A hospital bill in Singapore is paid in layers. In a subsidised ward, the Government subsidy comes off first. MediShield Life then pays the large part of what remains, after you pay a deductible and a share called co-insurance. You can usually pay your share from MediSave within limits, then cash. If a citizen still cannot pay, MediFund is the last resort.
This guide walks a single illustrative bill through each layer, with the figures in force from 1 June 2026.
The Layers of a Hospital Bill in Singapore
Each layer picks up where the last one stops:
| Layer | What it does | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|
| Government subsidy | Reduces the bill in subsidised wards (Class B2 and C) | Citizens and Permanent Residents, at different rates |
| MediShield Life | Pays large bills, after a deductible and co-insurance, within claim limits | All citizens and Permanent Residents |
| Integrated Shield Plan and rider | Extra cover for higher wards or private hospitals | Those who hold one |
| MediSave | Pays your share, within withdrawal limits | CPF members, and family members’ MediSave in some cases |
| Cash | Whatever is left | Everyone |
| MediFund | Help with remaining bills for those in financial difficulty | Singapore Citizens who are subsidised patients |
Step One: The Deductible
The deductible is the first slice you pay in a policy year. For MediShield Life from 1 June 2026, by age next birthday:
- Class C: $2,000 up to 80, $2,750 from 81.
- Class B2, B2+ or B1: $2,500 up to 80, $3,500 from 81.
- Class A or private hospital: $3,500 up to 80, $4,500 from 81.
- Day surgery: $1,500 up to 80, $2,000 from 81.
It is paid once a policy year, so a second admission in the same year does not trigger another.
Step Two: Co-Insurance
Above the deductible, you pay a share of the claimable amount. MediShield Life’s rate falls as the year’s claims grow: 10% on the first $5,000 (counting the deductible), 5% on the next $5,000 and 3% above $10,000.
Worked Example: A Class B2 Stay
Illustration only. An illustrative Singapore Citizen aged 70, with MediShield Life only, spends a week in a Class B2 ward. The bill after subsidy is $9,000. For simplicity, we assume all of it is claimable, within MediShield Life’s daily and surgical limits.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Bill after subsidy | $9,000 |
| Deductible (Class B2, age 80 and below) | $2,500 |
| Co-insurance: 10% of the next $2,500 | $250 |
| Co-insurance: 5% of the remaining $4,000 | $200 |
| Patient’s share | $2,950 |
| Paid by MediShield Life | $6,050 |
The patient’s $2,950 can come from MediSave, up to the withdrawal limits for that treatment. Any remainder is cash. If the family still could not pay, a medical social worker could assess them for MediFund.
The short version: For a subsidised stay, the deductible is the biggest part of your share. Co-insurance adds a smaller amount, and both can usually be paid from MediSave within limits. Insurance does not remove the bill; it caps your part of it.
The Same Stay in a Class A Ward
Now the same patient chooses a Class A ward, still with MediShield Life only. There is no subsidy, so the bill is larger; say $25,000.
MediShield Life first scales the bill down. For a citizen in Class A, CPF Board counts 27% of ward charges and 25% of surgical charges. Taking a simplified 27% across the bill, the claimable amount is about $6,750.
- Deductible (Class A): $3,500.
- Co-insurance: 10% of $1,500 plus 5% of $1,750, about $238.
- MediShield Life pays about $3,010. The patient pays about $21,990.
This is the gap an Integrated Shield Plan is designed to fill. With a Class A or private hospital plan, the private layer pays most of the bill after its own deductible and co-insurance. With a rider bought since April 2026, your share is the deductible plus at least 5% of the rest, with the 5% part capped at no less than $6,000 a year on eligible claims. See the 2026 rider rules.
Where MediFund Fits
MediFund is an endowment fund set up by the Government. MOH describes it as a safety net for Singapore Citizens who face difficulty with remaining bills after subsidies, insurance and MediSave.
- It applies at public healthcare institutions, community hospitals and approved long-term care facilities.
- Applicants must be subsidised patients at a MediFund-approved institution.
- Each institution’s committee decides the amount, looking at the family’s financial, health and social circumstances and the size of the bill.
- MediFund Silver and MediFund Junior give more targeted help to needy seniors and children.
There is no form to download. You start by speaking to a medical social worker at the hospital.
What To Do Next
- Ask the hospital for an estimated bill before a planned admission, and for the ward class it assumes.
- Check your MediSave balance and the uses of MediSave for the treatment.
- Read our guide to health insurance in Singapore to see how each layer fits.
- If a bill is beyond your means, speak to the hospital’s medical social worker early, not after it is overdue.
