Since the government launched CareShield Life in 2020, about 900,000 people born in 1979 or earlier have voluntarily signed up for the national long-term care insurance scheme as of June this year, which makes up around half of those who are eligible to join.
Senior Minister of State for Health Koh Poh Koon gave details in parliament on Wednesday (October 15). He announced that the underwriting criteria will be reinstated for Optional Cohorts, those born in 1979 and earlier, from 2026.
This comes after a four-year concessionary period meant to encourage more seniors to sign up.
In case you are not aware, when CareShield Life first started, people born in 1979 or earlier were given a special chance to join even if they already had some disabilities. From 2026, the original rule will return; this means that only those who are not already disabled can sign up. If someone is already disabled, they will no longer be able to join the scheme.
Dr Koh explained that this will benefit all existing policyholders.
“With the earlier concession, premiums had to be set higher to account for the possibility of people with mild to moderate disabilities being more likely to join the scheme. This risk will now be reduced,” he said.
He also gave an example of a Pioneer Generation policyholder born in 1952 who will see their premium reduced by more than $100 next year. He stressed that these changes will only apply to those joining from 2026 onwards. Current policyholders will not be affected.
Currently, new Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents in the same age group are covered under CareShield Life if they are not severely disabled when they become citizens or PRs. From next year, this group can only enrol if they are not disabled.
CareShield Life, launched in 2020 to replace ElderShield, provides basic financial protection for Singaporeans who face severe disability in their later years. The scheme covers those who are unable to perform at least three daily living activities. These six activities are eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, walking or moving around, and transferring between a bed and a chair.
Singapore residents born between 1980 and 1990 were automatically enrolled in the scheme in 2020, and future residents will be automatically enrolled when they turn 30. For those born in 1979 or earlier, joining CareShield Life remains voluntary.
The second key change is to strengthen premium recovery processes. Dr Koh revealed that some people, although financially able, deliberately do not pay their premiums despite repeated reminders. This affects the scheme’s financial sustainability and could lead to higher premiums for other policyholders.
To address this, the Bill will allow demand notes to be served digitally, not just through physical letters. This aims to overcome problems like outdated mailing addresses or overseas residences and aligns with MediShield Life’s provisions.
“Those who genuinely cannot afford to pay their premiums will continue to receive premium support. I want to stress that no one will lose their CareShield Life coverage because they cannot afford to pay,” said Dr Koh.
