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The government has put in place multiple tiers of protection to ensure no Singaporean is denied access to basic healthcare because of affordability issues.
Subsidies
Government helps to pay for healthcare, so that you and your loved ones can afford good, basic healthcare when you need it.
For example, you can receive up to 80% subsidy when you are hospitalised, if you choose a subsidised ward. You and your family can also receive subsidies when visiting specialist outpatient clinics. From 1 Sep 2014, subsidies for specialist care in the public hospitals will be raised from 50% to 60-70% for the lower- to middle-income.
Lower- to middle-income families can also qualify for the Community Health Assist Scheme, which provides them with subsidies at participating private GP and dental clinics. They also receive subsidies for various long-term care services, such as at day rehabilitation centres, for home care and in nursing homes.
Find out more by clicking on the links below.
Primary Careopens in a new window
Hospitalisation and Day Surgeryopens in a new window
Specialist Outpatient Clinicsopens in a new window
Intermediate and Long Term Careopens in a new window
Medisave
The second tier of protection is provided by Medisave, a compulsory individual medical savings scheme for medical costs.
If you are working, you are probably already setting aside a small portion of your monthly salary to your Medisave account, as part of your CPF contributions.
You can use Medisave to pay for your and your family's hospitalisation, health screening, chronic diseases, and MediShield premiums.
MediShield Life
MediShield Lifeopens in a new window replaced MediShield from 1 Nov 2015. It is a basic health insurance which helps to pay for large hospital bills and selected costly outpatient treatments, such as dialysis and chemotherapy for cancer. Its coverage is targeted at subsidised treatment in public hospitals. MediShield Life will provide protection for all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, for life, including for any serious pre-existing conditions.
MediFund
Finally, Medifund is a medical endowment fund set up by the Government to act as the ultimate safety net to ensure no Singaporean is denied good basic healthcare because of inability to pay.
MediShield, Medisave + Subsidies Work Together to Reduce Your Out-of-pocket Payments