SMU Associate Professor of Law and NMP Eugene Tan said that the Pioneer Generation Package and the rise in CPF contribution rates highlight the fact that the spike in healthcare costs is a challenging matter that needs to be planned for in the long term. He said that although the Pioneer Generation Package did not offer free healthcare as some had hoped, it should be a relief to this generation, their children and grandchildren. He also supported the rise in CPF contribution rates as this will help workers ensure they have enough savings to pay for healthcare. He added that the Government must ensure that it has enough “firepower” for the Budget in election year, hence the Budget this time round is still a cautious one.