People aged 40 and above can now redeem discounts of up to $580 to offset MediShield Life premiums
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Participating in moderate to vigorous physical activity can earn Healthpoints that can be used to offset MediShield Life premiums.
PHOTO: ST FILE
SINGAPORE – A healthy lifestyle is paying off in more ways than one.
From Sept 18, those aged 40 and above can use their Healthpoints to redeem discounts of up to $580 to offset their MediShield Life health insurance premiums. This includes up to $110 from meeting exercise goals and completing their first health plan.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Sept 18 that MediShield Life policyholders can use 75 Healthpoints in the Healthy 365 app to redeem a discount of $1.
To earn Healthpoints, people can participate in healthy lifestyle programmes and challenges on the app, which was developed by the Health Promotion Board.
Challenges include purchasing food and drinks with the Healthier Choice symbol, and meeting exercise and sleep goals.
For instance, an individual who, on average, does 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week consistently over a year could earn enough Healthpoints to redeem about $70 worth of discounts for his MediShield Life premiums.
Enrolling with a Healthier SG clinic and completing the first health plan consultation can earn a further $40 worth of MediShield Life premium discounts.
This means that somebody who just joined Healthier SG, and consistently maintains an active lifestyle, can redeem a discount of up to $110.
Once the discount has been redeemed, it will automatically apply to the individual’s MediShield Life premiums at the next annual policy renewal.
For people aged between 41 and 50, the MediShield Life annual premium is currently $637, before government subsidies. The premium for those aged between 51 and 60 is $903, and premiums are higher for older cohorts.
This premium discount initiative will run as a pilot for three years, followed by a review before MOH decides whether to make it a permanent feature of MediShield Life, the ministry said in a statement.
MOH is running this pilot as part of Healthier SG efforts, with an objective of enhancing rewards for staying healthy.
“Taking steps to adopt a healthier lifestyle is something that all of us can choose to do,” Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung said in a Facebook post. “And when we look after our health, we are less likely to need expensive medical treatment later.”
Correction note: An earlier version of the story said that those aged 40 and above can use Healthpoints to redeem discounts of up to $110, to offset their MediShield Life health insurance premiums. MOH has clarified that this applies only to achieving the weekly Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity goals in addition to completing the first Healthier SG Health Plan consultation. Taking into account other ways of earning points, the maximum discount can reach $580.
