What if I get thyroid cancer?
What if I get thyroid cancer in Singapore: $1,976 – $7,442 in a subsidised ward (Ward C), based on MOH Bill Size Benchmarks. Average hospital stay: 1.8 days.
Thyroid cancer treatment including thyroidectomy and neck dissection.
Hospital bill by ward class
- Ward C (Subsidised · 8-9 beds): $1,976 – $7,442
- Ward B2 (Subsidised · 6 beds): $1,968 – $5,778
- Ward B1 (Non-subsidised): $7,912 – $15,271
- Private (Single room): $1,210 – $67,354
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, January–December 2023. Costs are after government subsidies but before MediShield Life or private insurance.
Treatment options
- Thyroid biopsy: $2,626 – $6,579 (Ward C)
- Hemithyroidectomy: $1,976 – $3,705 (Ward C)
- Total thyroidectomy: $2,290 – $4,330 (Ward C)
- Thyroidectomy with neck dissection: $3,283 – $7,442 (Ward C)
Scroll
What if I get thyroid cancer?
9:05 AM
A small lump at the base of your throat. You noticed it in the mirror a month ago.
Your GP sends you for a scan today.
Your GP sends you for a scan today.
An ultrasound. A fine needle biopsy. Reassuring words — but a referral to a surgeon.
98
percent five-year survival rate for early-stage thyroid cancer
Surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid. Lifelong hormone replacement after.
Depending on size and type — hemithyroidectomy or total thyroidectomy, sometimes with neck dissection to check lymph nodes.
Thyroid cancer: one of the most treatable cancers when caught early
One scar. A daily pill for life. Otherwise, largely back to normal.
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
Thyroid biopsy
$2,626 – $6,579
Ward C
Ward C$2,626 – $6,579
Ward B2$1,968 – $5,665
Private$1,210 – $9,990
Hemithyroidectomy
$1,976 – $3,705
Ward C
Ward C$1,976 – $3,705
Ward B2$1,994 – $3,842
Ward B1$7,912 – $9,362
Private$25,242 – $32,215
Total thyroidectomy
$2,290 – $4,330
Ward C
Ward C$2,290 – $4,330
Ward B2$2,645 – $5,512
Ward B1$12,830 – $15,271
Private$29,150 – $67,354
Thyroidectomy with neck dissection
$3,283 – $7,442
Ward C
Ward C$3,283 – $7,442
Ward B2$3,105 – $5,778
Private$30,875 – $49,023
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
$7,442
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
~24%
of avg Medisave
~1.5 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
$1,976 – $7,442
Ward B2 · Subsidised · 6 beds
$1,968 – $5,778
Ward B1 · Non-subsidised
$7,912 – $15,271
No more subsidies below
Private · Single room
$1,210 – $67,354
up to 9x Ward C
Insurance impact
What insurance actually does
Ward C bill. The bar shows how much you still pay.
$1,976 – $7,442
No insurance. You pay the full bill out of pocket or Medisave.
Good to know
Average Medisave balance ($31,000) covers this 4x 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.