Singapore Health Insurance for Expats

Expats cannot access public healthcare plans like Medishield Life or Medisave and will need to purchase their own health insurance when relocating to Singapore. Private health insurance can help protect them against the high medical costs in the country.

Are you an expat moving to or visiting Singapore? As a country with a high-quality but expensive medical system, you’ll want to know more about your private health insurance options. We’ll discuss your international health insurance options as well as Singapore’s healthcare system.

To learn more about Singapore’s public and private healthcare systems, feel free to check out our guide below on the subject. To download the FREE PDF just click the button below.

Recommended International Health Insurance Plans for Expatriates Living in Singapore

The Singapore Healthcare System

Singapore's health sector is ranked top globally, with expertly trained doctors and staff. Singapore has a large international community, and so English is widely spoken across the health sector, with some private healthcare providers even offering international patient centers.

Singapore has many public hospitals, including a women’s and children’s hospital, which provide inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care. Specialty clinics also exist in Singapore for services like dermatological and dentistry care.

Singapore also offers polyclinics, which are public healthcare centers that offer medical treatment and preventative medicines at a subsidized cost.

Accessing Care in Singapore as an Expat

Expats will have access to Singapore’s renowned healthcare facilities but they will have to cover the costs themselves unless they purchase healthcare coverage.

Public hospitals in Singapore can offer shared rooms with very little privacy and can be crowded with longer wait times. Private hospitals have the advantage of shorter wait times, more comfortable facilities, and skilled specialists.

Health Insurance Options in Singapore for Expats

Public health insurance plans are unavailable to expats in Singapore, leaving them the option of purchasing their own health insurance. Expats working in Singapore under an S-pass are eligible for health insurance their employer provides (but these plans can be limited in coverage).

Private medical insurance in Singapore is therefore recommended to visitors and recently arrived expats, although many locals and permanent residents opt to purchase ‘top ups’ to their universal coverage as well.

Public Health Insurance in Singapore

The public health system in Singapore is government-funded, providing universal public health insurance coverage to all citizens and permanent residents.

Public healthcare is partially funded by the Central Provident Fund, a crucial part of Singapore’s social security system. Only citizens and Permanent Residents can contribute to the Central Provident Fund and only have access to public healthcare schemes like Medishield Life or Medisave.

Medishield Life

MediShield Life is a universal basic medical insurance mandatory for Singapore citizens and permanent residents, providing lifelong coverage and protection. Medishield Life subsidizes a large part of outpatient treatment and hospital bills.

Medisave

MediSave is a national medical savings scheme that helps Singapore citizens and PRs set aside part of their income to meet their healthcare needs. These needs could include personal or dependents’ hospitalizations, surgery, and healthcare needs in elderly years.

Private Health Insurance in Singapore

Purchasing private health insurance as an expat in Singapore will protect you from out-of-pocket payments for hospitalizations and other medical occurrences. Even if your employer provides insurance as part of their incentive package, you should consider taking out private health insurance.

Expats often purchase “top-up” plans to increase their healthcare spending limits or to reduce deductibles.

Maternity insurance in Singapore is also not available as a standalone policy, so if you are considering pregnancy while living in the city-state you will need to purchase a complete plan with in-patient maternity included.

Best International Health Insurance for Expats in Singapore

The best international health insurance for expats and foreigners in Singapore are customizable plans with excellent global coverage, ensuring you will be protected no matter where you travel abroad.

Pacific Prime is partnered with a wide variety of insurers in Singapore, as listed here:

• IMG Global
• April International
• Cigna
• Allianz
• HSBC Life

As an insurance broker, Pacific Prime acts as an intermediary between customers and insurance companies to find them the best plan to fit their medical needs and budget. We help compare plans from different insurers to secure the best plan for the best price.

The price of international health insurance plans for Singapore will depend on different factors, such as your age, the size of the geographical area of coverage, your specific coverage benefits, and if you want a deductible on your plan.

IMG Global Health Insurance for Singapore

IMG provides international health insurance plans for expats while abroad. They offer comprehensive insurance policies, with multiple plans and payment options to fit any expat’s budget. They provide superior services to their members like crisis support and preventative care.

Some of the shared features across their varied plans are:

April International Health Insurance for Singapore

April International has over 30 years of experience in the international health insurance market and provides both comprehensive and flexible plans to expats while in Singapore. April International provides varying levels of coverage, fully customizable policies, and a wide direct billing network.

Some of the shared coverage across their plans are:

Cigna Global Health Insurance for Singapore

Cigna provides flexible insurance plans to expats in Singapore and across the globe. They offer their members 24/7 access to a customer care team and access to any of Singapore’s private hospitals and healthcare systems. Their plans are customizable and comprehensive.

