For Singaporeans and Permanent Residents
Medisave
MediSave is a national savings scheme that helps salaried individuals whom contributed to CPF (Central Provident Fund) set aside part of their income to pay for their personal or approved dependents’ hospitalisation, inpatient treatment and day surgery. This includes day procedures like endoscopy including colonoscopy and gastroscopy and removal of skin lumps.
Accredited centres will be able to perform E-filing for the approval for the use of medisave to cover part of these charges. The amount varies based on the type of procedure and the length of hospital stay. The total MediSave claimable for a given inpatient day is equal to the sum of daily hospital limit and surgical limit
Total Medisave Claimable = Daily Inpatient/Hospital Limit + Surgical Limit
Use of Medisave for Inpatient bills
Patients need to stay for at least 8 hours as inpatients. The claim is up to $550 for the first 2 days of admission and $400 per day from the 3rd day onwards. For psychiatric ward stays, the daily limit is $150. For day surgery, daily hospital charges go up to $300 per day.
Surgical Limit (Inpatient and day surgery)
The surgical limit depends on the complexity of the operation according to the Table of Surgical Procedures (TOSP), as given below. (Table taken from the MOHH website)
Table of Operations | MediSave Surgical Limit |
| 1A/ 1B/ 1C | $250/ 350/ 450 |
| 2A/ 2B/ 2C | $600/ 750/ 950 |
| 3A/ 3B/ 3C | $1,250/ 1,550/ 1,850 |
| 4A/ 4B/ 4C | $2,150/ 2,600/ 2,850 |
| 5A/ 5B/ 5C | $3,150/ 3,550/ 3,950 |
| 6A/ 6B/ 6C | $4,650/ 5,150/ 5,650 |
| 7A/ 7B/ 7C | $6,200/ 6,900/ 7,550 |
Can I use Medisave for Colonoscopy Screenings?
Yes, MediSave can be used for screening colonoscopies where recommended, subject to the prevailing TOSP withdrawal limit for colonoscopy procedures plus $300 per day for associated day surgery charges. For example, colonoscopy without polypectomy is table 2C, so the maximum MediSave claimable is:
= Day Surgery Charge + Surgical Limit
= $300 + $950
= $1250
Whereas a colonoscopy with polypectomy is table 3A, so maximal
Medisave claimable is:
= $300 + $1250
= $1550
Use of Medisave for outpatient bills:
This is limited to specific chronic medical conditions and certain medications. At Ark Surgical Practice, most surgical conditions are treated expeditiously and resolve within a short time frame. Hence, this does not apply to most surgical problems.
Medishield Life
MediShield Life is a basic health insurance plan administered by the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board to defray the cost of large hospital bills. It is sized for subsidized treatment in public hospitals and pegged to B2/C-type wards.
Will I be eligible for use of Medishield Life if I’m a private patient?
If you choose to stay in an A/B1-type ward or in a private hospital, you are still covered by MediShield Life. However, it will likely cover only a limited portion of the cost. The balance will need to be covered either by Medisave, Integrated Shield Plan or Cash.
Integrated Shield Plans
An Integrated Shield Plan (IP) is an insurance plan that rides on top of MediShield Life to provide additional coverage for Class B1 or A wards and private hospitalization. Our clinic works with all major insurance providers by offering pre-operative counseling and procedure guides for holders of Integrated Shield Plans with:
Corporate Health Insurance Plans.
These include corporate plans provided directly by major insurance companies or those that work through Third Party Administrators (TPAs). Most corporate plans provide coverage for accidents, medical conditions, surgeries, and day procedures, including dental.
As an employee in Singapore, it is important to find out about your corporate plan from your employer and company HR to understand the extent of your medical coverage. There are many different plans, and the level of coverage also differs even if the name of the plan sounds similar. Generally, the coverage of these plans is more limited when compared to IPs.
MediFund
MediFund helps needy Singaporeans pay their medical bills. This is a safety net that is created by the Government. This can only be used in restructured hospitals and national specialty centres in Singapore and cannot be used for patients whom visit private hospitals.
For Foreigners
If you are a foreigner or a citizen with an insurance plan that covers you internationally, please contact your insurer for a Letter of Guarantee and arrangements for direct billing.