MediSave for Hospitalisation in Singapore (2026): The Complete Claim Guide
What you actually pay after ISP, rider changes, and MediSave limits — with a real worked example.
MediSave covers inpatient hospitalisation costs in Singapore — up to $1,130 per day for the first two days and $400 per day from day three. Paired with an Integrated Shield Plan (ISP), it pays your daily charges and surgical fees. But from April 2026, new ISP rider rules mean you now bear a larger deductible and a higher co-payment cap out of pocket.
Not financial advice. All figures are for educational reference only. Data verified as at 29 August 2026.
- MediSave pays daily ward charges and surgical fees directly — but caps apply ($1,130/day for days 1–2, then $400/day).
- From April 2026, your ISP rider can no longer cover the minimum deductible ($1,500–$3,500). You pay that yourself — but you can use MediSave for it.
- Your co-pay cap also doubled from $3,000 to $6,000 per year. New riders are ~30% cheaper to compensate.
Table of Contents
Contents — Click to expand
- What MediSave Covers for Hospitalisation
- MediSave Withdrawal Limits (2026)
- How Your ISP and MediSave Work Together
- The April 2026 Rider Changes: What You Now Pay
- Real Worked Example: A 4-Day Hospital Stay
- How to File a MediSave Hospitalisation Claim
- Who Is Most Affected by the New Rules?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What MediSave Covers for Hospitalisation
MediSave is the healthcare savings pillar of your Central Provident Fund (CPF). When you are admitted to a hospital in Singapore — whether public or private — your MediSave Account (MA) can be used to pay a defined portion of the bill.
Here is what MediSave actually covers during a hospital stay:
- Daily inpatient ward charges — the daily room-and-board fee, nursing care, routine investigations, and medicines charged per day.
- Surgical procedures — based on the Table of Surgical Procedures (TOSP). Limits range from $240 to $5,290 per procedure, depending on complexity.
- Day surgery — if you go in and out on the same day, MediSave covers up to $830 per day for all associated charges.
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) — ICU charges follow the same per-day inpatient limits above.
One thing MediSave does not cover: consumables, personal TV, or amenity upgrades. Those are billed separately and must be paid in cash.
MediSave Withdrawal Limits (2026)
The limits below are the maximum amounts CPF allows you to withdraw per day. If your actual bill is lower, only the actual amount is claimed.
| Type of Stay | MediSave Limit | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Inpatient — Day 1 & Day 2 | $1,130 / day | Daily ward, nursing, routine tests |
| Inpatient — Day 3 onwards | $400 / day | Same as above, lower daily cap |
| Day Surgery | $830 / day | All charges on day of surgery |
| Surgical Procedures (TOSP) | $240 – $5,290 | Surgeon and anaesthesiologist fees |
| ISP Base Premium | Up to ~$600 / yr | Annual ISP premium (age-banded) |
Source: CPF Board, MOH — as at August 2026
The Basic Healthcare Sum (BHS) — the maximum MediSave balance you can hold — is $79,000 in 2026. Once your MA hits this level, additional CPF contributions are redirected to your Special or Retirement Account. For more on this, read our complete MediSave guide for Singapore.
How Your ISP and MediSave Work Together
An Integrated Shield Plan (ISP) sits on top of MediSave. Think of them as two layers of protection: MediSave handles the first slice of your bill, and your ISP pays the bulk of what remains.
Here is the payment order for a typical inpatient claim:
- MediSave is drawn first — daily ward charges and surgical fees are deducted from your MA up to the applicable limits.
- ISP deductible — you pay this amount before your ISP kicks in. The deductible ranges from $1,500 (Class C) to $3,500 (Class A/Private) per policy year.
- Co-insurance (5%) — after the deductible, you pay 5% of the remaining bill, capped at $6,000 per year.
- ISP pays the rest — the insurer covers the remaining 95% of the bill above your deductible.
The key insight: your ISP and MediSave do not compete. They work in sequence. MediSave reduces the total bill the ISP sees; the ISP then covers the majority of what is left after your deductible and co-pay.
The April 2026 Rider Changes: What You Now Pay
Before April 2026, many Singaporeans held ISP riders that fully covered both the deductible and the co-insurance. That meant zero out-of-pocket cost at the hospital — except for non-claimable extras.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) changed this to address rising private healthcare costs. From 1 April 2026, new ISP riders sold by insurers can no longer cover the minimum deductible.
| Feature | Before April 2026 | From April 2026 (New Riders) |
|---|---|---|
| Rider covers deductible? | Yes | No |
| Minimum deductible (Class A/Private) | Covered by rider | $3,500 (you pay) |
| Minimum 5% co-pay | Required | Required |
| Co-pay cap per year | $3,000 | $6,000 |
| New rider premium (estimated) | Baseline | ~30% lower |
Source: MOH Circular, November 2025 / April 2026
If you bought your rider before April 2026: you are grandfathered under your existing terms until your next policy renewal after 1 April 2028. After that, your insurer will transition you to a compliant rider. Our in-depth ISP rider changes 2026 guide covers the full transition timeline.
Real Worked Example: A 4-Day Hospital Stay
Numbers make this clearest. Here is a realistic scenario for a 45-year-old Singapore citizen holding a Class A ISP with a new 2026-compliant rider.
