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| 1. |
What do I need to do at the point of admission?
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a. Please inform the hospital staff that you wish to use Medisave to pay the hospital bill. The staff will then ask you for your NRIC/Passport or CPF Membership Card. If you are paying for your family member, you are also required to declare truthfully the patient's relationship to you.
b. You will then need to sign a Medisave Authorisation Form to allow the CPF Board to pay the hospital bill from your Medisave Account.
c. If your employer or insurer is paying for your bill, please bring along your Letter of Guarantee of Hospitalisation Identity Card.
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| 2. |
Do I still need to pay the hospital deposit at the time of the admission?
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Yes, the hospital may collect a deposit from you as Medisave may not cover the entire hospital charges.
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| 1. |
What should I do before hospitalisation?
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- Ask your doctor or the hospital staff for the total cost of hospital charges in different hospitals and classes of ward accomodation.
- Check your Medisave balance; the amount of coverage allowed by Medisave; and the balance that needs to be paid in cash.
- Choose a hospital and class of ward which is within your financial means.
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| 2. |
In which hospitals can I use my Medisave saving?
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| 3. |
Can I use my Medisave savings to pay for the hospital bills incurred by my family members?
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Yes, you can use your Medisave savings to pay for the hospital bills of your spouse, children, parents or grandparents (grandparents must be Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents).
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| 4. |
What hospital charges do Medisave cover?
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Medisave covers the following hospital expenses: a. Daily ward charges; b. Doctor’s fees; c. In-patient charges for medical treatment, investigations, medicines, rehabilitative services, medical supplies, implants and prostheses introduced during surgery; and d. Surgical operations, including the use of operating theatres. Medisave covers up to: a. S$450 per day for daily hospital charges for hospital admission on or after 1 May 2007. This includes a maximum of $50 for doctor's daily attendance fees; and b. A fixed limit per table of surgical operation (including surgeon, anaesthetist and facility fees) as detailed below: With effect from 1 June 09 | Table of Operations | Medisave Limits | 1A - 1C | S$250 - 450 | 2A - 2C | S$600 - 950 | 3A - 3C | S$1,250 - 1,850 | 4A - 4C | S$2,150 - 2,850 | 5A - 5C | S$3,150 - 3,950 | 6A - 6C | S$4,650 - 5,650 | 7A - 7C | S$6,200 - 7,550 |
* Classification indicates the complexity of the procedure. For a list of procedures, please click on the above links
c. For approved day surgeries, Up to S$300 per day for daily hospital charges and a fixed limit per table of surgical operation for surgeries done on or after 1 May 2007.
d. For psychiatric treatment, Medisave can be used to cover up to $150 per day for the daily hospital charges including a maximum of $50 for the doctor's daily attendance fees, subject to a maximum of $5,000 a year for admission on or after 1 Jan 2007.
e. For approved community hospitals, Medisave can be used to cover up to $150 per day for the daily hospital charges, including a maximum of $30 for the doctor's daily attendance fees, subject to a maximum of $3,500 a year.
f. For approved chronic sick units, Medisave can be used to cover up to $50 a day for the daily hospital charges, including a maximum of $30 for the doctor's daily attendance fees, subject to a maximum of $3,000 a year.
g. For approved hospices, Medisave can be used to cover up to $160 per day for the daily hospital charges, including a maximum of $30 for the doctor's daily attendance fees.
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| 5. |
What if my hospital bill is more than what my Medisave can cover?
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You will need to pay cash for the part of the hospital bill that Medisave does not cover.
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| 6. |
Can I use my Medisave at Community Based Day Rehabilitation Centres?
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Day rehabilitation centres provide a range of rehabilitation services in the community such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy to older persons who suffer from stroke, fractures, lower limb amputations and other conditions that impair functional abilities. Some also provide non-medical services such as day care activities and maintenance exercise programmes.
A recent revamp of the day rehabilitation sector aims to raise the overall standard of care of the sector, by providing guidelines on care expectations for the different types of service provided at day rehabilitation centres.
Patients who need medical intervention in the form of active rehabilitation to recover their functional abilities after a debilitating illness can use their Medisave for these services at participating day rehabilitation centres. As day care and maintenance exercise programmes are non-medical in nature, no Medisave may be used for such programmes.
