What if I get skin cancer?
What if I get skin cancer in Singapore: $929 – $4,473 in a subsidised ward (Ward C), based on MOH Bill Size Benchmarks. Average hospital stay: 1 days.
Skin cancer diagnosis and treatment including Mohs surgery and wide excision with reconstruction.
Hospital bill by ward class
- Ward C (Subsidised · 8-9 beds): $929 – $4,473
- Ward B2 (Subsidised · 6 beds): $469 – $2,939
- Private (Single room): $1,125 – $8,755
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, January–December 2023. Costs are after government subsidies but before MediShield Life or private insurance.
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What if I get skin cancer?
1:40 PM
A mole on your shoulder that changed colour over summer. You photographed it.
The dermatologist doesn't like what she sees.
The dermatologist doesn't like what she sees.
A punch biopsy under local anaesthetic. Results in five working days.
5
working days for the biopsy result
Wide excision to remove the lesion with a clear margin. Sometimes Mohs surgery.
Depending on type and depth — wide local excision for melanoma, Mohs micrographic surgery for precise removal in delicate areas, or simple excision for BCC/SCC.
Melanoma is rarer but far more dangerous than other skin cancers
A small scar. Lifelong sun vigilance. Annual skin checks.
Then the bill arrives.
Then the bill arrives.
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
$4,473
in cash. That's after government subsidies but before any insurance kicks in.
Your ward, your bill
Subsidised · 8-9 beds · After subsidies, before insurance
~2 months
of HDB mortgage
~14%
of avg Medisave
~0.9 months
of median salary
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks · Data period: Jan–Dec 2023 · Compiled by Keith Teo
Make it personal
What does this mean for you?
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$
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
$929 – $4,473
Ward B2 · Subsidised · 6 beds
$469 – $2,939
No more subsidies below
Private · Single room
$1,125 – $8,755
up to 2x Ward C
Insurance impact
What insurance actually does
Ward C bill. The bar shows how much you still pay.
$929 – $4,473
No insurance. You pay the full bill out of pocket or Medisave.
Good to know
Average Medisave balance ($31,000) covers this 7x 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.
Chemotherapy cyclesOncology follow-upsTargeted medicationRadiation sessionsScreening scans
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
Ask about screening
Early detection saves lives and money. Ask your GP about age-appropriate cancer screening programmes available in Singapore.
2
Understand your treatment options
Different treatments have very different costs. Ask your oncologist to walk through the options and their bill implications.
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.