Oh, you have not heard about it. I am telling you now, it is
not called a tax and not really a tax. It is called Medishield Life, just like
the CPF Minimum Sum Schemes, they are also not called tax. To be exact, it is
called Medishield Life Insurance Scheme for everyone, young and old, sick or
healthy, no one will be missed. It is compulsory! It is as good as till death
do we part. And very likely from the very moment when a child is born. I am
waiting to hear the angels sing. One can choose to buy or not to buy an
insurance policy. One can choose to adapt a healthy lifestyle to avoid being
robbed by the medical professionals. This one there is no such option. Healthy
or sick, you pay. If it is not a tax, what is it? You tell me.
The GST is a very regressive tax where the poor actually pay
more as a percentage of their income. Even those without an income have to pay
the GST as long as one has to consume goods and services. But compares to the
Medishield Life, GST is nothing, or at least one can be selective and opt out.
One can eat or consume less or not consuming at all to avoid paying GST. In the
case of Medishield Life, there is no escape.
Now the little problem is what would the govt do to those
who really cannot pay and do not have any minimum sum locked up in their CPF to
be carved away? A legalised compulsory scheme imposing on the people to pay means
that not paying is an offence. It must be. Hsien Loong has mentioned about peer
pressure, making your neighbours or families or friends know that you did not
pay your dues, a way of shaming one in public. Would the expertise of Ah Long
runners be called upon for this? Would the full force of the law be applied,
with policemen knocking at your door for not paying? The evil is in the
details, so they say. Wait for the details. Many are so happy about this
comprehensive ‘cover all’ insurance scheme and earnestly waiting for it to be
implemented. So it must be a good thing.
Poor Sinkies are going to incur another unwarranted and
unwanted cost of living expenses imposed on them by the caring and
paternalistic govt. The govt is very foresighted and always been thinking of
how to take good care of the people, and with the people paying for whatever
schemes the govt can think of. It knows the people are over reliant on the
govt.
The foreigners need not have to pay for this living tax for
sure. The non citizens, not sure about the PRs, are not so lucky and will not
be affected. And if PRs are affected, their children and dependents who are not
PRs would definitely not be affected. Heheh, being citizens has its privileges,
to pay another tax.
With such a comprehensive and all encompassing scheme that
makes every living citizen pays, at $1k per citizen, it will be $3.3b added to
the GDP I think. If PRs were to be added, that is another 540m annually. With
an unthinking population over reliant on the govt to think and plan for them,
it is so easy to generate this kind of money with very little effort but a
stroke of the pen. There is no need to waste time and effort selling the
product. It’s a done deal and a very lucrative one. A super extraordinary
salesman and his super product, exceptional talent!
Would there be a political price to pay for this living
tax? Oops, I mean compulsory Medishield
Life Insurance Scheme for all citizens, or is it for locals only? One thing for
sure, the cost of living of the people, especially the lower income and the ‘no
income’ will just become more unbearable or simply unbearable and unaffordable.
Thank God you are alive and have the good fortune and
privilege to pay for this ‘living tax’. Is this a blessing or a curse?
31 comments:
we can laugh and cry
This is how talented they are. Pay and pay.
This is just another vacuum cleNer lar or using the same one with extra boost lor. Knn what to do, u tell me lar
Respectfully the idea is a good one, many European countries has it, some even covers overseas treatments if not available in country. Problems are the goons that is going to run the programs, if it is going another organisation that is going to milk the people or help the organisation run efficiently
In moments like these, ain't I glad that I am a pioneer generation. No need to pay living tax as RB called it because oldies here aren't living. We are just existing from day to day. The only tax we need to be conscious about is pay RB kopi taxi!
I think this kind of scheme should always be based on income. Those with low or nil income should not pay at all but still entitle to the benefits. This is what a collective society is.
I wish I can make it compulsory for bloggers here to buy me kopi everytime they visit. Won't that be nice.
With the high medical cost, something must be done. Either rein back the medical profession from robbing the patients demanding ever higher and higher fees or a public medical service to serve the people instead of joining the fray.
Build more hospitals, more doctors, and more generous govt subsidies and higher budget for health care.
The oldies should enjoy more free basic medicare or paying a small fee in public hospitals. No need for big ops that can bankrupt even a working adults.
Look at the major changes in SMRT when it was to max every train capacity, squeezing as many commuters as possible, it is now getting more trains to move the commuters faster to their destinations. It is a basic essential service where efficient service should be the key performance factor without losing money of course. From profit to efficient service.
They allowed the professions to go charge like crazy, including landlords raising rents. Then they come and say sayang sayang. We will help you but let us empty your pocket first.
Welcome to Singapore, where your problems will grow, your worries triple, we have everything that money can buy, all you have to do is pay, and pay, and pay.
It is a pleasure to buy kopi for you red bean.
When margaret thatcher tried to implement the poll tax, there were riots in london. it led to her downfall.
Is there anything in Singapore under the PAP gahmen that is not going to cost Singaporeans a lot of money?
Vote PAP some more lah!
Enjoy more PAP subsidies lah!
You will go broke enjoying PAP's subsidy system.
