Note: This post below has been updated on 27 October 2025.
Unanswered Questions from Making Sense of IP Claims: Your Top Questions Answered
1. I have 2 ISP – one paid by Medisave and the other by cash. I can’t remember why the agent suggested this – he said that it’s because I have pre-existing condition and having 2 ISP will help me able to claim everything. Is this recommended?
If I understood what your agent tried to do, this approach was used by some agents before the availability of IP rider. Having 2 such plans could potentially help to cover your deductible and co-insurance. It is unclear how this could help to cover pre-existing condition though. You should find out from your agent the reason. Separately, you might want to explore the option of getting an IP rider instead as well as a main IP that matches your healthcare expectation.
Learn more about what deductibles are here, and co-insurance here!
2. If the Insurer can cover the entire sum of hospitalisation, Medisave would not be activated. Is this the correct understanding?
Yes, that’s correct.
If the insurer is able to cover 100% of the bill, which can happen once you’ve reached your rider’s annual co-payment cap, no payment is required from you. In that case, neither cash nor Medisave will be used.
If you prefer not to use Medisave at all, you can inform the hospital during admission that you’d like to pay any out-of-pocket costs by cash instead.
Click here to find out how much Medisave can be used for hospitalisation!
3. What happens when an error is discovered, in that the IP company makes a mistake in the claim and has shortchanged the client.
If you believe there has been an error in your claim computation or settlement, you can contact your insurer to explain your case and request a review.
If the matter remains unresolved after the review, you can escalate the case to FIDReC (Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre Ltd) for mediation and adjudication.
4. Can you advise what is the premium increase year on year for rider on average?
There isn’t a consistent trend in rider premium adjustments, as the rate of change varies widely between insurers, age bands, and rider types.
In general, riders attached to private hospital plans tend to experience larger premium increases compared to those for public hospital plans.
For example, in 2024, rider premium changes ranged from a 9% decrease for certain age groups to as much as a 112% increase for others. Please note that premium adjustments depend on each insurer’s claims experience and pricing review.
Learn how you can plan ahead as Integrated Shield Premiums increase yearly here!
5. If I pay the bills upfront via credit card, would the reimbursement be credited back to the same card?
For insurers that Havend has distribution rights with, the default reimbursement method is via PayNow-NRIC. You can also provide your bank account details for them to credit the reimbursement directly to your bank account.
However, as processes may vary by insurer, please check with your adviser regarding the specific reimbursement channel applicable to your insurer.
Do note that the above applies to pre- and post-hospitalisation claim reimbursements. For main hospitalisation or day-surgery claims, the insurer pays the hospital directly. The reimbursement method in these cases will depend on the hospital’s own billing arrangement.
6. If my parent does not qualify for IP due to preexisting high blood pressure, what would be your recommendation to cover any unfortunate inpatient medical bills?
There is an IP provider that might be open to cover high blood pressure, if it is not too serious. Do reach out to us as it is not allowable to disclose product name. If IP route is not possible, a practical approach is to get hospital treatment in subsidised wards (B2/C ward in public hospital) or set aside a medical sinking fund where you put aside a certain amount of money for any medical treatment.
7. Do non-subsidised patients pay more for post-surgery medicine vs subsidised patients? If so, can non-subsidised patients downgrade to “subsidised status”?
Yes, non-subsidised patients do pay more for post-surgery medication. This is because they do not receive government subsidies, not because the base price of the medication is different.
You can inform the ward nurses of your wish to downgrade from the private to subsidised class at Specialist Outpatient Clinics prior to your discharge from the inpatient ward.
As a subsidised patient, you will receive team-based care led by an assigned specialist, and you may not be attended to by the same doctor at each visit.
8. Why are standalone cancer insurance plans needed? Isn’t IP enough?
In recent years, the benefit limits for cancer treatment are restricted, especially those outside of approved cancer drug list. This is help moderate the rise in IP premium. Standalone cancer insurance helps to cover this gap.
9. How can we compare the various IPs? Are they all similar? Should I use premiums as a basis to decide?
It is not straight-forward to compare the IP across 7 providers, as each has its competitive advantage be it benefits, costs, reputation, and claims processes. Having said that the key features are mostly similar, so unless you have a particular benefit in mind, in which case, you should assess which offers better cost-value benefit. Because IP is an insurance that people tend to utilise multiple times in a lifetime, do consider getting from an adviser that you have confidence could service you for the long haul.
If you would like to compare the different Integrated Shield Plans – including benefits, premiums, claim processing time, and whether Letter-of-Guarantee (LOG) or pre-authorisation is available – click on this link!
10. Does it mean that we have to be strategic in when we go for the procedure if it’s not urgent to be in line with the policy year? I’m trying to make sure our pre and post expenses are manageable.
You can say that in general, yes, being mindful of timing can help ensure that all related pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses fall within the same policy year, so that only one deductible is applied to all claims.
If you have a rider that includes a co-payment cap, aligning the timing can also help your claims collectively contribute toward that cap.
However, medical urgency and your doctor’s advice should always take precedence. Your health and timely treatment are far more important considerations than optimising the claim timing.
