Friday, December 4, 2009
Insurance company need to hold more capital
Insurance companies will be required to hold more capital. Read this article.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Creating jobs in America
Here are some suggestions from the New York Times on creating jobs in America.
Low payout for medical claim
Hi Mr Tan,
I saw this article on the forum last week but till now I have not seen any reply from Income on it (Normally companies will be quick to respond to letters in the ST forum).
Can you comment on why an expected payout of $3,600 can end up to be only $240?
Maybe you can even share this in your blog.
Puzzled by insurer's payout for medical claim
RECENTLY, my wife was hospitalised at Mount Alvernia Hospital for four days. Her medical bill came up to $7,995.15.
She is insured under Income's IncomeShield Plan MA, but the total payout by Income was a shocking $240.
I called Income to find out how it arrived at that sum and was told that technically the $7,995.15 was classified as "room and board", hence limiting the claim.
The $7,995.15 included a renal screen, bed charges, clinical consumables and supply, diagnostic imaging services, equipment use, laboratory services, outside hospital services, pharmacy cost, resident medical officer fees, treatment fee and doctor attendance fee.
Given a deductible of $4,000 per policy year and 10 per cent co-insurance, any man in the street would expect an insurance payout of $3,595.63. But this is not the case.
My wife has faithfully paid her premium for the past 15 years without a single claim and this is what she gets in return. I am writing this so the public is made aware of such pitfalls in their medical insurance.
For big insurance companies to cite a technicality as an excuse not to make a decent payout is in no way fair. I urge the Consumers Association of Singapore and leaders in the insurance industry to look into this loose definition of "room and board".
In my opinion, given my wife's good record, Income should honour the $3,595.63 payout as a goodwill gesture.
Lastly, I would like to ask the Central Provident Fund Board why only $450 a day can be used from Medisave for hospitalisation.
Ong Kok Lam
I saw this article on the forum last week but till now I have not seen any reply from Income on it (Normally companies will be quick to respond to letters in the ST forum).
Can you comment on why an expected payout of $3,600 can end up to be only $240?
Maybe you can even share this in your blog.
Puzzled by insurer's payout for medical claim
RECENTLY, my wife was hospitalised at Mount Alvernia Hospital for four days. Her medical bill came up to $7,995.15.
She is insured under Income's IncomeShield Plan MA, but the total payout by Income was a shocking $240.
I called Income to find out how it arrived at that sum and was told that technically the $7,995.15 was classified as "room and board", hence limiting the claim.
The $7,995.15 included a renal screen, bed charges, clinical consumables and supply, diagnostic imaging services, equipment use, laboratory services, outside hospital services, pharmacy cost, resident medical officer fees, treatment fee and doctor attendance fee.
Given a deductible of $4,000 per policy year and 10 per cent co-insurance, any man in the street would expect an insurance payout of $3,595.63. But this is not the case.
My wife has faithfully paid her premium for the past 15 years without a single claim and this is what she gets in return. I am writing this so the public is made aware of such pitfalls in their medical insurance.
For big insurance companies to cite a technicality as an excuse not to make a decent payout is in no way fair. I urge the Consumers Association of Singapore and leaders in the insurance industry to look into this loose definition of "room and board".
In my opinion, given my wife's good record, Income should honour the $3,595.63 payout as a goodwill gesture.
Lastly, I would like to ask the Central Provident Fund Board why only $450 a day can be used from Medisave for hospitalisation.
Ong Kok Lam
The uninsured cannot afford health care
This article explains the problem of the uninsured in America. Medical care is very costly. Those who are employed can get health insurance, paid by their employer. The employer pays a group rate which is one third of the cost of individual insurance.
In Singapore, citizens can get treated in subsidized wards and enjoy a subsidy of up to 75%. They have to pay only 25% of the full cost. The cost in restructured hospital is lower than in private hospitals. The elderly, which are likely to need health care more, will be able to benefit from the subsidized wards.
Those who are well off or have insurance can go for the non-subsidized or private care.
In Singapore, citizens can get treated in subsidized wards and enjoy a subsidy of up to 75%. They have to pay only 25% of the full cost. The cost in restructured hospital is lower than in private hospitals. The elderly, which are likely to need health care more, will be able to benefit from the subsidized wards.
Those who are well off or have insurance can go for the non-subsidized or private care.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Urgency to create jobs
Many educated Americans, who have lost their job for nearly a year, find that their unemployment benefit is running out. They are desperate to get a job. Some are willing to work for free, to show that they can contribution and wait for a chance to get a full time job later. Many are willing to work as day labor to get paid by the day.
In the past, during boom times, the free market was able to create jobs. Most of these jobs are created by small businesses. In difficult times, these businesses are not able to get credit, as banks are more cautious. Without credit, these small entrepreneurs cannot grow their business and employ the available labor.
Many people hope that the economic situation will improve. But, it could get worse - and this is the more likely outcome. There has been so much loss of trust in our business, financial institutions and even in the free market.
Many governments reduced interest rate to reduce business cost and encourage business owners to expand this business and create more jobs. This strategy does not seem to be working. It is now time for governments start to create jobs directly. It may be necessary to reduce the length of the work week so that the available jobs can be shared by more people.
The economic system has to change. We may have to go back to some form of central planning.
Tan Kin Lian
In the past, during boom times, the free market was able to create jobs. Most of these jobs are created by small businesses. In difficult times, these businesses are not able to get credit, as banks are more cautious. Without credit, these small entrepreneurs cannot grow their business and employ the available labor.
Many people hope that the economic situation will improve. But, it could get worse - and this is the more likely outcome. There has been so much loss of trust in our business, financial institutions and even in the free market.
Many governments reduced interest rate to reduce business cost and encourage business owners to expand this business and create more jobs. This strategy does not seem to be working. It is now time for governments start to create jobs directly. It may be necessary to reduce the length of the work week so that the available jobs can be shared by more people.
The economic system has to change. We may have to go back to some form of central planning.
Tan Kin Lian
Avoid over insurance and moral hazard
There was a case of a person who bought personal accident insurance from many insurance companies, and had an accident where he lost an eye. The total amount claimed under the insurance companies amounted to more than $2 million.
The insurance companies suspected that the accident was intentional,i.e. moral hazard. But they were not able to prove their case in court. They lost the case and had to pay the claims.
To avoid moral hazard, some insurance company adopt the following approaches:
a) ask the applicant to declare the total amount that is insured under all existing policies
b) restrict the total amount that can be paid under a claim.
If the applicant declares a total insurance that is excessive, the insurance company is likely to reject the application to avoid moral hazard. If the applicant fails to disclose this material fact in the application, the insurance company has the grounds to reject the claim.
If an insurance company provides insurance for $500,000 and sets a limit of $1 million for all claims for the same event, and the insured has insured for a total of $2 million, the insurance company is required to pay only half of the insured sum, i.e. $250,000.
Tan Kin Lian
The insurance companies suspected that the accident was intentional,i.e. moral hazard. But they were not able to prove their case in court. They lost the case and had to pay the claims.
To avoid moral hazard, some insurance company adopt the following approaches:
a) ask the applicant to declare the total amount that is insured under all existing policies
b) restrict the total amount that can be paid under a claim.
If the applicant declares a total insurance that is excessive, the insurance company is likely to reject the application to avoid moral hazard. If the applicant fails to disclose this material fact in the application, the insurance company has the grounds to reject the claim.
If an insurance company provides insurance for $500,000 and sets a limit of $1 million for all claims for the same event, and the insured has insured for a total of $2 million, the insurance company is required to pay only half of the insured sum, i.e. $250,000.
Tan Kin Lian
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