The insurer says it is prioritising facilities that deliver the same care with higher transparency and cost effectiveness
[SINGAPORE] Insurer Great Eastern (GE) has temporarily suspended pre-authorisation certificates for Mount Elizabeth Hospitals from Tuesday (Jun 17).
In a message to its panel doctors, the insurer said that high costs from Mount Elizabeth and Mount Elizabeth Novena hospitals, compared to other private hospitals, have driven this decision.
“We have observed that average hospital charges at these two facilities are consistently higher than those at comparable private hospitals for similar procedures and case profiles,” GE said. “This has a direct impact on out-of-pocket expenses and insurance affordability for our customers.”
As part of its commitment to long-term sustainability and to manage escalating healthcare inflation, GE said it is prioritising facilities that deliver the same care with higher transparency and cost effectiveness.
Pre-authorisation is a service where coverage for medical costs based on one’s policy coverage and benefits is approved before an insured member’s hospitalisation.
“We want to assure you that this is not a reflection of your clinical quality and patients may still choose to be treated at these hospitals,” said GE in the note.
Customers of the insurer can still seek care from Mount Elizabeth and Mount Elizabeth Novena, but will have no pre-authorisation facility, with no change to their benefits and claims assessed as usual.
This suspension will not affect other IHH hospitals and facilities such as Gleneagles and Parkway East.
The Business Times has reached out to Great Eastern and IHH for comments.
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