Insurance in Singapore

Singapore has a state administered public medical care program that gives universal coverage to all who live in Singapore, and a good quality of health care. The Singapore government health care program means that all sorts of medical or dental treatments in a public hospital are free for pensioners, civil service, and the needy, with almost complete medical insurance for the remainder of the population.

Tourists in Singapore or other foreigners who are not working in Singapore are not insured by the public health system, and they are advised to have some form of travel health coverage to pay for their treatment, which has to be in a private clinic. Since many of those who live in Singapore can't afford private health coverage, which is very costly, there often tend to be longer waiting times in public hospitals. But the few Singaporeans who can get private medical insurance can obtain much quicker health care treatment in private clinics. Payments at a private clinic are paid at the time of visit, with a subsequent reimbursement from the private insurance company.

Owing to the expensive cost of premiums required by a Singapore private health company, it is cheaper for expats to find a policy from a different country that will insure them medically while in Singapore.