Health Insurance

mbarbeito · Post by **mbarbeito** » Thu, 03 Dec 2009 9:14 am

I moved here because my boyfriend's job relocated him...I am not covered under his company's health insurance because we are not married. Does anyone know a reliable company to get private insurance from? Or is there public healthcare available if one is a work permit holder or if one establishes a company in Singapore...

Any info would be greatly appreciated!!!
Thank you,
Madeline

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Thu, 03 Dec 2009 9:47 am

What is your pass status?

Which country did you come from?

Do you want to have coverage outside of Singapore?

mbarbeito · Post by **mbarbeito** » Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:06 am

Thank u for the response Strong Eagle..

Right now I am just here on a visit visa (the 90 kind) but will either get an extended social visa through my boyfriend's company or will establish my own business (have not started to look into that yet)...the extended social visa maybe the first step as a temporary solution until I figure out the rest...

I am a US citizen...hope that helps and thank you...I am completely at a loss here!
Madeline

carteki · Post by **carteki** » Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:31 am

There are a number of health insurance options. Some may require that you are a SG resident (ie not on a visit pass). I was given some quotes which range from US1,000 to US5,200 - excluding treatment in the US (which will make it more expensive). If you are on a visit pass you may find it better to get a "long term travel insurance policy" from the US - check out this link - http://www.sharingtravelexperiences.com ... insurance/ Just be careful as to where you determine your place of residence if you take out a travel policy.

I used www.kwiksure.com.sg who gave me a number of quotes from different co's in a comparative table which I found very helpful.

Hope this helps.
Kim

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:29 pm

You will need to get insurance that covers you worldwide, including the US, if you plan to go back to the US, even to visit.

There are quite a few expat insurance websites... I'm not recommending this one over any other... but it has information on things to consider when building your insurance package.

I am pretty sure that without something more than a visit pass you will not be able to obtain insurance locally, and in any event, you would still need some kind of travel policy for outside Singapore.

http://www.goodhealthworldwide.com/

http://www.global-health-insurance.com/

mbarbeito · Post by **mbarbeito** » Thu, 03 Dec 2009 1:54 pm

Thank you again!!!! I really appreciate the info and the links.
Madeline

mbarbeito · Post by **mbarbeito** » Thu, 03 Dec 2009 5:07 pm

Thanks Kim for the information...

wcs · Post by **wcs** » Sun, 06 Dec 2009 3:42 am

Just a catch to watch out for. If you get a policy from another country such as the US, where you hold legal residence, the insurance country might require you to be in the country when you buy the policy so it covers you for your whole trip.

Some companies will not cover you for a trip which has already commenced.

In this case it might be better to try for a Long Term Social Visit Pass or some other pass which allows you to be "resident" here so the local companies will cover you.

Unless it is a worth a trip home, or if you are heading back for Christmas, do it then!

In Australia the complimentary travel/health insurance that comes with most credit cards has another catch, which is you are only covered for an absence from the country for up to 90 days at a time.

Post by **x9200** » Sun, 06 Dec 2009 10:04 am

Check carefully some longer term benefits like maternity coverage. It varies greatly between different insurers. Some of them have it as an option that can in principle be included at any time but may require very long waiting period like 15 months before conceiving a baby.

Nath21 · Post by **Nath21** » Mon, 07 Dec 2009 9:42 am

As a US citizen you must enter an agreement with a US licensed insurance agent. It is against the law to sell insurance products to US citizens without having a US insurance license. They usually have to be face to face or at least in the country to purchase. Hence when you buy a product they will often take a copy of your passport to ascertain your entry and exit dates as well as confirm your nationality. So be careful going for small unknown internet based websites offering great worldwide coverage to expats. They are often not licensed and will not pay up. Stick to the one of the big insurance companies. You will have to work out your residency first otherwise you could void your policy as well. So until you work that out I would recommend you go with a US short term travel cover. For a singapore insurance company to offer you insurance they will need proof of citizenship, residency or pass that allows you to be in the country for extended period (excluding social visitor passes).

gravida · Post by **gravida** » Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:10 pm

carteki wrote:
I used www.kwiksure.com.sg who gave me a number of quotes from different co's in a comparative table which I found very helpful.

I have contacted them as well, great service. Even though I did not get what I wanted (pre-existing condition), I know the agent was doing whatever he could to help me. I do have general health insurance with one of the well known companies, but the service is crap. Kwiksure man was nice, efficient and fast, I strongly recommend them.

Isabulle · Post by **Isabulle** » Thu, 25 Nov 2010 1:40 pm

Hi,
I'm in a similar situation as the first poster. Just arrived in Singapore to join my boyfriend; I'm not holding a job. I will shortly pick up my 1-year Long Term Social Pass (LTSP).

I checked with Kwiksure, and the cheap options (under SGD1000) are not available for LTSP-holding expats who have been on Singapore soil for less than 183 days. I'm failing the so-called "Tax Residency Test". The Kwiksure agent (who was otherwise super helpful) couldn't tell more and referred me to MOM website, where I can't find anything.

I cannot get travel insurance anymore, because I haven't been living in Canada (home country) since 2008, living sort of a nomadic life.

So anyone can suggest a cheap option? Thanks!

carteki · Post by **carteki** » Thu, 25 Nov 2010 2:03 pm

What insurance do you want? Travel or Medical? Your options are different for each.
For medical you may have to go for one of the more expensive international options - Bupa etc - for the 1st year or risk not having any cover until your 183 days are up. One way to reduce your premium is to have a higher excess (ie self pay amount). Will mean that you pay more for the little stuff, but will save on the bigger stuff.

I was reading the Chartis Global Health brochure and that is open to a person from 16 to 65 residing in Singapore. The 183 day rule only applies for residency for determining tax status. Unfortunately the link to the full terms and conditions for the Chartis policy is broken so I can't see what they define as residency.

Isabulle · Post by **Isabulle** » Thu, 25 Nov 2010 2:13 pm

I'm looking for an insurance that would cover hospital, home nursing and dental bills in case of an accident, for example if I get run over by a car, while I'm in Singapore or elsewhere. Though I've decided to settle here, I still make a lot of short-term trips all over the region.

Most insurance seem to cover sickness as well and I think I ought to get such coverage, though it's a secondary concern for me.

Thanks for the info and the tip. I'll look it up.

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