CareShield Life and Long-Term Care Act 2019

• Act Code: CLLTCA2019
• Edition: 2020 Rev Ed
• Commencement: 1 Jan 2020
• Version as at: 25 Mar 2026
• Enacted by: Parliament

Section 1 — Short title

This Act is the CareShield Life and Long-Term Care Act 2019.

Section 2 — General interpretation

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —“Administrator” —(a) in relation to the CSHL Scheme, means the person appointed under section 5(3); or (b) in relation to the ESH Scheme, means the person appointed under section 11(3)

Section 3 — Meaning of “approved payee”

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, an “approved payee”, in relation to an insured person, means a person who is within a class of persons approved by the Minister to receive benefits under the CSHL Scheme or ESH Scheme

Section 4 — Meaning of “authorised applicant”

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, “authorised applicant”, in relation to —(a) an individual making a health declaration for the purposes of the CSHL Scheme or ESH Scheme; (b) an individual making an application for insuran

Section 5 — Establishment of CareShield Life Scheme

(1) There is established a severe disability insurance scheme called the CareShield Life Scheme or CSHL Scheme to provide payments of an insured sum to an insured person when he or she becomes severely disabled, during the period in which h

Section 6 — Application of CSHL Scheme

(1) The CSHL Scheme applies to —(a) every citizen of Singapore or permanent resident of Singapore whose birthday is on or after 1 January 1980 and who is at least 30 years of age; (b) every individual —(i) who, on 30 September 2020, was not

Section 7 — Application for insurance cover

(1) An individual who wishes to have insurance cover under the CSHL Scheme must apply to the Board in accordance with this section. (2) Despite any provision in the Mental Capacity Act 2008, if an individual lacks mental capacity, an author

Section 8 — Transfer date

The transfer date is the date that the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint to be the date on which the former ElderShield Scheme is transferred to the Government.

Section 9 — Waiver of prohibition of transfer

(1) A provision in any contract, agreement, conveyance, deed, lease, guarantee, bond, indemnity and other instrument or undertaking to which a private insurer is a party on the eve of the transfer date which prohibits or has the effect of p

Section 10 — Non-application of sections 116, 117, 118 and 119 of Insurance Act 1966

Sections 116, 117, 118 and 119 of the Insurance Act 1966 do not apply to, or in relation to, the transfer or proposed transfer of the former ElderShield Scheme to the Government mentioned in section 8.

Section 11 — End of insurance cover under former ElderShield Scheme and establishment of ElderShield Scheme

(1) As from the transfer date —(a) insurance cover under the former ElderShield Scheme ends; and (b) the ElderShield Scheme or ESH Scheme is established and applies to every individual whose birthday is before 1 January 1980 and who —(i) im

Section 12 — CSHL Scheme and ESH Scheme benefits

(1) This section applies to, and in relation to, the CSHL Scheme and ESH Scheme.(2) Subject to subsection (3), an insured person is entitled to one or more payments of an insured sum of an amount prescribed where —(a) the insured person is

Section 13 — Nature of rights and benefits under CSHL Scheme and ESH Scheme

(1) The rights and benefits of an insured person arising from his or her insurance cover under the CSHL Scheme or ESH Scheme are not assignable or transferable.(2) A policy of insurance issued under the CSHL Scheme or ESH Scheme does not cr

Section 14 — Premium

(1) The premium for each insurance period (called in this section a relevant insurance period) is payable by or on behalf of an insured person until the insured person’s obligation to pay premiums under the CSHL Scheme or ESH Scheme (as the

Section 15 — Refund of premium

(1) Where the whole or any part of the premium paid by or on behalf of an insured person is liable to be refunded under this Act, the amount may be refunded —(a) to the insured person in such manner as the Board may determine, including by

Section 16 — Claim

(1) Despite any provision in the Mental Capacity Act 2008, an insured person may receive benefits under the CSHL Scheme or ESH Scheme if any of the following persons makes a claim in accordance with subsection (2) and the Administrator acce

