What if I get dementia?
What if I get dementia in Singapore: $574 – $6,280 in a subsidised ward (Ward C), based on MOH Bill Size Benchmarks. Average hospital stay: 8.1 days.
Dementia and degenerative nervous system disorders requiring hospitalisation.
Hospital bill by ward class
- Ward C (Subsidised · 8-9 beds): $574 – $6,280
- Ward B2 (Subsidised · 6 beds): $478 – $4,931
- Ward B1 (Non-subsidised): $1,940 – $13,190
- Private (Single room): $5,751 – $51,102
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, January–December 2023. Costs are after government subsidies but before MediShield Life or private insurance.
Treatment options
- Dementia: $1,502 – $4,805 (Ward C)
- Degenerative nervous system disorders (severe): $1,568 – $4,685 (Ward C)
- Degenerative nervous system disorders (moderate): $1,027 – $3,087 (Ward C)
- Degenerative nervous system disorders (mild): $621 – $2,961 (Ward C)
- Multiple sclerosis / cerebellar ataxia: $574 – $6,280 (Ward C)
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What if I get dementia?
2:00 PM
You drove to the market. You can't remember where you parked.
That's the third time this week.
That's the third time this week.
Your family pushes for a specialist review. The memory tests take longer than expected.
82,000
people in Singapore are living with dementia today
Diagnosis, then a care plan. Medication can slow progression, not reverse it.
Management includes cognitive assessment, cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine for Alzheimer's, and structured care coordination — often across hospitals, day centres, and home care.
Dementia prevalence in Singapore is projected to triple by 2030 as the population ages
Care is an ongoing commitment — for you and your family.
Then the bill arrives.
Then the bill arrives.
Treatment breakdown
It depends on the treatment
What they do determines the bill. Tap to see costs by ward class.
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, Jan–Dec 2023
Dementia
$1,502 – $4,805
Ward C
Ward C$1,502 – $4,805
Ward B2$1,529 – $3,996
Ward B1$3,971 – $12,158
Degenerative nervous system disorders (severe)
$1,568 – $4,685
Ward C
Ward C$1,568 – $4,685
Ward B2$1,573 – $4,708
Ward B1$5,518 – $13,190
Private$9,465 – $51,102
Degenerative nervous system disorders (moderate)
$1,027 – $3,087
Ward C
Ward C$1,027 – $3,087
Ward B2$1,106 – $3,295
Ward B1$3,342 – $8,587
Private$5,751 – $26,545
Degenerative nervous system disorders (mild)
$621 – $2,961
Ward C
Ward C$621 – $2,961
Ward B2$478 – $2,891
Ward B1$1,940 – $12,545
Private$6,949 – $20,452
Multiple sclerosis / cerebellar ataxia
$574 – $6,280
Ward C
Ward C$574 – $6,280
Ward B2$739 – $4,931
Private$11,629 – $35,522
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
$6,280
in cash. That's after government subsidies but before any insurance kicks in.
Your ward, your bill
Subsidised · 8-9 beds · After subsidies, before insurance
~3 months
of HDB mortgage
~20%
of avg Medisave
~1.3 months
of median salary
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks · Data period: Jan–Dec 2023 · Compiled by Keith Teo
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What does this mean for you?
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$
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
$574 – $6,280
Ward B2 · Subsidised · 6 beds
$478 – $4,931
Ward B1 · Non-subsidised
$1,940 – $13,190
No more subsidies below
Private · Single room
$5,751 – $51,102
up to 8x Ward C
Insurance impact
What insurance actually does
Ward C bill. The bar shows how much you still pay.
$574 – $6,280
No insurance. You pay the full bill out of pocket or Medisave.
Good to know
Average Medisave balance ($31,000) covers this 5x 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.
Psychiatric follow-upsOngoing medicationTherapy sessionsCognitive rehabilitationSupport services
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
Know the warning signs
For stroke: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 995. For mental health: persistent changes in mood, sleep, or behaviour.
2
Find the right support
IMH, CHAT (for youth), and Samaritans of Singapore (1767) offer free assessments and crisis support.
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.