As healthcare costs continue to rise, more Singaporeans are opting to purchase additional coverage through private health insurance to complement MediShield Life.
Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) and insurance companies have also gradually introduced measures to help people guard against the financial impact of critical illnesses, while encouraging people to tap on healthcare services responsibly.
What is an Integrated Shield Plan?
Integrated Shield plans are policies people buy to supplement their MediShield Life plan. Different types of Integrated Shield plans provide different levels of coverage. Some cover the cost of staying in a Class A or B1 ward in a public hospital, while others cover the cost of being admitted into a private hospital.
You can also buy an additional rider that helps to partially or fully offset the deductible and co-insurance portions of your bill.
Since all Integrated Shield plans generally provide similar coverage, and hospital and medical bills can only be claimed from one plan, you can only use MediSave to pay for one Integrated Shield plan at any point in time.
How do I know if I have an Integrated Shield Plan?
You can check whether you have an Integrated Shield Plan by logging on to your Central Provident Fund (CPF) account to check.
- Go to gov.sg
- Log on to my cpf Online Services
- Go to “My Messages“
- See “Insurance” section
Myth 1: It covers the charges incurred for outpatient diagnostic scans and scopes
In general, Integrated Shield plans do not cover outpatient diagnostic procedures such as X-rays, annual health screenings, and CT scans unless they are part of pre- and post-hospitalisation treatments, or part of inpatient treatments.
The following procedures are covered under Integrated Shield plans:
1. Outpatient treatment
Outpatient treatments include kidney dialysis, cancer treatment, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, stereotactic radiotherapy, immunosuppressants for organ transplants, and erythropoietin. Find out more about the benefits provided by a standard Integrated Shield plan via the MOH website.
2. Inpatient & day surgery
This includes treatment costs, ward admissions, and surgical costs. Diagnostic endoscopies are also covered and categorised as day surgeries, as they are considered necessary even if they do not lead to inpatient treatments. However, there may be limits set to this coverage, so check with your insurer to find out more.
3. Selected pre- and post-hospital treatments
Mandatory follow-up treatments and diagnostic costs incurred before or after hospitalisation are covered.
Myth 2: I can file a claim for all pregnancy-related treatments
Not all pregnancy-related treatments are covered under an Integrated Shield plan. A limited list of serious complications that arise during pregnancy and delivery are eligible for claims. These conditions include inpatient treatments for congenital anomalies, involuntary miscarriages after 13 weeks of pregnancy, or an ectopic pregnancy. As different insurers provide different benefits, check with your provider on the exact policy terms.
Myth 3: Integrated Shield Plans do not provide lump-sum payouts
This is not true. While Integrated Shield plans are primarily meant to offload exorbitant hospitalisation and treatment costs, some rider plans offer lump-sum payouts of up to S$10,000 per lifetime if a person is diagnosed with a critical illness the plan covers.
Myth 4: Integrated Shield plans can fully cover my bill
In 2018, the Singapore government changed the terms of Integrated Shield plans after noting that policyholders had over-consumed healthcare services as hospital bills were covered fully. To encourage people to be prudent with using healthcare services, and keep health insurance cost affordable, new Integrated Shield plan policyholders will have to pay at least five percent of their hospital bill.
However, the good news was that premiums will be reduced by up to 50 percent, depending on the age of the policyholder and terms of the policy.
Myth 5: I have a Critical Illness plan, therefore I don’t need an Integrated Shield plan
A critical illness plan gives you a lump-sum payout if you are diagnosed with a critical illness. However, it does not cover hospitalisation, surgery, and medical treatment costs. You would need to purchase an Integrated Shield plan and a rider to cover these bills.
Myth 6: I can buy an Integrated Shield plan when I am older
Private insurers provide riders to cover the costs of co-insurance and deductibles. However, riders cannot be paid for using MediSave and you have to use cash to pay for it. Riders premiums also increase as you get older.
Are you adequately covered?
Before getting an Integrated Shield plan, consider what your needs are. For example, if you are hospitalised, are you fine staying in a no-frills ward in a public hospital, or would you want to stay in a higher-class ward, or in a private hospital? Do you prefer that the co-insurance and deductible portions of your bill are covered?
Compare the Integrated Shield plans available in the market and choose one that meets your needs. Have more burning questions? Do not hesitate to drop us an email at ask@plannerbee.co and we will be more than happy to help.
