AIA Singapore has announced an expanded initiative to increase access to healthcare and mental health services for its policyholders.
Starting Nov. 4, all AIA insured members will be able to access telemedicine services provided by WhiteCoat, building on a previous partnership that limited these services to holders of specific plans, such as AIA HealthShield Gold Max.
This move enables over a million members across Singapore to receive medical care from home at what AIA calls more affordable rates.
This development comes in response to Singapore’s rising healthcare costs, which have significantly outpaced the general cost of living.
AIA noted that forecasts for 2024 suggest medical expenses could increase by 10.7%, fuelling concerns among Singaporeans about affordability. Surveys indicate that approximately 80% of Singaporeans worry about escalating healthcare expenses, reflecting a broad need for accessible and cost-effective care options.
AIA Singapore’s chief marketing and proposition officer, Irma Hadikusuma, said that the insurer’s latest steps are intended to support Singaporeans in “living healthier, longer, better lives.”
By extending its partnership with WhiteCoat, AIA aims to alleviate some financial pressures on policyholders seeking accessible healthcare options.
This expanded partnership with WhiteCoat is part of a wider AIA strategy to address what the insurer identifies as a protection gap in Singapore.
Earlier this year, AIA offered six months of free critical illness and life insurance to 15,000 Singapore residents as part of an outreach effort to close coverage gaps. Additionally, it has taken steps to make its policy documents easier to understand, reducing complex language to help clients better evaluate their own coverage needs.
In addition to telemedicine, AIA Singapore has revealed upcoming changes to its corporate insurance coverage, set to take effect in 2025.
The insurer will add inpatient mental health treatment to its Group Hospital & Surgical Insurance (GHS) plans, marking the first time such coverage is offered as part of these corporate policies. This extension will impact more than 1.3 million employees under AIA’s corporate plans, which account for nearly one-third of the nation’s workforce.
The update is a response to increasing demand for mental health resources in the workplace. Research shows that 59% of Singaporeans believe additional mental health support is needed, with many identifying cost and access as major barriers.
