Scenario 1: You are admitted to hospital

What you can draw from:
1. Subsidies at public hospitals
How much of the cost the Government defrays depends on the class of ward. Class A and private patients don't get subsidies.

Choosing a ward class that you can afford is a start to paying your bill.

2. Medisave
This is the compulsory health-care savings account that everyone with a Central Provident Fund account has.

If you are admitted for at least eight hours in a hospital or have day surgery, you can use Medisave for:

>>Daily ward charges
>>Doctor's attendance fees
>>Operation fees
>>Charges for medical treatment, tests, medication, rehabilitative services, medical supplies and implants given during surgery

Medisave can be used for up to $450 a day, with sub-limits.

Up to $300 a day can be claimed for day surgery, depending on the type of operation.

Up to $150 a day can be claimed for psychiatric treatment.

3. MediShield and private Shield plans
MediShield is a medical insurance scheme which covers part of class B2 or C treatment costs for serious illnesses.

Anyone with a CPF account has MediShield unless he or she opted out.

If you want and can afford better services, you can upgrade to a private Shield plan with better payouts.

You can use up to $800 a year of your Medisave to pay MediShield and Shield plan premiums.

MediShield has a deductible, so you have to pay the first $1,500 for a class B2 bill, or the first $1,000 for a class C bill using Medisave or cash.

MediShield will then pay for 80 to 90per cent of the remaining amount. The rest has to come out of your pocket or Medisave.

There are limits on the amount that can claimed for each day's stay, procedures and implants.

Up to $50,000 can be claimed every year, and up to $200,000 in a lifetime.

Private Shield plans have different limits.

4. Medifund
This is a fund to help the needy who cannot pay for health care.

You can approach a medical social worker, who will assess your financial situation to see if you are eligible.

Scenario 2: You are admitted to a community hospital or hospice

1. Medisave
Up to $150 per day can be used, at a community hospital to a cap of $3,500 in a year.

Up to $50 a day can be drawn in a convalescent hospital, up to $3,000 in a year.

Up to $160 a day can be used for a hospice stay.

And up to $20 a day, not exceeding $1,500 a year, can be used for senior citizens' day care in accredited centres.

2. MediShield
If you were referred to a community hospital by your hospital, you can use MediShield to pay for it.

3. ElderShield
This CPF-linked insurance scheme provides cash payouts to the elderly who become severely disabled, to pay for step-down or home care.

Premiums are paid for with Medisave.

From Sept 30, those over 40 on the scheme will be eligible to receive $400 a month for up to six years if they become disabled.

Private insurance companies are also coming up with riders offering better coverage.

4. Medifund

Scenario 3: You need outpatient treatment

1. Medisave
It can be used for:
>>Chronic diseases: diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, stroke
(for more details, please visit: www.hpb.gov.sg/chronicdisease/)

>>Hepatitis B vaccination
>>Assisted conception procedures
>>Kidney dialysis
>>Radiotherapy or chemotherapy for cancer
>>HIV anti-retroviral drugs
>>Thalassaemia treatment
>>Immuno-suppressant drugs for organ transplant patients

For complete list, refer to http://www.moh.gov.sg/mohcorp/hcfinancing.aspx?id=324

2. MediShield

It can be used for certain costly treatments such as kidney dialysis, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

3. Medifund