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| 1. |
Does my Medisave cover my maternity expenses?
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| 1. |
As an employee, how do I contribute to my Medisave?
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Details of Medisave contributions for employee are found at the CPF website.
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| 2. |
What are the contriution rates of self-employed indivduals?
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If you are self-employed and earn more than $6,000 a year, your Medisave contributions payable is based on your yearly "net trade income". Details of Medisave contributions for self-employed persons are found in CPF website.
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| 3. |
Will my Medisave savings earn an interest? Is the interest earned taxable?
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Yes, your Medisave savings will earn interest at the prevailing CPF interest rate. Medisave interest is not taxable.
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| 4. |
Is there a limit on my Medisave balance?
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You need to contribute to your Medisave Account up to the prevailing Medisave Contribution Ceiling. The prevailing Medisave Contribution Ceiling is $41,000. Any Medisave contributions in excess of the Medisave Contribution Ceiling will be transferred from the Medisave Account to the Special Account for members aged below 55, and to the Retirement Account for members aged 55 and above, who do not meet the CPF Minimum Sum. For those who have set aside the full CPF Minimum Sum, the excess CPF contribution will be transferred from the Medisave Account to the Ordinary Account.
The Medisave Contribution Ceiling is adjusted each year on 1 July to ensure Singaporeans have sufficient savings to meet their hospitalisation expenses.
Government pensioners under the Fixed Amount on Ward Charges scheme do not need to have Medisave while government pensioners under the Co-payment on Ward Charges scheme need to contribute Medisave up to half the prevailing Medisave Contribution Ceiling.
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| 5. |
Can I withdraw all my Medisave savings when I reach 55?
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If you have more than the Medisave Minimum Sum, you can withdraw the excess amount. The prevailing Medisave Minimum Sum (with effect from 1 Jul 2012) is $38,500.
For more information, you may refer to CPF website, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Minimum Sum Scheme.
Different requirements will apply to Government pensioners as follows:
a) Government pensioners under the Fixed Amount on Ward Charges scheme do not need to set aside any minimum amount of Medisave.
b) Government pensioners under the Co-payment on Ward Charges scheme need to set aside a minimum of 30% of the prevailing Medisave Minimum Sum before withdrawing the excess amount.
c) Government pensioners under the Comprehensive Co-payment Scheme need to set aside the prevailing Medisave Minimum Sum before withdrawing the excess amount.
For more information, please refer to the CPF Board website.
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| 6. |
If I work after 55, do I still need to contribute to Medisave?
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Yes, as long as you are still working, you will need to contribute to Medisave up to Medisave Contribution Ceiling. This way, you will be able to take care of your medical expenses after your retirement.
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| 1. |
What are the overseas treatments that Medisave can be used for?
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For a start, we will allow use of Medisave for medically necessary hospitalisations and surgical procedures received overseas. Cosmetic treatments (which are not allowed today) and minor surgical procedures will continue to be excluded.
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| 2. |
How is medical necessity of treatment determined?
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Patients should approach the approved provider to determine if his condition requires medical intervention. The approved provider would be able to advise if his treatment could be done overseas and provide a referral to an overseas hospital.
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| 3. |
Can Medisave be used for transport and hotel costs?
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No, Medisave is for medical treatment only. Transport, food and accommodation costs for patients (other than as part of the hospitalisation stay) or their family members cannot be claimed from Medisave as these are not part of medical treatment. These associated costs must be paid in cash.
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| 4. |
Who can use Medisave for overseas treatments?
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Medisave usage for overseas treatment will be limited to patients normally resident in Singapore. This means that Singaporeans and PRs who have Medisave accounts and who are residents in Singapore can use their Medisave for their own treatments. They may also use their Medisave for their immediate family members’ medical treatments if these family members are also residents in Singapore. Immediate family members include spouses, parents and children.
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| 5. |
Are there Medisave withdrawal limits for overseas treatments?
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Yes, the prevailing Medisave withdrawal limits for inpatient hospitalisations (S$450 per inpatient day) and surgical procedures (varying between S$250 and S$7,550 depending on the procedures) would apply.
