CareShield is a long-term care insurance plan. Find out more about how it works and when it pays out.
- CareShield Life provides basic coverage for long-term care costs due to severe disability.
- You are covered for life, even after you have completed paying all premiums.
- You will receive monthly cash payouts for as long as you remain severely disabled. You will stop receiving payouts if you recover but can start claiming again if you fall back into severe disability.
What is CareShield Life?
CareShield Life is a long-term care insurance scheme that provides basic financial support should Singaporeans become severely disabled, especially during old age, and need personal and medical care for a prolonged duration (i.e. long-term care).
All Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents born in 1980 or later are covered under CareShield Life (the enhanced ElderShield scheme) on 1 Oct 2020, or when they turn 30, whichever is later. Those born before 1980 can choose to join CareShield Life if you are not severely disabled.
To make joining more convenient, Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents born between 1970 and 1979 (both inclusive), who are insured under ElderShield 400 scheme and are not severely disabled, will be auto-enrolled onto CareShield Life from December 2021.
Key features
CareShield Life has the following features:
Monthly cash payout in the event of severe disability
Severe disability is defined as being unable to perform at least 3 out of 6 Activities of Daily Living (ADL). The 6 activities are bathing, dressing, feeding, going to the toilet, moving around and transferring.
The payout amounts (payable only upon a successful claim) increase annually until age 67 or when a successful claim is made, whichever is earlier. The increase is set at 2% per year from 2020 to 2025. The increments thereafter will be determined by the CareShield Life Council, which will take into account the claims experience and changes in life expectancy as well as disability trends.
Once a successful claim is made, your monthly payout amount will remain fixed for the duration of your severe disability.
The coverage is worldwide, and for life
Once you start paying premiums, you can make a claim at any age if you have a severe disability. Even after your premium payment has been completed (age 67; or after 10 years, for those who join aged 59 or older), you remain insured for the rest of your life.
Use MediSave to pay the premiums
You can either use your own MediSave or your family members’ MediSave to pay for your premiums. Premiums are payable annually until you reach 67 years old, or 10 years after you join the scheme, whichever is later. Premiums are waived once you make a successful claim.
Government subsidies and support measures to make premiums affordable
You may be eligible for premium subsidies and support measures from the Government. If you cannot afford your CareShield Life premiums even after premium subsidies and family support, you may be eligible for Additional Premium Support.
These premium subsidies and support measures ensure that CareShield Life premiums remain affordable for all. No one will lose their CareShield Life coverage because of the inability to afford their premiums.
Supplements (optional)
If you want additional benefits to enhance your coverage, such as higher monthly payout amounts, you can consider buying Supplement plans from appointed private insurers. You need to be an existing policyholder under ElderShield or CareShield Life to purchase Supplement plans.
Key features:
- Can be purchased on top of the basic ElderShield or CareShield Life
- Offers enhanced benefits (e.g. higher monthly payouts)
- Managed by private insurers
- Premiums can be paid using MediSave (up to a limit of $600 per year per person insured)
