Singapore Health Insurance
Pacific Prime is Asia’s best insurance intermediary, providing expert services to over 120,000 clients in 130 countries. Our award winning team of experienced and qualified advisors can help you navigate the world of Singapore health insurance to find the best solution for your Singapore relocation or travel needs.
We’ve also created this guide to help you understand the basics of the Singapore public and private healthcare systems. To download the FREE PDF just click the button below.
Healthcare in Singapore
Singapore is a small city-state with around 5.4 million people, all enjoying a bustling economy, modern standard of living, and excellent public and private health care options. Its health sector is consistently ranked as the top in the world by Bloomberg and is one of the most popular destinations in the whole of Asia for medical tourism.
The public health system in Singapore is government funded, providing universal coverage to all citizens and Permanent Residents. Eight public hospitals, including a women’s and a children’s hospital, provide inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care, while specialty clinics exist for services like dermatological and dentistry care. Unlike in many other countries, lower than average wait times and the ability to visit the same physician are features of public hospitals in Singapore.
Permanent Residency status, expats are not covered by the generous government subsidies, meaning costs can be significantly higher for recent expats or tourists to the country. For example, a specialist out-patient visit will cost Singaporeans around US 25, Permanent Residents US 36, and non-residents can expect to pay around US 100, depending on the clinic and doctor visited.
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.
Visiting Singapore
Singapore is full of rich, beautiful natural environments, heritage and modern architecture, and a fantastic mix of flea market and high-end shopping experiences. With friendly and helpful locals, it also has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. There isn’t too much to be concerned with in Singapore, however the city-state is home to some venomous snakes and spiders, as well as your standard mosquitos in Asia. 2016 saw a Zika virus outbreak infect more than 50 people, so pregnant expats are warned to be mindful if planning an Asian holiday.
Expatriates in Singapore
Expats living in Singapore should consider taking out private medical insurance, even if their employer provides insurance as part of their incentive package. Many expats 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.
Insurance Solutions
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. If you need to talk to someone, our expert advisors are happy to help make the process of finding cover simple!
