What if I get kidney stones?
What if I get kidney stones in Singapore: $642 – $7,155 in a subsidised ward (Ward C), based on MOH Bill Size Benchmarks. Average hospital stay: 1.6 days.
Kidney stone treatment including shockwave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy, and percutaneous stone removal.
Hospital bill by ward class
- Ward C (Subsidised · 8-9 beds): $642 – $7,155
- Ward B2 (Subsidised · 6 beds): $711 – $4,943
- Ward B1 (Non-subsidised): $1,899 – $11,662
- Private (Single room): $4,704 – $18,514
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, January–December 2023. Costs are after government subsidies but before MediShield Life or private insurance.
Treatment options
- Urinary stones (medical): $642 – $1,759 (Ward C)
- Shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) - kidney:
- Shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) - ureter: $1,474 – $4,009 (Ward C)
- Ureteroscopy and lithotripsy: $1,042 – $3,448 (Ward C)
- Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL): $2,607 – $7,155 (Ward C)
- Flexible ureteroscopy (RIRS): $1,323 – $4,337 (Ward C)
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What if I get kidney stones?
4:20 AM
A wave of pain from your lower back, wrapping around to your stomach. You can't find a position that helps.
You've never felt anything like this.
You've never felt anything like this.
You call a cab to A&E. Painkillers. A scan. There it is — a small stone, moving the wrong way.
80
percent of kidney stones pass on their own
Yours doesn't. A procedure to break it up or remove it, depending on the size.
Options include shock wave lithotripsy to break the stone apart, or a scope passed up through the urinary tract to remove it directly.
Kidney stones affect about 1 in 11 people — and are more common in hot, humid climates
You drink two litres of water a day now. Doctor's orders.
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
Urinary stones (medical)
$642 – $1,759
Ward C
Ward C$642 – $1,759
Ward B2$711 – $1,877
Ward B1$1,899 – $5,174
Private$4,704 – $18,514
Shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) - kidney
$9,837 – $15,750
Private
Private$9,837 – $15,750
Shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) - ureter
$1,474 – $4,009
Ward C
Ward C$1,474 – $4,009
Ward B2$1,572 – $3,355
Private$8,455 – $15,725
Ureteroscopy and lithotripsy
$1,042 – $3,448
Ward C
Ward C$1,042 – $3,448
Ward B2$1,043 – $3,758
Ward B1$5,384 – $8,473
Private$12,363 – $16,644
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL)
$2,607 – $7,155
Ward C
Ward C$2,607 – $7,155
Ward B2$2,424 – $4,943
Flexible ureteroscopy (RIRS)
$1,323 – $4,337
Ward C
Ward C$1,323 – $4,337
Ward B2$1,387 – $4,560
Ward B1$9,139 – $11,662
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
$7,155
in cash. That's after government subsidies but before any insurance kicks in.
Your ward, your bill
Subsidised · 8-9 beds · After subsidies, before insurance
~4 months
of HDB mortgage
~23%
of avg Medisave
~1.4 months
of median salary
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks · Data period: Jan–Dec 2023 · Compiled by Keith Teo
Make it personal
What does this mean for you?
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$
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
$642 – $7,155
Ward B2 · Subsidised · 6 beds
$711 – $4,943
Ward B1 · Non-subsidised
$1,899 – $11,662
No more subsidies below
Private · Single room
$4,704 – $18,514
up to 3x Ward C
Insurance impact
What insurance actually does
Ward C bill. The bar shows how much you still pay.
$642 – $7,155
No insurance. You pay the full bill out of pocket or Medisave.
Good to know
Average Medisave balance ($31,000) covers this 4x 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.
Ongoing medicationLab monitoringDietary managementDialysis sessionsSpecialist 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 your chronic conditions managed
Diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease are progressive. Regular polyclinic visits and medication adherence prevent expensive hospitalisations.
2
Use CHAS subsidies
CHAS cardholders get subsidised chronic disease management at participating GP clinics. Check your eligibility.
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.