Learn more about what deductibles are here, and co-payment here!
11. I am paying private A class, and it has increased significantly and as of this year I paid $1.6K in cash. The reason I am continuing is because private hospitals will serve me faster than government hospitals. I anticipate that there will be a day when I am totally exhausted with the premium. Do you have any other suggestions? Is it ok for me to downgrade to govt A class instead?
Having the extra convenience of a private hospital unfortunately comes with a cost. As long as you are able to fund the higher premium you could continue to retain it. However, if you find that the future premium is not sustainable by you, it is a matter of time for a downgrade. If you want to reduce your premium for your private hospital plan, you could consider reducing your IP rider or even dropping it. Alternatively, Class A ward in public hospitals is good, too, for most people. You would need to manage your expectation though.
12. Should I still make a claim when the amount is below the deductible amount? Say a $1,000 bill so that it can count towards meeting the yearly deductible?
Yes, you should still submit the claim. This allows your insurer to record the amount under the deductible.
If there are subsequent claims within the same policy year, the earlier amount will be counted toward fulfilling your annual deductible, which helps reduce future out-of-pocket costs once the deductible limit is reached.
Learn more about what deductibles are here!
13. A more macro level question. Are there worries about healthcare cost escalating with the Singaporean buffet mindset?
Yes, it is already happening and is making IP insurance becoming more out of reach for people. Everyone plays a part in fueling this — policyholders, insurers and doctors/hospitals. In recent months, the government seems to be taking an active step to facilitate untying this knotty issue, so that IP premium can be more sustainable.
Watch our CEO Eddy Cheong talk about this issue here!
14. From the example given, it seems that MediShield is good if there is time for someone to visit either a polyclinic or CHAS clinic. In an emergency where someone is admitted to the hospital, it seems the bills would be high especially if there is surgery and an IP is essential. Is this correct?
If admission is through A&E (Accident & Emergency), the patient can still be treated as a subsidised patient, provided they choose to be admitted to a Class B2 or C ward.
The polyclinic or CHAS clinic referral applies mainly to non-emergency situations, where patients are referred for specialist care under subsidised status.
Do refer to this Insurance Claim Guide which talks about the most asked medical claim questions we have come across.
15. How should one calculate affordability based on the increasing deductible and co-payment (I assume that these will increase with inflation)?
Hope I understand this question. The deductible and co-insurance (10%) are generally fixed, though there might be some minor adjustment over the years for certain plans, but I don’t see that it is adjusted by inflation. Separately, to offset this deductible and co-insurance you could get an IP rider, and if not to pay by cash and/or Medisave. Learn more about what deductibles are here, and
co-insurance here!
16. If I have a private hospital shield plan but choose to stay in B2 ward, do I still need to pay for deductible and co-payment since the expenses can be covered by Medishield?
Yes, deductible and co-insurance apply to all ward classes. However, the deductible amount varies depending on the ward class you choose. It is lower for lower ward classes such as B2 or C.
Do note that MediShield Life on its own also includes deductible and co-insurance components.
In addition, bills for lower ward classes are generally smaller, which means your co-insurance amount will also be lower. So, while deductible and co-insurance still apply, your overall out-of-pocket cost will be reduced when staying in a subsidised ward.
Learn more about what deductibles are here, and co-payments here!
17. I already have existing health insurance policies, what can Havend do to help me assess and balance my coverage going forward?
At Havend, we assess and put in place your protection coverage comprehensively in 5 key areas: death, critical illness, occupational disability, long-term care and hospitalisation. Depending on your stage of life, family situation, budget and priority, the types of insurance you would need evolve. Typically for working adults, the priority is income replacement in the event of death, disability and medical crisis. And when in retirement, the key priority is having a strong medical safety net with long-term care and hospitalisaiton. We also offer services for retirement and legacy planning.
If you would like to learn more about our transparent practices, click this link!
18. In which age group we should get the Integrated Shield Plan with Private Insurance vs MediShield Life? And what are the various points of consideration?
We advise people to consider your healthcare expectation and affordability (budget) in deciding whether you should go for IP or MediSheild Life. However, as IP tends to be cheaper when young, people are more willing to buy an IP for their children or to keep it while working. As they are approaching retirement, people tend to review your affordability more seriously due to (1) rising premium at older ages, more significantly from age 50, and (2) stop having a working income in retirement.
19. Which 2 insurers do not offer pre-authorisation?
Income and Singlife do not offer pre-authorisation.
However, Singlife issues a Pre-Admission Letter (PAL) when you seek treatment with a panel doctor. The PAL advises customers on the estimated claim coverage of their planned admission. This will facilitate customers to make an informed decision on their medical treatment.
Do note that pre-authorisation is a service, not a contractual obligation of the insurers. This means the availability and terms of the service may be adjusted or removed by insurers over time.
Compare the various Integrated Shield Plans based on their benefits, premiums, processing time, and whether their Letter-of-Guarantee (LOG) or preauthorisation is available here!
20. Will family member’s claims/health condition under the same company affect your own ability to increase your coverage/add a rider?
In our experience, we do not see a connection in what you describe.
