Do British expats in Singapore need health insurance?
Perhaps it’s a by-product of the colonial age, or simply not being satisfied to spend their entire lives on a single island, but people in the United Kingdom seem to have a penchant for not only traveling, but living and working abroad. While there are many options when it comes to destinations for living abroad, Singapore is a top option for British expats.
In fact, in 2015 an annual index from NatWest International reported that the Lion City provided the best opportunity for Brits seeking out the best possible quality of life abroad. Another interesting point raised by the index was that the number of ‘temporary expats’ seeking work abroad had risen significantly from 2008 to 2015, and the number of ‘lifers’ making up the landscape of British expats had fallen correspondingly.
Thus, while the question of whether British expats need health insurance may seem like it should have a simple ‘yes or no’ answer, there is actually a fair amount of nuance to this question when it comes to British expats in Singapore. Here, Pacific Prime Singapore delves into the various facets of this topic, which can help Brits making a move to Singapore prepare themselves for what lies in store when it comes to covering medical costs.
Singapore healthcare for British expats
Let’s quickly cover the basics of healthcare in Singapore as it applies to British expats:
Singapore has a robust and highly effective public healthcare system providing affordable, quality medical care to most people in the city-state. A public healthcare savings and subsidy plan known as Medisave is a prominent component of said healthcare system. Doctors in public healthcare are well trained, but there exist both public and private hospitals and clinics in the city, and – as in many other countries – the private medical facilities are still regarded as having the highest quality care.
The issue to note for British expats is that they may not actually have access to Singapore’s public hospitals or healthcare programs. This is because these public offerings are only available to Singapore citizens and expatriates with Permanent Resident (PR) status. This means that new British expats to Singapore are likely to be restricted to only the city’s private healthcare institutions, and will not be able to participate in public health programs like Medisave and MediShield.
This can be a big departure for those that are used to receiving free healthcare from the United Kingdom’s own National Health Service (NHS). Speaking of which, what if a British expat wishes to return home to receive their medical care, rather than be treated in Singapore? Let’s look at one case where such a thing happened.
A case study
It was reported in early March of 2018 that a British expat couple residing in Zambia ran into an unfortunate situation when they traveled home to the UK months before their unborn child was due to be born. While in the UK, Mrs. Sophie Henley was forced to give birth to her baby early due to complications. Being tax-paying British citizens for most of their lives, the couple expected that they could receive medical care, including the birth of their child, in their home country for free. Unfortunately for them, they were incorrect in their assumption.
As it happens, Brits who are residents of countries outside of the European Economic Area are not eligible for any subsidized healthcare through the NHS when they return home for a visit (they are eligible if they move home to work). Not only that, in an effort to reduce the usage of UK hospitals by foreign nationals, any medical costs incurred are taxed at an additional 50%, meaning that expatriate Brits can expect to pay 150% of what the cost of care would normally be.
In this case, the couple had a healthy baby boy, but also had a medical bill of about GBP 60,000.
Things to consider
Seeing as how British expats living in Singapore for a considerable amount of time will not be able to return home for subsidized medical care, they would do well to ensure that they can address medical costs inside of Singapore. Of course, the best way to do this without access to public healthcare is with private health insurance. Not every Singapore health insurance policy is created equal though. There are many factors to consider when beginning your search for an appropriate insurance plan, including:
Duration of stay: Will you be staying in Singapore for weeks, months, or years? Brits with shorter stints in Singapore may be well served by a short term or travel insurance plan to address emergency medical care. However, those anticipating longer term residency in Singapore should consider obtaining a local or international health insurance policy that provides them with a full range of inpatient and outpatient care, with considerations for maternity insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, and more.
Travel habits: Expats that are jet setters, and frequently leave Singapore for either work or vacation, will likely want to consider securing an international health insurance plan instead of a local plan that only provides coverage inside of Singapore. This is because international health insurance plans enable policyholders to be reimbursed for the cost of medical care received in virtually any country, hospital, clinic, or doctor’s office around the globe.
Where to next?: Expats that may be sent to work in another country by their employers could see some real benefit in choosing a health insurance plan that is portable. This means that once you move away from Singapore, whether back to the UK or another country entirely, you will be able to maintain your existing health insurance policy through the same insurance provider. This can prevent running into issues like pre-existing conditions further down the line.
Cost: The international health insurance plans mentioned above are a great choice for expats, but generally cost a significant amount more than their local counterparts. Those that want the added benefits included in an international plan would do well to work with an insurance broker to find a plan that fits both their needs and their budget.
Finding the best insurance options for British expats
Clearly there is a lot to consider when it comes to covering medical costs for British expats in Singapore, and it can be overwhelming trying to arrive at the correct insurance solution, especially if you are just settling in to a new city.
Never fear! Pacific Prime Singapore is ready and willing to lend you a helping hand in your search for peace of mind. Simply contact us today, and one of our helpful insurance advisers can answer any Singapore healthcare or health insurance questions you may have, as well as provide you with a comparison of plans from top insurers and a price quote at zero cost to you.
Since joining Pacific Prime, Martin has become even more aware of the gap between the true value of insurance products and most people’s appreciation of it, and developed a passion for demystifying and simplifying matters, so that more people get the protection they need at a cost they can easily afford.
In his free time, Martin attends concerts of various genres, and plays the violin with piano accompaniment he pre-recorded himself or played live by his niece.
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