The policy updates include a first-in-market expanded inpatient coverage for mental health care and other enhanced benefits to provide more accessible and inclusive support for AIA Singapore’s corporate customers, at no additional premiums.

Designed to address the evolving needs of employees today, these improvements could benefit approximately one-third of Singapore’s workforce, according to the company.

Critically, over half (59%) of Singapore consumers believe that they need or might need more resources or support for mental wellness, identifying affordability (66%), accessibility (53%), and presence of workplace initiatives (51%) as essential resources and support required. This is especially worrying as nearly one in two (44%) Singaporeans experience mental health struggles.

Businesses also face considerable repercussions from poor employee mental health, with productivity losses reaching up to 40% among those struggling with mental health issues. AIA Singapore’s corporate insurance policy enhancements aim to make a substantial positive difference for the more than 1.3 million employees they insure.

In 2025, corporate employees insured by AIA Singapore will receive enhanced support for their mental wellness under the Group Hospital & Surgical Insurance (GHS). AIA Singapore will be the first in market to expand inpatient plans to automatically include inpatient mental care. This ensures that the actual costs of inpatient mental health treatments will be fully covered, up to the plan’s maximum limit.

AIA Singapore aims to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health – with six in 10 (58%) Singapore consumers believing there to be one.

With no changes to the premiums, other key corporate policy enhancements to be introduced from January 2025 onwards include:

• Including treatment for inpatient mental health care on an ‘as charged’ basis
• Increasing the age limit for senior workers
• Introducing mobile inpatient care at home as an alternative inpatient care delivery model
• Extending Accident & Emergency outpatient coverage to Singapore government hospitals on an ‘as charged’ basis
• Expanding paediatric care direct access, without referral letters, from age seven to 12.

In addition, as part of AIA Singapore’s efforts to equip employees with the tools to plan well for their long-term health needs, employees are now able to manage their future care preferences with WhiteCoat’s Plan Ahead Services (PAS). This simplifies the usually complex and taxing process of obtaining necessary legal documents, such as a Lasting Power of Attorney or Advance Medical Directive, providing a guided step-by-step approach.

According to research from the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, people with mental health issues are charged 27 times more for travel insurance products.