What are chronic diseases?
Chronic diseases are medical conditions that are generally progressive. These lifelong conditions, which include heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and asthma, can be managed with simple lifestyle changes.
It is important to take charge of your health and manage these conditions to lead a fulfilling life.
What are some common chronic diseases in Singapore?
In Singapore, chronic diseases are significant causes of illness and death. Common chronic diseases that affect Singaporeans are:
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Lipid disorders (e.g. high blood cholesterol)
- Stroke
Using MediSave under CDMP
The cost of managing chronic conditions is made easier with the use of MediSave, with the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP). This allows patients to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare cost for people with chronic diseases when they seek medical treatment in an outpatient setting.
You can access this programme at all Healthway Medical clinics across Singapore and use your or your family members’ MediSave (up to 10 accounts) to pay for out-patient treatment for these diseases up to $500 per account per year. Each claim is subject to a 15% co-payment in cash.
The use of Medisave for CDMP applies to the following medical conditions.
- Diabetes
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Lipid Disorders (high blood cholesterol)
- Stroke
- Asthma
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Major depression
- Schizophrenia
- Dementia
- Bipolar disorder
- Osteoarthritis
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Anxiety
- Parkinson’s disease
- Nephritis/nephrosis
- Epilepsy
- Osteoporosis
- Psoriasis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Ischaemic heart disease
With effect from 19 May 2020, MediSave and the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) will be extended to cover prescription refills for conditions under the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) that are delivered and collected on the patients’ behalf (conditions listed above).