Quick answer: Singapore’s healthcare is good and it is not free. Government subsidies at public hospitals go to citizens and permanent residents only. Foreigners have received no hospital subsidy since October 2007, so a work pass holder pays the full unsubsidised bill unless private insurance covers it. Citizens and PRs are also automatically covered by MediShield Life and build MediSave through CPF, which foreigners do not have. Employers must buy medical insurance of at least S$60,000 a year for every Work Permit and S Pass holder, and for migrant domestic workers. Employment Pass holders are not covered by that requirement, so their cover depends on the employment contract.
For a family on work passes, healthcare is usually the second largest hidden cost after school fees, and the one that can turn into a five-figure bill overnight. This guide sets out who pays what, by status.
Is healthcare free in Singapore?
No, not for anyone. The system is built on shared responsibility: the government subsidises a large share of public healthcare, and the patient pays the rest through savings, insurance and cash. What changes with your status is the size of the subsidy and the insurance you are entitled to.
| Status | Government subsidy at public hospitals | MediShield Life | MediSave |
| Singapore citizen | Yes, the highest rates | Yes, automatic | Yes, through CPF |
| Singapore PR | Yes, lower than citizens | Yes, automatic | Yes, through CPF |
| Foreigner on a work pass, DP, LTVP or Student’s Pass | None | No | No |
What subsidies actually look like
Subsidies apply in public hospitals and depend on ward class, status and, for citizens and PRs, means testing by income.
| Ward class | Singapore citizen | Singapore PR | Foreigner |
| Class C | 65% to 80% subsidy | Lower than the citizen rate | None |
| Class B2 | 50% to 65% subsidy | Lower than the citizen rate | None |
| Class B1 and A, private hospitals | Not subsidised | Not subsidised | None |
Citizens receive the maximum subsidy when monthly income is below S$3,200, with the rate tapering as income rises. When MOH revised subsidies for non-citizens, PR rates were set below citizen rates for Class B2 and C wards, and foreigners were removed from hospital subsidies from October 2007.
Rates and means-testing bands are revised from time to time, so treat these as the shape of the system rather than a quote.
The 3Ms, and why they matter to you
| Scheme | What it does | Who gets it |
| MediSave | A compulsory medical savings account funded by CPF contributions | Citizens and PRs |
| MediShield Life | National health insurance for large hospital bills and selected costly outpatient treatment such as dialysis and chemotherapy. No lifetime limit, covers pre-existing conditions, and premiums come out of MediSave | Citizens and PRs, automatically from birth or from the date status is granted |
| MediFund | An endowment safety net for those who still cannot afford their bills | Mainly citizens |
| CHAS | Subsidies at participating private clinics and dental clinics | Citizens |
Two points foreigners miss:
- MediShield Life benefits are sized for subsidised Class B2 and C treatment. Choosing Class A, B1 or a private hospital means the payout covers a smaller share of the bill, which is why many citizens and PRs add an Integrated Shield Plan.
- Coverage is automatic when you become a PR. You do not apply, and premiums are deducted from MediSave. MediShield Life premiums are being raised in phases between April 2025 and March 2028, so budget for increases.
Our guide to CPF for permanent residents explains how MediSave is funded.
Insurance if you are on a pass
| Your pass | Medical insurance position |
| Work Permit | Employer must buy and maintain medical insurance of at least S$60,000 a year, covering inpatient care and day surgery, including non-work-related conditions. The cost cannot be passed to the worker |
| S Pass | Same requirement, at least S$60,000 a year, before the pass is issued or renewed. See S Pass criteria |
| Migrant domestic worker | Employer must buy medical insurance of at least S$60,000 a year plus personal accident insurance of at least S$60,000. See our guide to hiring a domestic helper |
| Employment Pass | Not covered by MOM’s insurance requirement. Cover depends on what the employer provides in the contract |
| Dependant’s Pass, LTVP, Student’s Pass | No government cover. Private insurance, or the main pass holder’s family plan |
Since July 2023 the enhanced requirement set the S$60,000 annual claim limit for Work Permit and S Pass holders, with insurers covering 75% and employers 25% of claim amounts above S$15,000. From July 2025, exclusions were standardised, premiums were set by two age bands, and insurers pay hospitals directly once a claim is admitted.
If you hold an EP, read your contract. Many employers provide group cover, but the level varies, and a policy sized for outpatient visits will not absorb a major admission.
What treatment costs without subsidy
Public hospitals publish unsubsidised rates and private hospitals publish their own. As a planning guide:
| Service | What drives the cost |
| GP consultation | Clinic type and whether tests or medication are included |
| Specialist consultation at a public hospital | Unsubsidised rate for foreigners, versus a subsidised rate for citizens and PRs with a referral |
| Day surgery | Procedure, surgeon’s fee, facility fee |
| Inpatient admission | Ward class, length of stay, procedures and implants |
Rather than quote ranges that date quickly, use MOH’s published fee benchmarks and hospital bill size tables, which list typical bills by procedure, hospital and ward class, and are updated regularly. Check them before choosing a hospital, because the same procedure can differ substantially between institutions.
