Ahmad* suffers from cardiac, diabetic and hypertensive complications and was scheduled for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), a high cost surgical treatment for his heart. TAVI was prescribed as the conventional surgical valve replacement surgery was deemed as too high-risk for his condition.
Estimated to amount to a total of $60,387.02, this surgery costs far more than what he is able to afford. Even after deducting his Medisave and paying $15,000 in cash, Ahmad still has a substantial cash component left to cover. This is especially so because he is not covered under Medishield.
At the age of 80, Ahmad is retired and lives in a 3-room HDB flat with his homemaker-wife and son. Ahmad’s son is the sole breadwinner in the family and earns a monthly income of $2,244. While this is sufficient to cover both the family’s living expenses and Ahmad’s medical fees, it is not enough to pay for the expensive, albeit life-saving surgery which Ahmad has to undergo.
In this instance, the NUH PCG sponsored $40,000, which is equivalent to 66% of the surgery fees incurred. Ahmad can now continue to enjoy his retirement years with the peace of mind that his health problems have not constituted to an overwhelming financial burden on his son.
*Name has been changed for patient confidentiality |
