Singapore’s health insurance system can be confusing, especially when you’re faced with multiple schemes and unfamiliar terms like Medisave, MediShield Life, and Integrated Shield Plans. While each plays a different role, they are designed to work together to help manage healthcare costs and reduce the financial stress of illness or hospitalisation.
Understanding how these schemes fit together is the first step towards making informed decisions that suit your medical needs, lifestyle, and budget. In this article, we will break down what Integrated Shield Plans are, how they actually work, and whether you need one for your healthcare needs.
What is an Integrated Shield Plan (IP)?
An Integrated Shield Plan is private health insurance that enhances your basic MediShield Life coverage. Think of Singapore's healthcare system like building blocks stacked on top of each other. The word "integrated" means that it works together with the government-provided MediShield Life that you already have rather than replacing it.
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1) MediSave
Your government-based, personal medical savings account under CPF (Central Provident Fund). Part of your monthly CPF contributions goes into MediSave. It is used to pay for approved medical expenses, hospital bills, certain outpatient treatments, and insurance premiums (such as MediShield Life and Integrated Shield Plans), subject to withdrawal limits.
2) MediShield Life
MediShield Life is Singapore's basic national health insurance that automatically covers all Singapore citizens and permanent residents, including those with pre-existing conditions. MediShield Life benefits include helping to pay for large hospital bills and selected outpatient treatments, mainly in public hospitals at the class B2/C wards level. However, you still need to pay a portion of the bill from your own pocket as MediShield Life comes with deductibles, co-insurance, and a claim limit of SGD 200,000 per policy year.
3) Integrated Shield Plan
An optional private insurance plan purchased from private insurers. It sits on top of MediShield Life and provides higher claim limits, wider coverage, and access to higher-class wards in public healthcare (class B1/A wards) or treatment in private hospitals, significantly reducing out-of-pocket costs.
Most Singaporeans have the bottom two layers (MediSave and MediShield Life) by default. So now, the question is: should you add an Integrated Shield Plan as a “third layer”?
What does an Integrated Shield Plan (IP) cover in Singapore?
An Integrated Shield Plan (IP) is an optional, additional private insurance plan you can purchase to add onto the basic hospital and treatment coverage that MediShield Life provides. An IP is especially useful for managing larger, inpatient medical bills. It generally includes coverage for:
Hospitalisation and surgery
IPs cover inpatient stays in both public and private hospitals, day surgery and ICU care. The amount of coverage provided differs based on the tier of IP policy you choose to buy. Your IP usually covers room and board, daily treatment charges, operating theatre fees, surgeon and anaesthetist fees, and standard inpatient medications and consumables.
Pre- and post‑hospitalisation benefits
Unlike MediShield Life, IPs cover outpatient consultations, investigations and medications related to the same condition for a fixed period before and after admission (for example, 90–180 days pre‑ and 180–365 days post‑hospitalisation, depending on insurer and plan tier). This can include specialist consultations, blood tests, imaging (such as MRI scans or CT scans), and follow‑up visits that are directly linked to the covered hospital admission.
Eligible treatments and services
IPs generally cover medically necessary treatments such as surgeries, cancer therapies (like chemotherapy and immunotherapy) and certain inpatient procedures done as day surgery. Some plans also extend to include inpatient psychiatric treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care. However, the exact scope, caps and approved settings differ between insurers and plan levels.
What is not covered under an Integrated Shield Plan
While IPs offer more coverage than MediShield Life, they do not cover every type of medical expense. In general, IPs do not cover routine or non-medically necessary treatments. Common exclusions include complementary and alternative treatments such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture, and chiropractic care, unless these are explicitly stated as covered in your policy (which is uncommon).
