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MediSave Care
Monthly MediSave cash withdrawals to help with long-term care costs if you become severely disabled.
Highlights
Withdraw up to $200 per month from MediSave
Can be used to pay for care needs
Not means-tested (ie income is not an eligibility criteria)
Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident aged 30 and above
MediSave Account balance of at least $5,000
Must have severe disability
Full details below.
Introduction
MediSave Care is a long-term care scheme that allows Singaporeans and PRs who are severely disabled to make monthly cash withdrawals from their own and their spouse’s MediSave Accounts.
The withdrawals can be used for long-term care needs, such as hiring a helper, paying for care services, or daily expenses.
How to qualify
There are a few criteria your loved one will need to meet to qualify for MediSave Care.
| Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
| Care recipient's nationality and age | He/ she must be a Singapore Citizen or PR aged 30 and above. |
| Care recipient's MediSave Account balance |
He/ she must have a MediSave Account balance of at least $5,000.
If the care recipient is tapping on his/ her spouse’s MediSave Account to top up the withdrawal amount, the spouse’s MediSave Account balance must also have at least $5,000. |
| Care recipient's needs |
He/ she must:
|
How the scheme works
If you qualify, you can withdraw up to $200 each month from MediSave, depending on the account balance at the point of withdrawal.
Notes:
-
The withdrawal amount depends on the care recipient/ spouse’s MediSave Account balance.
| MediSave Balance* | Maximum withdrawal Amount Each Month |
| $20,000 and above | $200 |
| $15,000 and above | $150 |
| $10,000 and above | $100 |
| $5,000 and above | $50 |
| Below $5,000 | $0 |
*MediSave balance at point of monthly withdrawal
- A minimum of $5,000 will need to be set aside in an individual’s MediSave Account to ensure sufficient MediSave for other medical expenses such as MediShield Life premiums or hospitalisations. This amount cannot be withdrawn for MediSave Care.
- If there is not enough in your MediSave balance, you can tap on your spouse’s MediSave to supplement the withdrawal.
- Whether you are drawing from your own MediSave, or drawing from both yours and your spouse’s accounts, the total amount that can be withdrawn each month is $200. For example, if you can only withdraw $150 from your own MediSave, and your spouse’s balance is sufficient, you can withdraw another $50 from your spouse’s account.
How to apply
There are several ways you can apply for MediSave Care.
-
Apply online using Singpass (recommended)
This is done via AIC’s e-Services for Financing Schemes (eFASS). We recommend this method as the approval waiting time is shorter.
Read the terms and conditions before you start.
Please read here if you are applying for the grant on behalf of someone who lacks mental capacity.
-
Seek assistance from the nursing home your loved one is staying in
If you are applying for MediSave Care to help you offset the cost of the nursing home fees, you can ask the service provider to help. You can nominate the payout to be made directly to the nursing home. -
Apply via hard copy
Email apply@aic.sg to obtain a copy of the application form or visit any AIC Link.
We seek your understanding that hardcopy applications take a longer time to process.
After you submit your application, we may take up to four weeks to process it. You will be informed about the outcome in writing via mail.
If approved, the payout will be credited to the nominated bank account as long as your loved one meets the eligibility criteria to receive payouts. This may include payouts from the month the application was submitted. The payouts will be reflected as “MediSave Care” in your bank statement
Documents needed
The full details of what is needed are available on eFASS.
FAQs
FAQs
He/ she will need to see an MOH-accredited severe disability assessor who will determine their disability level.
There is an assessment fee you will need to pay first, which will be refunded if your loved one is assessed to be severely disabled.
If he/ she is found to have mild or moderate disability instead, there are other financial assistance schemes that you can turn to for help, like the Home Caregiving Grant or MDW Levy Concession. Please find out more about the other financial assistance schemes here.
The cost of the assessment ranges from $100 (if you visit the assessor’s clinic) to $250 (if the assessor needs to do a home visit).
You will need to pay the assessment fee first to the assessor. The amount will be refunded if your loved one is assessed to be severely disabled.
The assessment must be done by a MOH-accredited severe disability assessor.
He/ she needs to be assessed by an MOH-accredited severe disability assessor.
Please check if your doctor or therapist is on the approved list of assessors. If they are not, please make an appointment with another assessor from the list.
You can apply on behalf of your loved one as long as:
- You are the appointed Donee (appointed under the Lasting Power of Attorney) or Deputy (appointed under the Mental Capacity Act) authorised to make decisions on his/ her property and affairs.
- If your loved one does not have a Donee or Deputy, you can apply on his/ her behalf if you are an immediate family member (parent, spouse or child. Otherwise, you can only apply on his/ her behalf if the immediate family members are unable to do this (eg deceased, lack mental capacity or other issues). For successful applications without a donee/deputy, the caregiver or another family member has 12 months to obtain a court order appointing him/her as a deputy, failing which the payouts will be suspended. Do visit the Singapore Courts website to find out how to apply for a deputyship.
- You may need the following documents:
-
Recent medical report stating that he/ she lacks mental capacity
OR
Doctor’s certification that he/ she lacks mental capacity
- If the care recipient is also going for a disability assessment, you must ask if the doctor can do a mental capacity assessment (using this form) at the same time.
- The doctor’s certification is valid for six months, unless stated as permanent.
OR
Court order of deputy appointment
- Copy of bank book or statement if the bank account nominated to receive the grant belongs to a deputy or trustee.
-
No, as such conditions affect people’s ability to carry out the six activities of daily living at different levels.
In order to qualify for MediSave Care, your loved one still needs to undergo a disability assessment by a MOH-accredited severe disability assessor. The assessor will consider the impact of your loved one’s cognitive challenges as part of the assessment.
This may sometimes be required to confirm if your loved one still meets the qualifying criteria. You will be informed by mail if this is needed. The re-assessment fees are waived regardless of the outcome.
If your loved one has been assessed as permanently severely disabled, he/ she will not need future re-assessments, unless new information suggests that his/ her condition has improved.
Yes, you can reapply and receive MediSave payouts again if your loved one is assessed to meet all the eligibility criteria.
To change scheme details
Log in with Singpass on eFASS. Go to “Manage My Schemes” > “Change in Scheme Details.”
If you are updating the details for someone who lacks mental capacity for the first time, please read here.
To change the payee to a nursing home that the care recipient is living at
If you are using the MediSave Care to offset the cost of the nursing home fees, you can ask for the payout to be made directly to the nursing home.
For this change in payee, please approach the nursing home your loved one is residing at to help you submit the “Change in Application Details” Form to AIC.
Do keep a copy of the application documents for your own reference.
To stop receiving payouts
Log in with Singpass on eFASS. Go to “Manage My Schemes” > “Change in Scheme Details.”
If you are unable to do any of the above online, email apply@aic.sg to obtain a copy of the application form or visit any AIC Link. We seek your understanding that hardcopy applications will require a longer approval waiting time.
AIC needs the NRIC issue date for verification. You can find it on the back of your NRIC card.
Visit SG Enable’s Enabling Guide, an online resource for persons with disabilities and their caregivers, as well as professionals looking for disability support.