Section 17 — Disability assessment

(1) The Minister may, subject to such conditions as the Minister may impose, approve one or more individuals having the necessary qualifications to be assessors to conduct, and report on, disability assessments under this Act.(2) An assesso

Section 18 — Payment of insured sum

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, where a claim is accepted by the Administrator under section 16, the Board may pay an insured sum under the CSHL Scheme or ESH Scheme (as the case may be) to the following persons:(a) for a cla

Section 19 — Deferment or suspension of payment

(1) The Board may defer or suspend, for such period or further period as the Board may determine, the payment of an insured sum under section 18 in the circumstances prescribed.(2) At the end of every period or further period of deferment o

Section 20 — Protection of payouts

(1) Despite any other written law, all benefits (including goodwill sums) that are paid to an insured person, or for the benefit of an insured person, under the CSHL Scheme or ESH Scheme —(a) are not assignable or transferable, and not liab

Section 21 — Periodic disability review

(1) The Administrator may, from time to time, conduct a disability review in respect of an insured person receiving an insured sum under the CSHL Scheme or ESH Scheme, or for whose benefit an insured sum is being paid under the CSHL Scheme

Section 22 — Recovery of benefit paid in excess and short payment of premium

(1) If, on account of any material change to the information available to the Board or the correction of any error relating to an insured person or in other prescribed circumstances (if prescribed), the Board finds that any premium paid in

Section 23 — Demand note for outstanding premiums under CSHL Scheme

(1) If the whole or any part of the premium payable for an insurance period under the CSHL Scheme remains unpaid at the expiry of such period as the Board may permit (being at least one month) after the beginning of that insurance period —(

Section 24 — Defaulter’s agent for recovery of outstanding premiums under CSHL Scheme

(1) A recovery body may, if it considers necessary, by written notice declare any person (other than the Government) to be a defaulter’s agent.(2) The person declared to be the defaulter’s agent under subsection (1) is regarded as the agent

Section 25 — Defaulter’s agent in relation to joint moneys

(1) This section applies where the moneys mentioned in section 24(2) are moneys in a joint account of which the defaulter is a joint account holder, or are the proceeds of sale of any immovable property of which the defaulter was a joint ow

Section 26 — Payment by Government

(1) Where —(a) any outstanding premium under the CSHL Scheme is due from any person under this Act other than as a defaulter’s agent under section 24 or 25; (b) an amount is or would be payable by the Government to the person by or under an

Section 27 — Suit for outstanding premiums, excess payments and sums due to Fund

(1) All outstanding premiums imposed under this Act, all excess payments under the CSHL Scheme and ESH Scheme, and all sums due to the Fund, may be sued for and recovered by a recovery body in its own name by way of specially endorsed origi

Section 28 — Recovery from defaulter leaving Singapore

(1) Where a recovery body is of the opinion that any defaulter is about or likely to leave Singapore without paying all outstanding premiums payable under the CSHL Scheme by the defaulter, the recovery body may —(a) issue a certificate cont

Section 29 — Penalty for late payment of premium under CSHL Scheme

(1) Subject to subsection (3), if the whole or any part of the premium for an insurance period under the CSHL Scheme, or any interest imposed under section 23(1)(a), remains unpaid at the expiry of such period as the Board may permit (being

Section 30 — Recovery body

(1) The Minister may appoint one or more public authorities as recovery bodies for the purposes of this Part.(2) A recovery body may —(a) only exercise any powers under this Part which the Minister authorises the recovery body to exercise;

Section 31 — Health information

(1) Where the Minister certifies, under the Minister’s hand, that an authorised person requires confidential information relating to the disability of a person (called in this section a data subject) which is in the possession of a healthca

Section 32 — Confidential information

(1) Where the Minister certifies, under the Minister’s hand, that a public officer, a public authority or any other organisation or person (called in this subsection a recipient organisation) requires any particular class of confidential in