Most IPs also exclude:
Outpatient consultations or tests
Tests and consultations that are not directly linked to a covered hospital admission or day surgery
Preventive and wellness services
Health screenings, vaccinations, and general check-ups
Cosmetic or aesthetic procedures
Unless medically necessary due to injury or illness
Fertility treatments
Most pregnancy-related expenses are not covered, except for specific pregnancy complications
Experimental or unproven treatments
Medical procedures or drugs not yet approved by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) or widely accepted as standard clinical practice
Claims related to policy exclusions
Certain pre-existing conditions during waiting periods, self-inflicted injuries, or treatments arising from illegal acts
It's important to note that even when a treatment is deemed as medically necessary, coverage may still be limited by claim caps, deductibles, co-insurance, ward class restrictions, or provider requirements.
| Category | What is generally covered | What is usually not covered |
|---|---|---|
Hospital & Surgery | • Inpatient stays: Public & Private hospitals, ICU, and ward charges. • Surgery: Day surgery and inpatient operations (surgeon, anaesthetist, and operating theatre fees). • Medication: Standard inpatient drugs and consumables. | • Cosmetic procedures: Aesthetic treatments (unless medically necessary due to accident/illness). • Experimental treatments: Procedures or drugs not approved by HSA or standard practice. |
Pre- & Post-Hospitalisation | • Related outpatient care: Specialist consults, blood tests, scans (MRI/CT), and follow-ups directly linked to the hospital admission. • Coverage period: Usually 90–180 days before and 180–365 days after admission (varies by plan). | • General outpatient care: Consultations, tests, or scans not linked to a hospital stay or surgery. • Routine check-ups: General health screenings and vaccinations. |
Treatments & Therapies | • Critical care: Cancer therapies (chemotherapy, immunotherapy). • Other: Inpatient psychiatric treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care (depending on plan tier). | • Alternative medicine: TCM, acupuncture, and chiropractic care (unless explicitly added). • Fertility & pregnancy: Routine pregnancy costs and fertility treatments (except specific complications). |
Other Exclusions | • N/A | • Policy exclusions: Self-inflicted injuries, treatments from illegal acts, and pre-existing conditions during waiting periods. |
If you are unsure whether a specific treatment will be covered, it is always best to check your policy document and speak to your insurance adviser. You may also contact our medical concierge to clarify what is covered.
IP riders
IP riders are optional add‑ons that you pay fully in cash to enhance your IP coverage. Riders are usually bought to reduce the excess amount that you'll need to pay out‑of‑pocket. Some IP riders also offer benefits such as longer post‑hospitalisation benefit durations, coverage for treatment at non‑panel providers with smaller penalties, or additional support services like second medical opinions and care coordination. The most commonly bought rider alongside IPs would be the co-pay rider, where the amount of co-payment you make for the entire policy year is capped at a certain limit, thereby limiting the amount you pay out-of-pocket.
Frequently used terms for IPs
Insurance policies can be hard to read, especially if you are new to IPs. The policy documents are usually filled with technical terms that are confusing or not clearly explained. In this section, we will break down the key terms below in simple, everyday English.
Deductibles / excess
The amount you must pay yourself before your insurance starts paying. For IPs, the deductible stated applies to each policy year. A higher deductible amount is applied if you choose to receive treatment in higher-class wards or private hospitals. This means you will end up paying more out-of-pocket. Deductibles are meant to keep premiums affordable and ensure insurance is used mainly for larger medical bills, rather than smaller, routine expenses.
From 1 April 2026 onwards, based on the new MOH requirements, all newly purchased IP riders will no longer be allowed to cover the mandatory deductible. You will be required to pay the following minimum amounts out-of-pocket before your insurance coverage begins.
| Ward Class / Treatment Type | Minimum Deductible |
|---|---|
| Private Hospital / Class A | SGD 3,500 |
| Class B1 | SGD 2,500 |
| Class B2 | SGD 2,000 |
| Class C | SGD 1,500 |
| Day Surgery / Short Stay (Private/Non-Subsidised) | SGD 2,000 |
| Day Surgery / Short Stay (Subsidised) | SGD 1,500 |
Below is a case study to help you better understand.
