Why Should Children Have Health Insurance in Singapore
Health insurance coverage is crucial for securing children’s well-being, as it provides access to quality healthcare—from preventive care to treatment of routine illnesses—and financial protection for parents when covering their children’s hospital bills.
In this Pacific Prime Singapore article, we will discuss the reasons why health insurance for children is important, the key benefits of the coverage, and fundamental factors to consider when choosing a suitable plan.
Why Health Insurance Is Important for Children in Singapore
Children with health insurance are proven to receive better quality of healthcare, including preventive measures like mandatory vaccinations, while children who lack health insurance coverage are often associated with delays in needed healthcare and poorer health outcomes.
For children in Singapore, international health insurance is highly recommended, as it provides worldwide coverage for various medical expenses, including inpatient and outpatient treatments, accidents, illnesses, and preventive care such as vaccinations and checkups.
The following section further expands on why health insurance is essential for children in Singapore.
Common Childhood Illnesses and Injuries
Children are naturally vulnerable to illness and injuries, meaning they require more specialized and attentive care.
As their immunization and other physical features are still developing, children are more susceptible to illnesses compared to adults. According to Health Hub, the following are the ten most common pediatric medical conditions in Singapore:
- Common cold
- Bronchitis and bronchiolitis
- Stomach flu (Gastroenteritis)
- Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD)
- Febrile seizures
- Chickenpox
- Eczema
- Asthma
- Allergic rhinitis (Allergies)
- Constipation
While colds and constipation are some of the least worrying health concerns for children, others, like bronchitis and gastroenteritis, are severe conditions that often require immediate medical attention.
In addition, while physical activity supports healthy development, it increases the risk of injuries. Common incidents, including falls, burns, scalds, and cycling accidents, can lead to unexpected medical expenses, making health insurance a smart way to cover your children’s healthcare costs.
Preventive Care and Regular Checkups
Having comprehensive health insurance helps ensure that children have access to regular checkups and essential preventive care, including the recommended vaccinations for preventable diseases, according to the National Childhood Immunization Schedule.
This helps protect kids from many common and serious illnesses and supports healthy development and well-being.
High Medical Costs
Healthcare costs for children in Singapore can be several hundred dollars for routine visits, thousands for hospitalizations, and significantly more for complications or intensive care.
For example, accident and emergency consultations cost around SGD $160 (USD $125) per visit, while specialist consultations range from SGD $175 to $220 (USD $135–$170). Beyond direct medical costs, there are also vaccinations, regular health screenings, and dental care, which can add up quickly.
Medical expenses are especially high for expat children, as they are not eligible for government healthcare subsidies.
Access to Top Hospitals
With comprehensive health insurance, parents and children can choose high-quality private hospitals in Singapore and worldwide with skilled doctors and personalized services without worrying about high out-of-pocket costs.
Peace of Mind for Parents
Having comprehensive health insurance gives parents the confidence to seek the best possible care whenever needed. It reduces the financial stress and allows families to focus on their children’s health rather than the cost of medical care.
Key Benefits of Child Health Coverage in Singapore
While each insurance provider and plan type typically offers different coverage, international health insurance for children usually covers the following benefits:
- Comprehensive medical coverage: It typically covers inpatient and outpatient treatments, including doctor visits, specialist consultations, surgeries, and diagnostic tests.
- Vaccinations and preventive care: Coverage often includes necessary vaccinations and routine check-ups, which are critical for children’s health and development.
- Emergency and accident care: Coverage for emergency treatments resulting from accidents or sudden illnesses, including physical therapy and rehabilitation, is included.
- Prescription medications: Medications prescribed during treatments and ongoing care are also covered.
- Dental and orthodontic care: Some plans include access to dental services, orthodontics, and vision care tailored for children.
- Cashless access: Some insurers offer direct billing with a wide network of hospitals and clinics globally, facilitating easy access to care without upfront payments.
Newborn Coverage
Many international health insurance plans allow policyholders to add their newborns as dependents under their family insurance plan after birth. Here are the key points about applying for newborn coverage:
- Notification timeframe: Most insurers require you to notify them and formally add the newborn within a specific timeframe, commonly within 30 days or up to 90 days after birth, to ensure coverage from the date of birth without waiting periods.
- Medical underwriting: In some cases, medical underwriting for the newborn may be required.
- Coverage scope: As a dependent, your newborn will be covered for healthcare needs similar to other members on the plan, including hospitalizations and doctor visits, and preventive care for children such as vaccinations and routine check-ups.
- Family discount: Many insurers offer family discounts when insuring three or more members under the same plan.
