Health Screening Costs Singapore 2026: CHAS, Healthier SG & What You Actually Pay

Preventive health screening in Singapore is significantly subsidised — but only if you know which programmes to use and which clinics to visit. Pay full private rates when you could be paying $5 or less, and you are leaving real money on the table. Here is how the system works.

Screen for Life (SFL): The Core Subsidised Programme

Screen for Life is MOH's national programme covering the screenings Singaporeans are most likely to benefit from. It runs through polyclinics and participating CHAS GP clinics.

What SFL Covers

Screening	Who It Is For	How Often
Diabetes (fasting blood glucose or HbA1c)	All adults 40+; some groups from 18+	Every 1–3 years
Hypertension (blood pressure)	All adults 18+	Every 1–3 years
Lipids (cholesterol)	All adults 40+	Every 1–3 years
Colorectal cancer (FIT test)	Adults 50–75	Annually
Cervical cancer (Pap smear or HPV test)	Women 25–69	Every 3–5 years
Breast cancer (mammogram)	Women 50–69	Every 2 years

SFL does not cover everything — it targets the conditions with the highest burden of disease in Singapore. For more comprehensive panels (liver function, thyroid, kidney function), you will need to pay out of pocket or visit a private provider.

SFL Subsidised Rates

Under Healthier SG enrolment, subsidised SFL screening rates for Singapore Citizens are approximately:

• Polyclinic: From $5 per screen (diabetes, hypertension, lipids together)
• CHAS GP clinic (enrolled): From $5 for Blue/Orange CHAS cardholders; higher for non-CHAS

Permanent Residents pay slightly higher co-payments than Citizens. Check MOH's website for the current co-payment table — rates are subject to periodic revision.

Healthier SG: How It Changes the Equation

Healthier SG launched in 2023 and fundamentally changed how preventive care is subsidised. The key mechanic: you enrol with a single regular GP (or polyclinic), and that becomes your primary care home.

What Enrolment Gets You

• Subsidised SFL screenings at your enrolled clinic
• A health plan developed with your enrolled doctor
• Access to recommended vaccinations under the National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS) at reduced or no cost
• Priority reminders for due screenings through the HealthHub app

How to Enrol

1. Download the HealthHub app or visit your preferred GP/polyclinic
2. Select a Healthier SG-enrolled clinic as your primary care home
3. Book your first health plan consultation — the first one is fully subsidised for eligible residents

You are not locked in permanently. You can change your enrolled clinic once per year.

CHAS Cards and What Each Tier Covers

CHAS subsidies apply at participating GP and dental clinics island-wide, not just polyclinics.

CHAS Tier	Typical Household Income	Subsidy Level
Blue	Per capita monthly income $1,500 and below	Highest — significant subsidies on GP visits, chronic disease management, SFL
Orange	Per capita monthly income $1,501–$2,800	Mid-tier — partial subsidies on similar services
Green	Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation seniors	Targeted at older Singaporeans, covers GP, dental, SFL

CHAS subsidies cover both acute GP visits and chronic disease management. For SFL screenings specifically, CHAS Blue and Orange cardholders at CHAS-enrolled clinics pay the lowest co-payments.

Foreigners and those above the income threshold are not eligible for CHAS. They pay standard GP rates.

What Screenings Cost Without Subsidies

If you visit a private GP, private specialist, or private clinic without SFL subsidies, expect to pay significantly more. These are approximate market rate ranges — prices vary by clinic, location, and provider.

Screening Type	Approximate Private Cost (SGD)
Basic health screen (BP, BMI, blood glucose, cholesterol)	$80–$150
Comprehensive health screen (organ function panels, full blood count, cancer markers)	$200–$600+
Mammogram (2D) at a private radiology centre	$150–$250
Pap smear or HPV test at private GP	$50–$120
Colorectal FIT test at private clinic	$15–$40
Colonoscopy (private hospital, day surgery)	$1,500–$3,000

These are approximate ranges only — actual costs vary. Always ask for a fee estimate before booking a private health screen.

Private hospitals often offer packaged health screening programmes with multiple tests bundled. These can be cost-effective if you want more comprehensive panels than SFL covers, but they are not subsidised.

Using MediSave for Approved Screenings

For Singaporeans aged 60 and above, Flexi-MediSave allows up to $200 per year (per account) to be withdrawn for approved outpatient treatments including some screenings. Spouses can also authorise each other's MediSave use.

For most working-age adults doing SFL screenings at polyclinics or CHAS clinics, the subsidised cost is low enough that using MediSave adds administrative overhead with little financial benefit. It is more relevant when visiting private providers.

Polyclinic vs Private GP: Choosing Where to Screen

Factor	Polyclinic	Private CHAS GP	Private Non-CHAS GP
SFL subsidies available	Yes	Yes (if enrolled)	No
Healthier SG enrolment	Yes	Yes	No
Waiting time	Often longer	Usually shorter	Shortest
Panel tests available	Standard	Standard	Can be customised
Specialist referral pathway	Public hospital (subsidised)	Public or private	Private (higher cost)

For routine SFL screenings, a polyclinic or enrolled CHAS GP is the most cost-effective option. If you prefer shorter waits and have flexibility on cost, an enrolled CHAS GP delivers similar subsidies with typically shorter queues.

What Healthier SG Does Not Cover

It is worth being clear on the gaps:

• Specialist consultations are not subsidised through Healthier SG — you need a referral to access subsidised specialist care at public hospitals
• Non-SFL tests (e.g., thyroid function, full liver panel, PSA for prostate cancer outside approved protocols) are not covered
• Dental screening is not part of SFL — dental CHAS subsidies are separate
• Mental health screening in a structured preventive programme is not yet part of SFL, though polyclinics offer mental health services

For anything outside the SFL list, you are generally paying out of pocket at market rates unless your doctor flags a specific clinical need for a subsidised referral.

Practical Steps to Pay the Least for Screening

1. Enrol in Healthier SG through the HealthHub app or at your preferred clinic. This is the single most impactful step.
2. Check your CHAS status — eligible Singaporeans who have not applied should do so via the CHAS website.
3. Use HealthHub to track your due screenings — it shows which SFL screens you are due for and when.
4. Book SFL screenings at your enrolled clinic to access the lowest co-payments.
5. Do not pay private rates for standard screenings unless speed or convenience is the priority and you have decided the cost is acceptable.

The subsidised screening infrastructure in Singapore is genuinely good. The main barrier is awareness — many residents simply do not know they qualify for near-zero-cost screenings that could catch serious conditions early.