INTEGRATED SHIELD PLANS
MediShield Life Benefits Singapore 2026
Claim Limits, Coverage & Exclusions — Complete Guide
MediShield Life is Singapore’s mandatory national health insurance scheme — every Singapore Citizen and Permanent Resident is automatically covered from birth. But what exactly does it pay for? How much will it cover for your next hospital stay, cancer treatment, or surgical procedure?
This guide breaks down every MediShield Life benefit category for 2026, explains how deductibles and co-insurance affect your out-of-pocket costs, and helps you understand when an Integrated Shield Plan (ISP) becomes necessary.
Table of Contents
- What is MediShield Life?
- Inpatient & Day Surgery Benefits
- Outpatient Treatment Benefits
- Maximum Claim Limits
- Deductibles and Co-Insurance Explained
- What MediShield Life Does NOT Cover
- Do You Need an Integrated Shield Plan?
- How to Make a Claim
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is MediShield Life?
MediShield Life is a national health insurance scheme administered by the CPF Board, covering all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents — including those with pre-existing conditions. It was launched in 2015, replacing the old MediShield scheme, and provides lifelong coverage regardless of age or health status.
The scheme is funded by annual premiums paid from your MediSave account. It is designed to provide basic protection against large hospital bills, particularly for subsidised treatment in Class B2/C wards at public hospitals.
Key point: MediShield Life is calibrated to cover subsidised bills at public hospitals. If you stay in a higher-class ward (B1, A, or private), your bill is pro-rated before the MediShield Life claim is computed — meaning you bear a larger share of the actual cost.
A new round of enhancements took effect from 1 June 2026, raising claim limits across inpatient, day surgery, and selected outpatient treatments, and introducing outpatient deductibles for certain outpatient claims.
Inpatient & Day Surgery Benefits (2026)
The following claim limits apply for admissions and treatments on or after 1 June 2026:
Daily Ward Charges
| Ward Type | Claim Limit |
|---|---|
| Normal ward (per day) | $830/day + $800 for first 2 days |
| Intensive Care Unit (per day) | $5,140/day + $800 for first 2 days |
| Psychiatric ward (up to 60 days/year) | $230/day |
| Community hospital – Rehabilitative | $370/day |
| Community hospital – Sub-acute | $570/day |
| Inpatient palliative care (General) | $460/day |
| Inpatient palliative care (Specialised) | $500/day |
| Implants | $7,000/treatment |
Note: Community hospital benefits are claimable only upon referral from a hospital after inpatient admission or from a public hospital emergency department.
Surgical Procedures
MediShield Life surgical claims are split into seven complexity tables (Table 1 = least complex, Table 7 = most complex), each with three sub-categories (A, B, C):
| Surgical Table | Sub-cat A | Sub-cat B | Sub-cat C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Table 1 (less complex) | $240 | $420 | $490 |
| Table 2 | $760 | $1,120 | $1,120 |
| Table 3 | $1,390 | $1,740 | $1,920 |
| Table 4 | $2,310 | $2,370 | $2,460 |
| Table 5 | $2,700 | $3,270 | $3,270 |
| Table 6 | $3,540 | $3,540 | $3,540 |
| Table 7 (most complex) | $3,900 | $3,900 | $3,900 |
Your surgeon’s fee is assessed and placed into the appropriate table and sub-category by your hospital. The hospital submits the claim on your behalf.
Outpatient Treatment Benefits (2026)
MediShield Life covers selected high-cost outpatient treatments, primarily for cancer and chronic conditions. These limits apply from 1 June 2026:
| Treatment | Claim Limit |
|---|---|
| Cancer drug treatment (single cancer) | $200–$12,800/month |
| Cancer drug services (single cancer) | $4,500/year |
| Cancer drug services (multiple cancers) | $9,000/year |
| Radiotherapy – External | $400/treatment |
| Radiotherapy – Brachytherapy / Hemi-body | $620/treatment |
| Radiotherapy – Stereotactic | $460/treatment |
| Radiosurgery / Proton Beam (Category 4) | $15,700/course |
| Kidney dialysis | $1,750/month |
| Immunosuppressants (organ transplant) | $710/month |
| Erythropoietin (chronic kidney failure) | $220/month |
| Home ventilation & respiratory support | $840/month |
| Long-term parenteral nutrition | $2,200/month |
| Hyperbaric oxygen therapy | $780/treatment |
| Negative pressure wound therapy | $120/day |
| rTMS (treatment-resistant depression) | $120/treatment |
| Paediatric home care | $420/month |
The cancer drug treatment limit ($200–$12,800/month) depends on the specific drug as listed in the MOH Cancer Drug List.
New from 1 June 2026: An outpatient deductible was introduced for outpatient treatments, in addition to the existing inpatient deductible structure.
Maximum Claim Limits
There is no lifetime cap on MediShield Life claims — you can claim every policy year for the rest of your life, up to $200,000 per year. High-cost cell and gene therapy products (e.g. Kymriah, Yescarta at $141,000/treatment) are not subject to the annual policy year limit.
Deductibles and Co-Insurance Explained
Your MediShield Life payout doesn’t cover your entire bill. There are three layers to how your bill is settled:
Layer 1: Claim Limits
First, the bill is compared to MediShield Life’s claim limits. Only the portion within the claim limits is eligible. Any bill above the limits must be paid out of pocket or through your ISP (if you have one).
