What if I need pain management injections?
What if I need pain management injections in Singapore: $625 – $6,607 in a subsidised ward (Ward C), based on MOH Bill Size Benchmarks. Average hospital stay: 3 days.
Interventional pain management procedures for chronic pain.
Hospital bill by ward class
- Ward C (Subsidised · 8-9 beds): $625 – $6,607
- Ward B2 (Subsidised · 6 beds): $593 – $6,686
- Ward B1 (Non-subsidised): $5,345 – $10,598
- Private (Single room): $544 – $32,043
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, January–December 2023. Costs are after government subsidies but before MediShield Life or private insurance.
Treatment options
- Nerve root block (lumbar/thoracic, 1 level): $1,697 – $3,602 (Ward C)
- Nerve root block (lumbar/thoracic, >1 level): $1,744 – $4,660 (Ward C)
- Facet joint radiofrequency (more than 3):
- Dorsal root ganglion block (1-2): $1,179 – $3,140 (Ward C)
- Dorsal root ganglion radiofrequency (>2):
- Peripheral nerve block (up to 2): $2,166 – $5,243 (Ward C)
- Peripheral nerve block (>2): $2,683 – $5,135 (Ward C)
- Spinal epidural injection: $2,327 – $6,251 (Ward C)
- Spinal intrathecal injection: $2,483 – $6,607 (Ward C)
- Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation:
- Sympathectomy:
- Examination under anaesthesia: $625 – $1,437 (Ward C)
- Ulnar nerve transposition: $1,315 – $4,052 (Ward B2)
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What if I need pain management injections?
11:00 AM
You've tried everything. Physio, medication, rest.
The pain is still there every day and it's changing how you live.
The pain is still there every day and it's changing how you live.
A pain specialist reviews your scans and recommends a targeted injection.
60–80%
of patients get significant relief from nerve block injections
A procedure room. Imaging guidance. A needle placed precisely.
Some relief is immediate. The full effect builds over days.
Some relief is immediate. The full effect builds over days.
Pain injections include epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, facet joint injections, and radiofrequency ablation — used for back, nerve, and joint pain that doesn't respond to other treatment.
You remember what it felt like to move without bracing yourself.
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
Nerve root block (lumbar/thoracic, 1 level)
$1,697 – $3,602
Ward C
Ward C$1,697 – $3,602
Ward B2$799 – $3,938
Private$2,162 – $3,028
Nerve root block (lumbar/thoracic, >1 level)
$1,744 – $4,660
Ward C
Ward C$1,744 – $4,660
Ward B2$2,428 – $4,461
Facet joint radiofrequency (more than 3)
$17,967 – $22,061
Private
Private$17,967 – $22,061
Dorsal root ganglion block (1-2)
$1,179 – $3,140
Ward C
Ward C$1,179 – $3,140
Dorsal root ganglion radiofrequency (>2)
$15,630 – $17,788
Private
Private$15,630 – $17,788
Peripheral nerve block (up to 2)
$2,166 – $5,243
Ward C
Ward C$2,166 – $5,243
Private$544 – $1,929
Peripheral nerve block (>2)
$2,683 – $5,135
Ward C
Ward C$2,683 – $5,135
Spinal epidural injection
$2,327 – $6,251
Ward C
Ward C$2,327 – $6,251
Ward B2$593 – $4,238
Private$11,018 – $32,043
Spinal intrathecal injection
$2,483 – $6,607
Ward C
Ward C$2,483 – $6,607
Ward B2$2,228 – $6,686
Ward B1$5,345 – $10,598
Private$9,674 – $29,604
Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation
$702 – $756
Private
Private$702 – $756
Sympathectomy
$26,251 – $29,759
Private
Private$26,251 – $29,759
Examination under anaesthesia
$625 – $1,437
Ward C
Ward C$625 – $1,437
Ward B2$678 – $2,384
Private$1,085 – $3,454
Ulnar nerve transposition
$1,315 – $4,052
Ward B2
Ward B2$1,315 – $4,052
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
$6,607
in cash. That's after government subsidies but before any insurance kicks in.
Your ward, your bill
Subsidised · 8-9 beds · After subsidies, before insurance
~4 months
of HDB mortgage
~21%
of avg Medisave
~1.3 months
of median salary
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks · Data period: Jan–Dec 2023 · Compiled by Keith Teo
Make it personal
What does this mean for you?
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$
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
$625 – $6,607
Ward B2 · Subsidised · 6 beds
$593 – $6,686
Ward B1 · Non-subsidised
$5,345 – $10,598
No more subsidies below
Private · Single room
$544 – $32,043
up to 5x Ward C
Insurance impact
What insurance actually does
Ward C bill. The bar shows how much you still pay.
$625 – $6,607
No insurance. You pay the full bill out of pocket or Medisave.
Good to know
Average Medisave balance ($31,000) covers this 5x 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.