Primary Care Partnership Scheme

The Primary Care Partnership Scheme was implemented by the Ministry of Health on 1 March 2002 at the national level to provide primary healthcare for elderly residents who do not stay within close proximity of polyclinics. Under this scheme, private general practitioners (GPs) will be contracted to provide outpatient medical services for medical conditions such as cough and cold.

Similar to the services at the polyclinic, residents under the scheme have to pay S$4 per attendance and an additional S$0.70 per drug item per week. Elderly residents who meet the eligibility criteria can apply for a “Community Medical Benefits Card” at the CDC.

Eligibility Criteria
i. Singapore Citizen aged 65-years-old or above
ii. Per capita household income of S$700 and below

Subsidies for the Elderly - Step-down Care Services

Means Testing

What are Step-down Care Services?

Many patients who are well enough to be discharged from hospitals would usually like to return to the comfort of their own homes. However, because of their medical conditions, some may be unable to do so. Hence, they may require further care and treatment at centres that provide step-down care.

Step-down care refer to selected services such as:

• Community Hospitals
• Nursing Homes
• Hospices
• Day Rehabilitation Centres
• Home care services such as home nursing and home medical

Government Subsidy

The Singapore Government recognizes that these step-down care services can be expensive because patients are admitted for long periods of time. As such, the government provides financial assistance in the form of subsidies to the elderly. To ensure that the subsidy goes to those who need it, an income assessment framework, called the "Means Test" was introduced in year 2000.

Subsidies are available only to elderly who:

• Are Singapore citizens or permanent residents
• Meet the admission criteria of the step-down care services required.
• Are admitted to Government funded institutions and services.

The subsidy will go directly to the service providers who will use it to offset the bill for the step-down care fees and charges.

What is "Means Test"?

"Means Test" is a method to calculate the subsidies that an elderly will get if he/she needs step-down care services. It takes into consideration:

• gross income of the patient, his/her spouse and the immediate family members
• number of family members and
• ownership of major assets such as private property.

How much is the Subsidy?

There are currently three levels of subsidy - 75%, 50% or 25%. For example, if the total income is $800 per month and there are 4 family members, then the per capita income works out to $200. The elderly will qualify for 75% subsidy. This means that the Government will pay 75% of the fees and charges incurred for step-down care while the elderly and his/her family will pay the remaining 25%.

Levels of Subsidy
Per Capita Income Rate of Subsidy
$0 to $300 75%
$301 to $700 50%
$701 to $1000 25%
More than $1000 0%

Steps to Applying for Subsidy

Before you take a "means test", it is important that you discuss with you doctor or the health care facility whether you need step-down care. If you do require step-down care and financial assistance, ask to see a Medical Social Worker (MSW) to assess your eligibility.

Step 1 - Prepare the necessary documents for submission

You will need to provide the following documents for yourself, your spouse and immediate family members:

• Your identity card or passport.
• Current pay slip or latest tax returns (if you are a part-time worker, an odd jobber or self-employed with no pay slip, a statutory declaration would have to be made at the Commissioner for Oaths).
• Documents indicating all sources of income including wages and rentals (before CPF deduction) of family members must be submitted together with their NRIC numbers. These include current pay slips or latest income tax returns of:
  - All children.
  - Siblings who are staying at the same address.
• Other relevant documents such as letter of adoption, retrenchment letters and Medisave Statements.

Step 2 - Submit Your Documents

You can submit your documents to the facility doing means testing for you, i.e.

• The Medical Social Work Department of restructured hospitals and national centres.
• Community hospitals.
• Other step-down care services such as nursing homes, hospices, day rehabilitation centres and others.

Step 3 - Notification of the Outcome of Means Testing

• Upon submission of complete documents, you will be informed of your subsidy rate.
• The subsidy will be paid to the service providers upon your admission and/or usage of the services. The amount of subsidy will be reflected in the bill given to you.