Alternatively, you can secure standalone newborn health insurance before your child is born.
Common Policy Exclusions
Insurance plans often come with limitations, such as exclusions for non-essential procedures and pre-existing conditions. Understanding what your child’s policy doesn’t cover is essential to avoid surprises when seeking care.
For example, coverage may not include routine vitamins, dietary supplements, or standard eye exams for common vision issues like myopia or hyperopia. When it comes to pre-existing conditions, insurers typically take one of two approaches:
- Exclusion: The condition is not covered at all, meaning any related future treatment or care must be paid out of pocket.
- Coverage with loading: The condition is included in the policy, but the premium is adjusted to reflect the increased risk.
How to Choose the Right Plan for Your Children
Choosing the right insurance coverage for your kids in Singapore requires a careful review of your children’s healthcare needs and finances. Here is a practical guide on how to make an informed choice for your child’s health coverage.
1. Evaluate Your Child’s Healthcare Needs
Consider whether your child is prone to common illnesses or allergies or if there’s a family history of serious health conditions. Inherited conditions like diabetes, asthma, or hemophilia may require more specialized care and, hence, a higher level of coverage.
2. Explore Your Options
While leading insurance providers in Singapore offer a variety of international health insurance plans for children with varying benefits, your budget plays an important role in determining the most suitable options.
Generally, higher coverage comes with a higher premium. However, some plans offer deductibles and coinsurance options to help reduce premiums.
3. Compare Plans Benefits and Limits
Taking time to compare plans can help you make the most of your budget. Pay close attention to the following benefits, as they can vary between plans:
- Annual and lifetime limits
- Hospitalizations (inpatient care, diagnostic tests, room charges, surgical procedures, medications, etc.)
- Outpatient treatments
- Pediatric checkups
- Vaccinations
- Congenital diseases
- Waiting periods
This is to ensure that the coverage aligns with your children’s healthcare needs while staying within your budget, as the right plan should strike a good balance between your budget and needs.
Our online tool helps you quickly compare plans from different insurance providers in Singapore.
4. Start Early
Starting health insurance coverage early helps avoid exclusions for pre-existing conditions and may lower premiums, especially if coverage begins before the age of two.
Why Expat Families Should Prioritize Coverage
International health insurance is especially important for expat children living in Singapore, as their families face unique challenges compared to locals—including no access to government subsidies, high private healthcare costs, and navigating an unfamiliar system.
It also provides the added benefit of worldwide coverage, offering peace of mind both in Singapore and abroad.
Lack of Government Subsidies in Singapore
Expats are not eligible for Medishield Life and Medisave, which are healthcare subsidies from the government available only to Singapore citizens and permanent residents.
This means foreign families must pay the full cost of public healthcare services, which can quickly add up, especially for pediatric care or emergencies.
High Cost of Private Facilities in Singapore
Many expats in Singapore prefer private hospitals due to shorter wait times, more personalized service, and English-speaking staff. However, care at these facilities can be costly without insurance.
Navigating Unfamiliar Healthcare System
Relocating to a new country comes with many adjustments, and understanding how the local healthcare system works can be challenging.
A quality insurance coverage can provide excellent customer support, from helping expat parents find clinics that are child-friendly to providing clearer billing procedures and emergency protocols.
International Coverage Beyond Singapore
One of the key advantages of international health insurance is its worldwide protection. Expat children can maintain their coverage across borders when traveling to their home country, relocating, or on holiday. This ensures continuity of care and access to medical treatment globally.
Need a Health Insurance Quote for Your Child?
Aside from offering extra protection against potentially expensive medical costs, securing a comprehensive health insurance policy for your child gives you invaluable peace of mind, knowing they have access to quality care in Singapore.
Whether you’re seeking international health insurance, family coverage for your child, or maternity insurance for starting a family, Pacific Prime Singapore can help you find the right plan to suit your budget and needs.
With 25 years of experience as a trusted insurance brokerage, we provide value-added services, such as plan comparisons, claim support, and policy renewals, to our international clients.
Contact us today for a free price quote and impartial advice.
Jantra curates and reports on the results of Pacific Prime’s monthly newsletters, as well as manages Pacific Prime’s Deputy Global CEO’s LinkedIn posts. Complemented by her background in business writing, Jantra’s passion for health, insurance, and employee benefits helps her create engaging content – no matter how complex the subject is.
Growing up as a third-culture kid has given her a multicultural perspective that helps her relate to expats and their families while 8 years of working remotely have given her unique insight into hybrid work arrangements and enthusiasm for employee benefits.
