The Singaporean government understands that people in their country need to keep their overall health at their best condition. It is inevitable that people get sick and need immediate treatment to prevent it from getting worse. Because the disease cannot be predicted when it will attack, people face financial problems. 

Often, immediate treatment is not given immediately because they are still waiting for payday. That is why the Singaporean government has launched a financial assistance program for citizens called CHAS.

The program helps Singaporean citizens reduce their medical and dental care expenses through CHAS subsidies.

Understanding what CHAS means

CHAS or Community Health Assist Scheme is a Singaporean government program to lower medical and dental care at the participating clinics called CHAS subsidies.

Who is eligible for CHAS?

All Singaporean Citizens are eligible for CHAS without any fee. It means that the program is given to the people in Singapore without the fee required when getting a membership. Anyone can apply for a CHAS membership from the household.

Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation cardholders in Singapore are also eligible for CHAS.

What health conditions are covered by CHAS?

CHAS in Singapore provides subsidies that may include:

• Diabetes

• Hypertension

• Lipid disorders

• Stroke

• Asthma

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Major depression

• Schizophrenia

• Dementia

• Bipolar disorder

What does CHAS card colors mean

The CHAS color cards indicate the subsidy tier to which cardholders are entitled, such as:

• CHAS blue card. The cardholder is entitled to the highest level of subsidies.

• CHAS orange card. The cardholder is entitled to the middle level of subsidies.

• CHAS green card. The cardholder is entitled to the lower level of subsidies.

Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation seniors received subsidies regardless of the colors of the card.

Identifying the level of subsidies on the card you hold helps you understand how you are financially helped by being a member of the CHAS program.

CHAS medical subsidies

Subsidies on medical expenses do not cover all the bills. The amount payable by the patient is the total clinic charges minus the CHAS medical subsidies covered. The total payment you will be paying depends on which level of subsidies you are entitled to. If you are a CHAS blue card holder, you will probably get the highest deduction on your bill.

There are medical conditions that are covered with the subsidies of CHAS orange and blue cardholders, but not in green card holders, such as:

• Cold

• Cough

CHAS dental subsidies

The formula for how CHAS dental subsidies are applied to your dental care bill is the same as CHAS medical subsidies. Similar to CHAS medical subsidies, CHAS dental subsidies may not cover some dental care services for the orange cardholders.

Dental care services that do not have subsidies in orange cardholder are:

• Consultation

• Extraction (anterior and posterior)

• Filing

• Polishing

• Scaling

• Topical Fluoride

• X-Ray

All the mentioned dental care services have subsidies to CHAS blue cardholders.

Take note, that there are no holders of CHAS green cards who are eligible for dental care subsidies. The Green CHAS card does not cover dental subsidies under CHAS.

Here are the dental care services covered by CHAS dental subsidies:

• Consultation

• Extraction (anterior and posterior)

• Filing

• Polishing

• Scaling

• Topical Fluoride

• X-Ray

• Removable Denture

• Denture Reline or Repair

• Permanent Crown

• Re-cementation

• Root Canal Treatment

Conclusion

Community Health Assist Scheme helps Singaporean citizens manage their medical and dental care costs from the provided subsidies at participating clinics. It is a great financial help for them to cut these expenses, especially when they have a big family or their salary is still long overdue. Look for the CHAS online application to get CHAS membership now.