What if I need other ENT treatment?
What if I need other ENT treatment in Singapore: $592 – $4,435 in a subsidised ward (Ward C), based on MOH Bill Size Benchmarks. Average hospital stay: 3.2 days.
Various ear, nose, and throat procedures.
Hospital bill by ward class
- Ward C (Subsidised · 8-9 beds): $592 – $4,435
- Ward B2 (Subsidised · 6 beds): $559 – $4,456
- Ward B1 (Non-subsidised): $4,876 – $10,244
- Private (Single room): $486 – $15,734
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, January–December 2023. Costs are after government subsidies but before MediShield Life or private insurance.
Treatment options
- Nasoendoscopy (diagnostic): $1,498 – $4,435 (Ward C)
- Laryngoscopy with tumour removal: $1,097 – $2,123 (Ward C)
- Direct laryngoscopy with biopsy: $819 – $2,650 (Ward C)
- Larynx/pharynx laser treatment: $1,661 – $3,198 (Ward B2)
- Nasal cauterisation: $592 – $1,200 (Ward C)
- Nasal biopsy: $1,371 – $2,943 (Ward C)
- Nasal haematoma drainage:
- Sinus foreign body removal:
- Sinus proof puncture/lavage:
- Ear pseudocyst excision:
- Ear foreign body removal (complex):
- Ear haematoma drainage:
- Pre-auricular sinus excision:
- Ear sebaceous cyst excision:
- Myringotomy without tube:
- Transtympanic drug perfusion:
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What if I need other ENT treatment?
3:45 PM
A lump in your neck that appeared a few weeks ago. Or hearing that dropped suddenly on one side.
Your GP stops the consultation to make a referral.
Your GP stops the consultation to make a referral.
An ENT specialist runs a nasoendoscopy and orders imaging. They want to see more.
1 in 6
ENT referrals lead to a procedure or surgery
Depending on the diagnosis — a scope, a procedure under sedation, or an operation.
ENT covers a wide range, from the sinuses to the salivary glands.
ENT covers a wide range, from the sinuses to the salivary glands.
ENT procedures include sinus surgery, removal of lesions or glands, treatment of ear conditions, and in some cases, neck dissection for tumours.
The symptom that worried you is gone. You breathe easier in more than one sense.
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
Nasoendoscopy (diagnostic)
$1,498 – $4,435
Ward C
Ward C$1,498 – $4,435
Ward B2$1,564 – $4,456
Ward B1$4,876 – $10,244
Private$543 – $11,061
Laryngoscopy with tumour removal
$1,097 – $2,123
Ward C
Ward C$1,097 – $2,123
Ward B2$1,378 – $2,401
Private$10,764 – $15,734
Direct laryngoscopy with biopsy
$819 – $2,650
Ward C
Ward C$819 – $2,650
Ward B2$591 – $1,587
Private$810 – $7,753
Larynx/pharynx laser treatment
$1,661 – $3,198
Ward B2
Ward B2$1,661 – $3,198
Nasal cauterisation
$592 – $1,200
Ward C
Ward C$592 – $1,200
Ward B2$559 – $764
Private$520 – $927
Nasal biopsy
$1,371 – $2,943
Ward C
Ward C$1,371 – $2,943
Ward B2$2,528 – $3,717
Private$1,179 – $1,933
Nasal haematoma drainage
$486 – $613
Private
Private$486 – $613
Sinus foreign body removal
$904 – $1,681
Private
Private$904 – $1,681
Sinus proof puncture/lavage
$603 – $843
Private
Private$603 – $843
Ear pseudocyst excision
$5,234 – $6,586
Private
Private$5,234 – $6,586
Ear foreign body removal (complex)
$594 – $1,393
Private
Private$594 – $1,393
Ear haematoma drainage
$853 – $1,157
Private
Private$853 – $1,157
Pre-auricular sinus excision
$8,859 – $11,195
Private
Private$8,859 – $11,195
Ear sebaceous cyst excision
$915 – $2,524
Private
Private$915 – $2,524
Myringotomy without tube
$983 – $1,469
Private
Private$983 – $1,469
Transtympanic drug perfusion
$821 – $1,620
Private
Private$821 – $1,620
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
$4,435
in cash. That's after government subsidies but before any insurance kicks in.
Your ward, your bill
Subsidised · 8-9 beds · After subsidies, before insurance
~2 months
of HDB mortgage
~14%
of avg Medisave
~0.9 months
of median salary
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks · Data period: Jan–Dec 2023 · Compiled by Keith Teo
Make it personal
What does this mean for you?
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$
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
$592 – $4,435
Ward B2 · Subsidised · 6 beds
$559 – $4,456
Ward B1 · Non-subsidised
$4,876 – $10,244
No more subsidies below
Private · Single room
$486 – $15,734
up to 4x Ward C
Insurance impact
What insurance actually does
Ward C bill. The bar shows how much you still pay.
$592 – $4,435
No insurance. You pay the full bill out of pocket or Medisave.
Good to know
Average Medisave balance ($31,000) covers this 7x 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.
Wound carePhysiotherapyPain managementFollow-up imagingSpecialist reviews
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
Get a second opinion
For elective surgery, a second opinion costs $100-$300 and can save you thousands if an alternative approach exists.
2
Ask about day surgery
Many procedures that used to require overnight stays are now done as day surgery, significantly reducing the bill.
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.