Layer 2: The Deductible
The deductible is a fixed amount you pay once per policy year before MediShield Life starts paying. The deductible amount varies by ward class and age — higher ward classes have higher deductibles, and older policyholders pay higher deductibles. You can use MediSave to pay the deductible.
Check the MOH MediShield Life page for the current deductible table applicable to your age and ward class.
Layer 3: Co-Insurance
After the deductible, you still pay a percentage of the remaining claimable amount — this is co-insurance. The rate is tiered and decreases as your bill grows:
| Claimable Amount Tier | Co-Insurance Rate |
|---|---|
| First portion | 10% |
| Middle portion | 5% |
| Higher portion | 3% |
In practice, this means MediShield Life covers a larger share of catastrophic bills. For a very large hospital bill, your co-insurance portion becomes a smaller and smaller fraction of the total.
What MediShield Life Does NOT Cover
The following are explicitly excluded from MediShield Life claims (applicable for admissions from 1 March 2021 onwards):
- Ambulance fees
- Cosmetic surgery
- Dental treatment (except for accidental injuries)
- Vaccination
- Fertility and assisted conception treatments (except fertility preservation in iatrogenic infertility cases, covered from 1 June 2026)
- Sex change operations
- Routine maternity charges and abortions (except serious pregnancy complications)
- Overseas medical treatment
- Private nursing charges
- Treatment of injuries from criminal acts, war, civil unrest or riot participation
- Expenses after the 7th day from medical clearance for discharge (if a feasible discharge option exists)
- Optional add-ons outside the scope of medical treatment
- Purchase of medical equipment (dialysis machines, iron lungs, etc.)
Do You Need an Integrated Shield Plan on Top?
For most Singaporeans who want coverage beyond Class B2/C wards, the answer is yes. An Integrated Shield Plan (ISP) sits on top of MediShield Life and covers the gap between MediShield Life’s payouts and your actual bill — for higher ward classes and private hospitals.
There are six approved ISP insurers in Singapore:
- AIA HealthShield Gold Max
- Great Eastern Supreme Health
- NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield
- Prudential PRUShield
- Raffles Shield
- Singlife Shield Plan
From 1 April 2026, new ISP riders come with important changes: they can no longer cover the minimum deductible set by MOH, and the co-payment cap is at least $6,000. However, premiums on new riders are approximately 30% lower than before. See our best ISP guide for a full comparison.
How to Make a MediShield Life Claim
In most cases, the process is fully automatic:
- Inform the medical institution at registration that you want to use MediShield Life (and your ISP, if applicable).
- Receive treatment — the hospital or clinic submits the claim directly to CPF Board on your behalf.
- CPF Board processes the claim and pays the institution directly.
- Pay the balance — your share (deductible + co-insurance + amounts above claim limits) using MediSave or cash.
If you’ve paid your full bill and need reimbursement (e.g., at a clinic that doesn’t auto-submit), log into cpf.gov.sg or the CPF Mobile app and submit a claim under the Healthcare section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MediShield Life compulsory in Singapore?
Yes. All Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents are automatically enrolled in MediShield Life from birth. You cannot opt out. Premiums are paid automatically from your MediSave account each year.
What ward class does MediShield Life cover best?
MediShield Life is calibrated for Class B2/C wards at public hospitals, where government subsidies already reduce your bill significantly. If you’re in a B1, A, or private hospital ward, your bill is pro-rated before MediShield Life applies — so the effective payout is lower. You need an Integrated Shield Plan to fully cover higher ward classes.
What is the MediShield Life annual claim limit in 2026?
From 1 June 2026, the maximum MediShield Life payout is $200,000 per policy year. There is no lifetime limit — you can claim up to $200,000 every year for the rest of your life. High-cost cell and gene therapy products (e.g. Kymriah, Yescarta) are excluded from the annual policy year limit.
Does MediShield Life cover outpatient GP or specialist visits?
No — MediShield Life does not cover routine GP or general outpatient specialist visits. It only covers specific high-cost outpatient treatments such as cancer drug therapy, kidney dialysis, radiotherapy, and a few chronic disease treatments. From 1 June 2026, an outpatient deductible also applies to these covered outpatient treatments.
Can Permanent Residents use MediShield Life?
Yes. PRs are covered by MediShield Life, but their bills are pro-rated differently. PRs do not receive government subsidies at the same rates as Citizens, so their MediShield Life payouts are calculated on the pro-rated (non-subsidised) portion of the bill. This makes ISP coverage even more important for PRs who want adequate hospitalization protection.
How is co-insurance different from the deductible?
The deductible is a fixed dollar amount you pay once per policy year before MediShield Life kicks in. Co-insurance is a percentage (10%, 5%, or 3%) of the remaining claimable bill that you pay after the deductible. Both can be paid using MediSave. If you have an ISP rider, the rider may cover part of your co-insurance — though from April 2026, new riders must include a minimum co-payment cap of $6,000.
What changed in the MediShield Life 2026 enhancement?
From 1 June 2026, MediShield Life benefits were enhanced with higher daily ward limits (normal ward up from $700 to $830/day, ICU up from $3,900 to $5,140/day), higher surgical claim limits, new outpatient deductibles, and expanded coverage including fertility preservation procedures for patients facing iatrogenic infertility from medical treatments. These changes coincide with the April 2026 Integrated Shield Plan rider reforms.
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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.