Section 33 — Offence and immunity relating to disclosure

(1) Subject to subsections (2), (3) and (4), a person who, knowing that any information about any other person was provided or obtained under any provision of section 31 or 32, accesses, uses or discloses the information, without the consen

Section 34 — General

(1) An approval under section 31(2)(b) or (c)(iii), 32(2)(b), (3), (4) or (6) or 33(2)(d) or a direction under section 32(1)(a) may be given on such terms and conditions, as the Minister giving the approval or direction considers appropriat

Section 35 — Establishment of CareShield Life and ElderShield Insurance Fund

A fund called the CareShield Life and ElderShield Insurance Fund is established for the purposes of the CSHL Scheme and ESH Scheme, comprising —(a) all premiums (including interest, costs and penalties under sections 23(1)(a), 27(3) and 29,

Section 36 — Payments from Fund, etc.

(1) All payments of benefits (including goodwill sums) and other payments (including any rebate mentioned in subsection (2) and reimbursement of assessors’ fees for disability assessments as determined by the Board) under the CSHL Scheme an

Section 37 — CareShield Life Council

(1) The Minister may appoint a CareShield Life Council comprising the following members:(a) the Chairperson; (b) at least 2 and not more than 16 other members. (2) The Minister may appoint a Deputy Chairperson from among the members mention

Section 38 — Establishment of Long-Term Care Support Fund

(1) A Government fund called the Long‑Term Care Support Fund is established comprising —(a) all moneys from time to time appropriated from the Consolidated Fund and authorised to be paid into the LTC Support Fund by any written law; (b) all

Section 39 — Purposes of LTC Support Fund

(1) The moneys in the LTC Support Fund may be withdrawn and applied only for all or any of the following purposes:(a) to provide premium support for the CSHL Scheme in the form of a subsidy of the cost of any premium of the CSHL Scheme cove

Section 40 — Expenses

(1) Unless otherwise directed by the Minister, all costs, expenses and charges incurred in relation to making any investment of moneys in the LTC Support Fund are to be charged upon and payable out of the LTC Support Fund.(2) All other expe

Section 41 — Withdrawals

(1) Moneys cannot be withdrawn from the LTC Support Fund unless they are charged upon the LTC Support Fund or are authorised to be withdrawn or transferred under this Act.(2) Despite section 13 of the Financial Procedure Act 1966, payment m

Section 42 — Financial year

The financial year of the LTC Support Fund begins on 1 April of each year and ends on 31 March of the succeeding year.

Section 43 — Accounts

An accounting officer of the LTC Support Fund must —(a) cause to be kept proper accounts and records of all transactions and affairs relating to the LTC Support Fund, or the transactions and affairs of the part of the LTC Support Fund that

Section 44 — Financial statements and audit

(1) The Minister must, as soon as practicable after the close of each financial year, cause to be prepared and submitted financial statements and accounts of the LTC Support Fund in respect of the financial year to the Auditor‑General, or s

Section 45 — Dissolution of LTC Support Fund

Upon dissolution of the LTC Support Fund during any term of office of the Government (within the meaning of the Constitution), the balance of such moneys remaining in the LTC Support Fund must be transferred to the Consolidated Fund and be

Section 46 — Investigators

(1) The Minister may, in writing, appoint any public officer or any other person as an investigator to investigate any offence under this Act.(2) The chief executive officer of the Board may, in writing, appoint any officer of the Board as

Section 47 — Power to obtain information

(1) An investigator who has a reasonable suspicion that any person has committed an offence under this Act may —(a) by written notice require the person to attend at such reasonable time and at such place as may be specified by the investig

Section 48 — False or incorrect health declaration, means declaration, claim or application

(1) A person commits an offence if the person —(a) makes, or assists in the making of, a health declaration, means declaration, claim or any application under this Act which is false or misleading in a material particular, knowing that the

