Both full-time and operationally-ready national servicemen will be provided life and personal insurance coverage by the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
This applies to servicemen in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force and it will take effect on July 1. It was one of the recommendations by the Committee to Strengthen National Service to better recognise the contributions of national servicemen.
Mindef and MHA will provide $150,000 group term life and $150,000 group personal accident insurance coverage during the servicemen's full-time national service or reservist duties. The appointed insurance company for this scheme is Aviva Ltd.
The same insurance coverage will also be extended to regulars in Mindef/SAF and the Home Team (Uniformed Officer) during their period of employment. National Service (NS) volunteers from the SAF Volunteer Corps, SPF Voluntary Special Constabulary and Civil Defence Auxiliary Unit will also be granted the same insurance coverage during their official duties.
National servicemen, regulars and NS volunteers who want to further insure themselves outside these periods, or insure their dependants, can purchase additional coverage. This scheme will be available on July 1 for MHA personnel and Oct 1 for Mindef personnel.
"The provision of this group term life and group personal accident insurance, which is on top of our current welfare and compensation frameworks, is our way to thank [our national servicemen] for their contributions to national defence," said Mindef's director for National Service Affairs Colonel (NS) Simon Lim.
MHA director of NS Affairs Directorate Colonel (Ret) Rupert Gwee said: "This group insurance is one of the many ways in which we look after the well-being of our officers, whether they are regulars, national servicemen or volunteers, as they go about their duties to keep Singapore safe and secure."
From 1 July 2016, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will provide life and personal accident
insurance coverage for all Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) and
Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) in the Singapore Armed
Forces (SAF), Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Civil Defence
Force (SCDF).
The initiative, named "MINDEF & MHA Group Insurance", is one of 30
recommendations by the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS)
to better recognise the contributions of national servicemen to national
defence and security, and to strengthen our care for them.
Under this new initiative, MINDEF and MHA will provide $150,000 group
term life and $150,000 group personal accident insurance coverage during
the period of their full-time NS and operationally-ready NS (ORNS)
duties. The premiums are paid for by MINDEF and MHA. National servicemen
who wish to further insure themselves outside these periods or insure
their dependants can purchase additional coverage, on a voluntary basis,
at competitive premiums.
In addition to national servicemen, the group term life and group
personal accident insurance coverage will also be provided to regulars
in MINDEF/SAF (Military and Defence Executive Officers) and the Home
Team (Uniformed Officers) during their period of employment. NS
volunteers, as well as volunteers from the SAF Volunteer Corps, SPF
Voluntary Special Constabulary and Civil Defence Auxiliary Unit, will be
provided similar insurance coverage during their official duties. These
personnel can also purchase additional coverage for themselves and
their dependants under a Voluntary Scheme.
The Voluntary Scheme will be made available from 1 July 2016 for MHA
personnel and 1 October 2016 for MINDEF personnel. MINDEF and MHA will
work with the appointed insurance company, Aviva Ltd, to ensure smooth
transition arrangements and to conduct briefings and roadshows to
national servicemen, regulars and volunteers.
"Our national servicemen form the backbone of the Singapore Armed Forces
and perform valuable service to our nation. The provision of this group
term life and group personal accident insurance, which is on top of our
current welfare and compensation frameworks, is our way to thank them
for their contributions to national defence." - Colonel (NS) Simon Lim,
Director of National Service Affairs, MINDEF
"This group insurance is one of the many ways in which we look after the
well-being of our officers, whether they are regulars, national
servicemen or volunteers, as they go about their duties to keep
Singapore safe and secure." - Colonel (Ret) Rupert Gwee Chwee Kee,
Director of NS Affairs Directorate, MHA