FAQs on Integrated Shield Plan and riders

MediShield LIFE is a government initiative to provide affordable lifelong protection for all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents against large hospital bills. According to MOH, the subsidies are generally sufficient to cover Class B2/C ward of a public hospital.

Deductibles and Co-insurance must still be paid by Medisave or cash.

An Integrated Shield Plan is an add-on to your MediShield LIFE coverage. It allows you to stay in Class A ward and below of a public hospital or standard ward of a private hospital without incurring a high medical bill. The insurance premium for Integrated Shield Plan may be fully or partially paid using your Medisave account.

Deductibles and Co-insurance must still be paid by Medisave or cash.

An Integrated Shield Plan rider covers partially the cost of Deductibles and Co-insurance.

The insurance premium for an Integrated Shield Plan rider has to be fully paid by cash.

Without an Integrated Shield Plan rider, the following expenses have to be paid by you:

• Deductibles – Up to the first S$3,500 of your medical claim
• Co-insurance – Up to 10% of the remaining medical claim amount, after deducting the deductibles

As typically all hospitalisation charges are covered, many may choose a private hospital for medical treatments. Here are some of the reasons for having an Integrated Shield Plan and rider:

• Shorter waiting time (in private hospital)
• Higher level of comfort
• Preserve/ reduce usage of personal savings

Refer to the following: 5 reason for having an Integrated Shield Plans.

The lump sum payout from your critical illness coverage is meant to cover your current and future loss/ reduction of income.

It is not meant to cover your hospitalisation and medical treatment charges. Speak to a financial adviser if further explanation is required.

Excluding benefits unique to specific insurers, the coverages should include the following:

• Pre-hospitalisation
• Post-hospitalisation
• In-patient treatment
• Out-patient treatment
• Post-hospitalisation TCM (Most insurers)
• Emergency overseas treatment
• Final Expenses

Full as-charged coverage is only applicable with an Integrated Shield Plan and rider that covers deductibles and co-insurance.

An Integrated Shield Plan or rider provides additional coverage on top and above of Medishield LIFE coverage. There will be no duplicate coverage or double payment of any kind.

You will enjoy the combined benefits of MediShield LIFE which provide hospitalisation coverage targeted at Class B2/C wards and the additional private insurance coverage targeted at higher class wards in public and private hospital.

Any pre-existing conditions you had before taking up an Integrated Shield Plan will not be covered. However, if the medical condition developed after you having an Integrated Shield Plan, it will be fully covered.

Moratorium underwriting allows you to apply for an Integrated Shield Plan/ rider without answering any medical questionnaires.

You must be fully discharged and not be seeking any medical attention in the past 5 years for the said pre-existing medical condition.

You can still apply for the plan and declare your weight. It will be subjected to underwriting.

Your application is subjected to the insurer discretions. These are the known conditions imposed on Moratorium underwriting:

• 5-year waiting period from approval before you are covered for the pre-existing condition
• Must not be declined by another insurer
• Must not be paying additional premiums for MediShield Life

Currently, only Aviva is offering Moratorium underwriting on their Integrated Shield Plan and Integrated Shield Plan riders.

Even if your integrated shield and rider are approved, you will face issues when claiming. Your application may also be entirely void for false declaration.

Healthy individuals may switch Integrated Shield Plan for a variety of reasons such as:

• Upgrade or downgrade of existing benefits and features
• More competitive premiums from another insurance company
• Specific plans offering more relevant coverage and features

For Integrated Shield Plans and riders, outright rejection of applications is commonly seen. No insurer would wish to dilute their existing insured pool by taking additional at-risk individuals.

This will only serve to increase future premiums for everyone and is unfair to those seek coverage when they are still healthy.

An Integrated Shield plan and rider is meant to cover your hospitalisation and medical treatment expenses.

It does not cover loss/ reduction of future income for your or your dependents. Read the following article on what else you need to be aware of, even when you have done your MediShield LIFE upgrade.

Upon switching of your existing Integrated Shield Plan to another insurer, your previous Integrated Shield Plan and rider (if any) will be terminated.

The excess premiums paid for any unused portion of your Integrated Shield Plan and rider will be refunded back to your CPF Medisave account/ cheque.

You have to inform the hospital that you are covered under an Integrated Shield Plan and rider.

The attending hospital will process and claim from the respective insurer accordingly. There is no further action required during your hospitalisation.

Currently, all 6 Integrated Shield Plan providers allows hospitalisation claims due to Emergency overseas medical treatment.

However only Singlife and Prudential allows claims for Planned overseas medical treatment.

Pre-hospitalisation and Post-hospitalisation coverage differ among Integrated Shield Plan provider. The coverage period may range from 90 to 365 days before and after your actual hospitalisation.

All original tax invoices must be submitted to the insurer for the review and payment of claims.

The link below shows the annual premiums for NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield and their riders.

Refer to the following for more details: NTUC Income Enhanced Income Shield.

The link below shows the annual premiums for Singlife Shield and their riders.

Refer to following for more details: Aviva MyShield and Aviva MyHealthPlus Rider

The link below shows the annual premiums for Great Eastern SupremeHealth and their riders.

Refer to following for more details: Great Eastern Supreme Health P Plan and Great Eastern Total Health Rider Rider

The link below shows the annual premiums for AIA HealthShield Gold Max and their riders

Refer to following for more details: AIA HealthShield Gold Max A

The link below shows the annual premiums for Prudential PruShield Premier and their riders. .

Refer to following for more details: Prudential PruShield Premier

The table below shows the annual premiums for HSBC Life Shield and their riders.

Refer to following for more details: AXA Shield Plan A and AXA Basic Care Rider

The link below shows the annual premiums for Raffles Health Insurance Shield Plan and their riders.

Refer to following for more details:

There are distinct benefits and features from all 6 integrated Shield Plans and riders provider in Singapore such as:

• Length of pre and post-hospitalisation coverage
• Eligible hospital Ward beds
• Category and limits of claimable charges
• Unique features by the insurers (If any)

The above are by no means the only differentiating factors.

There is no overall best plan for hospitalisation and medical coverage.

InterestgGuru.sg does have a detailed write-up on the 3 best Integrated Shield Plans and rider (2023 Edition) based on their features and benefits.

Use our Integrated Shield Plans selector to get the best-suited coverage according to your individual needs.

Refer to New Integrated Shield Plan with co-payment (Changes to new/ existing policyholders) for the breakdown and how you as an existing or new policyholder will be affected.

Drop us a message below or refer to the Integrated Shield Plan page for details write-up on the questions you may have.