Integrated Shield Plans in Singapore: How the 7 Plans Compare
MediShield Life is built for subsidised public wards. It paid an average claim of just $1,541 in 2024. But a private-ward bill for a serious condition can reach $147,057. An Integrated Shield Plan (IP) is what covers that gap. Here is how all seven plans work, what changed on 1 April 2026, and how to choose.
Why people buy one: the private-ward gap
MediShield Life is sized for subsidised public wards. The moment you want a private ward, bills climb fast. The highest private-ward bills in our data, all from real MOH benchmarks.
Across our data, 102 conditions have private-ward figures. MediShield Life has a $200,000 annual claim limit and pays only a tiered share, so the cash gap on a private bill is what an IP is built to absorb.
The same illness costs more in a nicer ward
Average high bill across 87 conditions with data for every tier. Ward class is the single biggest cost lever, which is why the tier you choose matters more than the insurer.
A private ward averages 4.2x the subsidised Ward C bill. Ward B2 is omitted here because not all procedures report B2 figures, which would distort the order.
How an Integrated Shield Plan works
Every IP is two layers stacked together. You cannot buy the private layer on its own.
- Layer 1: MediShield Life
- The national base plan run by the CPF Board, sized for Class B2 and C public wards, with a $200,000 annual claim limit. Everyone is covered for life.
- Layer 2: the private add-on
- Bought from one of seven insurers. It extends coverage to Class B1, Class A, or private hospital wards, depending on the tier you choose.
- Deductible
- What you pay before the plan pays anything in a policy year. IP deductibles run roughly $1,500 to $3,500 depending on ward class.
- Co-insurance
- The share you pay after the deductible. MediShield Life tapers from 10% down to 3% as the bill rises. The private layer is typically 10%.
- "As charged" coverage
- Most benefits on the top private-hospital plans are paid as charged, with no fixed sub-limit. The exception: since April 2023, cancer drug treatment is capped at five times the MediShield Life limit, not as charged.
You pay $5,825 (12%), the plan covers the rest. Co-insurance is capped at $6,000 a year under the post-2026 rider rules. Deductible and co-insurance vary by plan and ward, so this is an illustration.
The 7 Integrated Shield Plans compared
All seven insurers offer three coverage tiers: private hospital, restructured hospital Class A, and restructured hospital Class B1. Plan names by tier, from the MOH comparison (Jan 2025).
| Insurer | Private hospital |
|---|---|
| AIA | HealthShield Gold Max A |
| Great Eastern | GREAT SupremeHealth A |
| HSBC Life | HSBC Life Shield Plan A |
| Income | IncomeShield Plan P |
| Prudential | PRUShield Premier |
| Raffles | Raffles Shield Private |
| Singlife | Singlife Shield Plan 1 |
Top private-hospital plans reimburse most benefits "as charged", so the headline difference between insurers is premiums, rider terms, and panel-of-doctor rules rather than the claim ceiling. Exact annual claim limits, deductibles, and co-insurance vary by plan and change yearly. Confirm current figures on each insurer's policy document or the MOH comparison page before deciding.
What changed on 1 April 2026
MOH introduced new rider requirements for all seven insurers. If you bought a rider before this, the changes affect you at a future renewal. If you are buying now, this is the new normal.
- Co-payment cap doubled
- The annual co-payment cap rose from $3,000 to $6,000. With a rider, you pay 5% co-insurance up to this cap, on top of the deductible.
- Riders no longer cover the deductible
- New riders can no longer absorb the minimum plan deductible MOH sets. You carry that first slice of every bill yourself.
- Premiums dropped, roughly 30%
- The new riders are on average around 30% cheaper than the legacy maximum-coverage riders they replace.
- Old riders stopped selling
- Non-compliant riders ceased sale on 31 March 2026. Policies bought on or after 27 Nov 2025 move to the new rider rules by the next renewal after 1 April 2028.
Paying premiums with MediSave
The MediShield Life portion is fully payable from MediSave. The private portion is payable from MediSave only up to your Additional Withdrawal Limit (AWL). Anything above that is cash.
| Your age | Annual AWL (private portion) |
|---|---|
| 40 and below | $300 |
| 41 to 70 | $600 |
| 71 and above | $900 |
As you move to higher tiers and older age bands, the cash portion of the premium grows. A private-hospital plan in your 60s or 70s can cost well above the AWL, so plan for premiums you can sustain for life, not just today.
How to choose a tier
The biggest decision is not which insurer. It is which ward tier you want to be treated in, and whether you can afford that premium for decades.
- Start with the ward you actually want. If you are comfortable in a subsidised public ward, MediShield Life plus a Class B1 IP may be enough. If you want a private hospital or a choice of specialist, you need a private-tier plan.
- Premiums rise steeply with age. A plan that feels cheap at 30 can become expensive at 65. Check the full premium schedule across age bands before committing.
- A rider caps your out-of-pocket, but you still pay something. Under the post-2026 rules you pay the deductible plus 5% co-insurance, capped at $6,000 a year.
- Compare on the details that differ. Since top private plans are largely as charged, weigh premiums, the panel of doctors, pre-authorisation rules, and how each insurer handles claims.
- This is not financial advice. Figures here are from MOH and CPF and are dated where shown. Your costs depend on your plan, age, ward, and health. Speak to a licensed financial adviser, and confirm current terms with the insurer, before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
An Integrated Shield Plan has two layers: MediShield Life, the national health insurance run by the CPF Board, plus an additional private insurance component from one of seven approved insurers. The private layer extends coverage from basic Class B2 and C public wards up to Class B1, Class A, or private hospital wards.
Seven approved insurers: AIA, Great Eastern, HSBC Life, Income, Prudential, Raffles Health Insurance, and Singlife. Each offers tiers covering private hospitals, restructured hospital Class A wards, and restructured hospital Class B1 wards.
From 1 April 2026 all seven insurers moved to new rider requirements. The annual co-payment cap rose from $3,000 to $6,000, new riders can no longer cover the minimum plan deductible, and the new riders are on average around 30% cheaper than the legacy maximum-coverage riders. Non-compliant riders stopped selling on 31 March 2026.
The MediShield Life portion is fully payable from MediSave. The private portion is payable from MediSave only up to the Additional Withdrawal Limit: $300 a year if you are 40 or below, $600 if you are 41 to 70, and $900 if you are 71 and above. Any premium above the AWL is paid in cash.
Most hospital benefits on the top private-hospital plans are reimbursed as charged, with no fixed sub-limit, subject to your deductible and co-insurance. The main exception is cancer drug treatment: since April 2023, IPs pay up to five times the MediShield Life claim limit for cancer drugs, not as charged. Exact limits vary by insurer and plan, so check the policy document.