A CPF Medisave account will be created for newborns and they will receive the $3,000 grant in their Medisave account in two equal tranches. The first $1,500 will be deposited after the registration of birth, and the remaining $1,500 will be deposited in the subsequent year if the child continues to be enrolled in MediShield or a Medisave-approved Integrated Shield Plan.
All newborns who are Singapore Citizens born on or after 26 Aug 2012 will qualify for the Medisave grant for newborns. This grant can help parents defray the costs of their child’s MediShield premiums, as well as other healthcare expenses such as vaccinations.
To support parents in planning for their child's healthcare needs, the Government will open a CPF Medisave account for each citizen newborn and deposit a Medisave grant of $3,000 into it. The grant will be given in two equal tranches. The first $1,500 will be deposited after the registration of birth, and the remaining $1,500 will be given in the subsequent year if the child continues to be enrolled in MediShield or a Medisave-approved Integrated Shield Plan. This will supplement the Baby Bonus to pay for their child's healthcare expenses, including the cost of insurance under MediShield.
All children born on or after 26 Aug 2012 who are Singapore Citizens are eligible for the grant. These include children who are adopted as well as children who are born to divorced or unwed mothers. Children who are born overseas can qualify for the grant upon registering their birth in Singapore. Newborns who are Permanent Residents (PRs) or foreigners are not eligible.
All newborns who are Singapore citizens and born on or after 26 Aug 2012 are eligible for the grant. They include those who are adopted, born to divorced or unwed mothers. Those who are born overseas can qualify for the grant when they register their birth with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), e.g. through birth registration at the Singapore Missions. Newborns who are Permanent Residents or foreigners are not eligible.
No. All eligible newborns will receive the Medisave grant automatically after the registration of birth. After the grant has been deposited, parents will receive a notification letter informing them of the deposit. If your newborn is eligible but did not receive the grant, you can contact Central Provident Fund Board (CPF Board) at 1800-227-1188 or member@cpf.gov.sg to submit an enquiry.
Singaporean newborns will receive the first $1,500 deposit after their registration of birth and the second $1,500 deposit in the subsequent year, as long as he/ she continues to be enrolled in MediShield or a Medisave-approved Integrated Shield Plan.
Those who are born on 26 Aug 2012 – 28 Feb 2013 (inclusive) will receive the first $1,500 deposit by Apr 2013, and the second $1,500 deposit after their first birthday. Those born in Mar 2013 and thereafter will receive the first deposit about 2 months after their date of birth.
After the grant has been deposited, the parents of the child will receive a notification letter informing them of the deposit.
All Singaporeans are encouraged to enrol themselves and their children in MediSheid so that they may stretch their Medisave dollars and remain protected against large medical bills. Currently, most parents can tap into their own Medisave or the Baby Bonus to pay for their children's healthcare expenses. The Medisave grant for newborns further supplements that. It is disbursed separately so as to help parents defray their child's healthcare expenses over time, including the cost of insurance under MediShield.
No, the child's Medisave grant is meant to cover the child's healthcare expenses in the same way as other Medisave balances. Examples include MediShield premiums, hospitalisations, selected vaccinations and outpatient expenses for selected chronic diseases such as asthma.
A child who is not a Singapore citizen at birth will not be eligible to receive the first $1,500 of the grant. However, if the child is born on or after 26 Aug 2012 and subsequently becomes a Singapore citizen before he/she turns two years old, he/she will be eligible to receive the second $1,500 of the grant, provided that he/she is enrolled in a MediShield or a Medisave-approved Integrated Shield Plan.
For further queries, please write in to CPFB at member@cpf.gov.sg or call 1800-227-1188.
No, the grant is deposited into the newborn's own Medisave account. Eligibility for the grant is not affected by the marital status of the parents.
Parents can refer to the notification letter that will be sent to them upon the deposit of the Medisave grant into their child's Medisave account.
Parents can also check with the Medisave-accredited medical institutions where their child is seeking treatment on the amount of Medisave available.
You may visit the CPF website here for the list of medical institutions participating in the Medisave scheme.
Parents can inform the Medisave-accredited medical institutions where their child is seeking treatment that they wish to utilise their child's Medisave to pay for the medical bill. The medical institution will be able to advise whether Medisave can be used for the treatment, the amount of Medisave that can be used and the current amount of Medisave available.
Parents will need to sign on behalf of their child on the Medisave Authorisation Form (MAF) to authorise the use of the Medisave.
To do so, parents can submit an application to the CPF Board to request a change of premium payer. Once the request is processed, the child will take over the premium payment of the MediShield cover from his/her Medisave account.
Parents may submit the application through:
- mycpf Online Services at www.cpf.gov.sg using your SingPass. Under My Request, select <All Other CPF Matters>, followed by <Submit My e-Concierge Request> and then type in your request to change the MediShield premium payer from yourself to your child. Please include your child's name and birth certification number; or
- Printing the hardcopy form from: http://mycpf.cpf.gov.sg/NR/rdonlyres/C53025DF-B997-4D1A-9091-DB5504E1F225/0/MSH8.pdf and mail the completed form back to CPF Board.
Parents do not need to apply for the grant.
All eligible newborns will receive the grant automatically after registration of birth. After the grant has been deposited, parents will receive a notification letter to inform them of the deposit.
Parents of eligible newborns who did not receive the grant can contact CPFB (1800-227-1188 or member@cpf.gov.sg) to enquire.
Eligible newborns will receive the first $1,500 after the registration of birth and the second $1,500 in the subsequent year, if he/she continues to be enrolled in MediShield or a Medisave-approved Integrated Shield Plan.
Those who are born on 26 Aug 2012 to Feb 2013 will receive the first $1,500 by Apr 2013 and the second $1,500 after their first birthday.
Those born in Mar 2013 and thereafter will receive the grant about 2 months after the date of birth.
After the grant has been deposited, the parent of the child will receive a notification letter to inform them of the deposit.
The use of the child's Medisave grant for Integrated Shield premiums is subject to each insurer's business decision. Parents may wish to check with their financial advisor or the insurer for more information.
However, we encourage parents who wish to purchase Integrated Shield plans for their children to consider if such coverage is suitable for their family's needs and situation, and to consider paying for the premiums using their own Medisave accounts instead.
As the Medisave grant for newborns is meant to support basic healthcare expenses, using the grant to fund more expensive higher-ward coverage will deplete the child's Medisave account quickly.
