DATA ON USE OF MEDISAVE FOR OVERSEAS ELECTIVE HOSPITALISATIONS AND DAY SURGERIES IN PAST FIVE YEARS, AND COST COMPARISONS WITH TREATMENTS UNDERTAKEN IN SINGAPORE

NOTICE PAPER NO. 936 

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER 

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 04 AUGUST 2026 

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament 

Mr Victor Lye 

MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC 

Question No. 1600 

To ask the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health regarding the use of MediSave for overseas elective hospitalisations and day surgeries in the past five years (a) what is the annual (i) number of claims lodged (ii) number of claims approved and (iii) corresponding amount of MediSave approved for use; and (b) what are the top 10 medical treatments approved and their average cost difference compared with equivalent treatments undertaken in Singapore. 

Answer 

1 MediSave can be used for elective overseas hospitalisations and day surgeries at accredited hospitals, subject to the relevant existing withdrawal limits. From 2020 to 2024, there was an average of about 200 claims per year, with an average MediSave withdrawal of about $3,200 per claim. Most of the claims were for obstetrics and gynaecology services. We do not track how the cost of these overseas medical treatments compare with similar ones undertaken in Singapore.