What if I get struck by lightning?
What if I get struck by lightning in Singapore: $1,183 – $4,436 in a subsidised ward (Ward C), based on MOH Bill Size Benchmarks. Average hospital stay: 7.6 days.
Hospital bill by ward class
- Ward C (Subsidised · 8-9 beds): $1,183 – $4,436
- Ward B2 (Subsidised · 6 beds): $1,555 – $6,314
- Ward B1 (Non-subsidised): $1,841 – $5,959
- Private (Single room): $3,797 – $20,980
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 struck by lightning?
5:51 PM
The thunderstorm rolled in fast. You were two minutes from the MRT.
Then the world went white.
Then the world went white.
You wake up on the pavement. Your shoes are smoking slightly. A kopitiam uncle is staring at you.
30
million volts passed through your body. You are still here.
Cardiac monitoring for 24 hours. Burns assessed. Your eyebrows are gone but growing back.
Lightning strike protocol: ECG monitoring, burn wound care, neurological assessment, and observation for delayed cardiac arrhythmia.
Singapore has one of the highest lightning strike rates in the world. The weather app was correct.
You recover. You take the MRT everywhere now.
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
$4,436
in cash. That's after government subsidies but before any insurance kicks in.
Your ward, your bill
Subsidised · 8-9 beds · After subsidies, before insurance
~2 months
of HDB mortgage
~14%
of avg Medisave
~0.9 months
of median salary
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks · Data period: Jan–Dec 2023 · Compiled by Keith Teo
Make it personal
What does this mean for you?
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$
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
$1,183 – $4,436
Ward B2 · Subsidised · 6 beds
$1,555 – $6,314
Ward B1 · Non-subsidised
$1,841 – $5,959
No more subsidies below
Private · Single room
$3,797 – $20,980
up to 5x Ward C
Insurance impact
What insurance actually does
Ward C bill. The bar shows how much you still pay.
$1,183 – $4,436
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
Getting struck by lightning in Singapore: $2,000-$20,000+ (Ward C). Singapore has 171 lightning days per year. Maybe don't play football in a thunderstorm.
Beyond the hospital bill
These costs are just the hospital stay
After discharge, expect ongoing costs that for many patients exceed the initial bill.
Follow-up visitsPain medicationTime off workPhysiotherapyThe story you tell forever
And these costs keep rising. Healthcare costs are up 12% since 2020, outpacing general inflation.
What to do now
5 things to check today
1
Keep your emergency contacts updated
Make sure your phone ICE (In Case of Emergency) contacts are current. First responders check this.
2
Know your nearest A&E
In an emergency, ambulance (995) takes you to the nearest hospital. Know which public hospital is closest to your home and workplace.
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.