Pioneer Generation Package: Eligibility & Benefits

Singapore’s Pioneer Generation has contributed significantly to our national development over the years. Find out how the Pioneer Generation Package honours and thank them for their service to the nation and if you are eligible for benefits under the package.

Without our Pioneer Generation leading the way forward over the years, Singapore’s rapid development would not have been possible. To thank and honour our Pioneer Generation for their selfless contribution and sacrifices of their youth, the government has introduced the Pioneer Generation Package. 

Under this scheme, approximately 450,000 Singaporeans are eligible for benefits. Launched in 2014, the nine billion dollar package provides a slew of healthcare and social support benefits that help eligible seniors meet their retirement needs. 

For those of us who are advanced in age or are caring for seniors, the Pioneer Generation Package has many benefits that provide financial relief and help us better care for ourselves and our loved ones. Understandably, it can be tough sometimes for seniors and caregivers to access information. We have thus put together this article to help you quickly understand what Pioneer Generation Package benefits you or your loved ones may be entitled to. 

Who is eligible for the Pioneer Generation Package?

You are eligible for the Pioneer Generation Package if you are a Singaporean Citizen who fulfils the following two criteria: 

1. Aged 16 and above in 1965 – this means:
   1. Born on or before 31 December 1949​
   2. Aged 65 and above in 2014
2. Obtained citizenship on or before 31 December 1986.

Eligibility for the Pioneer Generation Package is automatically assessed by the relevant authorities based on existing citizen records. If you are eligible for benefits under the Pioneer Generation Package, you would have received a notification letter in June 2014 based on the address provided on your NRIC. 

Additionally, eligible seniors would have also received a welcome pack by 1st September 2014. The welcome pack would have contained:

• A Pioneer Generation Card
• A list of six Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) Clinics nearest to your residence 
• A CHAS Clinic Directory
• Fridge Magnets
• Benefits Booklet

If you are worried that you might not have received the notification letter or welcome pack by mistake or if you remain unsure about your eligibility status, you can easily do a quick check on your own by entering your NRIC number here. Alternatively, you can also call the Pioneer Generation hotline at 1800-2222-888 to check on your Pioneer Status. 

Pioneer Generation Package Summary

The Pioneer Generation Package recognises that the retirement and living needs of Pioneers span a wide variety of areas. The package thus extends support to Pioneers across a range of ageing-related needs that they may have, including insurance and healthcare subsidies and disability assistance. All of the package’s benefits can be accessed by presenting your Pioneer Generation Card to relevant healthcare providers or authorities.

Now that you have figured out your eligibility for the Pioneer Generation Package, here is a quick summary of the benefits you can expect to receive:

1. Outpatient Care

• Additional 50% off subsidised services and medications at polyclinics and Specialist Outpatient Clinics for outpatient care on top of all existing applicable subsidies (i.e. you only need to pay for half of your final bill after deducting all applicable subsidies)
• $1200 per year for seniors who have moderate to severe disabilities under the Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme

2. Medishield Life

• Special premium subsidies (40%-60%) for your Medishield Life premiums
• Less premiums payable for Medishield Life than Medishield

3. Medisave Top-Ups

• Annual top-up of $200-800 for life depending on your age cohort

4. Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme

• Up to $100 per month in cash assistance for seniors who permanently need assistance with activities of daily living. 

5. Additional Careshield Life Participation Incentive

• An extra $4000 will be given in total as an incentive when you join Careshield Life in 2021 when it is made available to you. The amount will be spread over ten years and used to offset your annual Careshield Life Premiums if you join by 31 December 2023. This is on top of any means-tested premium subsidies that you may already be receiving.

Pioneer Generation Package: Specific Benefits and Schemes

If you would like to find out more about the Pioneer Generation Package and its offerings, we have also curated further information regarding the package’s specific benefits and schemes in greater detail below. 

Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS)

The Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) enables all Singapore Citizens to receive subsidies for medical and/or dental care at participating General Practitioner (GP) and dental clinics. As part of the Pioneer Generation Package, Pioneer Generation cardholders are entitled to special subsidies under CHAS. This includes subsidies for commonly encountered illnesses, chronic conditions under the Chronic Diseases Management Programme (CDMP), selected dental services, and health screening under Screen For Life.

The exact benefits for Pioneer Generation cardholders are: 

To access these subsidies during your visits to polyclinics or Specialist Outpatient Clinics, you must remember to bring along your Pioneer Generation Card.

