What is a CareShield Life Supplement?
CareShield supplementary plans are offered by private insurance companies to provide additional monthly disability cash payouts on top of CareShield life’s basic benefit of $600 per month.You can utilise up to $600 per year per person from your CPF MediSave to pay for the CareShield Life supplement. If there is an excess of premiums beyond $600, the remaining will be payable in cash.
There are three private insurers offering supplements
Singlife with Aviva: Singlife CareShield & Singlife CareShield Plus
Great Eastern: Great CareShield Advantage & Great CareShield Enhanced
Income: Care Secure
Best CareShield Life Supplements
20% lifetime premium discounts: Singlife (Terms & conditions) & Great Eastern (Terms & conditions)
Monthly payout on top of CareShield Life: Singlife and Great Eastern supplements payouts on top of the CareShield Life benefit, while Income plan payouts are inclusive.
Best waiver of premiums terms: Singlife & Great Eastern
Compare CareShield Life Supplements
| Singlife | Income | Great Eastern | |
| Monthly Cash Benefit Upon | 2/6 ADLs or 3/6 ADLs | 2/6 ADLs or 3/6 ADLs | 2/6 ADLs or 3/6 ADLs 1/6 ADLs triggers 50% of payout |
| Premium Term Options | Until age next Birthday 68 and 98 | Until 67 and 84 age last birthday | Until age last birthday 67 and 95 if entry age is 30 to 47 Until age last birthday 95 or 20 years if entry age is 48 to 64 |
| Waiver of Premium | Inability to perform at least 1 out of 6 ADLs | Inability to perform at least 2 out of 6 ADLs | Inability to perform at least 1 out of 6 ADLs |
| Payout period | Lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime |
| Initial Lump Sum Support Benefit (One Time) | 3 times the monthly benefit | 300% of Monthly Benefit if due to 2 out of 6 ADLs 600% of Monthly Benefit if due to 3 out of 6 ADLs | 3 times the monthly benefit payable upon inability to perform at least 1 ADL |
| Monthly Cash Benefit Amount | S$200 to S$5,000 per month (in increments of S$100) on top of CareShield Life’s payout | S$1,200 to S$5,000 per month (in increments of S$100). CareShield Life monthly cash benefit is part of the total monthly benefit if claim is due to 3 out of 6 ADLs | S$300 to S$5,000 per month (in increments of S$100) on top of CareShield Life’s payout |
ADLs refers to Actitivies of daily living, read on to know more.
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Who is this for?
CareShield Life’s coverage extends to Singaporeans and permanent residents, and includes those who don’t currently reside in Singapore. Coverage is mandatory. You will be automatically enrolled when you turn 30, regardless of pre-existing medical conditions and disability.
Born after 1990 (aged below 30 in 2020)
Coverage is mandatory. You will be automatically enrolled when you turn 30. Those with pre-existing severe disabilities at the point of reaching 30 will need to contribute once to join the scheme, and they can start receiving payouts.
Born between 1990-1980 (aged between 30-40 in 2020)
Coverage is mandatory. You will be automatically enrolled when you turn 30 or on 1st October 2020, whichever later.
Born in 1979 or earlier
- Born between 1970-1979 (aged 41 to 50 in 2020) with existing ElderShield and not severely disabled:
Coverage is optional. You will be automatically enrolled into CareShield Life from 1 December 2021. However, you can opt out by 31st Dec 2023 if you do not wish to remain on CareShield Life. (More information to be announced later.)
- Born in 1979 or earlier, without existing ElderShield:
You can choose to join CareShield Life from 1 December 2021 onwards if you are currently not disabled via Application to join CareShield Life e-Service.
READ MORE: All You Need To Know About CareShield Life
What does it cover, and how does it benefit me?
CareShield Life provides a payout upon severe disability to help with the cost of long term care.
Severe disability is defined as needing assistance in at least three of these six activities of daily living (ADLs):
- Eating without help
- Getting dressed
- Using the toilet
- Bathing
- Moving or walking on flat ground
- Transferring from the bed to a chair, or vice versa.
Extracted from AIC.sg
Payouts are planned with inflation in mind
In 2020, the payout amount starts at S$600/month. This amount will increase by 2% per year.
For each individual’s payout, the amount will be fixed at age 67 or when a successful claim is made, whichever occurs first.
Once a successful new claim is made, your monthly payout amount will remain fixed for the duration of your severe disability.
Source: Careshield Life
What’s the difference between ElderShield and CareShield Life?
| ElderShield | CareShield Life | |
| Entry age | Age 40 | Age 30 |
| Administered by | Private insurers: Aviva, Great Eastern or Income. | Singapore government |
| Monthly disability benefit | S$300 (Before Aug 2007) S$400 (Aug 2007 – Oct 2021) | S$600 onwards |
| Escalating monthly disability benefit | No | Yes. Monthly disability benefit will increase at a projected rate of 2% p.a. until the age of 67. However, should an individual make a claim before age 67, the benefit will be fixed based on the payout at the year of claim. |
| Duration of pay-outs | ElderShield 300 60 months ElderShield 400 72 months | For life |
| Premiums | Fixed. Premiums are determined at the age of entry | Premiums will increase over time. |
| Premium payment term | Age 40 to 65 | Age 30 to 67 |
| Premiums at entry age* | ElderShield 300 Male: S$151.67 Female: S$194.26 ElderShield 400 Male: S$174.96 Female: S$217.76 | CareShield Life Male: S$175 Female: S$218 |
| Option to opt out? | Yes | No |
| Eligibility for coverage | Excludes individuals with pre-existing disabilities | Includes individuals with pre-existing disabilities |
For those born before 1980, should you switch to CareShield?
READ MORE: All You Need To Know About CareShield Life and Switching
What happens if I need to make a claim?
Step 1: Contact an MOH-accredited severe disability assessor to undergo a disability assessment
Refer to the list here.
- Fees are waived for the first disability assessment, regardless of claim results.
- Subsequent assessments are payable by the claimant but refundable upon a successful claim
The fees are as follows, if:
- You visit an assessor’s Clinic: S$100
- An assessor visits your house: S$250
Step 2: Claim application
You could submit the claim via any of the following methods:
- AIC’s eService portal (eFASS) with your Singpass
- Email to apply@aic.sg
- Walk in to any of our AIC Links to request for a hardcopy application form
You could apply for yourself or as a caregiver to a disabled person. It is recommended to nominate a caregiver’s bank account to receive the payout.
Refer to this guide if you need more information on how to proceed with your application on eFASS.
Should the care recipient lack mental capacity, please go through the Additional Guidance.
Source: AIC.sg
Singaporeans have a life expectancy of 84.8 years.
As you age, the risk of becoming disabled may also increase.
How do you know if you have one already?
If you are not sure if you have a supplement, you could find out by following these steps.
- Go to cpf.gov.sg
- Log on using your Singpass.
- Select “My Messages”
- Check for “CareShield Life/ElderShield” under the “Healthcare” section.
If you have a Supplement, this section will let you know the insurer you are covered under (i.e. Aviva, Great Eastern or Income). Refer to image here to see how it would look like.
Tip: Sync your insurance via Planner Bee to check the details on your CareShield life supplement. You will need your login credential to your insurer portal before you try to sync.
If you do not have any supplements, the CPF website will not reflect any information on supplements.