I remember back in the day when the govt first introduced the COE at $1000. Many fuckers like myself was laughing at the govt: "Who the fuck is going to pay $1000 for apiece paper to own a car?"
Well, the govt had the last laugh. COE prices in in the 100k region these days.
The govt can LEGALLY tax anything for any reason.
Matilar, not $1000 lar it was $5000.
Southernglory has deleted his thread on Chin Peng.
"Would there be a political price to pay for this living tax? "
RB
There would not be any political price for PAP as long as the strongest opposition is not ready to be govt.
Cant say anything about Medishield Life as details are not out. Do hope it will be kind and people friendly. However, want to add that GST starts 10 months BEFORE ONE COMES INTO BEING. Almost a year before one has air drawn into ones' own nosetrils.
patriot
When Ah Long says he's on your side, the govt wants to help you, make things affordable, there are schemes in place if you need help .....be afraid ,...BE VERY AFRAID !
It's best you don't get help, cause everytime they help you or give you market subsidies, then you kena suck dry lor
This Medishield Life is a good scheme that even those with pre-medical condition can get yourselves insure . The bad thing is that it is compulsory and you cannot opt out . So redbean is right , it is a living tax to be alive till you die . No choice lah! Cannot fall dead right ... still needs to live .
patriot say;
"Cant say anything about Medishield Life as details are not out. Do hope it will be kind and people friendly."
There is a sucker born every minute.
And this is why PAP will always win the majority of the votes in a General Elections.
After being conned so many times.
Patriot still hopes it will be different this time.
In a democracy, you really get the government you deserve.
I will have no regrets when I get a chance to emigrate.
How to fly like an eagle when you run with turkeys?
How to vote in an Opposition government when you have gullible compatriots who get conned every single time?
I fear for us poor sinkies.
Singapore will become like ancient China where people had to sell land, house, wife and children just to pay taxes. Or offer themselves for slave labour.
It will not be surprising when they enforce a HDB reverse mortgage scheme to *help* sinkies pay the premiums.
Heard quite a few saying lately that Pappies are trying to engineer a scheme to lose big in the Next General Election. Any possibility of it?
It's scary to read your article, warning us of the obstacles ahead. Where to get the money to pay, huh ? Thank you, Sir, for the write up.
"Heard quite a few saying lately that Pappies are trying to engineer a scheme to lose big in the Next General Election. Any possibility of it?"
September 29, 2013 10:25 pm
Ha Ha!
So this is the PAPigs latest explanation of their recent string of incompetencies and screw ups over the last 10 years.
The other more plausible explanation?
Who was the Prime Minister over the last 10 years?
RB: "Would there be a political price to pay for this living tax? Oops, I mean compulsory Medishield Life Insurance Scheme for all citizens, or is it for locals only? One thing for sure, the cost of living of the people, especially the lower income and the ‘no income’ will just become more unbearable or simply unbearable and unaffordable."
History has shown that for most policies enacted or to be enacted, there is a story or stories behind them. What is the likely story behind this potential or soon to come policy? Will it be shelved after second, 3rd, ..... nth thoughts? Would it be KIV before next GE after realising its potential devastating implications? Or would it become a watered down version after nth deliberations? Would it end up like the "Nuclear Power Plant" proposal which got shot down in the end? What is the exact story behind this latest proposal? What could be the likely story? Is it a short story or long story? Is it a few chapters or as lengthy as the "Long March"? Let me venture to start a few sentences. Hopefully, some renowned journalistic writing talents and many other accomplished contributors out there would like to help fill in other parts of the story. Perhaps, it may go like this:
Obviously, some reforms in the healthcare sector is needed and people especially the pioneer generation oldies need to be taken care of. Ideas were solicited amidst many other outstanding and potential future issues facing the population. Some "smart guy" suggested "Medishield Life" & the hatched scheme goes something like this: " ...... xyz ......... ". "Brilliant!" was the initial reaction among the group of thinking "wise men". So, .....
PS: Pls help continue the story sensibly. No "incorrect" stories please! Any apparent error pls clarify with the corresponding contributor.
Nothing surprising.
In GST we already have a tax on the unborn and the long dead.
I agree with some people here that pay and pay is here to stay for good.
Just train more nurses and doctors and give free rents to hospitals and clinics like they give free 'rents' or 'free tax' to many big mncs to locate here and the high medical costs will go away. The root of the high medical costs in a way the result of their lousy policies making.
Working couple with retired parents and schooling children or pre school children, how much premiums would they have to cough out to pay for themselves, parents and children?
"Now the little problem is what would the govt do to those who really cannot pay and do not have any minimum sum locked up in their CPF to be carved away?"
This is not a problem for the money minded PAP and I am sure they have already figured out the maths before making this decision.
If the idea of making the less well off have the minimum sum in their CPF, the govt is encouraging them to sell back part of their HDB lease, thereby forcing them to put part of the proceeds into their minimum sum. Many are put off by this ruling and are therefore reluctant to take up the offer.
With more than 90 percent of Sinkies living in HDB, there is no fear of who can or cannot pay up because ultimately, every penny from sale of HDB flats goes through them. There is no avenue to escape the clutch.
Perfect scheme by talented leaders.
patriot
When that happens...the living will envy the dead.
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