Forum: Using household income for subsidies disadvantages multi-generation families

I commend the Government’s efforts to expand healthcare subsidies to benefit more people (

Up to 1.1m Singapore residents will receive higher healthcare subsidies from Oct 1: Ong Ye Kung,

Sept 30).

However, as someone living in a three-generation household, I have experienced first-hand the impact of the per capita household income (PCHI) model on families like mine. 

The Asian family model is a multi-generation family living together and filial piety is ingrained in us. It emphasises the importance of respecting and caring for our elders. The current subsidy framework seems to disadvantage multi-generational families.

In households where working adults support retired seniors, calculating subsidies based on household income unfairly reduces the support available to these seniors compared with seniors living alone.

I urge the Government to reconsider basing healthcare subsidies on individual income rather than household income, so that multi-generational families are not disadvantaged. This would align healthcare policies with the values of filial piety that are central to our society.

Emily Yap Yong An