Importance Of Health Insurance
Recently, I read the news about Ms. Zhang Xiaoou, 24, an NUS undergraduate majoring in Quantitative Finance. She arrived in Singapore in 2003 from China on a PRC scholarship. A bright, cheerful, and strong lady, she set out full of aspirations. She worked her way to the Dean’s list for a first-class honors programme; only the top five percent of the cohort has this privilege.
She seemed to have a successful life ahead of her when her life turned upside down.
On the 4th March 2009, she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL).
She was shocked to hear the news, and said that she did not think it would really happen to her. However, she was faced with the reality that cancerous cells are spreading in her body.
ALL is a type of blood cancer, otherwise known as acute lymphoblastic leukemia or acute lymphoid leukemia. It is the most common type of leukemia in children under age 15. The risk of getting ALL increases in people ages 45 and older.
Her medical fees are a constant worry for her parents. She is currently undergoing treatment at the National University Hospital, and she will need a prolonged period of chemotherapy. Each treatment session costs about S$50,000. The medical bills is estimated to come to S$400,000. Zhang is also expected to undergo a bone marrow transplant soon.
Now, she and her family are faced with a medical bill of $400,000 while her insurance only covers for $30,000 and it is quite impossible for her parents to afford the remaining $370,000 bill. Her father, a Chinese government official, earns a monthly salary of approximately S$449. Her mother is unemployed.
This story spurs me to point out that health insurance is really a necessity for everybody, even for foreigner. It is the single most important insurance in one’s life. Everybody knows how expensive hospitalization and treatment cost are in Singapore or any other countries.
You should not let hospital bills to sap all your hard earned money. Let insurance takes care of it. Thus, please equip yourself with a hospitalization plan now before you regret it as a tragedy or illness can strike anyone, anytime and anywhere.
In the mean time, Zhang’s friends in NUS have already started a donation drive to help her raise the money for treatment. NUSSU President Kuan Yee Han revealed that as of date, S$125,000 has been raised. If you want to make a donation, please visit the students’ Facebook group: Save her life, Save her dream. You can also, visit the blog: Bless Xiao’ ou.
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December 10th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
I do not know what to say, right to the point. Thank You.