What if I get a hernia?
What if I get a hernia in Singapore: $1,268 – $60,973 in a subsidised ward (Ward C), based on MOH Bill Size Benchmarks. Average hospital stay: 2.6 days.
Hernia repair surgery for inguinal, femoral, umbilical, or incisional hernias.
Hospital bill by ward class
- Ward C (Subsidised · 8-9 beds): $1,268 – $60,973
- Ward B2 (Subsidised · 6 beds): $1,260 – $4,275
- Ward B1 (Non-subsidised): $4,910 – $13,930
- Private (Single room): $6,309 – $30,318
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, January–December 2023. Costs are after government subsidies but before MediShield Life or private insurance.
Treatment options
- Inguinal/femoral hernia repair (unilateral): $1,268 – $2,749 (Ward C)
- Inguinal/femoral hernia repair (bilateral): $1,907 – $3,539 (Ward C)
- Umbilical/epigastric hernia repair: $1,631 – $3,060 (Ward C)
- Incisional/ventral hernia repair: $2,385 – $5,239 (Ward C)
- Strangulated hernia (with bowel resection): $3,524 – $8,595 (Ward C)
- Strangulated hernia (without bowel resection): $2,527 – $4,714 (Ward C)
- Children's hernia (unilateral):
- Children's hernia (bilateral): $1,471 – $60,973 (Ward C)
Scroll
What if I get a hernia?
3:15 PM
A bulge near your groin that wasn't there before. It aches when you cough or lift anything.
You've been ignoring it for two months.
You've been ignoring it for two months.
Your GP confirms it. A hernia — tissue pushing through a weak spot in the abdominal wall.
1 in 4
men will develop an inguinal hernia in their lifetime
Surgery to push the tissue back and patch the weak spot. Often done as day surgery.
Most hernias are repaired laparoscopically, using mesh to reinforce the abdominal wall. Recovery is typically one to two weeks for light activity.
Hernias don't heal on their own — surgery is the only permanent fix
No heavy lifting for six weeks. Strictly enforced.
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
Inguinal/femoral hernia repair (unilateral)
$1,268 – $2,749
Ward C
Ward C$1,268 – $2,749
Ward B2$1,260 – $2,294
Ward B1$4,910 – $7,737
Private$10,700 – $20,219
Inguinal/femoral hernia repair (bilateral)
$1,907 – $3,539
Ward C
Ward C$1,907 – $3,539
Ward B2$1,691 – $3,340
Ward B1$7,300 – $11,015
Private$21,395 – $30,318
Umbilical/epigastric hernia repair
$1,631 – $3,060
Ward C
Ward C$1,631 – $3,060
Ward B2$1,266 – $3,361
Private$13,986 – $21,006
Incisional/ventral hernia repair
$2,385 – $5,239
Ward C
Ward C$2,385 – $5,239
Ward B2$2,020 – $4,275
Ward B1$8,981 – $13,930
Private$15,120 – $29,397
Strangulated hernia (with bowel resection)
$3,524 – $8,595
Ward C
Ward C$3,524 – $8,595
Strangulated hernia (without bowel resection)
$2,527 – $4,714
Ward C
Ward C$2,527 – $4,714
Private$15,193 – $26,373
Children's hernia (unilateral)
$6,309 – $9,703
Private
Private$6,309 – $9,703
Children's hernia (bilateral)
$1,471 – $60,973
Ward C
Ward C$1,471 – $60,973
Private$10,222 – $13,299
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
$60,973
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
~34 months
of HDB mortgage
~197%
of avg Medisave
~12.2 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?
Enter your details for personalised insights. Nothing is stored or sent.
$
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
$1,268 – $60,973
Ward B2 · Subsidised · 6 beds
$1,260 – $4,275
Ward B1 · Non-subsidised
$4,910 – $13,930
No more subsidies below
Private · Single room
$6,309 – $30,318
up to 0x Ward C
Insurance impact
What insurance actually does
Ward C bill. The bar shows how much you still pay.
$1,268 – $60,973
No insurance. You pay the full bill out of pocket or Medisave.
Good to know
This could use up to 197% of your average Medisave balance ($31,000)
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.