Unfortunately, the intricacies of health insurance abroad are usually shunned by students; especially those planning to go overseas for their education. This however cannot be the case for Singapore. With a renowned high education level, singapore has attracted a wide range of international students. This metropolitan region of history, culture and progress is not only about getting education, but offers attractive security and health services to international students as well.
In this post, I will explain the health insurance conditions for foreign students of Singapore by utilizing PAS structure. We will address the issues of the importance of medical insurance, its specific requirements and how to provide them all in fullest range.
Problem: Why Do You Need Health Insurance as An International Student in Singapore?
There are several international students which come from countries where healthcare is either funded by the government or affordable. However, this is not the case in Singapore where medical care is privatized and therefore may be costly without proper insurance.
Medical Costs in Singapore: How Much Healthcare Is Expensive in Singapore?
Health insurance in Singapore is necessary, but even a simple appointment with a healthcare professional or a first consultation may cost significant money and patients in this country have to bear the monetary expenses. Here are some statistics:
- In Singapore, a general consultation with a private doctor will typically cost between SGD 50 and SGD 150.
- SGD 100 to 200 for a doctor’s appointment in the field of surgery.
- Depending on the level of intricacy of the operation, inpatient care, which includes surgical operations, might range into tens of thousands of dollars.
Hearing these numbers, an international student without insurance coverage might be left in shock in circumstances of sudden disease or physical injury. A delayed medical attention on a health hazard could lead students to further loss of time or resources hence health insurance acts as a precaution that protects healthcare falls out of hand.
Legal Requirements
Apart from the employment expenditure of looking for insurance coverage, international students are usually bound to obtain medical insurance against sickness in order to acquire a student pass in Singapore. Proof of sufficiency with regard to health insurance is a common requirement of most educational institutions including universities and private schools before any registration is done.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) in Singapore has emphasized that students’ healthcare is a universal basic need that cannot be compromised. Failure to secure proper insurance may negatively impact not only your health but your visa application as well.
Agitate: How the Absence of Insurance May Affect One’s Life
We now know what the potential cost of healthcare services can be. It is now time to take a look at what are the possible worst scenarios of a financial disaster that arise from not purchasing health insurance while studying in Singapore.
The Dangers of Not Getting Insurance
It is not uncommon to think that because of being young and healthy, there is a much smaller chance of inexplicably needing any serious medical attention, but that is simply not the case. High numbers of international students hold the misconception that they can simply “gamble” with their health and do without purchasing medical insurance and still never require much medical attention. This, however, is not true.
- Financial Disaster: What if you are unfortunate enough to suffer an accident that requires your admission to a hospital? In Singapore, spending a night in a private hospital can cost around SGD 3,000 to 6,000 or even higher depending on the level of care required. This is sure to put most students quite greatly behind the eight-ball.
- Restricted Access to Medical Services: In case of lack of insurance cover you may tend to avoid going to meet the doctors in times of need. This may result in health complications going unattended that may aggravate with time eventually affecting your performance while in college and also your chances of finishing the course successfully.
- Concern of Visa Obligations: Some universities have a policy that final enrollment will not be offered unless sufficient insurance is provided and this may affect the extension of the student visa. Failure to do such procedures may also jeopardize your immigration status in Singapore and lead to administrative sanctions or even removal from the country.
Sample Research: Sarah’s Case
Let’s consider Sarah, for example. Sarah was an international student in computer science at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Being young and fit, she was of the opinion that getting onto any health coverage would be a waste of money. So, Out of nowhere, Sarah had a minor car accident and required some surgical procedures on her leg. The medical cost was SGD 15,000, a lot more than she had anticipated for her entire year outside classes.
Unable to afford insurance, Sarah was forced to resort to an emergency loan with a high interest range causing her even more financial stress. This additional financial pressure shifted her concentration from her studies leading her to lag behind in her coursework. In fact, had Sarah been enrolled in even basic health insurance, her out-of-pocket expenses would have been negligible enabling her to concentrate on both her health and her academics.
Solution: Ways of Complying with as Well as Understanding the Health Insurance Requirements in Singapore
As we have mentioned the importance of health insurances for foreign students, let us now have a look at how one can comply with the said requirement.
Obtaining Health Insurance Coverage in Singapore
Most universities and educational institutions have set health insurance coverage, and or, policies on the same for all enrolled students. While it is vital that students check with their respective schools on what is required, here are some general tips to keep in mind:
- Basic Health Insurance Plan: Most universities include tuition fees which cover basic health insurance in their estimated costs in which case, basic health insurance would be made available. For instance, both NUS and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have a provision of basic coverage which incorporates hospitalization and surgery within their basic student insurance plan.
- Supplementary Insurance: Though the basic plans provide the most basic requirements for medical needs, there are some restrictions. To gain access to other comprehensive benefits such as outpatient visits, dental services or maternity care, it may be necessary for one to purchase a supplementary health insurance policy from a private provider.
