Cost of health screening in Singapore

We can agree unanimously that health and medical help is on top of our minds right now.
At a time when health is a priority, it’s good to be aware of how much you can be expected to spend when you step out for a screening. Strangely, though, health screenings in Singapore have a reputation for being costly because we’re used to the narrative that all things medical on our tiny island are expensive. Frankly, the reality is quite the opposite.
There are plenty of healthcare providers offering a myriad of health screening packages in Singapore ranging from truly affordable to unnecessarily extravagant. We uncover some surprising truths about how much health screenings cost in Singapore.
Generally speaking, health screenings can be grouped into two types — standalone health screenings that attempt to create a snapshot of a person’s overall health, and medical procedures to screen for specific conditions.
Standalone health screenings are offered in many levels — from a basic health check involving a few factors to comprehensive events that cover more ground and utilise more tests and procedures. Needless to say, the more involved the screening, the costlier the package tends to be.
On the other hand, if you or your healthcare provider wants to focus on a specific condition, you may then undergo a specialised health screening that offers a more in-depth look.
At its very basic, a health screening should consist of the following:
Typical health screening packages go further than the four basic tests above. This is purely with the aim of giving your healthcare provider a more complete picture of your health status. As such, you may encounter additional tests and procedures such as:
With Singapore’s highly developed medical services market, it is no surprise that there are plenty of options available to those looking for a health check-up. Generally speaking, there are four channels you can look towards, depending on your needs:
Cardholder | Cost Of Screen For Life |
Pioneer Generation (age 71 in 2020) | $0 |
Merdeka Generation (age 61 in 2020) | $2 |
Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) Blue or Orange | $2 |
Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) Green + Eligible Singaporean Citizens | $5 |
When discussing health screenings, CHAS GP clinics may spring to mind probably because you’re remembering them for that $5 health checkup campaign that ran not too long ago. Yes, the same Health Promotion Board’s Screen for Life Programme that makes available health screening to eligible Singaporeans for under $5. However, these are for certain conditions only, and are performed according to your age and gender.
Age At Screening | Type Of Screening |
Above age 25 (women only) | Cervical cancer |
Above age 40 | High blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, cervical cancer |
Above age 50 | High blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, colorectal cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer |
What you should know is that CHAS GP clinics in Singapore do not offer comprehensive health checks. However, you may request screening for a certain specific condition.
Name Of Clinic | Health Screening Packages And Cost |
Central Clinic | Basic: $48 Special: $118 Comprehensive: $338 |
SATA Commhealth | Lite: $275 Premier: $323 Elite Male: $563 Elite Female: $708 |
Fullerton Health | Premium: $468 Gold: $668 Sapphire: $888 Platinum: $1,688 |
Lifescan Medical Centre | General: $180 Enhanced: $340 Comprehensive: $493 |
Healthway Medical | Classic: $350 Elite: $500 Deluxe: $650 Imperial: $850 Sapphire: $1,200 Diamond: $1,800 Royal: $4,500 |
Private clinics are another viable source for getting a health screen done, not least because of the very attractive rates some packages are priced at. You can have a full health screen done for as little as $48, although it appears a price range of around $200 to $350 is more typical.
Some clinics may also be perceived to offer a more personal and supportive environment compared to, say, a busy hospital.
Health screening packages for women cost significantly more at least one clinic, and the more comprehensive the screening (which usually involves more tests), the higher the cost of the package.
If you’re confused as to which package to pick, it’s best to talk to your doctor, who will make recommendations according to your needs and expectations.
Name Of Public Hospital | Health Screening Packages And Cost |
Ng Teng Fong Hospital | Essential: $88 Enhanced A (Female): $178 Enhanced B: $98 Optional add-ons available |
Tan Tock Seng Hospital | Core: $200 High Cholesterol: $380 High Blood Pressure: $450 Diabetes: $530 Liver Screen for Hep B: $500 High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Cholesterol: $530 Anaemia: $300 |
National University Hospital | Basic: $260 High Cholesterol: $310 High Blood Pressure: $360 High Blood Glucose: $370 Hep B: $530 Chronic Disease Management: $420 |
Changi General Hospital | Core: $360 Core 50: $380 |
With an array of services under one roof, hospitals in Singapore can offer a one-stop health screening service. Public hospitals cater to different patient needs by offering screening packages focused on addressing specific conditions.
Once again, we see health screen packages varying widely in price and type, but you can get a basic health screening at a public hospital starting from $88.
Note that some of the packages by public hospitals are competitively priced with those offered at private clinics.
Name Of Private Hospital | Health Screening Packages And Cost |
Raffles Medical Group | Basic: $74.90 General: $151.90/$169.05 Lifestyle: $262.15 Pre-marital: $165.85 Optional add-ons available |
Mount Alvernia Hospital | Basic 120: $131.60 Basic 150: $164.80 Basic 180: $198 Basic 200: $219.40 Basic 220: $241.80 Basic 240: $263.20 Specialised screenings available |
Farrer Park Hospital | Regular: $350 Select: $560 Select Plus: $790 Premier: $1,780 Pre-marital: $299 ($499/couple) |
Parkway East Hospital | Classic:(M/F) $468/$498 Elite: $868/$898 Exclusive: $1,468/$1,498 Signature: $1,968/$1,998 Premier: $3,068/$3,298 Prestige: $6,268/$6,498 |
Private hospitals in Singapore have a reputation for providing top-class medical care but at heart-stopping price ranges (but of course). So it was a pleasant surprise to see at least two private hospitals offering medical screening packages that are competitively priced.
We also found tearing up-worthy expensive health screenings, costing the equivalent of a week-long family vacation! Of course, not being medical experts, we cannot comment on the necessity or importance of these super-high-end options. But at these prices, we’re sure we’d come out feeling more than a little faint.
While some screenings may be budget-friendly, treatment costs are likely to be another thing altogether, especially given the hospitals’ private entity status.
There are a few options you can look at to help bring down the cost of your medical screenings, such as Medisave, insurance and credit cards.
While Medisave can come in handy for a wide number of conditions, you cannot, unfortunately, use your Medisave to pay for a standalone health screening. This is because Medisave is restricted to specific procedures, each coming with an annual cap.
However, it may be possible to use your Medisave to pay for the procedures you need (such as a colonoscopy or mammogram) as part of routine screening in the course of managing your condition.
For the majority of Singaporeans, our health insurance plans come in the form of Medishield Life or Medishield Life with an Integrated Shield Plan. These plans are meant to provide cover when treatment becomes necessary, and they do not cover standalone health screenings.
However, there are certain specialised health insurance plans by private brokers that include regular health screenings as part of the package. If you’re interested, be sure to carefully check what the health screening covers — to see if it suits your needs.
There’s no denying that health screenings can set you back by a few hundred dollars, so choose your cards carefully.
When it comes to big-ticket purchases, air miles cards are always a great option. Try using the UOB PRVI Miles Card to earn 1.4 miles per $1 on your health screenings. Another card you can try is the Citi PremierMiles Card, which gives you 1.2 miles per $1.
Another way credit cards can help you with your health screening is via the 0per cent instalment payment plan, which splits up your bill over several fixed monthly payments — commonly 12 or 24 months. This can help you afford more comprehensive screenings which are often more expensive.
Do bear in mind that not all banks award credit card perks on medical transactions. Some clinics or hospitals may not offer instalment payment plans. To be sure, it’s always best to check with your bank and/or clinic or hospital beforehand.