Key Takeaways
- While it is important to ensure that your Integrated Shield Plan (IP) is affordable, premiums are not the only consideration to have when choosing an IP.
- Take into consideration other factors such as coverage and service levels offered by the respective insurers.
- More information on what MediShield and Integrated Shield plans are can be found in our article here: Simplifying Singapore’s hospital insurance – All about MediShield Life and Integrated Shield plans
- Note: We do not recommend switching your integrated shield plan between insurers as your new insurer may exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions. Reach out to us here if you are unsure about your current IP coverage and would like a complimentary review.
While affordability of your Integrated Shield plan (IP) is important, it is equally important to evaluate the plan’s coverage, service standards, and suitability for your needs. In this article, we highlight other key factors to look out for when choosing an integrated shield plan.
1. Premiums
While premiums are often a key consideration for many when choosing an Integrated Shield Plan, we do not recommend opting for the cheapest option simply because of the price. This is because Integrated Shield plans are yearly renewable with premiums not guaranteed at renewal. This together with the age-banded premium pricing means that you can expect to pay higher premiums at each renewal. Moreover, premium tables for these plans are not fixed and are typically revised every few years thus there is no guarantee that the lowest priced plan now will continue to be the lowest priced plan 20 years later.
Note: Premiums to IPs were just recently revised on 1 April 2025. Read more here: New MediShield Life and Integrated Shield plans. Here is what has changed.
2. Panel doctors
Another factor to consider is the availability of your preferred doctor on the insurer’s IP panel of medical specialist. Insurers offering Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) typically have a network of healthcare providers who work with them to deliver quality and cost-effective care. This is known as the insurer’s main panel providers. IPs will usually also include an extended panel option where individuals may still enjoy key panel benefits from selected specialists who are not on their insurer’s main panel.
(Source: Ministry of Health)
Choosing to get treated on your insurer’s main or extended panel will generally allow you to receive higher coverage as compared to getting treated at non-panel providers. These include but are not limited to:
- More days of coverage for pre/post-hospitalisation treatment
- Higher policy year limit
- Capped limit on co-payment required
- Annual deductible and co-insurance required
Note that while the insurer’s panel is not guaranteed and subject to changes, this serves as an indication as to whether you would be able to visit your preferred medical practitioner and if this would be an expense covered by your IP.
3. Your course of treatment
Did you know that approximately half of policyholders with IPs and riders that cover most medical costs still choose subsidised wards or day surgery? To avoid overpaying for unnecessary coverage, we recommend choosing a plan that matches the type of coverage you need.
For example, opt for a Private Hospital IP if you anticipate using private healthcare and can manage the higher premiums needed for your IP. If not, opt for a Class A / B1 IP if you see yourself only seeking treatment at Class A / B1 wards at public hospitals.
Bear in mind that while you would be able to seek treatment at a higher-class ward than your plan covers, doing so will result in higher out-of-pocket expenses due to the application of a pro-ration factor.
(Read: MediShield Life is not for private hospital bills. Here’s why.)
4. Claims Processing Duration
Another factor to consider is the claims processing duration This shows how long each insurer takes to process integrated shield claims and serves as an indication of how long you may expect the processing time to take for your claim. Statistics of each insurer’s claims processing duration can be found on the Ministry of Health’s website.
(Source: Ministry of Health)
5. Pre-authorisation Turnaround Time
Some IP insurers may require individuals to request for a pre-authorisation for their treatments. While this could be an insurer requirement for specified benefits, it also serves to allow individuals to better understand how much they could potentially be covered for their treatment.
For example, Raffles Shield requires individuals to obtain pre-authorisation from the insurer prior to admission for their treatments to qualify under the extended panel benefit limit. This pre-authorisation is also required if individuals with Raffles Shield plans would like their co-payment cap to be the same as that of panel specialists (i.e. capped at $3,000 per policy year).
(Source: Ministry of Health)
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Read also,
- A Guide to assessing your Enhanced IncomeShield plan
- Assess your Singlife Shield plan with this one guide
- Should I downgrade my Raffles Shield plan coverage? This is what we think
Information obtained from:
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/moh-will-do-more-to-help-people-choose-the-right-ip-insurance-for-their-needs
https://www.moh.gov.sg/managing-expenses/schemes-and-subsidies/integrated-shield-plans/about-integrated-shield-plans
https://www.income.com.sg/health-insurance/enhanced-incomeshield
https://www.raffleshealthinsurance.com/products/raffles-shield/learn-more/raffles-shield-plans/
https://singlife.com/en/medical-insurance/shield
Information retrieved on 6 June 2025.
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