What if I get a blood clot in my lungs?
What if I get a blood clot in my lungs in Singapore: $1,192 – $15,554 in a subsidised ward (Ward C), based on MOH Bill Size Benchmarks. Average hospital stay: 9.1 days.
Pulmonary embolism (PE), a life-threatening blood clot in the lungs.
Hospital bill by ward class
- Ward C (Subsidised · 8-9 beds): $1,192 – $15,554
- Ward B2 (Subsidised · 6 beds): $1,214 – $9,568
- Ward B1 (Non-subsidised): $3,391 – $16,333
- Private (Single room): $13,501 – $24,584
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, January–December 2023. Costs are after government subsidies but before MediShield Life or private insurance.
Treatment options
- Pulmonary embolism (catastrophic): $2,172 – $5,366 (Ward C)
- Pulmonary embolism (without catastrophic complications): $1,192 – $3,164 (Ward C)
- IVC filter insertion: $4,968 – $15,554 (Ward C)
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What if I get a blood clot in my lungs?
2:15 PM
You're at your desk when the chest pain starts. Sharp. Worse when you breathe in.
Your heart is hammering for no reason you can name.
Your heart is hammering for no reason you can name.
A colleague calls 995. By the time the ambulance arrives, your lips are pale.
30%
of untreated pulmonary embolism cases are fatal
CT pulmonary angiogram confirms the clot. Blood thinners immediately. Possible clot-busting drugs.
Most PEs are treated with anticoagulants (blood thinners). Large, life-threatening clots may require thrombolysis — drugs that dissolve the clot — or catheter-directed treatment.
Long flights, surgery, and prolonged sitting are common triggers for blood clots in the lungs
Days in hospital. Then months of blood thinners and follow-up scans.
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
Pulmonary embolism (catastrophic)
$2,172 – $5,366
Ward C
Ward C$2,172 – $5,366
Ward B2$2,253 – $7,112
Ward B1$3,391 – $16,333
Pulmonary embolism (without catastrophic complications)
$1,192 – $3,164
Ward C
Ward C$1,192 – $3,164
Ward B2$1,214 – $3,109
Ward B1$4,016 – $11,669
Private$13,501 – $24,584
IVC filter insertion
$4,968 – $15,554
Ward C
Ward C$4,968 – $15,554
Ward B2$5,065 – $9,568
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
$15,554
in cash. That's after government subsidies but before any insurance kicks in.
Your ward, your bill
Subsidised · 8-9 beds · After subsidies, before insurance
~9 months
of HDB mortgage
~50%
of avg Medisave
~3.1 months
of median salary
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks · Data period: Jan–Dec 2023 · Compiled by Keith Teo
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What does this mean for you?
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$
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
$1,192 – $15,554
Ward B2 · Subsidised · 6 beds
$1,214 – $9,568
Ward B1 · Non-subsidised
$3,391 – $16,333
No more subsidies below
Private · Single room
$13,501 – $24,584
up to 2x Ward C
Insurance impact
What insurance actually does
Ward C bill. The bar shows how much you still pay.
$1,192 – $15,554
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.
Pulmonary rehabilitationInhalersBreathing therapyRegular lung testsOxygen equipment
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
Stop smoking
The single most impactful thing you can do. QuitLine (1800-438-2000) and HPB provide free cessation programmes.
2
Monitor air quality
During haze season, check NEA PSI readings. Keep rescue inhalers accessible if you have asthma or COPD.
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.