Medishield headaches.

[Splatted]

A few years ago I briefly worked in Singapore for a few months, and money was placed in my CPF account.

What had not really occurred to me back then was that when I moved back to Australia, there was money periodically being deducted from my CPF for medishield.

I presume this is some form of health insurance ?

Anyway.. Long story short, they whittled away at all my CPF savings till nothing was left, and then cancelled my medishield policy.

Now, fast forward to 2010 and I am back in Singapore.

I am made aware there's no public healthcare in Singapore, and I apply for Medishield.

I now get a letter saying I have to go through a physical exam, at my expense. WTH?

Not only has hundreds of dollars been pilfered from me while I was overseas, I have to pay more money to get back on this??

While on this topic - can someone explain exactly is 'medishield'.

Are there alternatives to this that people opt for instead?

Why is money being set aside in my CPF, if I have no policy??

[sundaymorningstaple]

A few years ago I briefly worked in Singapore for a few months, and money was placed in my CPF account.

What had not really occurred to me back then was that when I moved back to Australia, there was money periodically being deducted from my CPF for medishield.

I presume this is some form of health insurance ?

Anyway.. Long story short, they whittled away at all my CPF savings till nothing was left, and then cancelled my medishield policy.

Now, fast forward to 2010 and I am back in Singapore.

I am made aware there's no public healthcare in Singapore, and I apply for Medishield.

I now get a letter saying I have to go through a physical exam, at my expense. WTH?

Not only has hundreds of dollars been pilfered from me while I was overseas, I have to pay more money to get back on this??

While on this topic - can someone explain exactly is 'medishield'.

Are there alternatives to this that people opt for instead?

Why is money being set aside in my CPF, if I have no policy??

http://ask-us.cpf.gov.sg/Home/Hybrid/th ... %20MSH.pdf

The following taken from the MediShield/MediShield Plus Handbook (my own hardcopy):

9. How is my MediShield/MediShield Plus cover renewed?

For your convenience, renewal is done automatically every policy year, unless any of the following events occur:

• ● You have reached 70 years of age
  ● You decided not to be insured
  ● You have reached the overall maximum claim
  ● You have insufficient savings in your Medisave Account to pay for the yearly premium.

And, like any medical policy, once lapsed, to reinstate would require a medical even though initially one was not required.