Your MediSave Account Explained: Balance, Contributions & How to Use It (2026)
The complete guide to Singapore’s CPF MediSave Account — limits, uses, interest & top-up tips.
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Your MediSave Account (MA) is one of three CPF accounts every working Singaporean and PR holds. It is a mandatory medical savings account that collects a portion of your monthly CPF contributions — money you can only spend on approved healthcare expenses. In 2026, the MA earns 4% per year and can hold up to $79,000 before contributions overflow to your other CPF accounts.
Not financial advice. All figures are for educational reference only. Data as at July 2026 unless noted.
- MediSave earns a guaranteed 4% p.a. and is capped at the Basic Healthcare Sum of $79,000 in 2026.
- A fixed % of your gross wages flows into MA automatically each month — ranging from 8% (age ≤35) to 10.5% (age 56+).
- You can use MediSave for hospitalisation, MediShield Life premiums, Integrated Shield Plan premiums, chronic disease treatment, and more.
What Is the MediSave Account?
The MediSave Account (MA) is one of the three main CPF accounts, alongside the Ordinary Account (OA) and the Special Account (SA). After age 55, your SA closes and its balance is folded into a Retirement Account (RA).
Think of MA as your healthcare piggy bank. Every month, a slice of your CPF contribution flows into it automatically. You never handle this money directly — it sits in your CPF account earning interest and gets drawn down only when you pay for approved medical expenses.
You cannot withdraw MediSave as cash. There is no bank transfer option. The money is ring-fenced purely for healthcare — which is exactly the point. Singapore’s healthcare financing system is built around MediSave funding your MediShield Life premiums and topping up your Integrated Shield Plan (ISP) premiums.
Your MA balance is visible on the CPF member portal at my.cpf.gov.sg. Log in with Singpass and you’ll see your OA, SA, and MA balances side by side.
How Much Goes Into Your MediSave Account?
Your MA contribution is a fixed percentage of your gross monthly wages. The exact rate depends on your age. Both your employee and employer contributions count — they are pooled and allocated to MA, OA, and SA in fixed proportions.
For a 30-year-old earning $5,000/month: 8% of $5,000 = $400 flows into MA each month. At $8,000 (the Ordinary Wage ceiling), that is $640 into MA monthly.
| Age Group | MA Contribution (% of gross wages) | Monthly MA on $5,000 | Monthly MA on $8,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤35 years old | 8% | $400 | $640 |
| 36–45 years old | 9% | $450 | $720 |
| 46–55 years old | 9.5% | $475 | $760 |
| 56–60 years old | ~10.5% | $525 | $840 |
| 61–65 years old | ~10.5% | $525 | $840 |
| 66–70 years old | ~10.5% | $525 | $840 |
Source: CPF Board, Allocation Rates from 1 January 2026. Contributions are capped at the Ordinary Wage ceiling of $8,000/month. Rates for older age groups are approximate based on total CPF contribution rates and standard MA allocation fractions.
Notice that as you age, the total CPF rate falls — but your MA share stays flat or grows. That is because older Singaporeans typically have higher healthcare costs, so CPF Board allocates more to MA relative to OA and SA.
MediSave (MA) contribution as % of gross wages by age group. Gold bars = MA portion; dark green bars = total CPF contribution rate. Source: CPF Board, January 2026.
The $79,000 Basic Healthcare Sum (BHS) Cap
Your MediSave Account has a ceiling — the Basic Healthcare Sum (BHS). Once your MA balance hits the BHS, new contributions stop going into MA and overflow instead to your OA (if you’re below 55) or your RA (if you’re 55 and above).
The BHS rises each year to keep pace with healthcare inflation — except once you turn 65. At that point, your BHS locks permanently at the prevailing amount. Turn 65 in 2026 and your BHS is fixed at $79,000 for life.
This has planning implications. A 40-year-old today will likely see BHS continue rising by roughly $2,000–$5,000 per year. By the time they turn 65, their locked-in BHS could be $100,000+. The higher the BHS cap, the more money earns 4% in MA.
If your MA is already at BHS, do not panic. Your contributions simply redirect automatically to OA or RA — you do not lose them. But it does mean your MA will no longer grow from new contributions, only from the 4% interest it earns each year.
How Much Interest Does Your MediSave Earn?
Your MediSave Account earns 4% per annum. The government extended this floor rate through 31 December 2026 — making MA one of Singapore’s best guaranteed, risk-free savings vehicles.
For context: most savings accounts in 2026 pay 2–3%. A 12-month fixed deposit at DBS might offer 3.3%. Your MA earns 4% on every dollar, automatically, with zero effort.
There is also a bonus interest structure. If you are below 55, you earn an extra 1% on the first $60,000 of your combined CPF balances (capped at $20,000 for OA). Your MA counts toward this combined balance — so many Singaporeans effectively earn 5% on their MA.
If you are 55 and above, the bonus is even richer: an extra 2% on the first $30,000 of combined balances, and an extra 1% on the next $30,000. That pushes effective MA returns to 6% on the first slice of your balance.
What Can You Use MediSave For?
