Patient FAQs

 

Q: Can I choose my type of ward?

A: Yes, you may choose any type of ward accommodation. However, patients are advised to choose an appropriate ward type based on affordability. 

Q: Can my family member stay overnight with me in the ward?

A: Only patients who are admitted to single rooms, i.e. 1-bedded ward, are allowed to have an immediate family member stay over with them. Additional charges may apply. Please check with the nurse on duty for more details.

Q: How much will my hospital stay cost?

A: You will be given financial counselling on the estimated hospital bill size upon admission. Your actual bill may differ from estimates depending on your medical condition, treatment and length of hospitalisation.

Q: What rates will I pay for follow-up at SOC after discharge?

A: Choice of either subsidised or private SOC follow-up care.

Q: What if I have difficulty paying for my hospital expenses?

A: You can inform our staff who can refer you to our Medical Social Workers. They will assess your situation and make appropriate recommendations on how the hospital can provide financial assistance.​

Q: Is a deposit required?

A: A deposit is normally collected at the time of the patient's admission to cover his estimated hospital bill. The amount varies, depending on the type of case and the type of ward chosen. The staff handling your admission will be able to advise you on this.

Q: What happens to my admission if I do not have the money to pay the deposit?

A: Patients who do not have the money to pay the deposit are not denied admission to the hospital for basic health services provided they are admitted to a B2 4-6 bedded and C 8-12 bedded ward. You will be referred to our Medical Social Workers for assessment of financial assistance. Patients seeking admission to 1-bedded or B1 4-bedded wards and who are unable to pay the deposit should re-consider their choice of ward.

Q: Do I need to pay a deposit when I am using my Medisave to settle my hospital bill?

A: For 1-bedded and B1 4-bedded patients, a deposit is usually collected even if Medisave is used to settle part of the hospital bill. The deposit covers the difference between the total charges and the maximum Medisave claim amount. Subsequent deposit top-ups may be required if the initial deposit is insufficient to cover the difference in total charges. Generally, B2 4-6 bedded and C 8-12 bedded patients using Medisave are not required to furnish a deposit if they have sufficient balance in their Medisave account. Full deposit would be required if the yearly Medisave withdrawal limit has been reached. The deposit payment can be made in cash, by NETS, credit card, or local cheque.

Q: How do I use my Medisave to pay the hospital bill?

A: You will need to tell the hospital staff handling your admission that you wish to use your Medisave. You will then be given a Medical Claim Authorisation Form (MCAF) to complete. This will serve as your authorisation for the hospital to submit the hospital bill to the CPF Board to draw down your Medisave balance.

Q: Who can I use my Medisave for?

A: Medisave may be used for your spouse, children, parents and grandparents (grandparents must be Singapore citizens or permanent residents). 

Q: Under what circumstances can I use my Medisave for non-immediate family members?

A: Use of Medisave for non-immediate family members, such as siblings, in-laws, uncles/aunts and nephews/nieces may be allowed on a case-by-case basis, if the patient is hospitalised in B2 4-6 bedded and C 8-12 bedded wards. An application can be made at the Emergency Services and Business Office, and but it is subject to approval. For B1 4-bedded wards and above, non-immediate family Medisave usage is not permitted.

Q: How much Medisave can I use?

A: The use of Medisave for inpatient psychiatric treatment is subject to a withdrawal limit of $150 per day and a maximum of $5,000 a year. The use of Medisave for outpatient treatment of schizophrenia, major depression, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety and Dementia is subject to a 15% co-payment by the patient per claim. In addition, the amount of Medisave withdrawn for the treatment of one or more approved chronic diseases, shall not exceed $500 for non-complex conditions, or $700 for complex chronic conditions per annum per patient.​

Q: Why are withdrawal limits imposed?

A: Medisave withdrawal limits are necessary to ensure that members' Medisave savings are conserved for future medical needs, especially after retirement and during old age. Also, the limits are generally adequate to fully cover expenses incurred in the B2 4-6 bedded and C 8-12 bedded wards. However, for hospitalisation expenses incurred in private wards, i.e. 1-bedded and B1 4-bedded, the patient usually has to pay cash out-of-pocket for the part of the bill which Medisave does not cover. 

Q: What happens if the patient and/or Medisave account holder are found to have given a false declaration?

A: Penalties will be imposed on any person found to have given a false declaration. Unauthorised use of another person's Medisave account is considered a criminal offence. The persons involved can be referred to the Police. 

Q: How does the hospital deduct the funds from my Medisave account?

A: We will submit a claim directly to the CPF Board for deductions from your Medisave account at the end of every month. Your hospital bill will show the amount deducted from your Medisave account and the outstanding amount to be settled by you, if any.

Q: What if I am covered under my company medical benefits?

A: If your employer is paying for your bill, please bring along your Letter of Guarantee from your employer or present your Hospitalisation Identity Card (HIC). At the point of admission, you will still be required to sign the Medisave Authorisation Form. Depending on the arrangement between the employer and the hospital, your Medisave will be deducted either fully or partially at the point of billing.

Q: What does Medisave not cover?

A: Medisave does not cover the following:

• Outpatient consultation fees, tests and investigations (except for approved chronic disease management diagnosis, e.g. Major Depression, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety and Dementia) 
• Charges for medical reports 
• Private expenditures, such as telephone calls 
• Ambulance fees 
• Hospital stays for less than 8 hours 
• Respite care 

Q: What is MediShield Life?

A: MediShield Life is ​a basic medical insurance scheme administered by CPF Board to help Singapore citizen and Permanent Resident patients pay part of the expenses arising from hospitalisation.  It is meant to complement a member's Medisave savings and works most effectively for hospitalisation at B2 4-6 bedded/C 8-12 bedded wards at public hospitals.

