Health Insurance and Healthcare in Singapore Explained

Jump right in:

• How healthcare works in Singapore
• An overview of private health insurance
• How to find a doctor or dentist
• Giving birth in Singapore

Key terms:

You should make note of these key terms to easily navigate the Singapore healthcare system.

• Central Provident Fund (CPF): A mandatory social security savings scheme that Singapore permanent resident employees contribute to.
• Medisave:* A compulsory savings account created specifically for healthcare; part of your monthly CPF payments are placed into this account.
• Polyclinic: A “super-clinic” that has many different doctors practicing in one building or network, providing check-ups, x-rays and so on, as well as some out-patient services.
• Ward A/B/C: Singapore hospitals have three types of wards, called “A,” “B,” and “C.” The cheapest are standard class C wards, with nine beds. The most expensive are class A wards, which are single-bed en-suite rooms.

Does Singapore have free public healthcare?

In a word: no. The system is similar to how Medicare works in the US.

 Citizens and permanent residents support the system via their monthly Medisave contributions, taken automatically from their wages as part of their CPF contributions.

What are Medisave contributions?

Employees generally pay 9% of their monthly wage towards Medisave. Unlike with Medicare, Medisave payments come directly out of your paycheck before you receive it. The money is saved specifically for hospitalization and outpatient costs and automatically pays for a basic health insurance plan.  This is to make sure that if you fall ill, most of your costs are already paid for.

Healthcare contributions

On top of Medisave there is:

• Medishield: You are automatically opted in for this insurance. It is used to cover more expensive procedures.
• Medifund: This is voluntary and by application only. It is for people without enough funds to pay for their medical care, or without insurance. What does public healthcare cover?

A huge range of physical and mental health services are available under Singapore public healthcare.  This includes:

• dental treatments
• surgeries
• vaccinations
• screenings
• impatient care
• cancer and other treatments

Medisave savings can also be used to cover costs if your dependents are hospitalized.

How does healthcare work in Singapore?

• If you fall ill in Singapore and it is not an emergency, your first stop will be at a local doctor (general practitioner or GP) clinic.
• For most issues including immunization, outpatient care, follow-up checks, and health screening, you can head to a polyclinic. The government offers subsidized care at these medical institutions if you are a permanent resident paying into the CPF. -  Whether you are a resident or not, expats do not need to register for a specific healthcare facility as on-site registration is quick and straightforward. Once you have filled in the relevant form on your first visit, your details should be stored digitally for future convenience.

Emergency care 995

The emergency number for an ambulance in Singapore is 995. There are emergency rooms (Accident and Emergency or A&E Departments) across the city, though they often have longer wait times.

Prescriptions

If you take medicine on a repeat prescription, you  should note that international prescriptions are not accepted in Singapore. You will have to visit a doctor and get a Singapore prescription for your medication. If it is covered by private healthcare, it is important that you get this organized as soon as possible.

Singapore public healthcare costs

• If you are a permanent resident paying into the CPF, most of your healthcare costs should be covered already. The government will subsidize treatments at public hospitals and expensive extras and surgeries are covered by your Medishield insurance.
• Public insurers only  pay out for government-approved treatments, drugs, and specialists. Costs can escalate quickly  if you choose to go outside of the government-mandated  options. If this is your preference,  it is better to have private medical insurance.

Costs for non-residents

Non-resident expats do not contribute to the CPF and therefore do not receive government subsidies. Without the subsidies, the public healthcare costs can rise to levels similar to private healthcare.  As such, expats  should invest in  international private healthcare  insurance to make sure they are not hit with a hefty bill.

Non-resident expats will often use private hospitals. Private hospitals and doctors set their own costs, meaning  surgery in a private hospital can  cost  even ten times the price  of surgery  for subsidized Singapore citizens in a  public hospital.  This requires non-resident expats to have private health insurance, or to make upfront payments if they become ill.

You can read more about this in private healthcare overview below.

Expats who are not permanent residents of Singapore do not contribute to the Central Providence Fund (CPF) and therefore do not have access to the government’s basic healthcare insurance. This access is the key difference to be aware of between private and public health insurance in Singapore.

But do you need private healthcare insurance instead? For almost everyone, the answer is yes.

Types of private insurance

• Integrated shield plans (Ips): this plan adds extra coverage on top of Singapore’s public insurance. It helps to pay for treatments in private hospitals or high class public hospital wards.
• IP riders: extra coverage for an Integrated Shield Plan. It lowers the amount you have to pay, such as deductibles and co-payments.
• International private medical insurance (IPMI): mainly for foreigners and expatriates. It covers treatment in private hospitals, often both in Singapore and internationally.

International private medical insurance (IPMI)

The best plan for foreigners in Singapore is likely to be an international health insurance plan. These plans are popular as they are  tailored for people  who plan to study or live abroad for a longer time. For instance, international plans often cover outpatient treatment and visits to GPs. Local plans usually only cover you if you are hospitalized and usually will ask you to pay the hospital out of pocket before being reimbursed for your claim.