- Personal Accident Insurance: A majority of schools provide personal accident insurance, which handles medical coverage costs for accidental injuries. But it is advisable to crosscheck such coverage against specific activities that one participates in (like sports, or laboratory work) which might constitute more risk exposure.
Coverage Requirements
The specific coverage required may depend on the school and the length of study program. Nonetheless, the following insurances can be taken as the basic categories for selection of any insurance plan:
- Hospitalization and Surgery: Coverage for being admitted to a hospital room due to illness, surgical operations, and other treatments forms the most important part of any health insurance plan. Always seek a coverage that takes care of most if not all your hospitalization expenses.
- Outpatient Care: There are certain plans that provide some benefits for outpatient services like visits to the general practitioners and specialists. If you are planning to see any doctors for general routine check-up, make sure this is covered.
- Mental Health Services: Moving abroad and studying in a different country can prove to be a bit difficult in regard to mental health and peacefulness for an international student. It is wise to have a mental health plan which covers counseling and therapy services which can go a long way in helping you when you are in need as an international student.
- Dental and Optical Care: These are usually add-ons, but if you require glasses or have dental work done regularly, it will be advantageous to have dental or optic coverage.
- Pre-Existing Conditions: When purchasing insurance, if there are pre-existing medical conditions it is important to reveal this fact. Some plans restrict coverage for certain treatments on the basis of pre-existing conditions, therefore, finding a health plan with such kind of coverage is paramount.
University-Specific Requirements
For instance, focusing on Singaporean universities, let’s describe what are the demands of health insurance in some of the most distinguished institutions in the country.
- National University of Singapore (NUS): In terms of healthcare, NUS has made a policy that all international students pursuing their studies on a full-time basis will receive compulsory medical insurance coverage. This insurance covers hospitalization, surgery, and personal accident insurance. However, in a normal case, outpatient services are not provided, and so it is advisable to add more if necessary.
- Nanyang Technological University (NTU): Yet another requirement for full-time international students at Nanyang Technological University is the procurement of a student insurance scheme. This coverage includes accommodation expenses and operational procedures as well as personal accident cover. Limited outpatient services mean that improvement patients can know who does more by becoming a member of private insurance companies.
- Singapore Management University (SMU): A fundamental medical insurance package is available to students as part of SMU’s tuition fee packages. It also includes coverage for hospitalization and other emergency medical services, but outpatient treatment is somewhat restricted. Other than that, students may want to look for other private insurers to obtain outpatient specialty services.
Choosing the Right Health Insurance Plan
When choosing your health insurance plan, think about the following steps:
- Check Your School’s Coverage: Call or visit your university’s website to confirm the provision of health insurance; for instance, look into the plans that the school has provided to its members. Are there enough to meet your expectations, or will you be looking for more? To access membership in group plans, schools typically send out brochures that describe the benefits available. To ensure that all your group members understand the insurance policies, they can either send the brochures out before the members join the group or post them on the school website.
- Evaluate Your Personal Health Needs: Are there any medical problems that you still have? Are you expecting to see a physician on numerous occasions? To address these situations, it is necessary to develop self management. At this stage, you will help yourself avoid high out of pocket expenses because you do know some of the history of your health.
- Compare Private Insurers: In case you have an insurance cover at school, which is not enough to meet your requirements, look for additional policies with private insurers. They should be familiar with the insurance of international students. AIA, NTUC Income, and Prudential are some of the widely available insurance companies in Singapore.
- Look for Cost-Effective Options: There is quite a difference between health insurance premiums. The most expensive is not recommended, but find coverage sufficient to prevent the risk of huge medical bills. See that you stay within your means, both in the amount of the coverage and your cost requirements.
- Understand the Fine Print: With regards to the policies, try to go through the exclusions and limitations of every policy in detail. Some policies may have an exclusion for certain conditions or treatments, and other policies may place restrictions on how claims are handled.
Conclusion: Safeguard Yourself with the Appropriate Health Insurance Policy
The context of health insurance should not merely be viewed as a formality on the part of foreign students studying in Singapore—this is also a major investment towards one’s health and finances. With high medical expenses and stringent visa obligations, obtaining the appropriate health insurance is of utmost importance for a stress-free academic experience.
An exploration of the particular health insurance obligation as outlined through your institution as well as the healthcare system in Singapore will go a long way in assisting one to pick a fitting plan. As a rule of thumb, begin this process as early as possible so that there will be no disappointments or time wastage when first touching down to Singapore.
Do not allow unanticipated medical costs interfere with your educational pursuit. Act up, get your health insurance right and sit back and concentrate on what’s important for why you landed up in Singapore, to study hard, and to make the most of your life as an international student in an international city like Singapore.