> Quick view: From Monday 12 October 2026, the Haze Subsidy Scheme is back. Singapore Citizens aged 18 and below or 65 and above, and CHAS Blue, CHAS Orange and MFEC cardholders, pay no more than $10 a visit for haze-related conditions at participating GP clinics. Pioneer and Merdeka Generation seniors pay no more than $5, and Public Assistance cardholders pay nothing. At polyclinics, every Singapore Citizen is capped at $10.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced on Sunday 11 October that the Government is activating both the Haze Subsidy Scheme (HSS) and the Public Health Preparedness Clinic (PHPC) scheme, because air quality has deteriorated with the transboundary haze. It is the first time the HSS has been switched on since 2015. When we last wrote about the haze on 4 September, MOH's HealthHub page still said the scheme was "not being offered until further notice"; that has now changed.
At 9am on 11 October, the 24-hour PSI read 118 in the north, 115 in the south, 138 in the east, 152 in the west and 151 in the central region, all in the Unhealthy band (101 to 200).
How much you pay
At participating GP clinics (PHPCs), for Singapore Citizens:
| Who | You pay at most |
|---|---|
| Children aged 18 and below, seniors aged 65 and above | $10 |
| CHAS Blue or CHAS Orange cardholders | $10 |
| Medical Fee Exemption Card (MFEC) holders | $10 |
| Pioneer Generation or Merdeka Generation seniors | $5 |
| Public Assistance (PA) cardholders | $0 |
At polyclinics, for Singapore Citizens:
| Who | You pay at most |
|---|---|
| All Singapore Citizens | $10 |
| Pioneer Generation or Merdeka Generation seniors | $5 |
| Public Assistance (PA) cardholders | $0 |
In every case it is the cap or the total bill, whichever is lower, and MOH says no additional GST is charged on these fees. The age rules go by your birthday: a child qualifies if the visit is before their 19th birthday, and a senior qualifies on or after their 65th birthday.
The polyclinic row is the one most working adults will care about. If you are 19 to 64 and hold no CHAS, MFEC, PG, MG or PA card, a private GP visit is not capped under this scheme, but a polyclinic visit for a haze-related condition is.
Which conditions count
The scheme covers six conditions and their complications:
- Allergic rhinitis
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Conjunctivitis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI)
The doctor decides whether your condition is caused by the haze and is claimable. If you turn up with a haze-related condition and a respiratory infection at the same visit (MOH's example is conjunctivitis plus a common cold), you still pay no more than the cap.
The fine print
- One subsidised visit a day. Each visit is judged separately; if the doctor finds it haze-related, it is subsidised.
- Teleconsultations can be subsidised where the doctor judges it clinically appropriate. If the doctor asks you to come in, the subsidy applies to the in-person visit instead.
- Medication is prescribed in reasonable quantities for that episode, not as a long-term supply.
- Masks are not covered.
- Other illnesses are not covered by the HSS. They may still be claimable under CHAS, the Chronic Disease Management Programme or your company's medical benefits.
- Company medical benefits can pay the remainder of the bill after the haze subsidy is applied.
- No consent form is needed; by taking the subsidy you are deemed to consent to your data going to MOH for scheme administration.
What to bring and where to go
Bring your NRIC (or a birth certificate or student ID for children) and, where it applies, your Pioneer, Merdeka, CHAS, MFEC or Public Assistance card. Digital cards are accepted.
Participating GP clinics display a PHPC decal and/or the Haze Subsidy Scheme poster. MOH's haze page at moh.gov.sg/others/haze links to the clinic list on GPGoWhere. It is worth calling ahead, since not every GP is a PHPC.
If your household's per-capita monthly income is $2,300 or less and you do not yet have a CHAS card, MOH suggests applying at chas.sg now. Applications generally take up to 15 working days.
How long it will last
MOH has not given an end date. The scheme stays on until MOH announces it is closing. For reference, the last activation ran from 16 September to 22 November 2015, when the PSI peaked at 341, and about 50,000 Singaporeans used it (against 17,000 in 2013, when the scheme was introduced).
What it means for you
If anyone at home has asthma, COPD or sensitive eyes, the main change is cost: a haze flare-up no longer has to be a full-price GP bill for children, seniors and CHAS cardholders, and working adults without a card can use a polyclinic for $10. Keep checking the PSI on haze.gov.sg or the myENV app, and keep reliever medication topped up before the weekend.
This article summarises MOH's published scheme terms. It is not medical or financial advice. Confirm your eligibility with the clinic or MOH (hotline 6325 9220, office hours) before your visit.
