SINGAPORE – Pioneer Singaporeans, or those aged 67 and above, will receive letters about their 2016 Pioneer Generation Medisave top-ups from Monday (June 13).
In a statement on Sunday (June 12), the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said that this year’s top-up amounts to about $190 million, and will be disbursed in July.
Each pioneer stands to receive between $200 and $800, depending on the year that they were born:
These are in addition to the Medisave top-ups under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Voucher Scheme for Singaporeans aged 65 and above.
However, the amount that a pioneer receives from the GST Voucher – Medisave Scheme depends on his or her age, the annual value of their place of residence, and the number of properties they own.
By contrast, the Pioneer Generation Medisave scheme top-up amount only depends on a person’s birth year.
So for example, someone who is 85 this year, lives in a public flat and does not own a second property will receive a total of $1,250 in top-ups ($800 in Pioneer Generation Medisave top-up and $450 GST Voucher – Medisave).
MOF said that pioneers may use these Medisave top-ups to pay for their Medishield Life premiums and other Medisave-approved insurance plans, hospitalisation, day surgery and other approved outpatient treatments such as renal dialysis, chemotherapy, scans and vaccinations.
The Pioneer Generation Medisave top-ups are part of the Pioneer Generation Package, which was introduced by the Government in 2014 to recognise the contributions of first-generation Singaporeans.
Singaporeans who are 67 and above this year, and who obtained their citizenship before 1987, are eligible for the package, which also encompass Medishield Life subsidies and special subsidies for outpatient care.
seanyap@sph.com.sg
