Great Eastern (GE), an insurance group, has decided to temporarily stop issuing pre-authorisation certificates for policyholders admitted to Mount Elizabeth hospitals starting from June 17. This decision was made due to the high costs associated with both Mount Elizabeth and Mount Elizabeth Novena hospitals when compared to other private hospitals. Pre-authorisation certificates are crucial as they confirm that the insurer has approved the medical treatment and related costs before the treatment commences.

These certificates cover the cost of procedures, medications, and other expenses, providing policyholders with a clear understanding of the expenses that will be covered and reducing the risk of unexpected medical bills. GE clarified to doctors that this decision does not reflect the clinical quality of the hospitals but is based on prioritizing facilities that offer high-quality care with greater cost transparency and efficiency.

Policyholders can still seek care at Mount Elizabeth hospitals without any changes to their benefits and claims processing procedures. Despite the suspension of pre-authorisation certificates, claims will continue to be processed as usual. GE's spokesperson mentioned that this temporary pause in pre-authorisation is aimed at addressing the issue of rising charges from the two hospitals.

Mount Elizabeth hospitals, owned by IHH Healthcare, are part of the largest private healthcare provider in Singapore. The other two hospitals under IHH Healthcare - Gleneagles and Parkway East - are not affected by GE's decision to suspend pre-authorisation. The CEO of Mount Elizabeth Hospital expressed surprise at GE's unilateral move and disagreed with the claim that prices at the two hospitals are higher than other private hospitals.

Patients with active medical care or past treatment records at Mount Elizabeth hospitals will continue to have cashless access to hospital admissions despite the withdrawal of pre-authorisation. GE assured policyholders that there will be no changes to their coverage and that all eligible and covered claims will be paid according to policy terms and conditions. The insurer is actively working to manage rising healthcare costs and ensure long-term affordability for policyholders.

As Singapore's healthcare spending is expected to increase with an aging population, insurance companies like GE are reevaluating their products to maintain sustainable benefits. GE, a subsidiary of OCBC Bank, has over four million policyholders and assets exceeding $85 billion. The insurer emphasized that the temporary pause in pre-authorisation is part of their commitment to keeping protection accessible and sustainable for all policyholders.

In January, GE reduced coverage for its Integrated Shield Plans (IPs), impacting policyholders who choose to seek treatment at private hospitals. Despite these changes, GE reassured policyholders that there will be no impact on their benefits and coverage, and all eligible claims will be paid according to policy terms and conditions.