About SeeWhatIf
SeeWhatIf helps Singaporeans understand the real cost of medical scenarios, using official hospital bill data published by the Ministry of Health.
Why this exists
Most Singaporeans have no idea what a hospital stay actually costs until the bill arrives. Insurance brochures talk about coverage limits, not real numbers. Government data exists, but it is buried in spreadsheets that few people ever read.
SeeWhatIf makes that data accessible. Pick a scenario, see the real cost range, understand how ward class, insurance, and subsidies change your bill.
Data sources
Official hospital bill data covering 918 medical and surgical procedures across all 24 public hospitals in Singapore. Includes 25th-75th percentile cost ranges by ward class (C, B2, B1, Private), average length of stay, and hospital-specific breakdowns.
Data period: January–December 2023. Last refreshed: 30 March 2026.
Open government data used for personalisation and context: life expectancy, chronic disease prevalence, age-specific mortality rates, Medisave balances, MediShield Life claims, healthcare CPI, and hospital admission trends.
Methodology
Scenario mapping
Each scenario is mapped to one or more MOH procedure codes (DRG for medical conditions, TOSP for surgical procedures). A breast cancer scenario, for example, maps to mastectomy, lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy codes.
Cost aggregation
For each scenario, we show the 25th-75th percentile bill range. This means 50% of actual patients paid within this range. Costs are inclusive of GST and after government subsidies, but before MediShield Life or private insurance.
Ward class comparison
The same treatment costs very different amounts depending on ward class. Ward C (subsidised, 8-9 beds per room) is the most affordable. Private wards can cost 3-10x more for identical medical care.
Personalisation
When you enter your age and gender, we cross-reference data.gov.sg datasets to show relevant context: age-specific risk, life expectancy, Medisave coverage, and salary equivalents. All calculations happen in your browser. Nothing is stored or sent.
What the numbers include
- Hospital accommodation and nursing care
- Doctor fees (surgeon, anaesthetist, specialist)
- Operating theatre charges
- Investigations and diagnostic tests
- Medication during the hospital stay
- Implants and prostheses (where applicable)
- Government subsidies (for Ward C and B2)
- GST
What the numbers do NOT include
- Post-discharge medication and follow-up visits
- Rehabilitation and physiotherapy
- Long-term monitoring or specialist consultations
- Private surgeon or anaesthetist fee top-ups
- MediShield Life or Integrated Shield Plan payouts
- Medisave withdrawals
- Emergency department charges before admission
Known limitations
- Historical data. Bill sizes are from January-December 2023. Healthcare costs change over time. Use these as a guide, not a quote.
- Aggregated costs. The 25th-75th percentile range means your actual bill could be lower or higher depending on complications, treatment choices, and hospital selection.
- Scenario mapping. Fun scenarios (e.g. zombie bite, durian on head) are mapped to the closest real medical procedures. The mapping is our best clinical interpretation, not a diagnosis.
- Insurance estimates. Insurance impact percentages are approximations based on typical MediShield Life and Integrated Shield Plan coverage. Your actual coverage depends on your specific policy.
- No private hospital data. MOH benchmarks cover public hospitals only. Private hospital bills are typically 2-5x higher.
Who built this
SeeWhatIf is built by Keith Teo, based in Singapore. The data is sourced entirely from official government publications. No insurance companies, financial advisors, or advertisers are involved in the content or recommendations.
If you spot an error or have a question, reach out via the contact details on keithteo.ai.
Disclaimer
SeeWhatIf is an informational tool, not a substitute for medical or financial advice. The cost estimates shown are based on historical MOH data and may not reflect your actual hospital bill. Always consult your healthcare provider for medical decisions and your insurer or financial advisor for coverage questions.