Medisave for Mental Health Treatment Singapore (2026 Guide)

What you can claim, how much you can use, and which settings qualify — verified against MOH data.

You can use Medisave for mental health treatment in Singapore — but only for specific conditions at approved clinics. Under the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP), you can claim up to $500 or $700 per year for outpatient treatment of anxiety, major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and dementia. For inpatient stays at IMH, Medisave covers $230 per day, with MediShield Life topping up the rest.

Not financial advice. All figures are for educational reference only. Data verified against Ministry of Health Singapore as at September 2026.

Table of Contents

Which Mental Health Treatments Qualify for Medisave?

Medisave can be used for mental health in two main ways: outpatient treatment under the CDMP, and inpatient psychiatric care. Not all mental health conditions or settings qualify — so it’s worth knowing exactly what’s covered before your next appointment.

For outpatient treatment, the following mental health conditions are approved under the CDMP scheme. You must receive treatment at an approved clinic — polyclinics, restructured hospital outpatient clinics, or CHAS GP clinics enrolled in the programme.

Source: Ministry of Health Singapore, Outpatient Care page, updated 1 June 2026

Private therapists, counsellors, and psychologists outside the CDMP framework are not covered by Medisave. This is one of the biggest misconceptions. You can only claim at an approved institution where a licensed doctor has diagnosed and registered your CDMP condition.

CDMP Outpatient Limits: $500 vs $700 Explained

The difference between $500 and $700 comes down to condition complexity. MOH classifies each CDMP condition as either simple or complex — you don’t choose which tier you’re on. Your doctor registers your condition, and the system applies the right limit automatically.

Here’s the practical difference. If you see your GP 10 times a year for anxiety management, each visit costs roughly $30–50 after subsidy at a polyclinic. A $500/year Medisave limit means you can cover most or all of those visits. For schizophrenia — a complex condition requiring more frequent and intensive care — the $700 limit provides more headroom.

Before Healthier SG, even if you used Medisave, you had to pay 15% of the bill in cash. That changed on 1 February 2024. If you’re enrolled with a primary care physician (PCP) under Healthier SG and visit that same clinic, the 15% cash co-payment is fully waived. Your Medisave covers the full bill up to your annual limit.

This is a big deal if you’re managing a chronic mental health condition. Spread across 10–12 visits a year, eliminating that 15% cash portion adds up to meaningful savings. You can read more about how Medisave works across different treatments in our full guide to Medisave approved treatments in Singapore.

How to Claim Medisave for Mental Health

Claiming Medisave for outpatient mental health treatment is simpler than most people think. You don’t file a claim yourself — the clinic does it for you. Here’s what happens:

Step 1: Get diagnosed at an approved clinic. You need a formal diagnosis from a registered doctor at a polyclinic, restructured hospital outpatient clinic, or CHAS GP clinic. Self-referral to a private therapist won’t qualify for Medisave.

Step 2: Register under CDMP. Your doctor will register your condition under the CDMP if it qualifies. Once registered, subsequent visits to the same or linked clinic can use Medisave.

Step 3: Pay with Medisave at the counter. When you check out, tell the clinic staff you want to use Medisave. They process the deduction directly from your CPF Medisave account. You pay any remaining amount — or nothing at all if you’re under the limit and Healthier SG enrolled.

Step 4: Track your annual limit. You can check your Medisave balance and claims history via CPF online or the MyCPF mobile app. Remember: the $500 or $700 annual limit resets every calendar year.

For a complete breakdown of how Medisave works across different conditions and settings, see our Medisave Singapore 2026 guide.

IMH Inpatient: What Medisave and MediShield Life Cover

If you or a family member needs inpatient psychiatric care — at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) or a restructured hospital — the coverage picture is more generous than many realise.

Source: Ministry of Health Singapore; MediShield Life coverage schedule, as at September 2026

In practice, for a subsidised Class B2/C stay at IMH, the government subsidy plus MediShield Life often covers the bulk of your hospital bill. Your Medisave handles the daily Medisave-claimable portion ($230/day), and your ISP rider — if you have one — can reduce the deductible and co-insurance you pay in cash.

This is why having an ISP matters even for mental health care. Understanding what MediShield Life covers helps you plan what’s left for your ISP to handle. If you’re unsure whether your current plan is adequate, use our Singapore retirement calculator to stress-test your finances.

rTMS: A New Medisave-Claimable Mental Health Treatment

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique used to treat depression that hasn’t responded to medication. From 2026, MOH has made rTMS Medisave-claimable at approved institutions.

The Medisave withdrawal limit for rTMS is $15 per treatment session. An initial course covers up to 30 sessions, and retreatment (if needed) covers another 30 sessions. Maintenance rTMS is not covered. While $15/session is a partial subsidy — a full private rTMS session can cost several hundred dollars — it does meaningfully reduce your out-of-pocket at public institutions where treatment costs are already subsidised.

rTMS is typically administered at restructured hospitals and IMH. It’s not the right fit for everyone, so discuss with your psychiatrist whether it’s appropriate for your situation.

Worked Example: What You’d Actually Pay

Here’s a realistic comparison for a Singapore citizen managing major depression. All figures are estimates based on subsidised rates for a typical patient under the standard subsidy bracket (not on full subsidy).

Source: TKN estimates based on MOH subsidised rates and CPF Medisave rules as at September 2026. Individual bills may vary by income and ward class.

The key takeaway: public healthcare settings dramatically reduce your costs. A Singapore citizen seeing a polyclinic doctor for anxiety under Healthier SG can attend 15–20 consultations a year and pay nothing in cash — Medisave handles it all within the $500 annual limit.

For hospitalisation, your Medisave hospitalisation coverage works alongside MediShield Life. For those with an ISP, the rider absorbs the deductible — reducing cash outlay significantly for longer stays.

Tips to Maximise Your Medisave Coverage

1. Enrol with Healthier SG. This single step eliminates the 15% cash co-payment at your enrolled clinic. If you have a CDMP condition and haven’t enrolled yet, do it now. It’s free and saves you real money every visit.

2. Choose polyclinic for routine follow-ups. For stable mental health conditions like controlled anxiety or mild depression, a polyclinic visit is far cheaper than a private specialist — and the Medisave coverage is identical. Save your specialist visits for acute episodes or medication adjustments.

3. Track your $500/$700 annual Medisave limit. The limit resets on 1 January each year. If you’ve hit your cap by October, plan subsequent visits for January when it resets — rather than paying cash at year-end for non-urgent consultations.

4. Check your ISP covers psychiatric inpatient care. Some ISP riders have sub-limits for psychiatric hospitalisation that are lower than the main hospitalisation benefit. Read your policy schedule carefully or call your insurer. This affects your exposure if you ever need an inpatient stay. You can compare ISP options at our guide to ISP co-payment structures.

5. Ask about MediFund. If you genuinely can’t afford the remaining co-payment at a public healthcare institution, MediFund provides a safety net. Apply at the hospital’s medical social work department. There’s no shame in asking — it exists precisely for this.

6. Keep your CPF Medisave healthy. Mental health treatment is a long-term commitment for many. A well-funded Medisave account gives you flexibility. For broader CPF planning, see our CPF investment strategy guide for Singapore residents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Plan Your Healthcare Coverage

Mental health coverage is just one piece. Make sure your Medisave, MediShield Life, and ISP work together to protect you.