How does Singapore’s healthcare system work?

Singapore’s healthcare system frequently ranks among the best in the world, and it’s admired by many other nations around the world due to its remarkable outcomes. Basic care at government hospitals is heavily subsidized, and sometimes even free for Singaporean citizens, with more deluxe care in private rooms charging extra. Singapore’s employees inject around 37 percent of their salaries in mandated savings accounts that may be spent on healthcare, housing, education, and insurance, with part of this being contributed by their employers.

The situation looks different for expatriates living and working in the city as they are not eligible for the affordable prices available only to Singaporean citizens and permanent residents. Expats without permanent residency will, therefore, need to fill the gaps in subsidized care that their status restricts them with a comprehensive expat health insurance plan.

An overview of Singapore’s healthcare system 

Both public and private healthcare in Singapore are subject to government regulations.  Singaporeans enjoy universal healthcare – meaning the public health system is funded by the government and mandatory health insurance. Patients can access care in public facilities with ease, however, the public healthcare is not free.

Singapore’s public health insurance system

Singapore’s public healthcare is funded by taxes, which only cover about one-fourth of Singapore’s total health costs. Individuals and their employers pay for the rest in the form of mandatory life insurance schemes and deductions from the compulsory savings plan, or the Central Provident Fund (CPF). The basic structure of the Lion City’s public health insurance system is built around Medishield, Medisave, and Medifund. Here, we will focus on Medishield and Medisave:

Medishield: For big expenses, Singaporeans can access their Medishield Life, a basic health insurance scheme that all permanent residents and citizens can use to pay for large bills, as well as costly outpatient treatments like kidney dialysis. Those seeking to top up their Medishield Life plans can purchase Private Integrated Shield Plans, which are designed and managed by private health insurance companies.
Medisave: This is a mandatory savings plan that consumes between 7 and 9.5 percent of a worker’s wages. Singaporeans can use their Medisave accounts to pay for some types of routine care.

Medishield and Medisave are the core of Singapore’s health insurance system. Citizens and permanent residents pay routine expenses out of their Medisave account, and if things get bad enough that they hit their deductible, they begin using the Medishield account.

If you’re not a registered permanent resident, however, you won’t be eligible for any government help towards your healthcare, including MediShield Life coverage. Not only will you not be able to enjoy subsidised healthcare prices, but also if you don’t have private health insurance, you will have to pay for treatments and doctor visits out of pocket. For example, a first visit to a specialist outpatient doctor at the Singapore General can cost:

Subsidized Patients (Singapore Citizen)
Subsidized Patients (Permanent Resident) 
Private Patient  

Up to SGD 39
Up to SGD 59
SGD 114.49 to SGD 146.59 (depending on the type of specialist and experience)

Cost of healthcare in Singapore 

Unlike the healthcare system in many socialist nations, Singaporeans cannot walk into a clinic or hospital and receive treatment for free. Instead, Singapore imposes user fees for all healthcare services – a policy designed to reduce overuse of non-necessary medical services. 

For example, the Ministry of Health publishes public and private treatment fee benchmarks regularly, which gives patients an estimate of how much they should expect to pay for care. The benchmarks also give private health insurance companies a reference point when deciding what fees are considered Reasonable and Customary (R&C). Hence, if a healthcare facility charges well above the R&C fees, you may have to pay for the difference out of your own pocket.

Healthcare cost benchmark

The costs below are taken from the MOH Benchmark Fee website and typically consist of doctor’s consultation fee, ward charges, medication, tests etc. Prices also vary depending on the type of ward. Here, for public subsidised hospitals we show prices for Ward B – which is a shared room ward of 5-6 beds, with a semi-automated electric bed. For public unsubsidised hospital charges, we use Ward A – which is a single room, with a private bathroom and other conveniences such as tv, toilettes and telephone. All prices quoted below are in SGD.

Treatment
Public Hospital (Subsidised)
Public Hospital (Unsubsidised)
Private Hospital 

Emergency Expansion of Blocked Heart Vessels
5,122 – 7,153
15,816 – 18,005 
35,671 – 51,824

Respiratory Infections or Inflammations with Complications
966 – 2,011
2,807 – 6,505
7,942 – 23,656

Head Injury
707 – 1,763
1,141 – 1,826
3,355 – 7,328

Brain Stroke 
1,483 – 2,561 
3,718 – 7,424
6,065 – 14,180

Chemotherapy 
For day surgery:  51 – 171 
For day surgery: 144 – 285
For day surgery:  2,551 – 6,118

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
788 – 1,634
2,733 – 6,243
4,720 – 11,153

Renal Failure
933 – 2,103
n/a
3,171 – 10,228

Source: MoH website. 

Depending on various factors, the amount of government subsidy can range from 50% to 80% of the bill. Citizens and permanent residents then use their insurance (e.g. MediShield Life, Integrated Shield Plans) and MediSave payouts to cover the fees.

