MOH Addresses Inaccuracies in WhatsApp Text on ElderShield, CareShield Life

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has addressed inaccuracies about ElderShield and CareShield Life circulating in a WhatsApp message that first appeared in 2018 and has resurfaced recently.

- Sherlyn Sim

The message was about Mr K, a severely disabled man whose ElderShield payouts ceased for six months.

In July 2018, his case was brought up in Parliament by Workers' Party MP Sylvia Lim during a debate on CareShield Life, a compulsory government-run disability insurance scheme that replaced ElderShield in 2020.

In a Facebook post on March 13, MOH said it is aware of the message resurfacing recently and noted several inaccuracies in it.

The ministry said ElderShield and CareShield Life are long-term care insurance schemes targeted at severe disability. The schemes provide support to claimants through payouts.

A claimant can receive the payouts if he or she has been assessed to be unable to perform at least three out of the six activities of daily living.

"This is contrary to what is stated in the message — that an individual would have to be 'probably totally immobile or on the brink of death' before he or she can receive ElderShield or CareShield Life payouts," MOH added.