To learn more about CHAS, click here.

Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme (PioneerDAs)

The Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme (PioneerDAS) is a financial assistance support scheme created exclusively for the Pioneer Generation as part of the Pioneer Generation Package. PioneerDAS provides up to $100 per month for pioneers with disabilities that they can use for care expenses.

To be eligible for the PioneerDAS, the care recipient must:

• Be a certified Pioneer
  • A self-check can be carried out here, or you can call the Pioneer Generation hotline at 1800-2222-888
• Live in Singapore 
• Require assistance with at least three out of the following six Activities of Daily Living:
  • Eating 
  • Bathing 
  • Dressing 
  • Transferring, or moving from one place to another 
  • Toileting 
  • Walking or moving around 

To apply for the PioneerDAS, you should first visit a General Practitioner (GP) or care provider to arrange for a Functional Assessment Report (FAR). If you happen to be applying for other severe disability schemes such as the Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly (IDAPE), ElderFund, CareShield Life, or MediSave Care, the FAR is not required. You should instead contact a MOH-accredited severe disability assessor for a disability assessment. 

Applications for the PioneerDAS can otherwise be submitted through the Agency for Integrated Care’s online portal using your SingPass.

To learn about the PioneerDAS in greater detail, click here.

Medishield Life

MediShield Life is a universal health insurance plan implemented by the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board. It helps to pay for huge hospital bills and certain expensive outpatient treatments like dialysis for kidney diseases or chemotherapy for cancer. It is designed to help individuals pay less from their MediSave or savings for huge hospital bills. MediShield Life replaced the previous compulsory national health insurance scheme, MediShield, in 2015. 

Coverage is provided for all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents. As part of the Pioneer Generation Package, however, Pioneers are able to enjoy specific benefits beyond the usual coverage. 

All Pioneers pay less premiums for MediShield Life. If you are born in 1934 or earlier, your premiums are fully covered by the Pioneer Generation Package. If you are born in 1935 or later and fully insured under the now-defunct MediShield, you are expected to only pay half the amount of premiums as compared to MediShield.

• If you are aged 66 to 80 for your next birthday, you will enjoy 40% to 50% subsidies for your MediShield Life premiums. 
• If you are aged 81 and above, you will enjoy 54% to 60% subsidies for your MediShield Life premiums

Additionally, depending on your age cohort, all pioneers will also receive $200 to $800 in MediSave top-ups annually for life. The exact amount received for each age cohort can be found in the table below:

To learn more about MediShield Life in greater detail, click here. 

CareShield Life

CareShield Life is a long-term care insurance scheme that provides basic financial support for Singaporeans in case of severe disability, especially during old age. It specifically addresses the need for personal and medical care for a prolonged duration (i.e. long-term care).

For Singaporeans born in 1980 or later: 

• If you are born after 1990 (aged below 30 in 2020), you will be automatically covered when you turn 30, regardless of pre-existing medical conditions and disability.
• If you are born between 1980 to 1990 (aged 30 to 40 in 2020), you will be automatically covered on 1st Oct 2020 or when you turn 30, whichever is later, regardless of pre-existing medical conditions and disability. 

For Singaporeans born in 1979 or earlier:

• If you are born in 1979 or earlier (aged 41 and above in 2020), participation is optional. You can apply to join CareShield Life from end-2021 onwards if you are not severely disabled. There is no age limit. 
• If you are born between 1970 and 1979 (aged 41 to 50 in 2020), insured under ElderShield, and not severely disabled, you will be automatically enrolled into CareShield Life from end-2021. You can opt-out by 31st Dec 2023 if you do not wish to remain on CareShield Life. More information on auto-enrolment will be provided closer to end-2021.

As seen from above, enrolment for Pioneers into CareShield Life is optional. The Pioneer Generation Package thus provides a participation incentive of $4000 to encourage Pioneers to apply for CareShield Life. This incentive will be spread over ten years and used to offset your annual CareShield Life premiums, if you join CareShield Life by 31 Dec 2023.

Navigating financial aid and relief schemes to provide the best care possible for yourself and your loved ones can be draining and daunting. If you would like to find out more about other financial grants and subsidies for caregiving, you can check our curated articles and guides on the topic here. 

Alternatively, if you would like immediate guidance and help with devising the best funding plan for yourself or your loved ones, fill up the form below for a free consultation with our Care Advisory team.