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| 6. |
Do Medishield or Integrated Shield plans cover treatments received overseas?
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MediShield and other Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) currently do not cover treatments that take place overseas.
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| 7. |
When can Singaporeans start making Medisave claims for overseas treatments?
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The scheme will commence from 1 Mar 2010.
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| 8. |
How many Singaporeans are expected t ouse the scheme?
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We do not have exact numbers, but we do not anticipate many Singaporeans to go overseas for treatment. Most will still enjoy heavy subsidies and insurance coverage when they undergo treatment at local restructured hospitals.
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| 1. |
How can I find out if I need to top up my Medisave account after I reach the age of 55?
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You can log on to the CPF website with your SingPass to check your Medisave balance, or call the CPF hotline at 1800-227-1188 (Code 5).
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| 1. |
What happens to my Medisave when I die?
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If you were hospitalised just before your death, your Medisave balance would be used in full, without being subject to the existing Medisave withdrawal limits, to pay your last medical bill if you pass away on or after 1 July 2006 during hospitalisation and had authorised to use your Medisave to pay the bill before your demise.
If you had not signed the Medisave Authorisation Form (MAF) before your demise, your immediate family members (spouse, parents, or child who is 21 years and above) or committee of person could also sign the MAF to use your Medisave to pay your last inpatient medical bill, provided it has not been paid out to your nominee(s). In the event that you do not have any immediate family members or committee of person to sign the MAF, a relative who has been taking care of you may also write in to the Ministry of Health through the hospital to seek approval for him to authorise the withdrawal of your Medisave to pay your last inpatient medical bill.
The remaining Medisave balance, after the payment of the last medical bill, would be distributed to the nominated beneficiaries of your CPF accounts if you had made a nomination before your death.
If you had not made a nomination, the balance in your CPF accounts will be distributed by the Public Trustee to your family members under the intestacy laws for non-Muslims or the Muslim inheritance law for Muslims, if you had not made a nomination. If you wish to distribute your Medisave balance differently, then you would have to make a nomination, if you have not made one yet.
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| 2. |
Do I need to re-nominate when I re-marry or get married?
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Yes. It is important for you to renominate upon marriage or re-marriage, because any nomination made before the first or subsequent marriage is automatically revoked by the latest marriage.
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| 3. |
Can I change my nomination any time I like?
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Yes, you can. A copy of the nomination form can be obtained from any of the CPF offices, or it can be sent to you on request.
You can check your nomination by personally calling in at the CPF Board's Service Centres with your identity card/passport.
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| 1. |
What type of out-patient charges does Medisave cover?
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Medisave can be used to pay for the following outpatient treatments, subject to the withdrawal limits:
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Outpatient treatment
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Withdrawal Limit
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Approved Vaccinations:
1) Pneumococcal vaccinations for children under the age of 5 years (for vaccinations received on or after 1 Nov 2009); Pneumococcal vaccinations for children under the age of 6 years (for vaccinations received on or after 1 Jan 2012)
2) Hepatitis B vaccination (for vaccinations received on or after 1 Nov 2009)
3) HPV vaccinations for females aged 9 to 26 years (for vaccinations received on or after 1 Nov 2010)
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$300 per year per account before 1 Jan 2012; $400 per year per account on or after 1 Jan 2012
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Approved Health Screening:
Mammogram (for female patients aged 50 and above)
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$300 per year per account before 1 Jan 2012; $400 per year per account on or after 1 Jan 2012
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Approved Drugs for HIV/AIDS
Note:
Only patient's own Medisave can be used.
If patient is aged 18 years or below, the Medisave of the patient's parents may also be used.
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$550 per month per patient
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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
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$100 per treatment
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Desferrioxamine Drug and Blood Transfusion for Thalassaemia #
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$350 per month
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Intravenous Antibiotic Infusion #
at :
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$600 per weekly cycle, up to a maximum of $2,400 per year.
