What if I break my hip?
What if I break my hip in Singapore: $1,156 – $9,725 in a subsidised ward (Ward C), based on MOH Bill Size Benchmarks. Average hospital stay: 12.7 days.
Hip fracture requiring surgery, common in elderly patients after falls.
Hospital bill by ward class
- Ward C (Subsidised · 8-9 beds): $1,156 – $9,725
- Ward B2 (Subsidised · 6 beds): $781 – $11,139
- Ward B1 (Non-subsidised): $14,138 – $28,505
- Private (Single room): $31,717 – $62,257
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, January–December 2023. Costs are after government subsidies but before MediShield Life or private insurance.
Treatment options
- Fracture of neck of femur (with complications): $2,121 – $5,579 (Ward C)
- Fracture of neck of femur (without complications): $1,156 – $2,170 (Ward C)
- Hip hemi-arthroplasty: $5,074 – $8,635 (Ward C)
- Hip fracture ORIF: $4,784 – $7,419 (Ward C)
- Femur shaft fracture nailing: $4,792 – $9,725 (Ward C)
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What if I break my hip?
7:03 AM
One second you're standing. The next, the floor.
Your hip won't take any weight. Something is very wrong.
Your hip won't take any weight. Something is very wrong.
An ambulance. An X-ray. A fracture — the kind that needs surgery, not just rest.
1 in 2
hip fracture patients over 65 never fully regain their previous mobility
Surgery to pin the bone, or replace the joint entirely. Then physiotherapy — weeks of it.
Treatment depends on which part of the hip broke and how badly. Some fractures are fixed with metal rods or screws; others need a partial or total hip replacement.
Hip fractures are a leading cause of loss of independence in older Singaporeans
Weeks in hospital. Months to walk properly again.
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
Fracture of neck of femur (with complications)
$2,121 – $5,579
Ward C
Ward C$2,121 – $5,579
Ward B2$2,936 – $5,948
Fracture of neck of femur (without complications)
$1,156 – $2,170
Ward C
Ward C$1,156 – $2,170
Ward B2$781 – $3,115
Hip hemi-arthroplasty
$5,074 – $8,635
Ward C
Ward C$5,074 – $8,635
Ward B2$5,351 – $9,928
Ward B1$18,909 – $27,030
Private$35,328 – $58,774
Hip fracture ORIF
$4,784 – $7,419
Ward C
Ward C$4,784 – $7,419
Ward B2$4,874 – $10,346
Femur shaft fracture nailing
$4,792 – $9,725
Ward C
Ward C$4,792 – $9,725
Ward B2$4,956 – $11,139
Ward B1$14,138 – $28,505
Private$31,717 – $62,257
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
$9,725
in cash. That's after government subsidies but before any insurance kicks in.
Your ward, your bill
Subsidised · 8-9 beds · After subsidies, before insurance
~5 months
of HDB mortgage
~31%
of avg Medisave
~1.9 months
of median salary
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks · Data period: Jan–Dec 2023 · Compiled by Keith Teo
Make it personal
What does this mean for you?
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$
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
$1,156 – $9,725
Ward B2 · Subsidised · 6 beds
$781 – $11,139
Ward B1 · Non-subsidised
$14,138 – $28,505
No more subsidies below
Private · Single room
$31,717 – $62,257
up to 6x Ward C
Insurance impact
What insurance actually does
Ward C bill. The bar shows how much you still pay.
$1,156 – $9,725
No insurance. You pay the full bill out of pocket or Medisave.
Good to know
Average Medisave balance ($31,000) covers this 3x 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.
PhysiotherapyMobility aidsPain medicationOccupational therapyFollow-up X-rays
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
Check your fall risk
Most fractures in Singapore happen from falls. Remove tripping hazards at home, especially for elderly family members.
2
Budget for physiotherapy
Recovery from bone and joint surgery typically requires 2-4 months of regular physio sessions at $50-$150 each.
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.