CareShield Life criteria to be tightened from 2026 to keep premiums in check

To keep premiums for national long-term care insurance in check, older individuals with mild and moderate disabilities will no longer be able to opt in to the scheme from 2026.

- Yap Wei Qiang Correspondent

From 2026, those born in 1979 or earlier who have mild and moderate disabilities will no longer be allowed to opt in to CareShield Life, but those who do not have pre-existing disabilities can still do so.

(ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO)

Some seniors will even enjoy lower premiums than what they are paying now, said Senior Minister of State for Health Koh Poh Koon in Parliament.

The aim is to safeguard the sustainability and affordability of the scheme, he said during the debate of the CareShield Life and Long-Term Care (Amendment) Bill, which was passed unanimously on Oct 15.

“By restoring the underwriting criteria for the scheme, we will lower premiums for older Optional Cohort policyholders, who today pay higher annual premiums than Mandatory Cohort policyholders, who joined the scheme at a younger age.”

From 2026, those born in 1979 or earlier who have mild and moderate disabilities will no longer be allowed to opt in to CareShield Life, but those who do not have preexisting disabilities can still do so.

With this change in underwriting, the risk of claims under the scheme will be reduced, allowing the premiums for those in this cohort to rise at a moderated pace, with some seniors even seeing their premiums reduced.

Apolicyholder from the Merdeka Generation born in 1952, for in-

stance, would see annual premiums go down by more than $100 in 2026.