S1E148: Should you buy a health insurance rider, downgrade your old rider or drop it?
About this episode
The episode discusses the changes in Singapore's health insurance landscape and the implications for existing and new policyholders.
Navigating Singapore’s evolving health insurance landscape. Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. The rules for Integrated Shield Plan (IP) riders changed on Apr 1, 2026. New mandates from the Ministry of Health mean that riders that offer nearly full coverage can no longer be sold. They have been replaced by plans that require higher out-of-pocket costs in exchange for lower premiums. These new riders promote greater accountability in controlling escalating healthcare expenses. If you have an existing IP rider, you might wonder if you should "grandfather" your current plan, switch to a new one to save on premiums, or perhaps do without one? If you are just starting your healthcare journey, you need to understand why MOH is removing deductible coverage and doubling the co-payment cap from $3,000 to $6,000. In this episode, host Joyce Teo engages with a private sector surgeon and a health economist to discuss the new landscape of health insurance, how to think about your future healthcare needs, and the crucial role of personal responsibility. The guests are Dr. Tan Yia…
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