Assume that your IP has a deductible of SGD 1,500. Think of your Deductible (SGD 1,500) like a "unlock bar" in a video game. You must pay the first $1,500 of your bills yourself to unlock your insurance.
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Assume that in 2026, you visit the hospital twice:
Hospital Visit 1: Bill is SGD 500 which is smaller than your SGD 1,500 deductible. You pay the full SGD 500 out of your own pocket as the deductible is not fulfilled. You still need to pay SGD 1,000 more to qualify for insurance payout.
Hospital Visit 2: Bill is SGD 1,800. Currently, you only need to pay SGD 1,000 more to hit your deductible and unlock your insurance. Your insurance pays for the remaining SGD 800 of this bill.
Summary: You paid the first SGD 1,500 (total) to "unlock" the plan. After that point, the insurance takes over for the deductible part.
Co-insurance
Co-insurance is a governmental scheme which states that consumers will still need to foot a percentage of the remaining bill, even after the IP deductible has been met. Imagine you have a SGD 10,000 hospital bill. You don't just split the whole thing immediately. You have to follow the below order to calculate co-insurance.
Step 1: Paying the deductible. You must pay the first SGD 1,500 fully yourself.
Bill left over:SGD 8,500
Step 2: Sharing the rest (co-insurance). Now that the deductible has been paid, you and the insurer split the remaining SGD 8,500.
You pay 10%: SGD 850
Insurer pays 90%:SGD 7,650
Waiting period
Think of the waiting period like a probation period. Even though you are officially insured, you don't get all the benefits immediately. If you try to claim for any sickness (like the flu, a tumor, or a heart attack) during this waiting period, the claim will rejected. Only unforseen accidents like a road accident would be covered during the waiting period. This is to prevent 'cheating'. Insurance is designed for unexpected future events. Without a waiting period, people would only buy insurance after they felt a lump or got a bad diagnosis. The waiting period ensures that you are healthy when you join the policy.
Note: If you let your policy lapse (stop paying) and then restart it later, the timer resets to zero. You have to wait all over again.
Types of IPs
There are many different providers and types of IPs, with different tiers to suit varying healthcare preferences, budgets, and comfort levels. While all IPs build on MediShield Life, the main difference lies in where you can receive treatment and how much of the hospital fees is covered.
Public hospital plans (B1 ward and A ward plans)
These plans allow you to access treatment in public hospitals at higher ward tiers (B1 and A ward tiers) at an affordable price while keeping your premiums relatively affordable. This option suits individuals who are comfortable receiving care in public hospitals and are mainly looking to reduce large hospital bills rather than access private healthcare.
Private hospital plans
Private hospital plans provide coverage for treatment in private hospitals, including single-bedded rooms. Premiums are significantly higher, but out-of-pocket costs are generally lower when receiving private care. These plans are suitable for those who value shorter waiting times, doctor choice, and a more personalised care experience.
As-charged plans
Some IPs are marketed as “as-charged” plans, meaning the insurer reimburses the actual bill amount, as long as the charges are considered reasonable and within the policy’s limits. While this reduces uncertainty around bill sizes, any deductibles, co-insurance, and overall claim caps still apply.
Managed or panel-based plans
Certain insurers offer plans that work best when you use approved hospitals or doctor panels. Staying within the panel often results in higher claim limits, smoother claims processing, and lower co-payments. Choosing providers outside the panel may reduce your benefits or increase your out-of-pocket costs.
How much do IPs cost?
IPs vary in price depending on the level of coverage you choose, your age, and other personal factors. Premiums are typically higher than MediShield Life alone because you’re buying extra protection, but they can make a big difference in reducing your out-of-pocket costs when hospitalised. Below is a general look at what you might expect, along with the key factors that influence cost.
