health insurance

[apogon]

Hi!
I’m moving to Singapore in a few weeks, and I have a question concerning health insurance. I would like to have an insurance that covers all costs if I have an accident or have to go to a doctor because I’m sick. Do you know how I can find out about this thing?
What would you suggest, how are Singaporeans insured? I could get a insurance from my country for about S$260 per month, but I have to pay a maximum of S$2600 first. But there’s no limit if something happens (accident,…).

regards, apogon

[renter]

u can buy insurance from companies like Prudential, AIA, AXA, or even those banks. S$260 can buy you a very good life insurance and much more than enough for term insurance.

Singaporeans are covered by CPF( government insurance ) which is already enough for most people, but i think majority still buy the private insurance outside of the government insurance.

[Baron Greenback]

If health insurance is not part of your employment contract then you are very wise for looking to take out a policy.

The cost of being sick in Singapore is astronomical, a night in some hospitals can be more than a 5 star hotel. Just cutting yourself badly so that you need stitches can be as much as $100 a stitch.

As renter mentioned above there are many international insurance companies that will gladly take your money, as to the question is it cheaper to get it in Singapore or international coverage from home, that ultimately depends on the company & type of coverage.

From home you may get more expensive insurance but it may also cover you in other countries - which might be a good idea if you are planning to do a lot of travelling in the region while you are here.

Try a bit of searching on company websites - best of luck

[Strong Eagle]

If you are travelling out of Singapore much, you probably want to get emergency evacuation insurance... who wants to be stuck in Hanoi needing a heart operation? Also, expat policies let you return home for major things like cancer.

A local policy will cover costs in Singapore only. A good expat policy with world wide benefits will cost you about $2300 US for age 55. I've got a local insurance agent who handles all my company's insurance needs. Drop me an email if you want to get more info.

[renter]

On local policy, as far as i know, nowdays most policies are international in Singapore. Government insurance(CPF for PRs and citizens), local companies like NTUC Income or Great Eastern, all offer international insurance, so not to mention the multi-national companies. so it is definitely not a worry of international coverage. but as Strong Eagle said, Emergency Evacuation may be important at times.

[dot dot dot]

When I came back to Singapore, I had all local insurances available checked and compared to the expat insurance I could buy from Aegon at home in Holland. My insurance agent here did a thorough check and concluded following: If he could buy the expat insurance from Holland, he would instantly do it for his whole family. No local insurance here will cover 100%, no insurance here can compare to those available for expats back in Europe (or at least in Holland).

I am 100% covered for all costs for a premium of 125 euro per month, 250 sgd per month.

Eric

[Harsha]

This message has been deleted by the user.

[fx8fx]

there ain't one without limit(?). though optimistically above par of all standards. I happen to book one for myself that costed me about s$550 p.a with NTUC worldwide health insurance that looked quite convincing.

there is yet another on similar terms with axa, but premium is about 800+ bucks.

yes, NTUC world does provide emergency evacuation and ofcourse remains back home. (hopefully this couldn't arise for anyone out here) except in terrorist attacks.

Hi Harsha, do you have the website of the s$550 p.a with NTUC worldwide health insurance.

tks

[Harsha]

http://www.income.coop/insurance/wmi/

[fx8fx]

http://www.income.coop/insurance/wmi/

tks a lot Harsha,

it's pity that I can not get it as I'm out of following condition now

This policy is available to:

Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, including their spouses and all unmarried children under the age of 21 years.
Any persons of nationalities other than Singaporean if employed by or outstationed from the Singapore registered office of any organisation. (Copy of employment pass must be submitted along with proposal form)

Firms or organizations, looking to provide benefits to staff who have to travel frequently due to work commitments, as a group policy.

[fx8fx]

for lvsp or other long term visit visa holder , any good insurance plan ?

[msekree]

I'm an ex-pat financial adviser and the policy I recommend, and have myself, it Aviva's 'IFS Global Health'. It's more expensive than the local products, such as NTUC's, but is more comprehensive and available to any ex-pat.

[aster]

Is the Aviva Global Health insurance still recommended?

Any others that are equally as good?

I'm looking for something worldwide, comprehensive, from a respectable insurer, that I can continue to keep even if I leave Singapore.

[Nath21]

I work for an insurance company here so wont recommend anything but all I can say to expats is that everything is benchmarked here locally so it wont be as good as foreign insurance your used to. With that in mind the better insurance products are generally your western MNC with a local branch because there products while locally benchmarked provide more coverage at a slightly higher cost. Also Asian insurance products for life generally provide some sort of payback and are more expensive products because of this (with poor returns compared to what you would get investing in other investments). So if you go life just go whole life or term life (set period) without any set returns, i.e bonuses, payback and get accident and health as a rider (addition) to your life as that will work out the cheapest. Also I know my company includes children for free on most products whilst others dont so make sure if you get full family cover if you need it. Also if I were you I would go to direct sales office rather than thorugh banks or FA's because your cutting out a middle player. Some products it wont make a difference but some do and you wont know. Fact is you will get a cheaper product direct in some cases.

[aster]

My DBS card offers decent coverage when booking tickets, but overall I'd like a general plan to cover the family. Just health (as in hospital/treatment cover) insurance, no life/disability/income insurance or anything else.

I was given a quote with Allianz but it was basically about everything other than what I'm looking for. The hospital/treatment stuff was almost non-existent as it was all about you get so many $$$ if you die or suffer from some terrible ailment. Funny thing is that their life insurance excluded dying... from a heart attack. What a joke...