The changes to MediShield Life mean that consumers will get increased coverage in the form of higher claim limits, which will rise by S$50,000 to S$200,000, said Mr Eddy Cheong, CEO of insurance firm Havend.
“It also means taking care of high-cost drug treatments, as well as expensive treatments, advanced treatments like cell tissue, gene therapy products,” he noted.
“Consumers will be confident that nine or 10 of the subsidised bills can be covered through MediShield Life in subsidised wards. So this is a good thing for consumers.
“However, with all this higher increase in benefits, that will translate to higher premiums.”
Deductibles – or what is paid out of pocket before an individual’s insurance plan covers the remaining costs – are also set to increase.
Currently, deductibles range between S$1,500 and S$3,000 depending on ward class and age. This could go up by another S$1,500 in two years’ time.
A new outpatient deductible of S$500 per year will also be introduced on Jan 1, 2026, meaning patients have to pay more for normal-sized bills.
To cushion the impact of higher premiums on Singaporeans, the government will provide an additional S$4.1 billion in support measures over the next three years.
This package comprises S$3.4 billion in MediSave top-ups and S$0.7 billion in premium subsidies.
For more than nine in 10 Singaporeans, the additional MediSave top-ups, subsidies and support will “more than offset” the cumulative S$1.8 billion in additional premiums over the next three years, said MOH.
