MediSave Singapore 2026: What You Can Withdraw and What It Actually Covers

MediSave is the CPF account most Singaporeans interact with the most — yet it's also the one with the most misconceptions. People assume it works like a debit card for any medical bill. It does not. Understanding what MediSave actually covers, and what it cannot pay for, saves you from nasty surprises at the hospital cashier.

How MediSave Is Funded

MediSave is one of the three CPF accounts — Ordinary (OA), Special (SA, now largely transitioned), and Medisave (MA). A portion of every CPF contribution goes directly into your MA based on your age band.

Age Band	Total CPF Contribution Rate	Allocation to MediSave
35 and below	37% (employee + employer)	8% of wage
35–45	37%	9% of wage
45–50	37%	10% of wage
50–55	37%	11.5% of wage
55–60	31%	10.5% of wage
60–65	20%	8.5% of wage
65–70	15%	8.5% of wage
Above 70	10%	7.5% of wage

Allocation amounts above are approximate percentages of your gross wage up to the Ordinary Wage ceiling ($8,000/month from January 2026). Check CPF Board's official allocation tables for exact figures by age.

The Basic Healthcare Sum (BHS)

Your MediSave Account does not grow without limit. Once it hits the Basic Healthcare Sum (BHS), extra contributions are rerouted. For 2025, the BHS was $75,500. CPF Board adjusts it annually in line with long-term MediShield Life premium increases.

When your MA exceeds the BHS:

• If you are under 55: overflow goes to your OA
• If you are 55 and above: overflow goes to your RA (up to the Full Retirement Sum), then to OA

The BHS applies at the point of contribution, not permanently — you can still withdraw from MediSave for approved purposes even if your balance is above the BHS.

What MediSave Covers

Hospital and Day Surgery

This is where MediSave does the heavy lifting. You can use it for:

• Inpatient hospitalisation — including ward charges, doctor fees, and surgical fees — at restructured hospitals and most private hospitals
• Day surgery — procedures performed on an outpatient basis but requiring surgical intervention (e.g., cataract surgery, colonoscopy with polypectomy)
• Certain psychiatric treatments in approved hospitals

Withdrawal limits apply per patient per policy year and vary by surgery type. For general hospitalisation, the limit per day is set by CPF and depends on the type of ward and procedure. Check CPF Board's MediSave table for current limits — they are revised periodically.

Approved Outpatient Treatments

MediSave is usable for outpatient care in specific, approved situations:

• Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) — for 23 approved conditions including diabetes, hypertension, lipid disorders, asthma, and schizophrenia. A fixed withdrawal limit per year applies.
• Cancer treatments — chemotherapy and radiotherapy at approved institutions
• Renal dialysis — at approved dialysis centres
• Certain vaccinations — under the National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS), including influenza, pneumococcal, and others

Insurance Premiums

Two national insurance schemes deduct premiums automatically from MediSave:

• MediShield Life — mandatory for all Singapore Citizens and PRs. Premiums scale by age and are deducted directly from your MA each year.
• CareShield Life — mandatory for SC/PR born 1980 or later. Covers severe disability; premiums also paid from MediSave.

If you purchase an Integrated Shield Plan (IP) to top up MediShield Life, the additional IP premium can also be paid from MediSave (with limits on the rider component).

Health Screenings

Approved screenings under the Screen for Life (SFL) programme can be paid from MediSave, subject to limits. These include screening for diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers.

What MediSave Cannot Pay For

This list is where most people get tripped up:

• Standard GP visits for acute illness (cold, flu, minor injuries) — unless you are on a CDMP for an approved chronic condition
• Dental treatment — except for surgical procedures such as wisdom tooth surgery in a hospital setting. Scaling, fillings, and general dentistry are excluded.
• Cosmetic procedures — any non-medically necessary treatment
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) — not approved for MediSave withdrawal
• Over-the-counter medication — even if recommended by a doctor
• Optical expenses — glasses, contact lenses, LASIK (LASIK may qualify as a day surgery — check CPF Board's approved list)
• Long-term nursing home fees — though ElderShield and CareShield Life payouts can help offset these

MediShield Life Premium Deductions

MediShield Life premiums are automatically deducted from your MediSave Account each year. Premiums increase with age and are also subsidised for lower-income households.

Approximate annual premium ranges (before subsidies):

• Young adults (21–40): a few hundred dollars per year
• Middle-aged (41–60): rising progressively
• Seniors (above 70): can exceed $1,000+ per year

CPF Board sends an annual statement showing exactly how much was deducted. Subsidies from the government can reduce these significantly — Singaporeans with annual incomes below certain thresholds receive premium subsidies automatically.

What Happens When MediSave Exceeds the BHS

If your MA hits the BHS mid-year and your employer continues contributing to CPF, the MA-allocated portion goes elsewhere:

• Under 55: goes to OA (increasing funds available for housing loan repayments or investments)
• 55 and above: goes to RA first (up to Full Retirement Sum), then OA

This redirection is automatic. You do not need to take any action.

Practical Tips

Get on CDMP if you have a chronic condition. If you are managing diabetes, hypertension, or any of the 23 approved conditions, registering with a CDMP-approved GP means your visits and medications can draw from MediSave — up to the annual CDMP limit.

Check your MA balance before major procedures. Large surgical procedures can draw heavily on MediSave. Know your balance in advance so you are not caught short when the hospital bill comes.

Layer MediSave with MediShield Life and an IP. MediSave works best in combination. MediShield Life covers a portion of large bills; an Integrated Shield Plan covers the gap; MediSave pays the co-insurance, deductibles, and premiums. No single layer is sufficient on its own.

Use CPF Board's online tools. The CPF website has a MediSave withdrawal limit calculator for specific procedures. Use it before your surgery to understand exactly how much MediSave can cover.