Average cost
There’s no single “set price” for an IP because plans differ widely to cater to different personal circumstances and needs. Besides cost, it's important to consider other factors like the annual claim limit and the duration of pre-/post- hospitalisation cover as well when purchasing an IP. Below outlines the average cost of different types of IPs for a 31- to 35-year-old.
| Integrated Shield Plan type | Annual IP premium (SGD) [aged 31 to 35] |
|---|---|
Public hospital (Class B1 ward) plan | SGD 60 - SGD 100 |
Public hospital (Class A ward) plan | SGD 80 - SGD 170 |
Private hospital plan | SGD 300 - SGD 420 |
The information provided above is for general reference only and is accurate as of 8 Feburary 2026. Actual costs, coverage, and premiums vary by insurer, plan type, age, and individual circumstances. For personalised advice on finding a policy that fits your needs and budget, please consult a licensed financial advisor.
Factors affecting cost
The price you pay for an IP isn't one-size-fits-all. Two people can pay vastly different premiums for similar coverage. Here's what determines your premium cost:
Age
Premiums increase as you get older, sometimes significantly, because the likelihood of health complications and hospitalisation rises with age.
Occupation
Certain jobs are considered higher risk due to physical demands or exposure to hazards (for example, construction, offshore, or manual labour roles).
In such cases, insurers may charge higher premiums, apply exclusions, or request additional medical information for underwriting.
Ward type and hospital choice
Plans covering private hospitals or single-bedded rooms cost more than those limited to public hospitals or lower ward classes.
Riders and add-ons
Choosing riders (such as co-insurance reduction riders) increases your premium but can reduce what you pay during an illness or hospitalisation.
Health status and underwriting
If you have pre-existing conditions (conditions you were diagnosed with before buying the plan), you may face exclusions or higher premiums.
You may be affected by predisposed conditions (illnesses you are likely to develop due to family history or existing health markers), even if you have not been formally diagnosed yet.
Policy design and benefits
Plans with broader pre- and post-hospitalisation coverage or higher claim limits attract higher premiums.
When comparing plans, look not just at the annual cost but also at what you will likely pay when you need care (deductibles, co-insurance, and any rider conditions) so you get a full picture of value, not just price.
How do I submit claims from my IP?
Making a claim under your IP is pretty straightforward. Firstly, you will need to inform the hospital that you want to make a claim from your IP. The hospital will then ask you to fill out the 'Medical Claims Authorisation Form' that will allow them to check your coverage and submit claims directly to the insurer on your behalf, which reduces paperwork and upfront payment.
If your hospital supports e-filing, the billing or financial counselling team will help submit the claim once you provide your insurance details and sign a consent form. The insurer then pays the hospital directly, and you only need to settle any remaining amount, such as deductibles, co-insurance, or non-claimable items.
If direct submission is not available, you may need to:
Pay the bill first
Submit a claim form, medical reports, and itemised bills to your insurer
Wait for reimbursement once the claim is assessed
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If you’re still confused about claim submission and the payment process, you can contact our medical concierge team or your financial advisor for further clarification.
Should you buy an IP?
Whether an IP is right for you depends on your healthcare preferences, financial situation, and tolerance for medical costs. While MediShield Life provides essential protection, it may still leave you with significant out-of-pocket expenses for larger bills.
You may want to consider an IP if:
You want greater choice of hospitals, wards, or doctors
You are concerned about large hospital bills and want higher claim limits
You prefer shorter waiting times or private healthcare options
You can comfortably afford the long-term premiums, even as they rise with age
However, an IP may not be suitable for everyone. If affordability is a concern or you are comfortable with basic coverage in subsidised public wards, MediShield Life alone may be sufficient. To decide if you'll need an IP, you should review your current coverage, estimate future premiums, and speak with a trusted insurance adviser or hospital financial advisor to formulate a health insurance plan tailored to your needs. This helps ensure that any plan you choose supports both your healthcare needs and your financial wellbeing over the long term.
