Singapore hospital prices
What exactly are the price differences between public and private hospitals? To illustrate these differences, we will make a comparison between the private hospital of Gleneagles and the Singapore General Hospital, a public hospital. They are good examples for their respective sectors. All public hospitals have the same prices. Private hospitals in Singapore have similar services and options, with close prices. For more details on a specific hospital, feel free to check their website or call them, as all prices are available online. The list of hospitals in Singapore here.
The different types of rooms in Singapore
In Singapore, there are four different types of rooms for the public hospital: C, B2, B1, A, C being the cheapest, and A the most expensive. This classification only applies to public hospitals, but we have shown you the equivalent here for Gleneagles Hospital. An important thing to note is that the treatments you receive will be priced according to the type of room you choose: for a similar service, you will be charged more in a room type A than a room type C.
Premium rooms for private hospitals
The higher the type of room you choose, the better the associated services. From B1, a television is provided, toilets are available, and you can choose your meal. With type A you also have a telephone, toiletries, a fully electric bed, and an accompanying adult sleeping unit for an additional charge.
Private hospitals offer premium rooms. The service is even better and the comfort similar to a luxury hotel, ranging from 31m² to 119m². Here is the list of premium rooms for Gleneagles Hospital:
Day surgery
If you require minor surgery, room prices are as follows. For Singapore General Hospital, prices are shown with and without possible subsidies. For Gleneagles hospitals, after 4:00 p.m., prices are almost doubled. They are indicative of a 4 hour surgery. Additional costs per hour are required for longer surgeries. For the prices of the surgeries, you can see the different prices here. Estimates of hospitalization bills are also available on individual hospital websites.
For emergency surgeries or larger surgeries, you must go to a more specific unit. The care unit for highly dependent patients (UHD) or the intensive care unit (ICU). In general, the UHD has one nurse for every two patients, and the ICU has one nurse for every patient. Here, prices are shown for Alexandra Hospital for A1 rooms, as Singapore General Hospital prices are not available.
Subsidies and insurance
Singapore has a good health system, with the Medishield life, Medisave and Medifund systems. You can only access this system if you hold a permanent resident card. If you do, the subsidies only apply to type C and B2 services in public hospitals and cover only part of the cost of type B1 and A services.
If you want to access higher types of rooms, and already have the permanent resident card, you can subscribe to an “integrated shield plan”. It is a supplement to social security. However, if you are an expatriate and do not have the permanent resident card, you must take out international insurance. Usually, international insurances cover higher room types. Be careful and ensure this is the case, otherwise you may have to pay out of pocket. For more advice on your international insurance, you can contact us.
