HONOURING THE “MERDEKA GENERATION”

So Uncle8888 is known as Merdeka Generation. :-)


Besides specific healthcare initiatives, the Prime Minister was also keen to remember another group of Singaporeans who have contributed significantly to nation-building: Those who were born in the 1950s, or the “Merdeka Generation”, of which there are 500,000 today.

Mr Lee recognised that when the Government introduced the Pioneer Generation Package in 2014 for those born in 1940 or earlier, Singaporeans who are a little younger would have just missed out. It did give those who were born between 1950 and 1959 annual Medisave top-ups of S$100 or S$200 but “a Medisave top-up is not quite the same thing as the Pioneer Generation Package”, he added.

As most of those in the Merdeka Generation are in their 60s today, and will have either left the workforce or will soon be retiring, Mr Lee said this group will be looking at their Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings and Medisave accounts and worry about having enough for their medical needs as they age.


“I think we owe something to them,” he said.

As such, he announced the Government will work out a Merdeka Generation Package, which will help this group meet their medical expenses. It will cover similar areas as the Pioneer Generation Package such as outpatient subsidies, Medisave top-ups, MediShield Life premium subsidies and payouts for long-term care.

He added that the Government will set aside a “significant sum” for the package, with more details to be announced next year.

“The benefits will not be as large as for the Pioneer Generation, who had much less advantage in life,” Mr Lee said. “But the Merdeka Generation Package will go some way to relieve their healthcare worries.

“And more importantly, it will show our appreciation for the Merdeka Generation and their contributions.”


Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/ndr-2018-ambitious-housing-healthcare-plans-in-the-works-10631432