If you are an expat working in Singapore, health insurance is a must-have. While the healthcare system in Singapore is excellent, it can be expensive if you need to use it. In this blog post, we will give you some tips and advice on choosing health insurance as an expat. We will also discuss the different types of health insurance available in Singapore so that you can make an informed decision about which plan is best for you.

Expat health insurance is for foreign nationals who are living and working in Singapore on a temporary basis. If you are an expatriate worker, you will need to have health insurance in order to be covered by the Singapore health care system. There are a number of health insurance providers in Singapore that offer expat health insurance plans.

If you are a S-Pass or work permit holder, your employer will have to get health insurance for you. It is compulsory to insure you with at least S$15,000 of annual coverage.

For employment pass holders, health insurance is not compulsory but it is highly recommended. If you do not have health insurance and you require medical treatment, you will have to pay for your own medical expenses. These can be quite expensive, especially if you need to be hospitalized.

There are a few key areas that your health insurance should include.
Pre and post hospitalisation.

This means that your health insurance will cover you for medical expenses incurred before and after you are hospitalized. This can include things like doctor’s consultations, tests and x-rays.

These are limited to the specific treatment that you are hospitalised for and there is a time limit imposed.

This is the most important coverage in health insurance. It covers your medical expenses if you are hospitalized due to an illness or injury. This can include the cost of your hospital stay, surgery, medication and other treatment.

There is usually a limit on the amount that your health insurance will cover for hospitalisation. For example, some plans may only cover up to S$500 per day of your hospital stay. There are also limits on claims you can get per treatment or in a calendar year.

This covers the cost of medical treatment that you receive as an outpatient, which means you are not hospitalized. This can include things like doctor’s consultations, tests, x-rays and surgery.

There is usually a limit on the amount that your health insurance will cover for outpatient treatments.

If you are travelling overseas, your health insurance should cover you for emergency medical treatment. This can include the cost of evacuation back to Singapore if necessary.

This is an important consideration for you if your work entails regular travel.

In Singapore, there is first the government-issued health insurance known as Medishield Life. This is only available for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents. They also have the choice to enhance their health insurance coverage by upgrading this plan with private insurance providers.

As a foreigner in Singapore with a valid visa, you are allowed to purchase the integrated shield plans but you will not enjoy the government subsidy portion of the health insurance.

There is also an element of co-payment involved in the health insurance whereby you are required to pay a certain amount of the treatment out of your own pocket.

As a foreigner in Singapore, you have the choice to purchase either a local health insurance plan or an international health insurance plan.

Local health insurance plans are typically more comprehensive in their coverage but give limited cover for overseas medical claims.

If your work requires you to be travelling out of Singapore often, it may be a good idea to consider international health insurance.

Health insurance plans can be quite complex and it can be difficult to know which one is the best for you. There are a few things you should consider when choosing a health insurance plan:

– The coverages that are included
– The limits on the coverages
– The excess or co-payment that you are required to pay
– The premium that you are required to pay
– Any pre-existing medical conditions that you have

It is always a good idea to seek professional advice when choosing a health insurance plan. A professional can help you understand the coverages and exclusions in each plan. They can also help you compare the different plans to find one that best suits your needs.

You should have health insurance from the moment you start working in Singapore. This is because unexpected medical expenses can happen at any time.

If you do not have health insurance and you require medical treatment, you will have to pay for it out of your own pocket. This can be very expensive, especially if you require hospitalisation.