CPFB | ElderShield

Healthcare financing

Protect yourself against long-term care costs with ElderShield

ElderShield is a long-term care insurance targeted at severe disability. It provides cash payouts of $300 or $400 per month, for up to five or six years, depending on the plan type.

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About
Eligibility
Benefits
Premiums
Claims
Extra coverage
Resources
FAQs
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Monthly ElderShield cash payouts for up to 60/72 months

About

What is ElderShield

ElderShield is a long-term care insurance scheme targeted at severe disability, especially during old age.

Overview

When it was introduced in 2002, ElderShield provided payouts of $300/month for up to five years upon severe disability. It was subsequently reviewed in 2007 to provide better benefits of $400/month for up to six years. The benefits you will receive depends on which scheme you joined. Please note that the ElderShield scheme is no longer open for new applications.

Monthly payouts

ElderShield provides monthly cash payouts for up to 72 months to help pay out-of-pocket expenses in the event of severe disability.

Fixed premiums

Premiums are determined when you enter the scheme and remain fixed. You pay them each year until the policy anniversary after turning age 65, or when you make a successful claim.

Government administration of ElderShield

From 1 November 2021, the Government has taken over the administration of ElderShield from private insurers (Singapore Life Ltd, Great Eastern Life Assurance Co Ltd, and Income Insurance Ltd).

Government to take over ElderShield administration by end-2021

More information will be made available to ElderShield policyholders by end-2021.

Eligibility

Who’s covered under ElderShield

Overview

Who’s enrolled

Until 2019, all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents with MediSave Accounts were enrolled in ElderShield at the age of 40, unless they opted out.

Since 2020, auto-enrolments into ElderShield were discontinued. Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who turned 40 in 2020 were instead enrolled into CareShield Life.

If you were born on 30 September 1932 or before, or had a pre-existing disability as of 30 September 2002, you wouldn’t have been able to join ElderShield in 2002. Instead, you may be eligible for assistance under the Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly (IDAPE) if you develop severe disability.

Learn about IDAPE

Check your ElderShield coverage

Follow these steps to check on your coverage:

Log in using your Singpass.
Hover over "my cpf" and click on "Healthcare" under "My dashboards".
Click on “Long-term care insurance” on the anchor links or scroll down to the “Long-term care insurance” section.

If you’re not covered, no information on ElderShield will be reflected.

Check coverage

Benefits

What protection does ElderShield provide

Lifetime coverage

Continue to be covered for life once you’ve completed paying all your premiums at age 65.

Up to 72 months’ of cash payouts

Receive a monthly cash payout for up to five or six years, depending on the plan. With ElderShield 400, you’ll get $400 per month for up to 72 months, and with ElderShield 300, you’ll get $300 per month for up to 60 months.

Fully payable with MediSave

You can use your MediSave to pay your ElderShield premiums. Family members can help you by paying from their own MediSave, or topping up your account with cash.

Worldwide coverage

You'll remain covered, be able to make a claim, and receive payouts no matter where you live in the world.

Premiums

Premium payment to age 65, coverage for life

ElderShield premiums are based on the age at which you join the scheme, and are payable until the policy anniversary after your 65^th birthday.

Learn more

Claims

When are you eligible to claim

You can apply to receive ElderShield payouts if you’re determined by an MOH-accredited assessor to be unable to carry out three of the six activities of daily living (ADL) listed below.

Washing

The ability to wash in the bath or shower (including getting into and out of the bath or shower) or wash by other means.

Dressing

The ability to put on, take off, secure, and unfasten all garments and, as appropriate, any braces, artificial limbs, or other surgical or medical appliances.

Feeding

The ability to feed oneself food after it has been prepared and made available.

Toileting

The ability to use the toilet or manage bowel and bladder function through the use of protective undergarments, such as diapers or surgical appliances, if appropriate.

Mobility

The ability to move indoors from room to room on level surfaces.

Transferring

The ability to move from a bed to an upright chair or wheelchair, and vice versa.

How to make a claim

Complete claim assessment

Arrange for a disability assessment

Disability assessment can be conducted by any MOH-accredited severe disability assessor.

List of assessors (PDF, 1MB)

Associated fees

The assessment costs $100 for a clinic assessment and $250 for a house call, both of which are payable to the assessor at the time of assessment. The full fee will be reimbursed if you are assessed to be unable to carry out three or more activities of daily living (ADL), and will be reimbursed with the first payout.

Submit your application

How to submit

Learn more

Extra coverage

Consider joining CareShield Life for enhanced coverage

Explore the enhanced ElderShield scheme, also known as CareShield Life.

Learn more

Thinking of joining CareShield Life?

Here’s how CareShield Life compares against ElderShield. You can also learn more about your premiums using the link below.

Check my premium

Scheme feature	ElderShield 300	ElderShield 400	CareShield Life
Payout amount	$300	$400	Payouts start at $600/month in 2020 and increase over time
Payout duration	60 months	72 months	For entire duration of disability
Government subsidies	None	None	Yes, depending on circumstances
Payment by MediSave	Yes	Yes	Yes
Payout criteria	Unable to perform 3 or more of the 6 activities for daily living