Q: How much can I claim and what is the claim limit?

A: Before MediShield Life can be applied to cover the hospital bill, one would need to pay a deductible (either through Medisave or cash). The deductible is maintained at $1,500 for C 8-12 bedded wards and $2,000 for B2 4-6 bedded wards to maintain MediShield Life's focus on large bills. In line with the current cost of psychiatric care and to manage the risk of overstaying, with effect from 1 Mar 2021, the claim limits are pegged at $160 per day, up to 60 days a year.

Q: What does MediShield Life not cover?

A: MediShield Life does not cover treatment for drug addiction or alcoholism, social overstayers and outpatient treatments.

Q: How should I go about claiming from MediShield Life?

A: Please inform our staff handling your hospital admission that you wish to make a claim. Once you have given us the authorisation, we will submit the MediShield Life claim on your behalf. After processing, any reimbursement will be made by the CPF Board to the hospital directly if there is a claim payout. The remaining amount can be paid for using Medisave or cash.

Q: Can MediShield Life be used to pay for any ward type?

A: MediShield Life can be used to cover stays in any ward type. However, for members who opt to be admitted to 1-bedded, B1 4-bedded wards, their MediShield Life payouts will be pro-rated to the equivalent B2 4-6 bedded/ C 8-12 bedded level. Those who want higher coverage in 1-bedded, B1 4-bedded wards should consider buying Medisave-approved Integrated Shield Plan (or IP) offered by private Integrated Shield plans. Please contact your financial advisor or insurance agent for more information on Integrated Shield Plans.

Q: Where can I get more information about MediShield Life?

A: For further details about MediShield Life scheme, you can visit the Ministry of Health website or the CPF Board website, or contact the CPF Board at toll-free hotline: 1800–2223399. 

Q: What is Medifund?

A: Medifund is an endowment fund set by the Government in 1993 to act as a safety net to assist needy Singaporeans who are unable to afford their medical care.

Q: Who qualifies to apply for Medifund?

A: Patients who fulfil ALL of the following requirements may apply for Medifund assistance:  

• is a Singapore citizen 
• is a subsidised patient 
• has received treatment from a Medifund-approved institution 
• Patient and family have difficulty affording the medical bill despite heavy government subsidies, MediShield and Medisave  

Q: How do I apply for Medifund?

A: You can inform our staff, e.g. doctors, nurses or medical social workers of your need for Medifund assistance. You will need to fill in an application form obtainable from the medical social worker. A medical social worker will be assigned to assist you. You may be required to provide documents to verify your financial status and a home visit may be required. 

Q: How much help can I get from Medifund?

A: The amount of help from Medifund depends on your financial circumstances and the charges incurred. The hospital’s Medifund Committee will take into account factors, such as the bill size, and whether the treatment is required on a long-term basis and will assess each application based on individual circumstances.

Q: What cases will Medifund not help?

A: Medifund does not cover the following:

• Respite care
• Social overstayer
• Other services, such as ambulance fees, telephone calls, laundry, etc.
• Private class bills
• Medical reports

Q: Where can I get more details about Medifund?

A: You may contact a medical social worker at Tel: 6389 2059.

Q: What should I do during registration if I am a Civil Service Card (CSC) holder?

A: You will need to produce the CSC / Medical Benefits Identity Memo (MBIM) and Identity Card to the admissions staff handling your admission. You will also need to complete a copy of the Medisave Authorisation Form if you wish to use your Medisave to cover any hospital charges not covered by your Civil Service Medical Benefits. If you do not wish to use your Medisave, you will be required to place 50% of the normal deposit.

Q: Can I opt for a ward type that is outside my medical entitlement?

A: If you wish to be admitted to a type of ward accommodation higher than your class entitlement, as stated in the CSC or MBIM, you will need to pay additional fees as specified by your Medical Benefit Scheme.

Q: How do I settle​ my hospitalisation charges?

A: After your discharge, your respective ministry or government department will settle the charges covered by your Civil Service Medical Benefits (CSMB). If you have completed the Medisave Authorisation Form, the hospital will submit the bill directly to the CPF Board, who will pay the portion not covered by CSMB through deduction from your Medisave account. You will be required to pay for the difference by cash, cheque, NETS or credit card if you have insufficient Medisave savings.

Q: What is the Co-Payment of Ward (CPW) scheme?

A: Under this scheme, when a CSC-holder or his dependent is admitted to his ward type of entitlement, he pays 20% and his dependent pays 50% of the ward charges. However, if the patient wishes to be admitted to a higher ward type, he or his dependant will pay 100% of the ward charges. The rest of the hospital fees are billed to his employer.

Q: What about the Comprehensive Co-payment Scheme (CCS)?

A: Under the CCS scheme, CSC holders and their dependants will co-pay on all the services that are currently reimbursable. The co-payment percentages for CSC-holders and their dependants are 15% and 40%, respectively, if they are admitted to their ward type of entitlement. In the event that the patient switches to a higher ward type, a higher percentage of co-payment will be applicable.

Q: What is the MSO scheme?

A: The MSO refers to the Medisave cum Subsidised Outpatient scheme. All newly recruited civil servants as of 1 January 1994 come under this scheme.

Q: How does the Medisave-cum-Subsidised Outpatient (MSO) scheme work?

A: The government contributes 1% of the gross monthly salary of the employee to the employee’s Medisave account, up to a maximum of $70 per month. As the employee has no hospitalisation benefits, he may buy his own hospitalisation insurance or use his Medisave to settle the hospital bill.