MediSave Limit 2026 Singapore: BHS, Withdrawal Caps & New MMSS Scheme Explained

Your complete guide to the 2026 MediSave limits — what you can withdraw, how much can sit in your account, and the new Matched MediSave Scheme (MMSS).

The MediSave limit in 2026 is $79,000 — officially called the Basic Healthcare Sum (BHS). This is the maximum balance you can hold in your MediSave Account (MA). On top of that, separate withdrawal limits cap how much you can use for each type of healthcare expense: $1,130 per day for the first two hospital days, up to $900 per year toward Integrated Shield Plan (ISP) premiums for those aged 71 and above, and $700 per year for chronic disease management. A new Matched MediSave Scheme (MMSS) also launched in 2026, helping eligible Singaporeans aged 55–70 top up their MediSave with a dollar-for-dollar government match of up to $1,000 per year.

Not financial advice. All figures are for educational reference only. Data as at July 2026 unless noted.

Table of Contents

What Is the MediSave Limit (BHS)?

Your MediSave Account (MA) is one of the three CPF accounts every working Singaporean has. It is ring-fenced strictly for healthcare — you cannot use it for housing or investments like your Ordinary Account (OA).

The Basic Healthcare Sum (BHS) is the cap on how much can sit in your MA. In 2026, that cap is $79,000. Once your MA hits $79,000, all further mandatory MediSave contributions flow into your Special Account (SA) or Retirement Account (RA) instead.

Here is why this matters: if you are building up your CPF for retirement, topping up MediSave strategically — up to the BHS — can help you reach the BHS faster, freeing more of your employer’s MediSave contributions to go to your SA or RA where they earn interest and count toward the Full Retirement Sum (FRS).

Your BHS is not fixed forever — it increases each year to keep pace with healthcare costs. The one exception: once you turn 65, your BHS locks in at whatever it was in the year you turned 65. If you turned 65 in 2025, your BHS is permanently fixed at $75,500, even as the BHS rises for younger cohorts.

How the BHS Has Changed Over the Years

The BHS has risen steadily year on year. Here is a quick look at recent years so you can see the trajectory:

Source: CPF Board, annual BHS announcements 2023–2026

The consistent upward trend reflects rising healthcare costs in Singapore. Plan accordingly — your MediSave needs to grow alongside what hospitalisation and ISP premiums will cost in your later years.

MediSave Withdrawal Limits by Category (2026)

The BHS tells you how much can be in your MediSave. But separate rules govern how much you can use for each type of healthcare expense. These are called withdrawal limits, and they differ by what you are paying for.

Here is a summary of the key 2026 limits:

Source: CPF Board & Ministry of Health, as at July 2026

Two limits were increased in 2026: the CDMP outpatient limit went from $500 to $700 (or $1,000 for complex conditions), and the outpatient scan limit doubled from $300 to $600. These changes reflect the Government’s push to use MediSave for preventive and chronic care — not just hospital stays.

A practical note: these limits apply per person, per year (for CDMP and scans) or per admission (for hospitalisation). If your hospital bill exceeds the daily cap, MediShield Life or your ISP picks up more of the cost — assuming you have coverage.

ISP Premium AWL: How Much Can You Pay with MediSave?

Your Integrated Shield Plan (ISP) premium has two parts. The MediShield Life (MSL) base premium is fully payable from MediSave. But the additional private insurer component — the part that upgrades your coverage from B2 ward to Class A or private — is subject to an Additional Withdrawal Limit (AWL).

The AWL depends on your age next birthday (ANB):

Source: CPF Board AWL schedule; example premiums are illustrative based on AIA HealthShield Gold Max A (private hospital plan), as at July 2026

You can see the challenge clearly: as you age, your ISP premium rises sharply, but the AWL cap rises only modestly. By the time you are 72, the AWL of $900/year covers just a small fraction of a private hospital ISP premium. The rest must be paid in cash.

This is why some Singaporeans downgrade their ISP to a Class A plan in their 60s — the premiums are lower, and more of it stays within the MediSave AWL. You can explore your Singlife shield plan options or compare plans on the MOH ISP comparison page to find one that balances coverage with what MediSave can realistically cover.

One more thing: ISP riders (the add-ons that cover co-payments and deductibles) are not payable using MediSave. You pay rider premiums entirely in cash. Since April 2026, new riders no longer cover the deductible — they only cover co-insurance — so your out-of-pocket costs on any hospital claim will be higher if you have a newer rider. You can read more in our ISP rider changes 2026 guide.

New in 2026: The Matched MediSave Scheme (MMSS)

One of the biggest MediSave changes in 2026 is the launch of the Matched MediSave Scheme (MMSS). Here is the idea: if you are between 55 and 70, have a lower income, and your MediSave balance is below 50% of the current BHS (i.e., below $39,500 in 2026), the Government will match every dollar you voluntarily top up, up to $1,000 per year.

That means if you top up $1,000 into your MediSave, the Government credits another $1,000 — giving you $2,000 for a single $1,000 outlay.

The scheme runs for 5 years from 2026. Important note: MMSS top-ups do not qualify for income tax relief (the tax relief goes to standard voluntary MediSave contributions outside the MMSS). The two benefits are kept separate.

To check your eligibility and apply, visit the CPF Board’s MediSave top-up page. Eligibility is assessed based on your CPF records automatically each year.

How to Top Up Your MediSave and Get Tax Relief

If you want to voluntarily top up your MediSave — whether to reach the BHS faster or to build a healthcare buffer — you can do so via the CPF website, PayNow, or GIRO.

The tax relief rules (outside MMSS) work like this: you get a dollar-for-dollar tax relief on voluntary MediSave top-ups, subject to the following annual caps:

Source: IRAS, as at July 2026

The top-up is capped at the BHS minus your current MediSave balance. So if you have $60,000 in MediSave already, you can only top up a maximum of $19,000 more (to reach $79,000). You cannot exceed the BHS through voluntary top-ups.

For a deeper dive into optimising your CPF accounts together, our CPF investment strategy guide covers how MediSave, OA, and SA work together for retirement planning in Singapore.

Worked Example: Real Out-of-Pocket Costs for a Singapore Household

Let us make this concrete. Say you are a 48-year-old Singapore citizen admitted to a private hospital for an appendectomy (appendix removal). Here is how the costs stack up under a typical private ISP:

Illustrative example. Actual amounts vary by insurer, plan tier, and specific hospital charges. Source: MOH ISP guidelines & CPF Board, July 2026.

Key takeaway: even with a private ISP, you will pay at least the deductible ($3,500 for private ward) in cash for any claim, now that April 2026 rider changes mean new riders no longer cover the deductible. Budget for this — it is not optional.

If you want to explore your ISP options or need help comparing plans, our integrated shield plan comparison breaks down every insurer side by side. You can also use our Singapore retirement calculator to see how healthcare costs factor into your long-term retirement planning.

For those looking at passive income in Singapore as a way to fund healthcare costs in retirement — S-REITs, SSBs, and dividend stocks are worth exploring alongside your MediSave strategy.

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