Title: The Issues and Challenges of Migrant Workers’ Health Coverage in Singapore: Focusing on the Medical Insurance Coverage and Access to Health

Author: Kim, Joo-young

Name of Journal: The Southeast Asian Review(동남아시아연구)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the issues and challenges of health coverage for low-skilled migrant workers in Singapore with a focus on medical insurance coverage and access to Health. In particular, I will look at how Singapore’s efforts to expand the coverage of medical insurance and improve access to health in the critical turning point of COVID-19. As a result, I present the tasks to achieve universal health coverage that includes migrant workers. The primary care plan introduced as a response to COVID-19 has limitations in not including migrant workers who do not live in dormitories or work in designated industries and domestic workers, but it is meaningful to provide primary care at low cost. After COVID-19, NGOs cooperated with government in ensuring the health coverage for migrant workers. Migrant workers, who previously had limited access to healthcare due to various barriers, were able to access complementary medical services through NGOs. Although COVID-19 has revealed the presence of NGOs, Singapore's rigid government-civil society relationship has made it difficult to fulfill its expanded role. This study highlights the need for the government to strictly supervise employers and insurance companies and to attract NGOs as more active partners.

Keywords: Singapore, Migrant Workers, Medical Insurance Coverage, Access to Health, Universal Health Coverage, COVID-19