CHAS Dental Subsidies for Citizens in Singapore

The Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) is an initiative by the Ministry of Health (MOH) designed to make medical care more affordable in Singapore. A CHAS card in dental care is a key component of this scheme, providing subsidies to help alleviate the cost of dental treatments.

What is a CHAS Card in Dental Care?

By offering subsidies, CHAS enables more citizens to access necessary dental services, including routine check-ups, preventive care, and treatments. This focus on affordability helps in improving overall dental health among Singaporeans, ensuring that cost is not a barrier to maintaining good oral hygiene.

Your CHAS Subsidy Depends on Your Tier

The level of dental subsidy a cardholder receives under CHAS depends on their card tier, indicated by the colour of the CHAS card. The different tiers include:

Green: This tier does not provide any CHAS dental subsidies.
Blue: Blue cardholders receive a moderate level of subsidy, aimed at supporting lower-income households.
Orange: Orange cardholders are eligible for subsidies, but with specific exclusions and varying limits.
Merdeka Generation (MG): MG cardholders, typically senior citizens born between 1950 and 1959, receive enhanced subsidies.
Pioneer Generation (PG): PG cardholders, senior citizens who have contributed to the early development of Singapore, are entitled to the highest level of subsidies.

All Singapore Citizens are eligible to apply for a CHAS card. The application process is inclusive, requiring each household to submit a form for approval.

Specific Dental Subsidy for CHAS Orange, Blue, MG, PG Cardholders

The subsidies and limits for dental care under CHAS vary based on the cardholder’s tier. For instance, CHAS Orange and Blue cardholders receive different subsidy amounts for various dental treatments such as consultations, crowns, dentures, extractions, fillings, scaling and polishing, fluoride treatments, X-rays, and root canal treatments. Similarly, MG and PG cardholders enjoy enhanced subsidies.

To put this into perspective, for partial dentures with less than six teeth, Orange cardholders could receive a subsidy of $65.50, while Blue cardholders might receive $98. Complete dentures for Orange cardholders can be subsidised up to $170.50, and up to $256.50 for Blue cardholders. MG and PG cardholders typically receive higher subsidies.

Comprehensive Dental Services Covered by CHAS

The coverage under CHAS is broadly categorised into three main types:

Preventive Care: This category focuses on maintaining oral health and preventing dental diseases. It covers regular dental check-ups, which are crucial for early detection of dental issues. Scaling and polishing, vital for removing plaque and tartar build-up, also fall under this category.
Basic Dental Treatments: This includes the more common dental procedures that many individuals require at some point. Treatments such as fillings, essential for restoring decayed teeth, and extractions, necessary when a tooth cannot be saved, are covered under CHAS. These basic treatments are fundamental to addressing the most common dental health issues.
Major Dental Work: For more complex dental conditions, CHAS provides subsidies for major dental work. This includes root canal treatment, a procedure to save and restore an infected tooth. Additionally, subsidies are available for dentures, providing a solution for missing teeth and helping to improve function and aesthetics.

This table provides a comprehensive view of the subsidies available for various dental treatments under CHAS, highlighting the differences in subsidy amounts among the different tiers of cardholders:

Types of Treatments	CHAS Orange Subsidy	CHAS Blue Subsidy	MG Subsidy	PG Subsidy	Claim Limits
Consultation	$0	$20.50	$25.50	$30.50	Up to two consultations per calendar year
Extraction (Anterior)	$0	$28.50	$33.50	$38.50	Up to four extractions per calendar year
Extraction (Posterior)	$0	$68.50	$73.50	$78.50	Up to four extractions per calendar year
Fillings (Simple)	$0	$30.00	$35.00	$40.00	Up to six fillings per calendar year
Fillings (Complex)	$0	$50.00	$55.00	$60.00	Up to six fillings per calendar year
Dentures (Complete)	$170.50	$256.50	$261.50	$266.50	Up to one upper and one lower denture per three calendar years
Dentures (Partial – Less than Six Teeth)	$65.50	$98.00	$103.00	$108.00	Up to one upper and one lower denture per three calendar years
Dentures (Partial – Six or More Teeth)	$140.00	$210.00	$215.00	$220.00	Up to one upper and one lower denture per three calendar years
Denture Reline/Repair (Upper or Lower)	$50.00	$75.00	$80.00	$85.00	Up to one upper and one lower denture reline/repair per calendar year
Permanent Crown	$84.50	$127.50	$132.50	$137.50	Up to four permanent crowns per calendar year
Re-cementation	$0	$35.00	$40.00	$45.00	Up to two re-cementations per calendar year
Root Canal Treatment (Anterior)	$109.50	$164.00	$169.00	$174.00	Up to two root canal treatments per calendar year
Root Canal Treatment (Premolar)	$140	$210.00	$215.00	$220.00	Up to two root canal treatments per calendar year
Root Canal Treatment (Molar)	$170.50	$256.50	$261.50	$266.50	Up to two root canal treatments per calendar year
Polishing	$0	$20.50	$25.50	$30.50	Up to two polishing per calendar year
Scaling	$0	$30.00	$35.00	$40.00	Up to two scaling per calendar year
Topical Fluoride	$0	$20.50	$25.50	$30.50	Up to two topical fluoride per calendar year
X-rays	$0	$11.00	$16.00	$21.00	Up to six X-rays per calendar year

