The Ministry of Health (MOH) is considering expanding government co-funding and insurance coverage to assist young cancer patients in preserving their fertility, according to Minister of State for Health Rahayu Mahzam. Her remarks were made in Parliament on August 6 as part of the government’s ongoing commitment to enhancing support for fertility and parenthood.
Currently, MediShield Life, which provides basic health insurance, does not cover fertility treatments as it is primarily designed to address significant medical expenses in subsidized public hospitals. However, MediSave, the national savings scheme for healthcare expenses, can be utilized for fertility treatments within a lifetime limit of $15,000 per patient.
Rahayu explained that while young women can use MediSave for egg freezing if medically necessary, such as for cancer treatment, they can also access government co-funding and MediSave for assisted reproduction treatments if they marry in the future and decide to use their frozen eggs.
For married couples where both partners are Singaporean citizens, the government offers up to 75 percent co-funding for assisted conception procedures at public hospitals. Rahayu emphasized that MOH is committed to continually reviewing and potentially increasing this support to ensure it meets the needs of these patients. She also welcomed additional support from charities to help with affordability issues.
Her comments were in response to an adjournment motion filed by Dr. Tan Wu Meng (Jurong GRC), who had urged the government to improve access to fertility preservation for young cancer patients, including coverage under Integrated Shield Plans. Dr. Tan argued that financial constraints should not force young cancer patients to forgo fertility preservation, which could hinder their ability to start a family in the future.
Data from Singapore’s National Registry of Diseases Office indicates that approximately 6 percent of newly diagnosed cancer patients are under the age of 40. Between 2017 and 2021, an average of 340 young men and 620 young women under 40 were diagnosed with cancer annually. Some cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, can adversely affect fertility, making preservation options crucial.
Rahayu assured that MOH will evaluate Dr. Tan’s recommendations for extending co-funding and insurance coverage, considering that other medical conditions, beyond cancer, could also impact fertility. She highlighted that recent policy adjustments reflect the government’s ongoing dedication to supporting fertility and parenthood. In July 2023, the policy was updated to permit elective egg freezing for women aged 21 to 37.
“This is an ongoing journey. We will continue to refine our policies to ensure they align with Singaporeans’ needs and aspirations in this area,” Rahayu concluded.
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