Stop insurer bias against persons with autism
Stop insurer bias against persons with autism
The Issue
This petition is to lobby for Government intervention, to ensure equal and ethical accessibility to essential insurance for all people, including people with special needs.
Insurance-discrimination goes against Singapore's commitment towards building an inclusive society and removing the stigma on disability and mental illness.
At present, autistic people have difficulty getting essential insurance coverage (e.g. Hospital & Surgical, Critical Illness, Whole Life, Personal Accident, Term Life, among others), with many applications rejected outright by Insurers.
This violates a principle of equality and justice - treating all individuals equally regardless of race, language, religion, gender, ethnic background or disability; propounded in our pledge.
Autism is not an illness.
“Being autistic does not mean you have an illness or disease. It means your brain works in a different way from other people” (National Health Service, UK)
Statistics show that 1 in 150 children here in Singapore has autism. There is a pressing need to address non-insurance of the autism community, a concern flagged by an autistic adult and several parents who have written in to Straits Times Forum (links appended below)
Autistic people, like neurotypical persons, become prone to health problems with age. With rising healthcare costs in Singapore, current insurance coverage like MediShield Life and CareShield Life is insufficient.
Autistics should not be denied essential insurance without valid justification.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) jointly wrote, with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), that insurers are expected to deal fairly with clients having disabilities. (link appended below).
We urge the government to go beyond setting guidelines. Instead, we urge the government to legislate against discrimination by insurance companies against applications by autistic for essential insurance plans.
Sign this petition to advocate for equal access to insurance for the autism community.
It is time that a first-world nation, such as Singapore, mandates the inclusion of reasonably comprehensive essential insurance coverage for hospital, medical, critical illness and other expenses for citizens with special needs, so as to be that “one united people” in a democratic society based on equality.
Articles on the Straits Times on this topic:
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/1-in-150-children-in-singapore-has-autism
https://www.straitstimes.com/forum/govt-help-needed-to-tackle-insurer-bias-against-autism
6,525
The Issue
This petition is to lobby for Government intervention, to ensure equal and ethical accessibility to essential insurance for all people, including people with special needs.
Insurance-discrimination goes against Singapore's commitment towards building an inclusive society and removing the stigma on disability and mental illness.
At present, autistic people have difficulty getting essential insurance coverage (e.g. Hospital & Surgical, Critical Illness, Whole Life, Personal Accident, Term Life, among others), with many applications rejected outright by Insurers.
This violates a principle of equality and justice - treating all individuals equally regardless of race, language, religion, gender, ethnic background or disability; propounded in our pledge.
Autism is not an illness.
“Being autistic does not mean you have an illness or disease. It means your brain works in a different way from other people” (National Health Service, UK)
Statistics show that 1 in 150 children here in Singapore has autism. There is a pressing need to address non-insurance of the autism community, a concern flagged by an autistic adult and several parents who have written in to Straits Times Forum (links appended below)
Autistic people, like neurotypical persons, become prone to health problems with age. With rising healthcare costs in Singapore, current insurance coverage like MediShield Life and CareShield Life is insufficient.
Autistics should not be denied essential insurance without valid justification.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) jointly wrote, with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), that insurers are expected to deal fairly with clients having disabilities. (link appended below).
We urge the government to go beyond setting guidelines. Instead, we urge the government to legislate against discrimination by insurance companies against applications by autistic for essential insurance plans.
Sign this petition to advocate for equal access to insurance for the autism community.
It is time that a first-world nation, such as Singapore, mandates the inclusion of reasonably comprehensive essential insurance coverage for hospital, medical, critical illness and other expenses for citizens with special needs, so as to be that “one united people” in a democratic society based on equality.
Articles on the Straits Times on this topic:
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/1-in-150-children-in-singapore-has-autism
https://www.straitstimes.com/forum/govt-help-needed-to-tackle-insurer-bias-against-autism
6,525
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on 14 November 2020