Government announces enhanced medical and dental benefits for civil servants

The government has completed a review of medical and dental benefits for civil servants and will enhance them from 1st April 2013. 

Making the announcement during the Committee of Supply debate, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in Charge of the Civil Service, Teo Chee Hean says the civil service will revise its medical and dental subsidy caps to keep up with market practices. 

Currently an officer who visits a private clinic can claim up to 85 percent of the medical bill, subject to a cap of 10 dollar per visit. 

This cap for the reimbursable amount will be increased to 20 dollars a visit. 

This is comparable to the average amount the civil service subsidises an officer for outpatient treatment at a polyclinic. 

The Public Service Division recognises that some officers may need more than 350 dollars for their outpatient medical needs. 

So the government will raise the annual claim limit to 500 dollars. 

But the additional 150 dollars will be given only on a reimbursement basis. 

Turning to dental claims, the subsidy per visit will go up from the current 50 percent to 85 percent.