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Rental of Devices for Long-Term Oxygen Therapy and Infant Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy
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$75 per month
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Immunosuppressant Drugs for Organ Transplant #
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$300 per month
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MRI, CT and PET scans (for cancer patients only and as prescribed by doctors) - Effective 1 April 2008
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$600 per year
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Radiotherapy# :
- External Radiotherapy
- Brachytherapy with external radiotherapy
- Brachytherapy without external radiotherapy
- Superficial X-ray
- Stereotactic radiotherapy
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$80 per treatment
$300 per treatment
$360 per treatment
$30 per treatment
$2,800 per treatment
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Chemotherapy#
(includes analgesic medication and suppressive treatments such as neuroendocrine and nuclear medicine treatments)
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$300 per weekly treatment cycle
or
$1,200 per 21/28 day treatment cycle
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Assisted Conception Procedure (for female patients only)
Note : Only the Medisave of the patient and her spouse can be used.
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Up to 3 treatment cycles.
The withdrawal limits are:
1st withdrawal - $6,000
2nd withdrawal - $5,000
3rd withdrawal - $4,000
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Chronic Diseases
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1. Diabetes
2. Hypertension
3. Lipid disorders
4. Stroke
5. Asthma
6. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
7. Schizophrenia
8. Major Depression
9. Bipolar Disorder
10. Dementia
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$300 per year per account before 1 Jan 2012; $400 per year per account on or after 1 Jan 2012. Deductible of $30 and co-payment of 15% applies.
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# With effect from 1 February 2006, the Medisave of the patient's non-immediate family members may be used for these outpatient treatments at restructured hospitals/ medical clinics, subject to eligibility conditions such as the patient must be a dependant of the active Medisave Account holder and has exhausted his own and his immediate family members's Medisave accounts. There is no change to the prevailing withdrawal limits.
If you wish to find out if you are eligible to use your non-immediate family member's Medisave for the above approved subsidised outpatient treatments, you may wish to speak to the staff at the hospital's Business Office.
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| 1. |
When will my Medisave account be deducted?
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On the patient's discharge, the hospital staff will work out the bill, and submit a claim to the CPF Board. The CPF Board will then deduct from your Medisave Account and send you a statement of account showing:
- the amount taken from your Medisave Account
- name of patient for whom you have paid for
- hospital to which patient was admitted; and
- latest balance in your Medisave Account
At the same time, the hospital will send a bill to the patient which will show:
- the hospital bill incurred
- the amount taken from your Medisave Account
- name of Medisave Account holder; and
- outstanding bill (if any) to the patient.
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| 2. |
What happens if my employer or insurer is paying part of my hospital expenses?
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If you have given the hospital a Letter of Guarantee or Hospitalisation Identity Card at admission, the hospital will send you the bill to your employer or insurer. Your employer or insurer will then work out the part of the bill to be paid by you. Your employer or insurer will ask you to sign a Medisave Authorisation Form if you wish to pay the amount from your Medisave Account.
When your employer or insurer returns the Medisave Authorisation Form to the hospital, the hospital will arrange for the deduction of the amount from your Medisave Account.
Some hospitals may request that you sign the Medisave Authorisation Form at admission, especially if your employer or insurer is paying only part of your hospital expenses.
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| 3. |
Can my employer or insurer pay me in cash if I have already used my Medisave account to pay my hospital expenses?
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No, your employer or insurer cannot pay you in cash their share of your hospital bill if it has been taken from your Medisave Account. Your employer or insurer must refund the amount paid by them to your Medisave Account.
Please contact the CPF Board regarding the reimbursement to Medisave/MediShield.
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| 4. |
What happens if my Medisave balance is not enough to cover the hospital bill?
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Your immediate family members may use their Medisave to settle the hospital bill if you do not have sufficient Medisave to settle the bill. Immediate family members refer to your spouse, parents, or child. Please note that the use of Medisave is still subject to the Medisave withdrawal limits which is applied on a per hospitalisation episode basis regardless of the number of payers.
Alternatively, you or your immediate family members may use future Medisave contributions to settle the outstanding hospitalisation bill, if the Medisave Account is still active (Medisave contributions received not more than 3 months back) and you stayed in the Class B2 or Class C wards of a restructured hospital. Application must be made to the hospital on or before you are discharged. The use of future Medisave contributions is not allowed for outpatient treatments.
It is important that you use your Medisave savings carefully. You should provide for the future hospitalisation needs of yourself and your family. This is particularly important as elderly people may require more hospital stay and medical care than younger ones.
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