MediSave Limit 2026: How Much Can You Claim for Spine Surgery in Singapore?

TOSP 6B surgical limit, bill breakdowns, and ISP co-payment rules — everything you need before your spine operation.

The MediSave limit 2026 for spine surgery depends on the TOSP table assigned to your procedure. Most common spine operations — discectomy, decompression and single-level spinal fusion — fall under TOSP Table 6B, giving you a MediSave surgical withdrawal limit of S$3,610, plus up to S$1,130 per day for the first two days of hospitalisation. At a private hospital where the typical bill for a spine decompression runs to S$50,640, an Integrated Shield Plan (ISP) is what keeps your out-of-pocket cost manageable.

Not financial or medical advice. All figures are for educational reference only. Cost data sourced from MOH as at November 2026 unless noted.

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Which TOSP Table Covers Spine Surgery?

Singapore’s Ministry of Health classifies every inpatient surgical procedure under the Table of Surgical Procedures (TOSP), which runs from Table 1A (simplest) to Table 7C (most complex). The TOSP category determines how much MediSave you can withdraw for the surgery itself.

The vast majority of spine surgeries in Singapore fall under TOSP Table 6B. This includes the two most common procedures:

• SB726S — Decompression and/or Discectomy (without instrumentation): Used for slipped discs (herniated nucleus pulposus), spinal stenosis and nerve compression. Involves removing part of the disc or bone pressing on the nerves.
• SB731S — Interbody Fusion, Single Segment (without instrumentation): Fuses two vertebrae together, often performed alongside a discectomy when instability is present.

More complex procedures — multi-level fusions or operations with metal instrumentation (screws, rods, cages) — may be classified under TOSP Table 7A or 7B, which carry higher MediSave surgical limits. Always confirm your TOSP code with your surgeon before admission.

MediSave Limits for Spine Surgery 2026

Your total MediSave claim for a spine surgery admission is the sum of two components: the daily hospital charge limit and the surgical limit. Both figures were verified from MOH’s MediSave inpatient care page (last updated 27 August 2026).

Source: MOH MediSave Inpatient Care page, updated 27 August 2026. Figures are MediSave withdrawal limits, not actual hospital charges.

As a worked example: a typical spine decompression with a 3-night stay allows withdrawal of up to S$6,270 from MediSave — S$2,660 in daily charges (S$1,130 × 2 + S$400) plus S$3,610 for the surgery. For a 4-night stay, add S$400, bringing the total to S$6,670. MediSave can also be used across immediate family members if your own balance is insufficient.

How Much Does Spine Surgery Cost in Singapore?

The cost gap between public and private hospitals for spine surgery is substantial. MOH publishes bill benchmarks for common procedures on its Cost Financing page. The figures below are for SB726S (Spine Decompression/Discectomy without instrumentation) — the most common spine procedure in Singapore.

Source: MOH Bill Information for SB726S (Spine, Various Lesions, Decompression/Discectomy Without Instrumentation), retrieved November 2026.

The wide range reflects differences in surgeon experience, implant choice, length of stay and anaesthesia time. Private hospital bills are typically 7–8× higher than public Ward B2 bills for the same procedure — primarily because private hospitals do not receive government operating subsidies and surgeon fees are unregulated.

For more complex cases involving instrumentation (screws and rods), private hospital bills can exceed S$80,000–100,000. Those procedures typically fall under TOSP 7A or 7B with the higher MediSave surgical limits noted above. We cover a similar breakdown for joint replacements in our MediSave limit 2026: knee and hip replacement guide.

ISP and the 2026 Co-Payment Rules

MediShield Life alone — the basic national insurance scheme — provides meaningful coverage for public hospital bills but leaves a large gap for private hospital spine surgery. This is where Integrated Shield Plans (ISPs), offered by the five private insurers (AIA, Great Eastern, Income, Prudential and Singlife), step in.

From April 2026, all new and renewed ISP riders are subject to mandatory co-payment rules under MOH’s revised framework:

• 5% co-payment on the claimable amount after MediSave and MediShield Life have paid
• Annual co-payment cap of S$3,000 — once you’ve paid S$3,000 out-of-pocket in a policy year, the insurer covers 100% of the rest
• Deductible: typically S$3,500 per policy year for private hospital plans (Plan A or B1)

These changes were introduced to discourage over-treatment and unnecessary hospitalisation. The practical effect for spine surgery patients is that your maximum out-of-pocket in a year — including both the deductible and the 5% co-payment — is capped at approximately S$6,500 (S$3,500 deductible + S$3,000 co-pay cap), regardless of how high your private hospital bill runs.

If you have an older ISP rider issued before April 2026 that includes a “full rider” with no co-payment, check with your insurer whether it will be grandfathered or converted at your next renewal date. See our MediSave limit guide for bariatric surgery for more context on how ISP riders apply to elective procedures.

Worked Example: Public vs Private Hospital

The example below uses the typical MOH bill data for SB726S, a 3-night stay, and assumes the patient is a Singaporean citizen with an ISP (Plan A, private hospital rider). All figures are illustrative — your actual bill will vary.

Illustrative example based on MOH SB726S bill data (November 2026). Actual bills vary. MediShield Life payout figures are estimates. Consult your insurer for a personalised projection.

The takeaway is stark: a Singapore patient at a public Ward B2 hospital typically pays under S$200 out-of-pocket for a spine decompression, thanks to MediSave absorbing almost the entire bill. At a private hospital without an ISP, the same operation leaves a S$35,000+ gap. With an ISP in place, that out-of-pocket is capped at around S$5,500. If you’re weighing the value of ISP premiums, our Singapore retirement calculator helps you model healthcare costs in your long-term plan.

How to Claim MediSave After Spine Surgery

For hospitalisation at a MOH-licensed hospital in Singapore, MediSave claims are largely automatic. Here’s what actually happens:

1. Admission: Bring your NRIC and present your MediSave account number. The hospital’s billing team assesses your TOSP category based on the planned procedure.
2. Pre-authorisation (ISP): If you have an ISP, your insurer must be notified before elective surgery. Most insurers require a Letter of Guarantee (LOG) to the hospital before admission. Failure to notify pre-surgery may reduce your payout.
3. Post-surgery: The hospital submits your MediSave claim directly to CPF Board on your behalf — you do not file this yourself.
4. ISP claim: Your insurer requests the final itemised bill and discharge summary. Processing time is typically 2–4 weeks after discharge.
5. Verify via CPF: Log in to my.cpf.gov.sg within 2 weeks of discharge to confirm the MediSave deduction. If the TOSP table looks wrong, raise a dispute through CPF’s online portal.

For planned surgery, our MediSave planned surgery checklist walks you through every step — from pre-authorisation to post-discharge claim verification.

One important note: MediSave covers inpatient procedures (minimum 8-hour admission) or approved day surgeries only. Outpatient spine physiotherapy is not covered under the inpatient care limit.

All figures sourced from MOH official data. Healthcare costs and claim limits may change. Always verify with MOH, your hospital and your ISP before admission.

Check Your ISP Before Spine Surgery

Spine surgery can cost S$50,000+ at a private hospital. The right Integrated Shield Plan caps your out-of-pocket at around S$5,500. Compare plans and open one before you need it.

Frequently Asked Questions