Healthcare costs have been rising over the years under inflationary pressure, causing the benefits provided to diminish while the insurance premiums rise relentlessly. What causes medical costs to constantly skyrocket? Wonder what insurers can do to keep insurance plans affordable to the general public? Are you interested in knowing how you can utilize the benefits of your health insurance policy to help cut insurance costs? In this Pacific Prime article, we will discuss the major factors contributing to the surging medical costs, and how insurers and the insured can work together to help redu ..read more

Many financial rules for expats remain unchanged, wherever you’re living. Beyond the familiar faces such as the Merlion statues or Universal Studios, being an expat in Singapore means you’ll have to make necessary financial adjustments to suit your relocation abroad. Today, Pacific Prime CXA will go over three notable financial rules for expats in Singapore to live by to ensure financial stability for you and your family. Why Financial Planning Matters Singapore is an expensive country for expats to live in, ranking as one of the world’s most expensive cities for expats up to four times in a ..read more

According to a global ranking of the best countries for families to relocate in hopes of seeking opportunities for future generations, Singapore emerged in third place behind Switzerland and the United States as first and second place, respectively. The ranking is based on numerous factors, such as education, career development, income potential, employment prospects, economic mobility, and liveability. This means relocating to these countries allows greater potential for career development, access to better education, and boosting one’s income. Today, Pacific Prime CXA will go over what makes ..read more

Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced all the financial measures taken by the government to help both Singaporeans and businesses in his Budget speech on February 16. From providing financial aid to seniors and families in need to attempting to level up employees’ skill sets to improve competitiveness and employability outcomes, this article has you covered with all the information you might need. Disbursement Calendar: Benefits Overview According to the Ministry of Finance (MOF), the benefits are to be disbursed in the following order, spanning from April 2024 to March 202 ..read more

On February 14th, the Singapore government reported that at least SGD $7.5 million in GST (goods and services tax) was wrongfully charged on fees for 18 government services and affected taxpayers will get a refund. Today, Pacific Prime CXA will go over the Singapore government’s tax refund on the affected taxpayers following the wrongful collection of GST. Overview on the Wrongful GST Collection The 18 government service fees were wrongfully deemed as processing fees by six agencies. These include the Council for Estate Agencies, the Housing Board, Land Transport Authority (LTA), the Singapor ..read more

Imagine this: You’re on a well-deserved vacation with your family abroad, when suddenly alarms go off in your stomach, signaling you to head to the bathroom immediately. This is known as food poisoning, a foodborne illness resulting from eating or drinking something contaminated with germs. Today, Pacific Prime Singapore will go over food poisoning, its causes, the risks when traveling, and what to do if you happen to get food poisoning during your vacation. What is Food Poisoning? Food poisoning is a type of foodborne illness that results from people eating or drinking something infected wit ..read more

Pacific Prime is thrilled to announce our partnership with Doctor Anywhere, a pioneering telemedicine platform. As a leading insurance broker and employee benefits specialist, it is important for us to be at the forefront of transforming the current mode of benefit provision with our innovative solutions. This collaboration aims to bring cutting-edge healthcare services to employees through advanced technology, completely changing the way they access medical care and enhancing their overall physical and mental well-being. What is Telemedicine? Telemedicine refers to the provision of healthcare ..read more

Singapore is set to enforce the Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA) starting from February 1. This act aims to address the evolving landscape of criminal activities online and includes special provisions to tackle scams and malicious cyber activities. The implementation of OCHA represents Singapore’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens from online threats and ensuring a secure digital environment. In this article, Pacific Prime will break down how OCHA can effectively combat scams and cyber crimes and its consequent impacts. Background of OCHA Implementation The OCHA was passed in Parliament ..read more

Since the COVID-19 pandemic has ended, Malaysia’s Vaccinated Travel Framework (VTF) is no longer in effect. Instead, foreign visitors to the country will have to complete a Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) within three days prior to their arrival each time they enter this beautiful country. Singapore and Malaysia see a huge number of tourists traveling between the two countries every year as they’re neighboring countries. If you’re also planning your trip from Singapore to Malaysia and wondering how you should prepare yourself, you’ve come to the right place! In this Pacific Prime CXA arti ..read more

Once existing as almost a myth, bed bugs have made their comeback as a global resurgence that has infiltrated France, South Korea, and across the United Kingdom. As 2023 draws to a close, experts worry that travelers may unknowingly bring these blood-sucking pests into Singapore. During an announcement on national television, the deputy mayor of Paris Emmanuel Gregoire urged the residents to take the “widespread” phenomenon seriously. He emphasized how easily bed bugs can spread from household to household. “You have to understand that in reality no one is safe, obviously there are risk factor ..read more