Free Singapore IP calculator. Estimate annual Integrated Shield Plan premiums for B1, A-Class, or Private ward cover by age, including rider cost and Medisave limits.
Estimate your annual Integrated Shield Plan cost by age and ward preference.
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IP base premium (incl MediShield)
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Rider premium (cash only)
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IP premium structure and Medisave limits
An Integrated Shield Plan premium has two parts. The MediShield Life base premium is always payable from Medisave. The additional IP component is partly payable from Medisave up to the Additional Withdrawal Limit (AWL) set by MOH, and the rest comes from cash. For a 40-year-old buying an A-Class plan, a typical total IP premium is around S$1,200 to S$1,600 per year. The Medisave AWL at age 40 is roughly S$800, so around S$400 to S$800 a year is a cash cost depending on the insurer and plan chosen.
Rider premiums since 2021 must be paid entirely in cash. A typical rider for an A-Class ward adds S$600 to S$900 per year at age 40, rising sharply with age. By age 65, the cash rider premium on a private hospital plan can exceed S$2,000 per year. The rider cost escalation at older ages catches many buyers by surprise and should be modelled as part of retirement income planning.
Comparing B1, A-Class, and Private ward tiers
The ward class choice is the biggest driver of premium cost. A B1 plan for a 40-year-old costs roughly S$700 to S$900 per year in total premium. An A-Class plan is roughly S$1,200 to S$1,600. A private hospital plan is S$2,500 to S$4,000 at the same age. The gap widens significantly with age: a 65-year-old on a private plan may pay S$6,000 to S$9,000 a year in total including the rider. Many financial planners suggest that a private plan bought young provides good value because premiums are locked in at a lower base and the benefit of private specialist access is highest when you need complex treatment later in life.
Riders and co-insurance: the 2021 rule change
Before 2021, full riders that zeroed out all co-insurance and deductibles were common. MOH determined that full riders encouraged over-use of healthcare services and contributed to medical cost inflation. From 2021, all new riders must retain a minimum 5 percent co-insurance, capped at S$3,000 per policy year. Existing full riders grandfathered before the change can be maintained but cannot be upgraded. If your rider was bought before 2021, check your policy documents; if bought after, you will always pay at least 5 percent of your hospital bill, which keeps you cost-conscious without leaving you exposed to catastrophic bills.
Frequently asked questions
What is an Integrated Shield Plan?
An Integrated Shield Plan combines the mandatory MediShield Life base layer with an additional private insurer component. The insurer tops up coverage to the ward class you choose: B1, A, or private. There are five approved IP insurers in Singapore: AIA, NTUC Income, Great Eastern, Prudential, and Raffles Health Insurance. Each offers their own pricing, benefits, and panel of hospitals. The IP premium covers the full bill for hospitalisation in your chosen ward class, subject to deductibles and co-insurance unless a rider is added.
Can I pay my IP premium from Medisave?
You can pay part of the IP premium from Medisave, subject to the Additional Withdrawal Limits set by MOH. For those below age 40, the Medisave limit for the IP additional component is around S$600 to S$800 per year. The limit rises with age up to around S$1,500 for those aged 75 and above. Any IP premium above the Medisave limit must be paid in cash. IP riders, which cover the deductible and co-insurance, must be paid entirely in cash since the 2021 MAS rule change.
What does an IP rider do?
An IP rider is an optional add-on that pays your co-insurance and deductible, so you face zero or near-zero out-of-pocket costs when hospitalised. Without a rider, you pay a deductible (typically S$1,500 to S$3,500 depending on ward and insurer) plus 3 to 10 percent co-insurance on the balance. Riders have become more expensive since 2021 because insurers can no longer sell full riders; they must retain at least 5 percent co-insurance to control over-consumption of healthcare.
Which ward class should I choose?
Class B2 and C wards at restructured hospitals are fully covered by MediShield Life with government subsidies. Class B1 wards have 20 percent government subsidies and no frills but are reasonably comfortable; an IP for B1 is inexpensive. Class A wards offer single rooms and more doctor choice; the IP premium is roughly double the B1 cost. Private hospitals offer the full range of specialists and no means-testing; the IP premium for private is three to four times the B1 cost. Most financial advisers suggest at least a B1 or A-Class plan to get single-room accommodation without a large cash bill.