tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23918539.post2552944718104282966..comments2024-03-28T19:36:57.112-07:00Comments on Article 14: Why Pay in the first place?Subrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03684598463650484746noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23918539.post-61263682905701568702013-03-13T06:16:20.864-07:002013-03-13T06:16:20.864-07:00What if ... Everyone decided not to pay the levy? ...What if ... Everyone decided not to pay the levy? What are the legal implications? If a law is stupid, do we continue to be sheeple?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23918539.post-18379528217789038182013-03-02T01:22:20.991-08:002013-03-02T01:22:20.991-08:00I think I should clarify the nursing home charges....I think I should clarify the nursing home charges. <br /><br />Nursing homes in Singapore are either classified as private nursing homes or voluntary welfare organisations. Secondly, there is also the issue of MOH subsidy which is given on the basis of a means test that is administered. <br /><br />The waiting time for the VWO nursing homes and generally for those coming under the MOH subsidy can be as long as 6 months to 1 year. In cases such as that of my mother-in-law (hospitalisation due to fracture), there is a need for 'step-down' medical care though there was no need for continued hospitalisation. She was in the hospital for 3 weeks and the doctors recommended that it is best that she is transferred to a nursing home (from the perspective of costs as well the risk of infections). The VWOs were not a option because of the waiting time. Applying for the subsidised rates was a possibility as at that time, my wife was not working and based on the per capita income we would have just made it into the scheme. But, we were advised as to the processing time and waiting time for a place.<br /><br />We were given the clear indication that it was prudent to go for a private nursing home. That is waht we did in the end. It was a choice of her remaining in the hospital until such time that she could be discharged or transferring her to a private nursing home where the charges would still be lower than the hospital. <br /><br />The basic care charges came up to $2,300 a month. Most private nursing homes are in the $2,000 to 2,500 range for the monthly charges. Over and above the monthly care charges, you would have to fork out additional payments for 'consumables' which is a variable figure.<br />This, as it turns out, is common in nursing homes generally. In a month, I ended up forking out more than $1,000 for this. <br /><br />I managed the situation. But, I wonder how most of my fellow Singaporeans would cope. The least that the state can do is to get rid of GST for this category of services.Subrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03684598463650484746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23918539.post-85715231110715108582013-02-27T20:37:41.583-08:002013-02-27T20:37:41.583-08:00Let me guess, it's a subsidized nursing home, ...Let me guess, it's a subsidized nursing home, perhaps owned by NTUC or Temasek.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23918539.post-12741259003208089592013-02-27T20:13:46.545-08:002013-02-27T20:13:46.545-08:00Granted that their existence may not go well with ...Granted that their existence may not go well with all, supposed the decision to implement them was a cold calculation of overall cost and benefit then, which all public policy implementations are said to be based on.<br /><br />My two cents worth of opinion here is why are all policies made without an expiry date? The easiest excuse given for the continuation of any policy is that it is already there. Wrong, I think there should be an expiry date and a debate should be raised to justify why it should still be so or an alternative or none is better. That would be one sure way to ensure cost eating budget sacred cows are not there for eternity.<br /><br />Secondly, why are we not creative with these devices? For example, we can give GST rebate to companies to take back and dispose off waste, unused or obsolete parts and materials in an environmentally safe manner to instill an environmentally friendly and sustainable consumption culture that is unique in the world. <br /><br />Why are our policy makers to willing to exercise creativity and innovation with the tools they have created?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23918539.post-16068002968867391232013-02-27T16:32:06.820-08:002013-02-27T16:32:06.820-08:00$12,630 for a 3.5months stay in a nursing home???!...$12,630 for a 3.5months stay in a nursing home???!!!<br />THAT IS BROAD DAY-LIGHT ROBBERY!!!!! <br />Immoral businessman really know how to profiteer from the plight of sporeans!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23918539.post-2865633793904322342013-02-27T01:32:00.726-08:002013-02-27T01:32:00.726-08:00You said "It is a practical reality that many...You said "It is a practical reality that many Singaporean families face. Recognising that where both the husband and wife are working, hiring a caregiver is inevitable in situations where there are young children or elderly dependants, the government has had a system of lower levy payments of $170."<br /><br />In some other developed countries (notably the Nordic states that many netizens hope to copy), this is not true. Couples in those states don't often need a personal maid even if the couple is working. Group childcare and eldercare plays this role.<br /><br />So let us re-examine the assumption that "Got kid and elderly = need maid". If everyone thought like that, we're never going to be less reliant on large numbers of foreign labour.sgthinkerhttp://sgthinker.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23918539.post-54863648502232375602013-02-26T23:18:29.872-08:002013-02-26T23:18:29.872-08:00Holy crap, $13,510 for nursing home bill? That'...Holy crap, $13,510 for nursing home bill? That's almost my 1 year salary. And the hospital bill will be another $5K at least?!?<br /><br />Damn, I better get my PR in M'sia, Indo and Thailand approved asap. So when I reach 60 I will sell my HDB and take out all my CPF to go retire to some country town and grow my own vegetables and chickens. Dream of the bottom 40%.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23918539.post-56949599391704248272013-02-26T17:47:33.949-08:002013-02-26T17:47:33.949-08:00The maid levy is not a tax but a pricing mechanism...The maid levy is not a tax but a pricing mechanism to control the number of maids. But I agree with you, I would rather pay the levy to the maid than to the government.<br /><br />GST is universally applied to all goods and services. In Europe certain classes of goods and services are zero-rated for VAT. A case can be made for similar zero-rated GST for say, basic foodstuffs, hospital bills and other other essential stuff that will benefit the lower classes and lower the cost of living.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com