Section 49 — Fraudulent disability assessment

(1) An assessor in making a report of a disability assessment that he or she conducted in respect of an individual under this Act must not give any information which is false, or conceal any information, with the intent of causing —(a) the

Section 50 — Misuse of payouts

(1) A person who receives any benefits under the CSHL Scheme or ESH Scheme on behalf of an insured person must first apply the benefits for the care of the insured person.(2) A person who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (

Section 51 — Obstructing investigators in execution of duties

A person who, without reasonable excuse, obstructs, hinders or impedes any investigator in the performance or execution of a duty or anything which the investigator is authorised, empowered or required to do under this Act shall be guilty o

Section 52 — Offences by corporations

(1) Where, in a proceeding for an offence under this Act, it is necessary to prove the state of mind of a corporation in relation to a particular conduct, evidence that —(a) an officer, employee or agent of the corporation engaged in that c

Section 53 — Offences by unincorporated associations or partnerships

(1) Where, in a proceeding for an offence under this Act, it is necessary to prove the state of mind of an unincorporated association or a partnership in relation to a particular conduct, evidence that —(a) an employee or agent of the uninc

Section 54 — Jurisdiction of courts

Despite the Criminal Procedure Code 2010, a District Court or a Magistrate’s Court has jurisdiction to try any offence under this Act and has power to impose the full punishment for any such offence.

Section 55 — Conduct of prosecutions

Proceedings in respect of any offence under this Act may, with the authorisation of the Public Prosecutor, be conducted —(a) by any public officer appointed by the Minister to conduct such proceedings; or (b) by any officer of the Board app

Section 56 — Composition of offences

(1) A public officer authorised by the Minister, or an officer of the Board authorised by the chief executive officer of the Board, may compound any offence under this Act that is prescribed as a compoundable offence by collecting from a pe

Section 57 — Power to delegate

(1) The Council may in respect of a specified matter or class of matters, by writing, delegate any of its functions or duties under this Act to a member of the Council or a committee appointed under section 37(5), except the power of delega

Section 58 — Change of address

(1) Subject to subsection (2) —(a) every insured person who is liable to pay any premium; (b) every person who is liable to pay any premium on behalf of an insured person; and (c) every person who receives any benefit under the CSHL Scheme

Section 59 — Certificate of officer authorised by Board to be evidence

(1) In any legal proceedings, a copy of an entry in the accounts of the Fund duly certified under the hand of an officer of the Board authorised by the Board to sign the certification is prima facie evidence of the entry having been made an

Section 60 — Protection from personal liability

No liability shall lie against —(a) any public officer; (b) any member of the Council or of any committee appointed under section 37; (c) any member, officer or employee of the Board, the Administrator or a recovery body; or (d) any other p

Section 61 — Service of documents

(1) A document that is permitted or required by or under this Act to be served on a person may be served as described in this section.[Act 18 of 2025 wef 01/01/2026] (2) A document permitted or required by or under this Act to be served on

Section 61A — Service of demand notes

(1) A demand note may be served as described in this section.(2) A demand note may be served on a person —(a) by giving it to the person personally; (b) by sending it by prepaid registered post to the address specified by the person general

Section 62 — General exemption

The Minister may, by order in the Gazette, exempt any person or class of persons from all or any of the provisions of this Act, either generally or in a particular case and subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order.

Section 63 — Amendment of First and Fourth Schedules

(1) The Minister may, by order in the Gazette, amend, add to or vary the First Schedule or Fourth Schedule.[Act 18 of 2025 wef 01/01/2026] (2) The Minister may, in any order made under subsection (1), make such incidental, consequential or

Section 64 — Regulations

(1) The Minister may make regulations necessary or convenient for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Act.(2) Without limiting subsection (1), such regulations may —(a) provide for the different classes of persons who are to be

Section 65 — Saving and transitional provision

For a period of 2 years after the date of commencement of any provision of this Act, the Minister may, by regulations, prescribe such provisions of a saving or transitional nature consequent on the enactment of that provision as the Ministe