Jonathan Chua

Up to 6% of seniors (aged 65 and above) in Singapore suffer from depression. You don't have to be one of them. Introducing Senior Wellness on Health Buddy - The Senior Wellness function on the Health Buddy app is designed to equip seniors like yourself (and your caregivers) with tools to better manage mental wellness and stay healthy so you can age gracefully and independently. As this information is provided by healthcare professionals, you can be assured that it is advice you can trust. The Senior Wellness functionality was developed by the Sengkang General Hospital (SKH) team as part of their programme within the hospital (SHINE) and in the community (BRIGHT) to reach out to seniors. source

SYNNETTA HO shares how she dealt with her children's multiple food allergies Eczema, asthma, food intolerances and more – they are no one’s fault, says this mother of four, who has seen it all. “We had inconveniences, but not a handicap.” Synnetta Ho believes there are lessons to be learned and silver linings in any “adverse” situation. She has raised four children, aged 15 to 22 years – all of whom have some level of food intolerance. But it’s her third son, David, now 20 years old, whom she says “broadened my experiences”. “He’s anaphylactic,” says the 52-year-old project manager, simply. Since a baby, David was allergic to the typical foods such as dairy, soy, wheat, eggs, nuts, seafood, and more, says Synnetta. However, his allergies didn’t stop at foods – they included dust mites, mould and perfume! “Every time I’d walked into a department store [with him] and whenever we entered a Chinese restaurant where there might be ‘wok’ aroma, he’d turn beet red,” she shares. As David g...

Medisave Account funds are not just for paying medical bills, but can also be used for medical insurance and other policies to meet healthcare needs "You can die in Singapore, but you can’t afford to fall sick here" is a common refrain heard on the street. A recent survey by research company GfK found that 42 per cent of respondents expressed concern about the cost of healthcare in Singapore. September 2013's inflation data released by the Department of Statistics showed that healthcare costs went up by 4 per cent compared to the same period a year ago, higher than the 1.6 per cent increase in the overall consumer price index. But healthcare in Singapore can be affordable. The system has multiple tiers of protection to ensure that no Singaporean is denied access to basic healthcare because of affordability issues. The first tier of protection comes from heavy government subsidies which all Singaporeans can access. The second tier of protection is provided by Medisave, a c...

​An adequate health insurance policy for your child may be the best way to stay covered despite increasing medical costs Getting adequate and comprehensive health insurance for your child is your best bet to hedge against increasing medical costs, according to Ms Wendy Soong, an executive financial consultant with NTUC Income. She suggests considering the following points before shopping for a policy. Tips to choose a health insurance policy for your child - Assess your current financial and medical situation. Medisave funds can be used to pay the annual premiums of basic health insurance or the government-approved Integrated Shield Plans only. All other insurance plans must be paid in cash. How much you pay depends on your child’s age, the age of both parents, the sum assured, and the payment terms and period. How much insurance to buy depends on your desired lifestyle, expectations, affordability and objectives. Review your family’s medical history. If there is a strong history of ca...