Covid-19 ICU Patients Unvaccinated By Choice Could Face Up To $25K Medical Bill Before Subsidies
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced that Covid-19 patients who are unvaccinated by choice will have to pay for their own treatment.
In an update on Friday (12 Nov), MOH said Covid-19 patients who choose to be unvaccinated and end up in the intensive care unit (ICU) could receive a bill of about $25,000.
The amount refers to the median acute hospital bill size for individuals requiring ICU care and Covid-19 therapeutics.
However, MOH told The Straits Times (ST) that subsidies will significantly lower the medical bill.
Covid-19 ICU patients unvaccinated by choice could see $25,000 medical bill
On Friday (12 Nov), ST reported new updates regarding medical bills for Covid-19 patients who choose to be unvaccinated.
Those who end up in the ICU and require Covid-19 therapeutics could reportedly receive a median medical bill of about $25,000 before subsidies.
The bill will vary depending on the severity of the patient’s condition and the type of Covid-19 facility they are placed under.
However, with subsidies from the government and MediShield Life coverage, the bill could be reduced to about $2,000-$4,000.
Individuals sent to a Covid-19 treatment facility can expect their bill to be around $4,500 for a 7-day stay.
However, after taking into account subsidies and MediShield Life, where applicable, Singaporeans can expect to pay around $1,000.
A MOH spokesman also mentioned that Covid-19 patients who are Singaporean or permanent residents (PR) can use their MediSave balance to pay the remaining bill.
Currently, unvaccinated patients in community isolation facilities (CIF) are not charged. This is only applicable to Singapore citizens, PRs and long-term pass holders who have not travelled in the last 14 days.
Travellers and short-term visit pass holders will still be charged.
Unvaccinated individuals putting strain on healthcare resources
This update comes after MOH’s announcement on Monday (8 Nov) that Covid-19 patients who are unvaccinated by choice will have to foot their own bill.
Currently, “a sizeable majority” of Covid-19 patients requiring intensive care comprise unvaccinated individuals.
That means unvaccinated individuals are making disproportionate use of Singapore’s healthcare resources, despite being the minority.
As for the partially vaccinated, MOH has given them up to 31 Dec to get fully vaccinated. They will receive free treatment till then.
Get vaccinated to reduce risk of getting Covid-19
Since unvaccinated individuals are more vulnerable to Covid-19, it is perhaps unfair for the majority to pay for those who refuse to get vaccinated.
With the high number of daily Covid-19 cases in Singapore, the Government must do what it can to reduce the strain on our healthcare system.
At the same time, the public should also be socially responsible and do what they can to help with the situation.
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Featured image adapted from National Museum of Singapore on Facebook and is for illustration purposes only.
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