What if I injure my shoulder?
What if I injure my shoulder in Singapore: $3,314 – $13,414 in a subsidised ward (Ward C), based on MOH Bill Size Benchmarks. Average hospital stay: 1.4 days.
Shoulder injuries including rotator cuff tears, dislocations, and fractures.
Hospital bill by ward class
- Ward C (Subsidised · 8-9 beds): $3,314 – $13,414
- Ward B2 (Subsidised · 6 beds): $2,784 – $12,751
- Ward B1 (Non-subsidised): $10,964 – $17,978
- Private (Single room): $22,687 – $55,434
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, January–December 2023. Costs are after government subsidies but before MediShield Life or private insurance.
Treatment options
- Shoulder decompression:
- Rotator cuff repair: $5,514 – $9,861 (Ward C)
- Bankart repair (dislocation): $4,257 – $8,560 (Ward C)
- Shoulder fracture ORIF: $5,177 – $9,085 (Ward C)
- Shoulder replacement: $7,645 – $13,414 (Ward C)
- Clavicle fracture fixation: $3,314 – $5,698 (Ward C)
Scroll
What if I injure my shoulder?
7:30 AM
Reaching for something overhead. A sharp pull. Your shoulder won't lift properly.
A week later, it's no better.
A week later, it's no better.
An MRI shows a partial or full rotator cuff tear. The physio says surgery is likely.
2 million
people seek treatment for rotator cuff injuries globally each year
Keyhole surgery to repair the torn tendon. Six weeks in a sling. Months of physio.
Arthroscopic shoulder surgery uses small incisions and a camera. The surgeon reattaches torn tissue with anchors drilled into bone — a delicate repair.
Rotator cuff injuries are especially common in people who do repetitive overhead work or sport
You can't sleep on that side for months.
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
Shoulder decompression
$26,619 – $33,000
Private
Private$26,619 – $33,000
Rotator cuff repair
$5,514 – $9,861
Ward C
Ward C$5,514 – $9,861
Ward B2$3,969 – $8,638
Private$26,268 – $43,274
Bankart repair (dislocation)
$4,257 – $8,560
Ward C
Ward C$4,257 – $8,560
Ward B2$3,643 – $7,590
Ward B1$14,575 – $17,978
Private$26,829 – $38,937
Shoulder fracture ORIF
$5,177 – $9,085
Ward C
Ward C$5,177 – $9,085
Ward B2$4,047 – $7,186
Shoulder replacement
$7,645 – $13,414
Ward C
Ward C$7,645 – $13,414
Ward B2$7,583 – $12,751
Private$38,746 – $55,434
Clavicle fracture fixation
$3,314 – $5,698
Ward C
Ward C$3,314 – $5,698
Ward B2$2,784 – $5,234
Ward B1$10,964 – $13,736
Private$22,687 – $33,939
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
$13,414
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
~7 months
of HDB mortgage
~43%
of avg Medisave
~2.7 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?
Enter your details for personalised insights. Nothing is stored or sent.
$
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
$3,314 – $13,414
Ward B2 · Subsidised · 6 beds
$2,784 – $12,751
Ward B1 · Non-subsidised
$10,964 – $17,978
No more subsidies below
Private · Single room
$22,687 – $55,434
up to 4x Ward C
Insurance impact
What insurance actually does
Ward C bill. The bar shows how much you still pay.
$3,314 – $13,414
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.