21. For Pre & Post Outpatient Claim, will a medical report be required and if required, who will bear the cost of the report?
Typically, a medical report is not required for pre- and post-hospitalisation claims.
However, if the insurer requires a medical report to assess the claim, the cost of obtaining the report will be borne by the patient.
22. Is there a checklist of items I should prepare for before going for treatment? I am worried if I have to go for emergency treatment and do not have luxury of time to recall/think through what I need to do.
Here’s a simple, emergency-friendly checklist you can keep handy for hospital or treatment visits:
- NRIC
- List of medications and allergies
- Phone charger
- Assistive items: spectacles, hearing aids, mobility aids
- Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo
- Towels
- Undergarments and comfortable clothing
- Slippers
- Fresh set of clothes for discharge
23. Related to earlier question, what if the company insurance is civil service? Who to file claim first?
From our understanding, civil servants are entitled to various medical benefits, including outpatient medical subsidies. Medical institutions can usually process payments directly through the Medical Claims Proration System (MCPS). Any remaining amount that is not covered will typically be deducted from the employee’s payroll.
If you wish to claim this amount back, you may submit your payslip and supporting statement showing the co-payment deducted from your salary when submitting a claim for pre- or post-hospitalisation benefits.
From our limited understanding, there is no inpatient insurance scheme provided specifically for civil servants. Therefore, the question of which insurer to file a claim with first generally does not apply.
Please let us know if this understanding is inaccurate, and we will research further and provide clarification.
24. As someone with IP plan and we go straight to the hospital A&E for consult, are we considered as subsidized when they deduct from our Medishield Life?
If admission is through A&E (Accident & Emergency), the patient can still be treated as a subsidised patient, provided they choose to be admitted to a Class B2 or C ward.
25. Do you mean that if a person is ok with B2 ward, then there is no need for IP and rider?
MediShield Life is sized for B2/C ward in public hospitals. As long as you stay within B2/C wards, your hospital bills should be adequately covered.
If you would like to find out why you need MediShield Life on top of an Integrated Shield Plan, click on this link.
26. How should we be planning the savings for IP & Rider Premiums? How do I forecast that?
The premium rates become more significantly about age 55 onwards, hence one practical way is you could factor the future IP premium into your retirement planning. Another approach is to aggregate the premium from retirement age till age 90 or so and create a saving plan to achieve it by retirement age.
If you would like to learn more about how much Integrated Shield Plan premiums might cost, watch this video or this video on 1M65, featuring our CEO Eddy Cheong.
27. Am I correct to say there are 3 categories of plans – (1) MediShield only, (2) MediShield + Public Hosp A, B1, (3) Medishield + Public Hosp A, B1 + Private Hosp?
Yes, that’s correct. However, insurers typically describe ward eligibility based on the highest class of ward covered under the plan. For example:
- Up to B1 ward (public hospital plan),
- Up to A ward (public hospital plan), or
- Up to Private hospital (private hospital plan)
This indicates the recommended ward class for your coverage type to avoid higher out-of-pocket costs from pro-ration.
28. Is there a difference in what’s claimable and what’s not claimable between hospital stay and day-surgery?
If you’re comparing the same surgical procedure, there is no difference in what’s claimable for the surgery itself, whether it’s done as inpatient or day surgery.
However, choosing inpatient treatment will generally result in a higher overall bill because of additional ward and hospital stay charges, which don’t apply to day surgery cases.
That said, the doctor’s medical opinion should take priority. They are best positioned to assess your health condition, the level of post-operative monitoring required, and whether inpatient care is medically necessary for your safety and recovery.
If you would like to know how much Medisave can be used for hospitalisation, click on this link.
29. Is a critical illness policy necessary if I have a private hospital IP and the highest rider?
Critical illness policy is meant to provide a payout during a CI event. This helps to replace loss of income where one chooses to stop work for a number of years to recuperate. Your IP plan is meant to pay for hospital related expenses. So, for a working adult, you would need the CI and IP to take care of both hospital expenses and income replacement.
Strictly speaking, for retirees, it is more important to have an IP (if you want B1 and above wards) than to have a CI. However, if you have extra budget and want to cover for alternative medicine and additional cancer benefit (since IP has restricted cancer benefit), you might consider having a CI policy for this purpose.
Learn more about what Integrated Shield Plans cover here.
30. Can we transfer our IP Plan to Havend? Do we have to let go of our current plans?
We do not take over the servicing of IP that were not bought from us. This is because we do not earn the commission even if the policy is transferred to us, as the commission continues to be paid to the original agent. And as you have seen in this webinar, there is ongoing cost in providing IP policy servicing for life. If we take over such IP transfer, it will not be commercially sustainable for us. However, we will consider taking over IP for clients of Havend.
31. Find more related resources here!
Article – Learn about Our Transparent Practices
eBooks – Download our complimentary eBooks
Video – 1M65 Interview with CEO Eddy Cheong and Group CEO Christopher Tan
Article – Learn more about what an Integrated Shield Plan is
IG Reel – What is a Letter of Guarantee (LOG)?
IG Reel – Why does my Integrated Shield Plan feel so complicated?!
Article – MediShield Life Deductibles
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