The situation: 4-day stay in a Class A ward at a restructured hospital. One mid-complexity surgical procedure. Total bill: $25,000.
| Step | Who Pays | Amount (SGD) |
|---|---|---|
| Total hospital bill | — | $25,000 |
| MediSave — daily charges (2 × $1,130 + 2 × $400) | MediSave | $3,060 |
| MediSave — surgical procedure (TOSP) | MediSave | $4,000 |
| Remaining bill (to ISP) | — | $17,940 |
| Deductible (Class A — new rider, not covered) | You (cash or MediSave) | $3,500 |
| ISP assesses: $17,940 − $3,500 = $14,440 | — | $14,440 |
| Co-insurance (5% of $14,440) | You (cash or MediSave) | $722 |
| ISP pays (95% of $14,440) | Your insurer | $13,718 |
| Your total out-of-pocket | Deductible + co-pay | $4,222 |
Illustrative example only. Actual amounts depend on your insurer, ward class, and plan terms.
Your out-of-pocket of $4,222 can be paid using your MediSave balance (subject to withdrawal limits). Under the old rider rules — where riders fully covered the deductible — your out-of-pocket would have been approximately $722 (co-insurance only). The new rules cost you an additional $3,500 in this scenario.
How to File a MediSave Hospitalisation Claim
The good news: you do not need to submit most MediSave claims yourself. Singapore hospitals handle this electronically for you. Here is what the process looks like step by step.
- Provide your NRIC or FIN at admission. The hospital links your stay to your CPF account automatically.
- Hospital submits the ISP pre-authorisation (if your insurer requires it for elective procedures). For emergencies, this is done post-admission.
- Your insurer processes the claim. They settle their portion directly with the hospital. You pay the deductible and co-insurance at discharge.
- Hospital submits MediSave claim to CPF Board. This is done on your behalf electronically via the MediClaim system.
- CPF releases MediSave funds to the hospital, typically within 3–5 business days.
- You receive a Claim Summary via your CPF account and HealthHub — showing MediSave drawn, insurer payment, and what you paid.
You can track your MediSave balance and claims history at any time on cpf.gov.sg or the CPF mobile app. For ISP claim disputes or rejections, contact your insurer directly — they must respond within 5 business days under MAS guidelines.
If you are planning ahead for retirement and healthcare costs, our Singapore retirement calculator can help you model how much MediSave you will need.
Who Is Most Affected by the New Rules?
Not everyone faces the same impact. Here is how to assess your situation.
You are most affected if:
- You bought a new ISP rider on or after 1 April 2026 — your rider no longer covers the deductible.
- Your MediSave balance is low — paying both the deductible and co-pay from MA could deplete it faster than expected.
- You frequently use private hospital wards — the Class A/Private deductible of $3,500 is the highest tier.
You are less affected if:
- You hold an existing rider bought before April 2026 — grandfathered until next renewal after April 2028.
- You typically use Class B1, B2, or C wards — lower deductibles ($2,500 or less).
- Your MediSave balance is healthy (above $30,000) — you have a comfortable buffer to absorb deductible and co-pay costs.
For a side-by-side comparison of all five ISP providers and their deductibles, see our integrated shield plan comparison guide. For CPF planning, the CPF investment strategy guide explains how to grow your MA through voluntary top-ups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use MediSave to pay my ISP deductible?
Yes. Under the 2026 MOH rules, both the ISP deductible and the 5% co-payment are MediSave-payable. The deductible ranges from $1,500 (Class C ward) to $3,500 (Class A or private hospital) per policy year. You can check your MediSave balance via the CPF website or the CPF mobile app. Note that MediSave used for the deductible counts toward the same withdrawal pool as your daily ward charges.
What is the MediSave withdrawal limit for hospitalisation in Singapore?
For inpatient stays, you can withdraw up to $1,130 per day for the first two days and $400 per day from the third day onwards. Day surgery is capped at $830 per day. For surgical procedures, the Table of Surgical Procedures (TOSP) sets limits ranging from $240 to $5,290 depending on the complexity of the surgery. These figures are current as at August 2026 per CPF Board.
Do the new April 2026 rider rules affect existing policyholders?
Not immediately. If you purchased your ISP rider before 1 April 2026, you are grandfathered on your current terms. However, your insurer is required to transition you to a compliant rider at your next policy renewal after 1 April 2028. Insurers must notify new policyholders who bought non-compliant riders on or after 27 November 2025 that this transition is coming. If your renewal is due before April 2028, you will likely remain on the old terms until that April 2028 deadline.
What happens if my MediSave runs out during a hospital stay?
If your MediSave Account is depleted, you must pay the remaining hospital charges in cash. This is why maintaining a healthy MediSave balance — ideally well above $20,000 — is important, especially for older policyholders facing higher hospitalisation risks. You can top up your MediSave voluntarily at any time to build up your buffer. Voluntary top-ups also receive tax relief of up to $8,000 per year (self) and $8,000 for a family member.
Can I use MediSave to pay both the deductible and co-insurance?
Yes — both are MediSave-payable from April 2026 onwards, subject to prevailing withdrawal limits. However, bear in mind that MediSave used for the deductible and co-pay reduces the balance available for future hospitalisation or ISP premium payments. If your MediSave is under $20,000, consider building it up via voluntary top-ups before your next hospital stay.
Is my ISP base premium payable from MediSave?
Yes. Your ISP base plan premium is MediSave-payable, subject to the Additional Withdrawal Limits (AWL) set by CPF Board. The AWL varies by age band and plan tier — typically ranging from a few hundred dollars per year for younger policyholders to over $1,500 per year for older age groups. However, the rider premium (the add-on covering co-insurance) must be paid in cash. It cannot be funded from MediSave. This is an important distinction: the base ISP plan is MediSave-claimable; the rider is not.
Review Your ISP Coverage Today
The April 2026 rider changes affect all new ISP policyholders. Compare plans, check your deductible, and make sure your MediSave balance can cover the gap.
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This article was researched with the help of AI. While we strive to keep all information accurate and up to date, there may be errors. If you notice any discrepancies, please contact us.
