S'pore Bronze medal in Olympics

Seems like most S'poreans did not feel our pride swell when our table tennis players won a bronze medal. This is not normal, as rightly we should be deliriously happy that our team won a medal. After all it has been decades since our last medal at the Olympics.

One of the reasons is she is a foreign talent bought over by our govt with $$$. I think the main reason is there is a lack of connection between these foreign talents and us. After years in S'pore, most of them, if not all are still very foreign. Their mannerism and speech just to name some aspects.

She was interviewed and as expected spoke in heavily accented Mandarin. In her interview, she did not use the more endearing term 'my country' in Mandarin, but use the word S'pore - just like foreigner would do when talking about another country.

There is a table tennis match this evening - S'pore vs Poland. As usual our team is represented by foreign talent. The Poland player is using her left hand as her right hand is amputated below the elbow. I find myself hoping that she will win. She must have a hard time proving herself. Being able to represent her country in Olympics is likely a tough fight for her. Pity Poland lost. Did I feel proud or happy that S'pore won ? No.

It is sad, but many of us feel this way.

Medishield = Medishit

Once upon a time the deductible for Class C was $500 and Class B was $1000. As with all other CPF link policies, Medishield is so ill conceived and patch work needs to be done ever so often. Most of us citizens lost track of the numerous revisions since its implementation in the 1990s. Looks like each time the deductible is revised, it goes up by $500. This strategy will allow all the government privatised hospital to have free rein to jack up their medical fee while keeping the numbers of eligible claimants to the minimum.

Once upon a time the premium ranges from $12 to $240 (upper age limit was 75 years old then). The premium is always on the rise as insurance contract with the CPF is very flexible and all goal posts are perpetually shifted to extract the most from the public.

Medishield was revised in 2008, just 4 years ago. They are revising it again in 2012.  The deductible will be up by $500 for both Class C and B patients. Thus, the lower income group have to cough out $1500 medical expenses, which is very heavy.

The elderly citizens are the worst off with each revision.  In 2008 revision, the premium range went from $30-705 to $33-1123. The premium increased was the highest for the senior age group - 59% vs 10% increase for the youngest age group.

In 2008, the deductible was not revised for those below 80 years old. But for those between 81 to 85, the deductible for both Class C and B saw an increase of 100% ! Class C deductible went from $1000 to $2000, while Class B went from $1500 to $3000. Those in this age group likely need more medical attention. For those in the lower income range, probably they have used up the bulk of their retirement savings. Yet they are penalised the most.

This time round reporting from main stream media (MSM) did not mention this category. Not sure if it is affected or not as MSM always try to avoid and downplay reporting on unpopular government policies.

What we find incomprehensible is that Medishield has accumulated a surplus of $100 million due to premiums exceeding payouts. Why are they still bleeding us dry when they are so bloated up with our blood already ?

Paying interest to ourself - CPF ridiculous policy

Most of us who bought our flat in before 1990s took up HDB loans. During the 1980's the loan interest rate was 6% and more. Now if we don't meet minimum sum, we have to 'refund' CPF not only the loan amount, but the CPF accrued interest which we would have ‘earned’ should we not used the CPF money for the flat. So our money goes from CPF to HDB. We pay HDB interest for the loan. Now we have to refund accrued interest to CPF. In summary, it is money into govt pocket all the time.

The idea of 'paying back ourselves' CPF interest rate accrued is so ridiculous! We don't have the right over our own CPF money. It is as if we are borrowing from both HDB and CPF for the flat loan.

Raw Deal from CPF Medishield

We are taken for a ride again by the raw deal from Medishield. Govt claimed that the revised policy is to 'enhance' our healthcare coverage. Is it ? Our experience and common sense tell us it is another spin story.

As it is the existing deductible ($1000 to $1500)  is already so high that unless one is a cancer patient, terminal case....sigh- in really bad shape, we are bearing the full impact of the health care cost. Don't ever think of making a insurance claim even though we have been paying the Medishit ...I mean Medishield premium for decades.

Now they not only raised the yearly premium by 27% to 51% (depending on age group), they are also increasing the deductible by $500 for both Class C and Class B patients, which translate to 50% and 33% respectively. In other words, the lower income in ends up paying more. Does this make sense ?

But the disturbing issue is they can do all these without public consultation. We are the insured clients. No private insurance companies will do such thing to their clients, as it is illegal. If they offer enhance healthcare coverage, the clients have the option to opt in and pay the higher premium.

CPF Medishield run by the govt can shift every single 'goal posts' in our policy contract without battering an eye.  All this bull dozing, is this not abuse of power ?

MRT right to the door step of the casino entrance

One of the exits of Bayfront MRT station leads directly to the entrance of Marina Bay Casino. No wonder problem gambling (which govt term as 'gaming') is getting worst amongst local residents. After all MRT penetrated most,  if not all the HDB heartlands of Singapore. Our govt has made is so convenient to visit the casino which they call 'integrated resort'.

So who is to blame by making such visit seems so harmless and so convenient ?

Not long after the 'integrated resorts' started operation, they provided free transport at a few more populated HDB heartlands so the public can visit the 'resorts'. There was some feedback against such convenient provision which could encourage residents to visit the casinos ...- I meant resorts. So the govt acted and said it is against the law set up to govern the casinos and that the operators should not promote gambling via free transport.

Isn't even more convenient now with the operation of Bayfront station that the exit leads right to the entrance of the casino ? What an irony !