Integrated shield plans

If you are planning to stay long-term in Singapore, you should be aware that it is relatively simple to buy additional health insurance once you start paying into the CPF (Singapores social security system). 

An Integrated Shield Plan effectively upgrades  the automatic  Medishield  coverage. Keep in mind that the Integrated Shield Plan cost rises with age, therefore it is best to contact insurer and discuss the best suiting plan for your specific situation. All the main Singapore insurance providers offer an Integrated Shield plan. You  can narrow the list down by deciding which type of ward you would want to  stay in while hospitalized.

Do you need private health insurance as an expat in Singapore

People on these passes do not qualify for the main public health insurance and subsidy schemes, therefore should consider getting private health insurance:

• Employment Pass (EP)
• S Pass
• Work Permit
• Dependent Pass
• Student Pass
• Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) (in most cases)

Here are the common groups that often consider getting private health insurance:

• who do not qualify for the same government healthcare subsidies as citizens and permanent residents.
• who prefer shorter waiting times, more comfort, and personal doctor choice.
• who want broader coverage and lower costs for more complex treatments.
• those who want medical coverage both in Singapore and overseas through international plans (IPMI).
• who want to reduce the risk of bigger medical bills from serious illness or hospitalization.

Insurance coverage by the employer

Most employers in Singapore include a basic private healthcare package as a perk. Some will even cover medical and dental check-up expenses.  The bigger the company, the more coverage employees are likely to have. However, businesses don't need to provide medical insurance for anyone other than manual laborers and foreign domestic help.  Employees should check carefully to see if healthcare is included in their contract.

Extra healthcare coverage

With Singapore healthcare being costly, non-resident expats must have private healthcare insurance outside of any basic insurance provided by their employer.  This is not just for health reasons, though you should always feel able to access healthcare. Extra cover will provide for you in case any unexpected healthcare issues create large expenses, without affecting your personal savings. Even if your employer provides you with a basic form of private health insurance, you might need to look at buying additional private cover.

Some things that might not be included in your plan are:

• critical illness cover
• dental care
• vision care
• cover for any dependents
• maternity care

Maternity care can be costly in Singapore and is unlikely to be covered by your employer-provided insurance, unless you work for a large company. For more information, please see the Working section of our guide.

Health insurance for self-employed workers

You must be a resident of Singapore to become self-employed. As residents, it is mandatory that self-employed people contribute to the CPF. They can choose to purchase private healthcare on top of their government benefits.

Private health insurance providers in Singapore

You can choose between local insurers, Singapore-based international insurers, or insurers from outside of the nation.

Five of the largest private health insurance providers in Singapore are:

• AIA
• AXA
• Cugna
• Great Eastern Life
• NOW Health International
• Singlife It is generally easiest to find an insurer who is based in Singapore. Above all else, the insurer will understand the intricacies of the Singapore healthcare system well.

Average Cost of Health Insurance in Singapore

As with all medical insurance, the cost  of your plan will vary based on the type of insurance you choose, the provider,  your  previous medical history, and  your  lifestyle.

Yearly international health insurance is around 8,800 SGD (6,900 USD). Some expats on valid work or long-term passes might be able to buy local Integrated Shield Plan–style coverage from Singapore insurers. This could cheaper but mainly Singapore-focused.

Ultimately, it is worth shopping around for insurance that is tailored to your lifestyle.

Health Hub

Every expat living in Singapore must have FIN (Foreign Identification number), using this number you can register to Singpass. You can then sign up to HealthHub where you will be able to find and manage your medical appointments, make payments, access your lab test reports and etc.

How to find a family doctor?

To find a GP, use Singapore’s Health Appointment System. To use this system, you will again need your Singpass. After you log in, you will be able to search for your nearest hospital and book your first appointment online, in some cases, for the same day.

How to find specialists?

If you are using public hospitals that are covered with your health insurance, seeing a specialist in Singapore can involve long waiting lists. In these cases, your GP, or first point of contact, will probably recommend a specialist for you.

If you are going privately, or outside of insurance, you can choose your specialist and approach them without a referral. This is particularly true for cosmetic procedures, but also general ones. Once you know who you want to be treated by you can call the clinic directly to book an appointment.

To find a specialist you can:

• Use the GPGoWhere site to find a list of GP clinics near you
• Use CHAS Clinic Locator find private clinics near you.
• Search directories. Sites like SingHealth  have lists of doctors, where you can even search in your neighborhood.
• Use expat-friendly healthcare sites like IMC

Average wait times to see a doctor in Singapore

• Private clinics in Singapore have the shortest waiting times. Most accept walk-ins depending on how busy they are, and appointments are often granted within a couple of days. The longest you should have to wait is around a week.
• Public hospitals have longer waiting lists, with polyclinics often having the longest wait times in Singapore. While wait times are supposed to be no longer than a month, there have been complaints of patients at polyclinics waiting up to six months for an appointment.