Public or private?
| Public hospitals and polyclinics | Private hospitals and GP clinics | |
| Cost for a foreigner | Unsubsidised, but usually lower than private | Highest |
| Waiting times | Longer for non-urgent specialist appointments | Shorter |
| Choice of doctor | Limited in subsidised settings | Yes |
| Emergency care | A&E at public hospitals handles the most serious cases | Available, at private rates |
| Who it suits | Anyone, especially for complex or emergency care | Those with employer or private insurance that covers it |
In an emergency, go to the nearest A&E or call 995. Nobody is turned away for lack of status, but the bill still follows.
What changes when you become a PR
| Foreigner on a pass | Singapore PR | |
| Hospital subsidy | None | Yes, at PR rates |
| MediShield Life | No | Automatic, premiums from MediSave |
| MediSave | No | Yes, funded by CPF contributions |
| Integrated Shield Plan | Not available | Can be bought on top of MediShield Life |
| Cost of a major admission | Full bill, less private insurance | Subsidy, then MediShield Life, then MediSave, then cash |
| Cover when you change jobs | Often ends with the employer’s policy | Keeps running, because it follows your status |
That last row matters more than people expect. Employer cover ends when the job ends, usually at the point you are least able to replace it. PR cover does not.
Healthcare is one of the clearest financial arguments for applying for Singapore PR, alongside housing and school fees. See Singapore PR benefits, the PR vs citizen comparison and our cost of living guide.
A practical checklist for foreigners
- Ask your employer exactly what the group policy covers: annual limit, inpatient, outpatient, maternity, pre-existing conditions
- Check whether your family on DP or LTVP is covered, or only you
- Buy top-up cover if the annual limit would not absorb a major admission
- Keep cover that continues between jobs, not only employer-tied cover
- For Work Permit, S Pass and domestic worker employers, confirm the S$60,000 policy is in place before the pass is issued or renewed
- If you plan to stay, work out when a PR application makes sense
How First Immigration can help
We are immigration consultants, not insurance brokers, so we do not sell policies or advise on cover.
- PR applications for you and your family, which is what moves you into the subsidised system and MediShield Life. Start with PR eligibility.
- Timing advice if healthcare costs are part of the decision to stay.
- Citizenship when you become eligible, through our Singapore citizenship application service.
Book a free assessment through our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Is healthcare free in Singapore?
No. The government subsidises public healthcare for citizens and permanent residents, and patients pay the rest through MediSave, MediShield Life, insurance and cash. Foreigners receive no subsidy.
Do foreigners get healthcare subsidies in Singapore?
No. Foreigners who are not permanent residents have not received hospital subsidies since October 2007, and pay unsubsidised rates at public hospitals.
Are PRs covered by MediShield Life?
Yes. Citizens and PRs are automatically covered, including those with pre-existing conditions, and premiums are deducted from MediSave.
Do PRs get the same subsidies as citizens?
No. PR subsidy rates at public hospitals are lower than citizen rates, and subsidies for citizens and PRs are also means tested by income.
Does my employer have to buy me medical insurance?
For Work Permit and S Pass holders, yes, at least S$60,000 a year, and the cost cannot be passed to the worker. The same applies to migrant domestic workers. Employment Pass holders are not covered by this requirement.
What happens if I am hospitalised without insurance?
You pay the unsubsidised bill. Public hospitals will treat emergencies regardless of status, but the bill still applies.
Can I use MediSave if I am a foreigner?
No. MediSave is funded by CPF contributions, which foreigners on work passes do not make.
What is an Integrated Shield Plan?
Private insurance added on top of MediShield Life for citizens and PRs, usually to cover Class A, B1 or private hospital treatment. Foreigners cannot buy one, because it sits on top of MediShield Life.
Will my cover continue if I change jobs?
Employer-provided cover generally ends with the job. Policies you hold yourself, and MediShield Life for citizens and PRs, continue.
Does becoming a PR reduce my healthcare costs?
Substantially. You move into the subsidised system, you are covered by MediShield Life automatically, and MediSave starts building through CPF.
Official sources: MOH, hospital subsidy and bill size information and the revision of hospital subsidies for non-citizens; MOH and CPF Board, MediShield Life coverage and premiums; MOM, medical insurance requirements for Work Permit holders, S Pass holders and migrant domestic workers, including the enhanced requirements from July 2023 and July 2025.
Disclaimer: Subsidy rates, insurance requirements and premiums are set by MOH, CPF Board and MOM and are revised from time to time. This is general information, not medical or insurance advice. Check current figures with the agencies and your insurer before relying on them.
