Background

Since 2016, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have been purchasing Group Term Life (GTL) and Group Personal Accident (GPA) Core insurance for all full-time national servicemen (NSFs), Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) and eligible volunteers from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Singapore Police Force (SPF), and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF); as well as regulars in MINDEF/SAF (Military and Defence Executive Officers) and the Home Team (Home Affairs Uniformed Services and Home Affairs Services). This is named the 'MINDEF & MHA Group Insurance Scheme'.

Core Scheme. The core scheme premiums are paid for by MINDEF and MHA. Prior to 1 January 2023, all service personnel and eligible volunteers were covered up to $150,000 each in GTL and GPA coverage under the core scheme. The core scheme will cease upon the service personnel's completion of full-time NS, Operationally-Ready National Service, volunteer service, or the end of employment with MINDEF or MHA.

Voluntary Scheme. All personnel covered under the core scheme, public officers and civilian staff working in MINDEF and MHA, statutory boards under MHA, as well as DSTA employees, can choose to purchase insurance coverage for themselves and their dependents on a voluntary basis at affordable premiums. The premiums are self-borne, and coverage will continue even after the personnel leave service, so long as the premiums are paid. The terms and conditions of the voluntary scheme are administered by the insurer and the personnel will need to liaise directly with the insurer on the application for and any claims under the voluntary scheme.

Enhancements to the Core Scheme

Increase in Sums Assured. To help ensure that the financial support and protection we extend to our service personnel remain relevant and adequate, MINDEF and MHA has increased both the core scheme GTL and GPA coverage from $150,000 to $300,000 each for all service personnel, with effect from 1 January 2023.

Enhancement of GPA Scope. The core scheme GPA scope has also been enhanced to provide more comprehensive coverage, including for workplace injuries specific to MINDEF/SAF's and MHA/Home Team's operating environment such as noise-induced hearing damage or decompression sickness. This will allow service personnel to receive significant baseline financial support and protection should any form of death or permanent disability occur during employment or service. With these enhancements, the GPA policy has been renamed the Group Personal Injury (GPI) policy. The maximum GPI coverage that each individual can purchase under the voluntary scheme has increased from $600,000 to $1 million.

Next Steps  

Singlife has been appointed as the insurer to provide the MINDEF and MHA Group Insurance from 1 January 2023. The contract will be valid for a period of five years. MINDEF and MHA is working with Singlife to ensure a smooth transition in policy arrangements for all policy holders.