MediSave is not a general medical wallet. There are specific approved uses, each with withdrawal limits set by MOH and CPF Board. Here is a summary of the main ones in 2026:
| Use | Details | 2026 Limit |
|---|---|---|
| MediShield Life premiums | Compulsory — deducted automatically from MA each year | Full premium |
| Integrated Shield Plan base premium | Base ISP premium is claimable; riders must be paid in cash | $800–$2,340/yr by age |
| Hospitalisation & surgery | Inpatient stays and procedures at approved hospitals | $450–$600/day by ward class |
| Outpatient scans | CT, MRI, PET scans at approved centres | $600/yr (doubled from 2026) |
| Chronic Disease Mgmt (CDMP) | GP/specialist for listed chronic conditions | $500/yr per patient |
| Flexi-MediSave (age 60+) | Outpatient visits at CHAS clinics / polyclinics | $200/yr |
| Restorative dental (age 60+) | Permanent crowns and root canals — new from mid-2026 | $300/yr |
| Maternity expenses | Delivery and antenatal care at approved hospitals | $900–$2,550 per delivery |
Source: CPF Board and MOH, July 2026. MediSave can also be used for approved dependants (spouse, children, parents, grandparents). IP rider premiums are excluded from MediSave by MOH policy.
The single most important rule to remember: your Integrated Shield Plan rider — the add-on that covers your deductible and co-insurance — cannot be funded from MediSave. You pay that rider premium in cash. Only the base ISP premium is MediSave-claimable.
New in 2026: outpatient scan coverage doubled to $600/year, and seniors aged 60+ can now use MediSave for restorative dental work (permanent crowns and root canals) at approved CHAS clinics, up to $300 per year from mid-2026 onwards.
For a full breakdown of what MediSave covers across hospitalisation, outpatient, and specialist scenarios, read our Medisave Singapore complete guide 2026.
Summary of MediSave approved uses and 2026 withdrawal limits. Note: ISP rider premiums are NOT covered. Source: CPF Board & MOH, July 2026.
How to Top Up Your MediSave Account
If your MediSave balance is below the BHS ($79,000), you can top it up voluntarily with cash. It is one of the smartest financial moves available to Singaporeans — for two reasons: the guaranteed 4% return and a large tax relief.
Here is how the tax relief works in 2026:
- Top up your own MediSave: get up to $8,000 tax relief per Year of Assessment
- Top up a family member’s MediSave (parents, in-laws, grandparents, spouse, siblings): another $8,000 tax relief
- Combined maximum: $16,000 per year
Here is a worked example. You are 38, earn $80,000/year, and your MA balance is $30,000. You top up $8,000 cash:
- Tax saved at 11.5% marginal rate: $920
- Immediate 4% interest on $8,000: $320/year
- Total first-year benefit: roughly $1,240 from one top-up
To top up, log in to CPF’s MediSave top-up portal with Singpass. The portal shows exactly how much headroom you have before reaching BHS.
One important caveat: MediSave top-ups are permanent. You cannot reverse the transfer or withdraw the money as cash later. Make sure you have adequate liquid cash reserves (6–12 months of expenses) before topping up.
If you are also investing your cash savings alongside your CPF planning, platforms like Endowus (referral code: 2V343) let you invest in globally diversified funds with low fees. Use our Singapore retirement calculator to model how CPF and investment savings combine toward your retirement target.
MediSave and Your Integrated Shield Plan
The biggest ongoing draw on your MediSave Account is your Integrated Shield Plan (ISP) annual premium. ISPs are private hospital insurance plans built on top of MediShield Life — and their base premiums are paid directly from MediSave.
ISP premiums rise steeply with age. A 30-year-old might pay $400–$700/year for a Class A ward ISP. A 65-year-old on the same plan could pay $4,000–$7,000/year. MediSave covers the base premium up to a capped amount — any excess must be paid cash, as must the full rider premium.
MediSave annual withdrawal limits for ISP base premiums (2026):
- Age 1–40: up to $800/year
- Age 41–50: up to $1,100/year
- Age 51–60: up to $1,730/year
- Age 61–70: up to $2,340/year
- Age 71–80: up to $2,640/year
- Age 81+: up to $3,240/year
For younger policyholders, MediSave usually covers the full base ISP premium. For older policyholders — especially those on Class A or private hospital plans — the annual cap may not fully cover the base premium, meaning you top up in cash.
This is why keeping your MA balance healthy matters more as you get older. A well-funded MediSave Account, earning 4% for decades, is a powerful buffer against rising healthcare costs in retirement.
If you are weighing ISP options, see our best Integrated Shield Plan Singapore guide comparing AIA, Great Eastern, Prudential, NTUC Income, and Singlife. Alternatively, if you want to invest alongside your insurance planning, Syfe (referral code: SRPRFFFCD) offers low-cost managed portfolios for cash savings. You can also review our full CPF investment strategy guide for a complete picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MediSave Account (MA) in Singapore?
How do I check my MediSave Account balance?
What is the MediSave limit in 2026?
What interest rate does MediSave earn?
Can I use MediSave to pay for private hospital bills?
Is there tax relief for topping up MediSave?
Can MediSave pay for my Integrated Shield Plan rider?
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