How to find a dentist

The  National  Dental  Center  Singapore  databas lets  you  search for dentists, based on either the dental issue or the institution  they are part of. There is an option to make and manage  appointments  directly from the website.  You can also make  independent  enquiries at multiple dentists, to see which is the best fit for your needs.

To see a specialist dentist at a public clinic, you need a referral and you may have to wait up to six weeks. Private clinics usually have appointments available within a couple of days and often allow walk-ins.

Average wait times to see a doctor in Singapore

• Private clinics in Singapore have the shortest waiting times. Most accept walk-ins depending on how busy they are, and appointments are often granted within a couple of days. The longest you should have to wait is around a week.
• Public hospitals have longer waiting lists, with polyclinics often having the longest wait times in Singapore. While wait times are supposed to be no longer than a month, there have been complaints of patients at polyclinics waiting up to six months for an appointment.

Giving birth in Singapore as a non-resident is relatively straightforward. If  you have health insurance and the funds to cover your care, you should meet few logistical difficulties.  This does change, however, for people on a work permit. Unskilled or semi-skilled workers are not permitted to get pregnant or deliver a child for the duration of their permit.

Giving birth in Singapore as an expat

There are no restrictions on having a baby in Singapore as a foreigner if you have a legal pass to reside in Singapore.  The birth should be registered within two weeks of the baby being born. Registration costs 18 SGD (13  USD)  and the baby will be given a Singaporean birth certificate.

Please note that unskilled work permit holders cannot become pregnant or give birth in Singapore during the period their work permit is valid for, unless they are married to a Singapore citizen or permanent resident with a MOM approval.

Documents needed to register a birth

• Notification of Live Birth (issued by the hospital/doctor/midwife);
• the identity cards and original marriage certificate of the child’s parents;
• passports and long-term pass of the child’s parents;
• disembarkation/embarkation cards of the child’s parents.
• letter of authorization from the child’s parents if you are registering a birth via proxy.

Documents must be written in English. Translations must be provided by an embassy where the document was issued or a notary public in Singapore (or country in which the document was issued).

Giving birth in Singapore as a non-resident

It is relatively common for expectant mothers to travel to Singapore to give birth. This is particularly true for mothers from surrounding countries due to the quality of the Singapore healthcare system.

If you are a non-resident of Singapore, you are free to give birth in the hospital of your choice. This is true of dependents and holders of employment passes. Again, the costs will be more expensive than for permanent residents, as it is not subsidized by the government. 

• You will be expected to cover all costs through personal finances or your health insurance.
• You will need to obtain a passport for your baby within six weeks of birth and apply for a valid dependent’s pass as soon as it is ready. If you do not get a passport, your baby’s Special Pass is only valid for six weeks after birth. You can extend the special pass if you need more time to organize the passport. For more details on how to do this, see the Ministry of Manpower website.

Maternity and paternity leave benefits

If the child is a Singapore citizen:

• Up to 16 weeks of maternity leave
• A government-paid scheme may apply if the mother meets eligibility rules
• 4 weeks of government-paid paternity leave
• 10 weeks of shared parental leave If the child is not Singapore citizen:
• 2 weeks maternity leave, first 8 weeks paid if Employment Act conditions are met (remaining weeks may be unpaid unless the employer offers more)
• no statutory government-paid paternity leave (any paternity leave depends on the employer)

Cost of having a baby in Singapore

The cost of giving birth will vary depending on the hospital you choose and the type of delivery you have. Public hospitals charge much lower rates than private.

Without full coverage, private birth costs are often around 2,000–8,000 SGD (1,600–6,200 USD) and more if complications or newborn care are not fully covered.

Parents who contribute to Medisave insurance should be eligible for the Medisave maternity package.

• 1,120 SGD (870 USD) towards a natural delivery
• 2,3820 SGD (1,900 USD) towards a cesarean section.

Giving birth in Singapore without health insurance

Non-resident expats in Singapore will be expected to pay the entire bill for giving birth.

• public hospital as a private patient may cost around 3,000–9,000 SGD (2,300–7,000 USD)
• private hospital birth is around 8,000–15,000 SGD (6,200–11,700 USD) for natural delivery
• cesarean section, which can reach around 12,000–20,000 SGD (9,400–15,600+ USD) in private hospitals

If you or your partner are likely to give birth in Singapore as a non-resident, it is recommended that  you  buy private health insurance  with maternity coverage  to ensure  your  costs are covered.

Giving birth in Singapore for citizenship

A baby born in Singapore does not have an automatic Singaporean citizenship. Only children of Singapore citizens can obtain Singapore citizenship.