Hospitals in Singapore 

Public hospitals in Singapore are more autonomous than government-run institutions in other countries, which in turn creates competition in the public market and has generally led to a better patient experience, as public facilities keep costs low and service quality high. This also influences private hospitals and clinics to deliver exceptional healthcare, as they need to compete with already high-quality and cheaper public hospitals. 

Public hospitals

There are eleven public hospitals in Singapore: seven general hospitals, one women’s and children’s hospital, two community hospitals, and one psychiatric hospital. These centres provide inpatient, outpatient and emergency care, and for specialist services like dermatological care or dentistry, patients can visit separate speciality clinics. Public hospitals in Singapore are run similarly to private centres in other countries, thanks to reforms in the 1980s that gave hospital management a greater degree of independence from governmental control.  

At a public hospital, patients can choose from nine, six, five and four-bed wards, or opt for a private room. Various specialists are available at the same hospital, and institutions also run outpatient specialist clinics (such as urology and obstetrics) located away from the hospital’s main branch. Unlike public hospitals in other countries, public patients in Singapore can enjoy benefits such as short wait times, the ability to visit the same physician for every appointment, and a comfortable environment.

List of public hospitals in Singapore

Alexandra hospital
Changi general hospital
Khoo teck puat hospital
Yishun community hospital
KK women’s and children’s hospital
National university hospital
Ng teng fong general hospital
Jurong community hospital
Singapore general hospital
Tan tock seng hospital 
Institute of mental health

Private hospitals

There are 10 private hospitals in Singapore along with a variety of private clinics, and the majority are operated by three hospital groups: Parkway Holdings, Pacific Healthcare Holdings, and Raffles Medical Group. Patients who have visited a hospital belonging to one of these groups in the past may prefer to use their services while in Singapore. Non-public hospitals tend to be smaller; offering more private rooms and care that’s not only adequate but also luxurious – if you’re willing to pay.

For example, at Gleneagles Singapore, single room rates start at SGD 708, and their most luxurious, 5-star like suite can cost SGD 8,088 per day. At Raffles Hospital, single room rates start at SGD 668 and go up to SGD 5,888 for a luxurious presidential suite. 

List of private hospitals in Singapore

Concord International Hospital
Farrer Park Hospital
Gleneagles Hospital
Mount Alvernia Hospital
Mount Elizabeth Hospital
Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital
Parkway East Hospital
Raffles Hospital
Thomson Medical Centre
West Point Hospital

Expats will often choose a private hospital because, for non-permanent residents, the cost of visiting a private versus a public hospital is similar. In private hospitals, patients won’t have to wait quite as long for popular procedures, and private patients may also enjoy what some describe as better customer service.

Private health insurance in Singapore

Majority of expats are taking out private health insurance to offset medical costs in case they ever require more serious and expensive care. Below you can find typical types of insurance coverage from an individual health insurance policy in Singapore:

Inpatient coverage: Generally speaking, all health insurance plans offer inpatient coverage as their bare minimum, as inpatient insurance covers your hospitalization expenses, which are usually the most expensive ones. 
Outpatient coverage: This benefit provides coverage for medical treatment or doctor visits that do not require an overnight stay or hospitalization.
Maternity coverage: This type of insurance is available as an add-on benefit, and is for those expecting to conceive a child. The benefit covers prenatal and delivery costs, and in some cases, postnatal emergency care. Maternity coverage does have a waiting period (10 – 24 months) before you can submit claims, so it is best to secure it before you get pregnant.
Pre-existing conditions coverage: A pre-existing condition is typically one for which you have received treatment or diagnosis before you enrol in a new health plan. As a rule, insurers exclude coverage for those conditions, but some companies allow to cover them, however, with an extra premium. 
Family insurance plan: Treated as a small group health plan, family insurance can cover all of your loved ones, whilst ensuring lower premiums. Those plans are designed to look after children’s health, as well as senior citizens, and everyone in between.  
Dental insurance and vision coverage: These are common add-ons for those looking to cover their dental and optical expenses.

Private health insurance for expats simplified 

Navigating the hundreds and thousands of options available is not easy, so it pays to talk to an experienced expat insurance broker like Pacific Prime Singapore. With years of experience helping expats find and compare health insurance, our experts are on hand to find you the best plan, give you impartial advice, and answer any questions you may have about Singapore’s healthcare system. Contact us today!

Elwira Skrybus is a content writer at Pacific Prime. In her everyday work, she is utilizing her previous social media and branding experience to create informative articles, guides, and reports to help our readers simplify the sometimes-puzzling world of international health insurance.

When she isn’t writing, you are most likely to find Elwira in search of the perfect plant-based burger or enjoying Hong Kong’s great outdoors either at the beach or from the boat – the closer to the sea, the better!