The proposal by the ElderShield Review Committee in January to make the policy mandatory is raising eyebrows, especially among the younger generation who not only share a disdain towards the name but also detest mandatory spending that cuts their pay cheque.

Many wonder why there is a need for such disability insurance in the first place. And if there is such a need, why does ElderShield start at such a young age? And how does this public insurance policy differ from the private ones? To address these concerns of the young, we have to start with the basics.