The above information is intended as a general guide to Integrated Shield Plans in Singapore. It does not serve as financial advice. Coverage details, claim limits, waiting periods, and exclusions vary by insurer, plan tier, and policy terms. Always refer to your policy document for the most accurate information, and speak to your insurance adviser or our medical concierge team if you are unsure about your private insurance coverage before undergoing treatment.
FAQ
Do I need an Integrated Shield Plan (IP)?
You are not required to have an IP, but many people choose one to better manage large hospital bills. MediShield Life provides basic protection, but it comes with claim limits, deductibles, and co-insurance that can still result in significant out-of-pocket costs. An IP is most useful if you want greater bill coverage, access to higher ward classes or private hospitals, or more predictable costs during hospitalisation. Whether you need one depends on your healthcare preferences, budget, and comfort with potential medical expenses.
Can I use MediSave to pay for IP premiums?
Yes. You can use your MediSave to pay for IP premiums, up to the annual MediSave withdrawal limits set by the government. This applies to both the main IP and most approved riders.
Does the IP cover overseas treatment?
Overseas treatment is generally not covered, unless it is an emergency situation or explicitly stated in your policy. Some plans may reimburse limited emergency overseas treatment, usually capped and subject to strict conditions.
Can I have both company insurance and an IP?
Yes. You can hold both employer-provided insurance and an IP at the same time. Company insurance often provides short-term or outpatient benefits, while an IP offers long-term hospital coverage that stays with you even if you change jobs. However, claims are typically coordinated, and you cannot claim more than the total bill amount. It is important to understand which policy pays first and whether your employer plan affects IP claims.
Can I switch from one IP to another?
Yes, you can switch insurers or downgrade/upgrade your plan. You will need to undergo medical underwriting again, so any medical conditions that arose before the switch may result in exclusions, higher premiums, or rejection. If your health has changed since your original purchase, it may be harder to switch plans. It’s best to confirm acceptance with the new insurer before cancelling your existing plan.
How do I check if I have an IP?
You can check by logging into your insurer’s online portal or reviewing your insurance policy documents. Alternatively, you can log in to CPF online services to see if MediSave deductions are being made for an IP.
Are maternity costs covered?
Routine maternity expenses, such as normal delivery and antenatal care, are not covered under IPs. These are typically considered planned or non-hospitalisation expenses. However, some pregnancy-related complications (such as emergency caesarean sections or severe complications requiring hospitalisation) may be covered, depending on policy terms and medical necessity.
I have diabetes/high blood pressure, can I still get an IP?
Yes, you can still apply, but approval is subject to medical underwriting. Depending on how well-controlled your condition is, the insurer may impose exclusions, charge higher premiums, or limit coverage related to that condition. Each insurer assesses risk differently, so outcomes can vary. It is advisable to apply early, provide complete medical information, and consider seeking advice before choosing a plan.
References
MediShield Life Benefits. (2025, October 3). Ministry of Health. Retrieved December 19, 2025, from https://www.moh.gov.sg/managing-expenses/schemes-and-subsidies/medishield-life/medishield-life-benefits/
Team, S. (2023, October 23). Best Integrated Shield Plans in Singapore (2025). SingSaver. Retrieved December 19, 2025, from https://www.singsaver.com.sg/blog/best-integrated-shield-plans-singapore
Comparison of integrated shield plans. (2025, August 25). Ministry of Health. Retrieved December 19, 2025, from https://www.moh.gov.sg/managing-expenses/schemes-and-subsidies/integrated-shield-plans/comparision-of-integrated-shield-plans/
Central Provident Fund Board (CPFB). (2025, February 10). How do I claim from MediShield Life / Integrated Shield Plan (IP) and MediSave for my medical expenses? Retrieved December 19, 2025, from https://www.cpf.gov.sg/service/article/how-do-i-claim-from-medishield-life-integrated-shield-plan-ip-and-medisave-for-my-medical-expenses
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