Yahoo Finance CHAS Card Singapore (2019) – How It Works, Who Can Get One, What Subsidies You Get
Falling sick in Singapore can be a terrifying experience, and not just because of health concerns. As you sit in the waiting room waiting for the bill to arrive, you wonder if it wouldn’t be cheaper to just organise a funeral for yourself instead. The CHAS card in Singapore is meant to alleviate some of those costs, at least for those who qualify.
Singaporeans belonging to a lower-to-middle income household, those who are from the Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation, as well as Singaporeans with chronic conditions can qualify for the CHAS card (Community Health Assist card). Flashing this card lets you get subsidised treatments at participating clinics and healthcare centres.
[Updated on 20 February 2019 following Budget 2019’s updates on the CHAS card]
CHAS card application procedure & eligibility criteria
The CHAS card is only for lower-income Singaporeans and the elderly. If the average household income per person is $1,800 or below, you can qualify for the card. For households with no income, the eligibility is based on the annual value of your home – it needs to be $21,000 and below.
Here’s the eligibility criteria at a glance:
Type of CHAS card | Household monthly income per person | Annual value of home (for households with no income) |
CHAS Blue | $1,100 and below | $13,000 and below |
CHAS Orange | $1,101 to $1,800 | $13,001 to $21,000 |
CHAS for Pioneer Generation | N/A. All Pioneers receive CHAS benefits | |
If you qualify for a CHAS card based on your income, fill out and submit this CHAS card application form. You can also pick up a hard copy of the form at any public hospital, polyclinic, Community Club or Community Development Council.
Send the completed form to the following address:
PO Box 680
Bukit Merah Central Post Office
Singapore 911536
All Singaporeans on Public Assistance (PA) are automatically receive the same subsidies as blue CHAS card holders, without the need to apply separately. All you need to do to get subsidised fees is just flash your Public Assistance card at the participating clinic.
Summary of subsidies for orange & blue CHAS card
CHAS cards can be used to see the doctor or dentist at participating GPs and dental clinics. You get a subsidy for each visit (see table below).
You can also use the CHAS card if you get referred to specialist outpatient clinics at public hospitals or the National Dental Centre. Similarly, you get a subsidy per visit.
The subsidies you receive will depend on what colour your CHAS card is:
Type of treatment | CHAS Blue max. subsidy per visit | CHAS Orange max. subsidy per visit | CHAS Pioneer Generation max. subsidy per visit |
Common illnesses (e.g. cough, cold) | $18.50 | N/A | $28.50 |
Chronic condition – simple (just 1 condition) | $80 (capped at $320 per year) | $50 (capped at $200 per year) | $90 (capped at $360 per year) |
Chronic condition – complex (multiple conditions or condition with complication) | $120 (capped at $480 per year) | $75 (capped at $300 per year) | $135 (capped at $540 per year) |
Selected dental services | $11 to $256.50 (per procedure) | $50 to $170.50 (per procedure – crown, denture and root canal treatment only) | $21 to $266.50 (per procedure) |
Health screening (Screen for Life*, includes 1 post-screening consultation) | $2 with Screen for Life invitation letter | Free with Screen for Life invitation letter | |
*This is a screening for diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, colorectal cancer and cervical cancer. You need to meet MOH’s Screen For Life criteria to get the subsidised rate.
The up and coming MG card announced during Budget 2019 provides subsidies at CHAS clinics that will be between what a PG card and what a blue CHAS card receives. Further details are yet to be announced.
Merdeka Generation members also get an additional 25% discount on subsidised medicine and services at public clinics.
Budget 2019 updates to CHAS subsidies
According Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat’s Budget 2019 announcements, the CHAS programme will be expanded. Below are 3 key changes:
1. All Singaporeans with chronic conditions can enjoy CHAS subsidies, regardless of income level.
2. Merdeka Generation, which refer to people born in 1959 and before, will be given CHAS subsidies as well, regardless of income level. The benefits will be fewer than the Pioneer Generation’s, but more than the CHAS blue card.
3. Lower to middle-income Singaporeans who are CHAS Orange cardholders will also now get subsidies for common illnesses.
Which health conditions are covered by CHAS?
You can seek subsidies through CHAS for common illnesses, chronic conditions under the MOH’s Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP), and selected dental services.
Common illnesses:
cough
cold
flu
abdominal pain
diarrhoea
fever
headache
skin infection and rashes
sore eyes
urinary tract infection
Chronic conditions under CDMP:
diabetes mellitus
hypertension
hyperlipidemia (lipid disorders)
stroke
asthma
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
schizophrenia
major depression
bipolar disorder
dementia
osteoarthritis
benign prostatic hyperplasia
anxiety
parkinson’s disease
nephrosis/nephritis
epilepsy
osteoporosis
psoriasis
rheumatoid arthritis
ischaemic heart disease
Selected dental services:
crowning
denture
denture reline
root canal treatment
On top of these, CHAS Blue and CHAS Pioneer Generation also get subsidies for the following dental treatments: cementation, curettage, denture repair, extraction, filling, polishing, scaling, topical fluoride, X-ray.
How do you get subsidy at a CHAS clinic?
In order to use your CHAS card, you will have to make sure you are visiting a participating clinic, as you won’t be able to get subsidies at clinics that aren’t part of the scheme.
You can find a full list of participating CHAS clinics here. All CHAS clinics will display CHAS stickers for easy identification.
There’s no need to make an appointment beforehand. Just walk into the clinic and show the following when you register at the counter in order to receive your CHAS subsidies:
NRIC
Valid CHAS, Pioneer Generation, Merdeka Generation or Public Assistance card, or medical certification of chronic condition
Valid student ID or birth certificate (for CHAS cardholders aged 15 and under only)
The subsidy amount will automatically be deducted from your total bill, and you will pay the balance at the end of your visit.
Do you think the CHAS medical subsidies are sufficient? Share your views in the comments.
Related articles
Health Insurance in Singapore – Everything You Need to Know to Survive 2019
Your Medisave Account In Singapore – How To Make The Most Of It
CPF MediShield Life in Singapore – Guide To Everything You Need To Understand And Use It
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