What if I need a knee replacement?
What if I need a knee replacement in Singapore: $2,446 – $21,247 in a subsidised ward (Ward C), based on MOH Bill Size Benchmarks. Average hospital stay: 3.5 days.
Total knee replacement for severe arthritis or joint damage.
Hospital bill by ward class
- Ward C (Subsidised · 8-9 beds): $2,446 – $21,247
- Ward B2 (Subsidised · 6 beds): $1,933 – $17,527
- Ward B1 (Non-subsidised): $21,428 – $35,901
- Private (Single room): $14,998 – $76,247
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, January–December 2023. Costs are after government subsidies but before MediShield Life or private insurance.
Treatment options
- Total knee replacement (unilateral): $5,948 – $9,565 (Ward C)
- Total knee replacement (bilateral): $8,928 – $17,378 (Ward C)
- Total knee replacement with augmentation: $5,803 – $9,456 (Ward C)
- Revision total knee replacement: $10,018 – $21,247 (Ward C)
- Knee arthroscopy (diagnostic/therapeutic): $2,446 – $5,431 (Ward C)
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What if I need a knee replacement?
5:45 AM
You wake up and your knee is stiff before you've even stood up.
This has been getting worse for years. The X-rays say there's barely any cartilage left.
This has been getting worse for years. The X-rays say there's barely any cartilage left.
The orthopaedic surgeon shows you the scans. Bone on bone. Injections stopped helping months ago.
15–20
years a knee replacement typically lasts
A total knee replacement. Three to five days in hospital. Months of physiotherapy.
The surgeon replaces the damaged joint surfaces with metal and plastic components, restoring alignment and function.
Knee osteoarthritis affects around 1 in 10 Singaporeans over 60
Stairs are hard at first. Then one day, they're not.
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
Total knee replacement (unilateral)
$5,948 – $9,565
Ward C
Ward C$5,948 – $9,565
Ward B2$6,000 – $9,876
Ward B1$21,428 – $25,241
Private$26,134 – $48,590
Total knee replacement (bilateral)
$8,928 – $17,378
Ward C
Ward C$8,928 – $17,378
Ward B2$10,128 – $17,104
Ward B1$28,902 – $35,901
Private$59,256 – $76,247
Total knee replacement with augmentation
$5,803 – $9,456
Ward C
Ward C$5,803 – $9,456
Ward B2$6,015 – $10,341
Ward B1$22,950 – $27,769
Private$43,473 – $56,704
Revision total knee replacement
$10,018 – $21,247
Ward C
Ward C$10,018 – $21,247
Ward B2$10,383 – $17,527
Knee arthroscopy (diagnostic/therapeutic)
$2,446 – $5,431
Ward C
Ward C$2,446 – $5,431
Ward B2$1,933 – $4,341
Private$14,998 – $24,617
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
$21,247
in cash. That's after government subsidies but before any insurance kicks in.
Your ward, your bill
Subsidised · 8-9 beds · After subsidies, before insurance
~12 months
of HDB mortgage
~69%
of avg Medisave
~4.2 months
of median salary
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks · Data period: Jan–Dec 2023 · Compiled by Keith Teo
Make it personal
What does this mean for you?
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$
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
$2,446 – $21,247
Ward B2 · Subsidised · 6 beds
$1,933 – $17,527
Ward B1 · Non-subsidised
$21,428 – $35,901
No more subsidies below
Private · Single room
$14,998 – $76,247
up to 4x Ward C
Insurance impact
What insurance actually does
Ward C bill. The bar shows how much you still pay.
$2,446 – $21,247
No insurance. You pay the full bill out of pocket or Medisave.
Good to know
Average Medisave balance ($31,000) covers this 2x 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.