How to Claim Treatment with CHAS

Accessing dental treatment through the CHAS in Singapore is a straightforward process. Here’s how you can go about it:

Identifying Participating Clinics: Look for the CHAS stickers displayed at participating dental clinics. These stickers indicate that the clinic is a part of the CHAS network and is authorised to provide subsidised treatment to eligible cardholders.
Choosing Your Clinic: You have the freedom to visit any CHAS-participating dental clinic. However, for general healthcare, it is recommended to consistently visit the same family doctor for better continuity and management of your health.
Producing Necessary Documents: When you visit a CHAS clinic for dental treatment, make sure to produce your valid CHAS, MG, or PG card along with your NRIC. This is essential for the clinic to verify your eligibility for the subsidies.
Automated Deduction Process: Clinics like TWC Dental have an automated system to directly deduct the applicable CHAS subsidy from your total bill. This process simplifies billing, as the subsidised amount is immediately accounted for, and you only need to pay the remaining balance.
Managing Your CHAS Dental Subsidies: Keeping track of your subsidies and claim limits is important. You can log in to the MyCHAS portal using your SingPass to check the amount of subsidies you have utilised and the remaining claim limits for the calendar year. This helps in planning your dental treatments and ensures you are aware of your subsidy entitlements.

Public Assistance (PA) Scheme for Dental Care

Also referred to as Comcare Long Term Assistance, Public Assistance (PA) cardholders can enjoy specific dental benefits under this scheme:

Full CHAS Subsidies without Separate Application: Individuals holding the PA card are automatically eligible to receive the full subsidies under CHAS for dental procedures. This benefit is significant as it eliminates the need for PA cardholders to apply separately for CHAS, streamlining access to dental care.
Coverage for a Range of Dental Treatments: PA cardholders have access to various dental treatments covered under CHAS.
Applicability of Limits: PA cardholders are still subject to certain limits. These limits could pertain to the number of visits allowed per year or the types of treatments covered.

When visiting participating CHAS dental clinics, PA cardholders must present their PA card along with their NRIC to verify their eligibility for the subsidies.

Frequently Asked Questions on CHAS Dental Care Subsidies

How do I know if I'm eligible for CHAS dental subsidies?

To be eligible for CHAS dental subsidies, you need to have applied for and been approved to receive a CHAS card. You must first be a Singapore Citizen to qualify for CHAS. Eligibility for CHAS is also based on your household’s monthly income or Annual Value (AV) of your home. There are specific income thresholds for different subsidy tiers, with lower income households typically qualifying for higher subsidies. Remember to bring your valid CHAS card and NRIC when you visit the clinic to qualify for dental subsidies.

Do I need to make an appointment at a CHAS-approved clinic to use my subsidies?

Making an appointment at a CHAS-approved dental clinic is usually recommended. This approach allows the clinic to verify your eligibility and plan for your treatment in advance. It also streamlines the process of applying your subsidies to the services you receive. While walk-ins may be accepted in some cases, especially in cases requiring an emergency dentist, an appointment can ensure a more organised visit.

Can I use CHAS subsidies for cosmetic dentistry or orthodontic work?

CHAS subsidies cover essential dental treatments like teeth scaling and polishing, but their coverage for cosmetic dentistry or orthodontic work may be limited. Generally, cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening and veneers are not subsidised under CHAS. Orthodontic treatments may be covered but this depends on the specific nature and necessity of the treatment. For definitive information, it is advisable to consult directly with a CHAS-approved clinic.

How are the CHAS dental subsidies deducted from my bill?

Upon receiving the necessary dental treatment at a CHAS-participating clinic, the clinic will calculate the total cost for the services provided based on their standard rates. Following this, they will verify your eligibility for CHAS subsidies. The subsidy amount you’re entitled to under your CHAS tier will then be deducted from the total cost of the dental services. This is done directly by the clinic at the point of billing. After the CHAS subsidy is applied, the remaining balance is what you are responsible for paying.

What happens if I forget to bring my CHAS card to my dental appointment?

If you happen to forget your CHAS card when attending a dental appointment, there’s no need to worry too much. Dental clinics in Singapore are well-prepared to handle such situations. They can access your CHAS status using the CHAS online claims portal, where your details can be verified with your name or NRIC number. This convenience ensures that your appointment can proceed even in the absence of your physical card. Additionally, the clinic can also check the expiry date of your Health Assist card and determine your subsidy tier through this portal. This information is crucial as it helps the dental clinic understand the extent of the subsidies you are entitled to under the CHAS scheme.

Prioritising Your Dental Health with CHAS

Regular dental visits are crucial for maintaining oral health, preventing diseases, and catching problems early. CHAS clinics play a crucial role in this by offering subsidised dental care.