Should you drop your Integrated Shield Plan? This health scare offers insights

A HEALTH scare that my husband suffered last month surfaced some perspectives on why a significant number of people, particularly seniors, may consider giving up their Integrated Shield Plans (IPs).

After the experience, I myself wondered – should we drop IPs altogether? We already downgraded from a private hospital plan some years ago to a Class A restructured hospital IP. We did not purchase riders.

At that point, escalating premiums at older ages were a factor. But private hospitals’ sky-high charges, the overconsumption of health services among policyholders, plus overservicing by private specialists also did not sit well with me.