fatalities in such cases fell from eight to three, although injuries rose from 102 to 109.

Overall, the number of people arrested for drink driving has also been on the slide.

This fell from 3,019 in 2013 to 2,303 last year and from 1,267 in the first half of last year to 1,042 for the same period a year later.

Traffic Police head of operations Ho Yenn Dar said: “There has been a continued decrease in the numbers due to the Traffic Police’s three-pronged approach towards drink driving – education, engagement and enforcement. People are more responsible now.”

He added that more people are engaging valet services or taking taxis rather than driving after drinks.

Audrey Wee, director of iDrive Valet Services, said it has seen a 30 per cent increase in customers since around a year ago, with a growing proportion aged between 18 and 24. She attributed the rise to an increasing number of roadblocks.

Ms Wee added: “Yesterday (morning), during (an) islandwide operation, there was a surge in calls.”

Superintendent Ho said the authorities carry out regular enforcement operations. For larger exercises, a mobile breath evidential analyser test centre is on site, reducing the time needed to get accurate results for suspected drink drivers.

In the wee hours yesterday, the Traffic Police conducted an islandwide enforcement operation.

A total of 77 drivers were stopped and tested at road blocks in areas including one in Clemenceau Avenue, as observed by The Straits Times from 1am to 3am.

Among them, 15 men and three women aged between 22 and 58 were arrested for drink driving. The highest breath evidential analyser test result was 63 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – almost double the prescribed legal limit of 35 microgrammes.

Drivers who do not pass an initial test have to blow into a handheld breath analyser.

If they fail again, they are taken to the mobile test centre for a more accurate reading.

First-time offenders may be fined between $1,000 and $5,000 and their licences may be disqualified for up to 48 months.

Repeat offenders could get a fine of up to $30,000, three years’ jail and a maximum of six strokes of the cane.

byseow@sph.com.sg

Get MyPaper for more stories.

SINGAPORE – A wall segment from a Housing Board block in MacPherson fell 11 storeys with a loud crash in the early hours of Wednesday.

The incident occurred at about 6am at Block 51, Circuit Road, Shin Min Daily News reported yesterday.

No one was hurt by the slab, which the newspaper understands measured roughly 4m long and 2m wide.

When Shin Min visited the site, the fallen segment had been cleared away.

Resident Lin Yafu, a 78-year-old hawker, told Shin Min that it had been raining, with strong winds, when he heard a loud crash.

He said: “I looked out of the window and saw a huge hole in the wall of the roof opposite.

“A piece of the facade had fallen onto the middle of the road.”

An HDB spokesman said the Marine Parade Town Council was notified of the matter on Wednesday.

The spokesman added that the piece of the facade that had fallen was a “Calcium Silicate Cladding Board” and was “non-structural”.

The town council will begin the repair works and, along with the HDB, investigate nearby blocks that are similarly designed.

The Building & Construction Authority has dispatched engineers to the scene for investigation.

Residents with any queries are advised to call the town council directly.

MacPherson SMC MP Tin Pei Ling told Shin Min it was fortunate that nobody was hurt.

She added that the structural integrity of the HDB block was not compromised.

It is understood that the area undergoes repair and redecoration works every seven years.

The fallen facade had been put up about 20 years ago, during a lift renewal exercise.

Ms Tin said: “I hope the authorities consider revamping these few blocks in the near future.”

myp@sph.com.sg

Get MyPaper for more stories.