What if I get Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis?
What if I get Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis in Singapore: $587 – $2,923 in a subsidised ward (Ward C), based on MOH Bill Size Benchmarks. Average hospital stay: 2.2 days.
Inflammatory bowel disease requiring hospitalisation.
Hospital bill by ward class
- Ward C (Subsidised · 8-9 beds): $587 – $2,923
- Ward B2 (Subsidised · 6 beds): $483 – $2,598
- Ward B1 (Non-subsidised): $1,466 – $3,419
- Private (Single room): $6,262 – $14,137
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, January–December 2023. Costs are after government subsidies but before MediShield Life or private insurance.
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What if I get Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis?
2:45 AM
Cramping that wakes you from sleep. A sprint to the toilet — blood in the bowl.
This isn't food poisoning. It's been happening for months.
This isn't food poisoning. It's been happening for months.
A colonoscopy confirms the diagnosis. Chronic. Lifelong. Manageable.
50%
of IBD patients need hospitalisation at least once
Medication to bring the inflammation under control.
During a flare, admission for IV steroids or biologics.
During a flare, admission for IV steroids or biologics.
Treatment includes aminosalicylates, steroids, immunosuppressants, or newer biologic drugs. Surgery is needed in some cases.
IBD rates in Singapore have been rising over the past two decades
You learn your triggers. You find a rhythm.
Then the bill arrives.
Then the bill arrives.
Your hospital bill
$0
Ward C (subsidised) · worst case · after subsidies, before insurance
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, Jan–Dec 2023
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, Jan–Dec 2023
But what does this actually mean for your wallet?
The bottom line
For this scenario, you need at least
$2,923
in cash. That's after government subsidies but before any insurance kicks in.
Your ward, your bill
Subsidised · 8-9 beds · After subsidies, before insurance
~2 months
of HDB mortgage
~9%
of avg Medisave
~0.6 months
of median salary
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks · Data period: Jan–Dec 2023 · Compiled by Keith Teo
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What does this mean for you?
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$
Ward class matters
Where you stay changes everything
Same condition. The ward determines the bill.
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, Jan–Dec 2023
Ward C · Subsidised · 8-9 beds
$587 – $2,923
Ward B2 · Subsidised · 6 beds
$483 – $2,598
Ward B1 · Non-subsidised
$1,466 – $3,419
No more subsidies below
Private · Single room
$6,262 – $14,137
up to 5x Ward C
Insurance impact
What insurance actually does
Ward C bill. The bar shows how much you still pay.
$587 – $2,923
No insurance. You pay the full bill out of pocket or Medisave.
Good to know
Average Medisave balance ($31,000) covers this 11x in Ward C
Beyond the hospital bill
These costs are just the hospital stay
After discharge, expect ongoing costs that for many patients exceed the initial bill.
Dietary managementOngoing medicationFollow-up endoscopiesSpecialist reviewsLab monitoring
And these costs keep rising. Healthcare costs are up 12% since 2020, outpacing general inflation.
If the worst happens
When someone dies in Singapore,
banks freeze every account.
Your family can't withdraw a single dollar until the legal process is complete. Most Singaporeans aren't prepared.
56%
of Singaporean adults don't have a will
40%
of under-65s have no CPF nomination
With a will
2-6 months to settle. Funeral, lawyer, and court fees combined.
~S$6,400
No will
6-12+ months to settle. Legal fees alone are S$10K-$20K. Contested estates reach S$93,000+.
S$10K–$93K+
While your family waits, mortgage payments, insurance premiums, and utility bills keep coming out of their own pockets.
What to do now
5 things to check today
1
Don't ignore symptoms
Persistent stomach pain, blood in stool, or unexplained weight loss warrant a doctor visit, not a Google search.
2
Consider a colonoscopy
If you're 50+, regular colonoscopy screening catches problems early when they're cheaper and easier to treat.
3
Check what your insurance actually covers
Log into CPF, go to My Healthcare, check MediShield Life or ISP coverage. Look for your ward class limit and claim caps.
4
Know your Medisave withdrawal limits
Your Medisave balance doesn't mean that amount is available for one bill. There are per-day and per-procedure caps.
5
Write a will and make a CPF nomination
A simple will starts from S$99. CPF nomination is free at cpf.gov.sg. Without these, your family faces months of legal process and S$10K+ in fees.