Singapore extends covid-19 daily hospital benefit cover and telemedicine claims
The Life Insurance Association, Singapore (LIA Singapore) and General Insurance Association of Singapore (GIA Singapore) today announced that coverage will be extended to cover covid-19 patients admitted to a Community Care Facility (CCF) or Community Recovery Facility (CRF) for up to 14 days after they are transferred from a hospital.
LIA Singapore said this extension will take immediate effect until the closure of the last CCF or CRF in Singapore. Benefits are subject to existing policy terms and conditions of the respective insurers.
Outpatient telemedicine claims will also be covered with immediate effect. These are concerted efforts by insurers to provide additional support for policyholders amid the
covid-19 pandemic and especially in light of Singapore's extension of the circuit breaker period to 1 June 2020.
LIA Singapore said policyholders should seek information on coverage benefits provided by their policies from their financial adviser, insurance broker and/or insurer via digital, email, and telephone channels.
Employers with group policies are advised to engage their insurers about their specific corporate coverage.
Claims for daily hospital cash benefit from individuals who contravene government travel advisories will not be paid.
Patients first admitted to a hospital for covid-19 before being transferred to a CCF or CRF may claim hospital cash benefits for a maximum of 14 days for their stay in the facility until they are discharged. This is in addition to the hospital cash benefit payouts they will receive for their stay in hospital. The subsequent stay at a CCF or CRF must be deemed medically necessary because the patient has been tested positive for the virus and cannot be discharged.
The extension of daily hospital cash benefit coverage is provided under existing Integrated Shield Plans (IPs), hospital income plans and group insurance.
This benefit would apply in addition to the government fully covering the costs of treatment and isolation of Singapore Residents and Long-term Pass Holders in CCFs and CRFs.
Outpatient telemedicine claims will be covered by IPs and relevant group insurance plans. For IP policies, claims will be covered under IP's pre-hospitalisation and post-hospitalisation coverage.
Pay-outs for outpatient telemedicine claims will also be made under group medical insurance policies and other policies that provide coverage for physical outpatient consultations.
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