Table 3.
Paradigm “Commercial Insurance + Social Insurance” Examples
| Singapore | Germany | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Policies | General Policies | ||||||
| Specific Regulations | Date | Source | Access | Specific Regulations | Date | Source | Access |
| From 7 March 2020, foreigners who are short-term visit pass holders (STVP) who seek treatment for COVID-19 in Singapore will need to pay for their treatment. MOH will continue to waive COVID-19 testing fees for all STVP holders as part of our public health measures to identify and initiate contact tracing for confirmed cases who may have been infectious while in Singapore. The government will continue to pay for the COVID-19 testing fees and hospital bill in full for Singapore Residents and long term pass holders who are admitted to public hospitals for COVID-19. |
2020.3.9 | Ministry of Health | https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/three-more-cases-discharged-ten-new-cases-of-covid-19-infection-confirmed | The Fuderal Ministry of Health (Bundesministerium für Gesundheit) can oblige the statutory health insurance (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) to pay for coronavirus tests or antibody tests in principle. This makes tests possible to a wider extent than before – even if someone does not show symptoms, for example. Health authorities should also be able to settle tests bill via the GKV. | 2020.5.23 | Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (Fuderal Ministry of Health) | https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/covid-19-bevoelkerungsschutz-2.html#:~:text=Mehr%20Solidaritand#228;t%20Mit%20unseren%20Europand#228;ischen%20Nachbarn |
| Specific conditions | Specific conditions | ||||||
| 1. Government will fully pay for COVID-19 testing fees and hospital expenses of Singapore residents and long term pass holders who have not left Singapore regarding COVID-19 medical costs. | 1. Statutory public health insurance (GKV) will pay for COVID-19 tests and antibody tests expenses for all of its residents. | ||||||
| 2. STVP testing fees will be waived and other medical costs regarding COVID-19 shall count on themselves. Therefore, the government requires the STVP must have commercial insurance at minimum insured amount of SGD30,000 (since January 2021). Commercial insurance is essential to STVP. | 2. Germany will pay for COVID tests and treatment fees for foreign covid-patients from EU neighbor (2020.4.20) | ||||||
| 3. Singapore residents returning from overseas within 14 days and are found infected, the government (public health insurance) shall not be responsible for COVID-19 medical costs, the bills shall be settled by themselves or their employers or the commercial insurance (since January, 2021). Commercial insurance is very important to Singapore residents who plan to go abroad and to overseas Singapore residents who plan to return. | 3. Commercial insurance (Private Krankenversicherung, PKV) is essential to short-term visitors/foreigners who are not within the GKV coverage, and the commercial insurance is an important supplement to public health insurance. | ||||||