Cigna has a Silver, Gold, and Platinum plan with different levels of coverage. All three of these plans share several common key coverage benefits:

Allianz Health Insurance for Singapore

Allianz offers comprehensive insurance plans in Singapore to fit a variety of expats’ and foreigners’ needs. Riders are available to be purchased and attached to basic policies that Allianz provides. These riders can offer coverage for accidents and other risks that expats may face abroad.

Some of the basic coverage for their plans includes:

HSBC Life Health Insurance for Singapore

HSBC Life, formerly known as AXA Singapore, is a leading insurer for expats in Singapore. They provide 24/7 emergency assistance, no-claim discounts, and comprehensive worldwide coverage for individuals and families abroad.

Some of their plans' shared features include:

Facts to Consider when Picking Insurance in Singapore

When choosing an insurance plan in Singapore, expats should consider what their healthcare coverage needs are, their budget, and the length of their trip. By considering these factors carefully, expats can feel more confident in their private health insurance choices in Singapore.

• Assess Your Healthcare Coverage Needs: Do you plan on visiting the doctor frequently? Take the time to determine where you may need additional medical support to ensure that you have the right coverage for your health needs.
• Consider Your Budget: Your budget will determine how much you can afford in coverage, but this doesn’t mean you should try to find the cheapest coverage possible. You should ensure that your health and finances will be adequately protected through the coverage limit you purchase.
• Determine the Length of Your Trip: The length of your trip will determine how long you will need to purchase coverage, and whether you will need a travel insurance plan that will last only a few months or something more comprehensive like an international health insurance plan.

Additional Benefits and Coverage for Expats in Singapore

Basic international health insurance plans cover inpatient treatment costs and hospitalizations, but most insurance providers also allow additional coverage options to extend your benefits. This could cover things like dental, optical, maternity, and more.

• Dental: You can have dental check-ups, cleanings, and major dental procedures covered by customizable, additional benefits when selecting your international health insurance plan.
• Maternity and family coverage: Expats looking to expand their family can purchase international health insurance plans to cover prenatal care, childbirth, and postpartum care. There are also additional benefits to cover the newborn.
• Preventive care: Certain health insurance plans will offer regular health checkups and screenings, along with vaccinations and wellness programs. These resources will help expats keep themselves healthy as they begin their new adventure abroad.

Pre-existing Conditions for Expats in Singapore

Expats with pre-existing conditions may have limited coverage options when purchasing international insurance but there are still alternative solutions available. You can choose a plan with a pre-existing condition exclusion, a moratorium, or coverage with loading.

Here is a general overview of what each term means:

• Exclusion: The insurer will not pay or reimburse the policyholder for medical bills related to the condition if they choose to buy a plan from them.
• Moratorium: The insurance company observes the pre-existing condition for a certain time known as the waiting period. This period is usually 24 months, and the insurance company reviews its decision.
• Coverage with loading: Insurance companies may offer coverage for pre-existing conditions, but only with higher premiums. Not all pre-existing conditions are eligible for this kind of coverage, and not all companies offer this option.

Retirees Seeking International Healthcare in Singapore

Expats retiring in Singapore should purchase an international health insurance plan that offers comprehensive and flexible coverage for their specific medical needs. This may include coverage for preventative health support, cancer screenings, and chronic conditions.

Reach out to Pacific Prime to hear about our international insurance plans for retirees in the Lion City. We can help secure a plan that will provide excellent coverage for your needs, as well as provide access to all the best private hospitals and care.

Secure Health Insurance for Singapore Today

Weighing up your Singapore health insurance options can be a breeze if you use Pacific Prime Singapore. Visit our health insurance plans page to see what solutions we offer, or use our online health insurance comparison tool to start looking at our various provider quotes.

International health insurance is an invaluable asset to expats when moving to or visiting Singapore. With worldwide coverage and customizable benefits, expats can enjoy their journey with the peace of mind that comes with health insurance protection.

Our expert advisors are happy to help make the process of finding cover simple! Contact us today to hear more about our international insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What international health insurance is best for foreigners in Singapore?

The best international health insurance plan will fit your unique needs; however, it should have key characteristics such as excellent coverage across the globe, customizable and reasonable premiums, 24/7 support, and clear terms.

2. Does Singapore offer free healthcare to foreigners?

Singapore does not offer free healthcare to foreigners, instead only offering it to citizens and permanent residents. A Singaporean employer must provide a basic health insurance plan if you are a foreigner working under an S-pass.

3. Do expats need international health insurance?

Expats will need a health insurance plan when living in Singapore, as the city-state will not provide one. An international health insurance plan helps protect expats from costly hospital bills and other unforeseen medical expenses.