Hi ,
Hope you have been well. I am reaching out with an important update that affects almost everyone with an Integrated Shield Plan (IP).
The Straits Times recently reported that six out of seven insurers in Singapore have increased IP and rider premiums for 2025, mainly due to higher claims, rising medical costs, and expanded benefits.
To help Singaporeans make better decisions, MOH also released a comparison of lifetime premiums for Private Hospital IPs:
What this shows:
- Lifetime premiums differ significantly across insurers
- Premiums rise the fastest from age 45–75
- A small annual increase compounds into a big difference over time
It’s normal to feel concerned about rising premiums, but decisions about your coverage should not be based on price alone.
Before adjusting your plan, here’s something important to consider
Some clients tell me:
“Maybe I’ll just downgrade to save money.”
Cost is important, but a recent Straits Times article highlights why it’s also important to consider timeliness of care.
A woman, Madam Tan, waited five months for a colonoscopy appointment at SGH.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/woman-turned-to-private-sector-as-she-had-to-wait-5-months-for-colonoscopy-at-sgh
Fearing cancer, she did not want to wait.
She went to private specialist Dr Desmond Wai at Mount Elizabeth Novena:
- He saw her within days
- Did the colonoscopy within the week
- The results unfortunately confirmed her suspicion — she had advanced colon cancer, which had already spread to her liver
This story isn’t meant to create fear, but it shows something crucial:
➡️ Sometimes timely access to diagnosis and treatment matters just as much as cost.
➡️ Different plans give you different pathways to care.
This is why it’s important to review not just premiums but also your coverage needs and preferred access to care.
How Shield Plan comparison has changed (2025 landscape)
With full riders largely phased out, the key comparison points now are:
In simpler terms, what matters now:
- How easy it is to cap co-payment (panel criteria, emergency situations)
- Whether co-payment can be capped even without riders
- Availability of panel specialists across private hospitals
- Whether claims-based pricing applies
- CDL and non-CDL drug coverage
- Track record of premium stability
- Long-term affordability based on your age group
These vary widely across insurers.
If you’re open, I can help you check:
- How your premiums may move in the next 5–15 years
- Whether your current rider still gives good value
- Whether your current plan still matches your real healthcare needs
- How your plan compares using MOH’s latest reference data
- Options to maintain strong coverage while managing premium increases
- Whether downgrading or adjusting coverage makes sense for your situation
If you would like me to run the numbers for you, simply reply “Review” and I’ll drop you a text.
Warm regards,
Zest
Executive Wealth Consultant
Infinity Financial Advisory
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