What if I need a vascular access line?
What if I need a vascular access line in Singapore: $606 – $23,163 in a subsidised ward (Ward C), based on MOH Bill Size Benchmarks. Average hospital stay: 7 days.
Central venous catheter insertion, port insertion, and vascular access for chemotherapy or dialysis.
Hospital bill by ward class
- Ward C (Subsidised · 8-9 beds): $606 – $23,163
- Ward B2 (Subsidised · 6 beds): $186 – $23,781
- Ward B1 (Non-subsidised): $3,173 – $27,990
- Private (Single room): $4,042 – $116,460
Source: MOH Bill Size Benchmarks, January–December 2023. Costs are after government subsidies but before MediShield Life or private insurance.
Treatment options
- Hickman line insertion: $4,719 – $15,614 (Ward C)
- Subcutaneous port insertion: $1,954 – $10,698 (Ward C)
- Subcutaneous port removal: $606 – $3,021 (Ward C)
- Central venous line insertion: $2,036 – $23,163 (Ward C)
- PICC line insertion: $4,015 – $11,160 (Ward C)
- Venous port insertion (imaging guided): $699 – $1,736 (Ward C)
- IVC filter: $1,135 – $15,554 (Ward C)
- Venous stent: $3,832 – $6,698 (Ward C)
- Venous angioplasty: $2,345 – $5,791 (Ward C)
- Venous catheter management: $1,559 – $12,778 (Ward C)
- AV fistula procedures: $2,026 – $6,163 (Ward C)
- Cardiac monitoring (loop recorder): $1,515 – $4,726 (Ward C)
- Right/left heart catheterisation: $2,582 – $5,801 (Ward C)
- CABG with valve surgery: $9,026 – $21,692 (Ward C)
- PCI with rotablation: $6,898 – $13,885 (Ward C)
- Biventricular pacing: $4,336 – $7,960 (Ward C)
- Pulmonary embolectomy: $6,416 – $15,109 (Ward C)
Scroll
What if I need a vascular access line?
2:00 PM
The doctor explains that the treatment you need can't be given through a normal drip.
A more permanent line is required — placed under imaging guidance.
A more permanent line is required — placed under imaging guidance.
A PICC line, central line, or port is inserted under local anaesthetic.
30+
days: how long a PICC line can remain in place for ongoing treatment
A minor procedure, but one that carries specific risks.
Infection and blockage are monitored closely throughout your treatment course.
Infection and blockage are monitored closely throughout your treatment course.
Vascular access lines are used for chemotherapy, long-term IV antibiotics, or dialysis — each type has different placement, maintenance, and complication profiles.
The line comes out when treatment ends. That day feels significant.
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
Hickman line insertion
$4,719 – $15,614
Ward C
Ward C$4,719 – $15,614
Subcutaneous port insertion
$1,954 – $10,698
Ward C
Ward C$1,954 – $10,698
Ward B2$3,368 – $6,879
Private$5,845 – $31,607
Subcutaneous port removal
$606 – $3,021
Ward C
Ward C$606 – $3,021
Ward B2$186 – $4,182
Private$4,042 – $16,884
Central venous line insertion
$2,036 – $23,163
Ward C
Ward C$2,036 – $23,163
Ward B2$2,179 – $23,781
Ward B1$9,809 – $27,821
Private$8,853 – $116,460
PICC line insertion
$4,015 – $11,160
Ward C
Ward C$4,015 – $11,160
Ward B2$4,370 – $11,672
Ward B1$14,956 – $27,990
Private$25,216 – $81,847
Venous port insertion (imaging guided)
$699 – $1,736
Ward C
Ward C$699 – $1,736
Ward B2$756 – $3,823
Ward B1$3,173 – $7,649
IVC filter
$1,135 – $15,554
Ward C
Ward C$1,135 – $15,554
Ward B2$1,011 – $9,568
Venous stent
$3,832 – $6,698
Ward C
Ward C$3,832 – $6,698
Ward B2$4,462 – $6,409
Venous angioplasty
$2,345 – $5,791
Ward C
Ward C$2,345 – $5,791
Ward B2$1,508 – $4,992
Venous catheter management
$1,559 – $12,778
Ward C
Ward C$1,559 – $12,778
Ward B2$1,571 – $7,557
AV fistula procedures
$2,026 – $6,163
Ward C
Ward C$2,026 – $6,163
Ward B2$1,294 – $8,112
Ward B1$8,070 – $11,305
Cardiac monitoring (loop recorder)
$1,515 – $4,726
Ward C
Ward C$1,515 – $4,726
Private$12,625 – $30,661
Right/left heart catheterisation
$2,582 – $5,801
Ward C
Ward C$2,582 – $5,801
CABG with valve surgery
$9,026 – $21,692
Ward C
Ward C$9,026 – $21,692
Ward B2$9,502 – $22,956
PCI with rotablation
$6,898 – $13,885
Ward C
Ward C$6,898 – $13,885
Ward B2$6,728 – $14,976
Biventricular pacing
$4,336 – $7,960
Ward C
Ward C$4,336 – $7,960
Ward B2$4,611 – $10,976
Pulmonary embolectomy
$6,416 – $15,109
Ward C
Ward C$6,416 – $15,109
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
$23,163
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
~13 months
of HDB mortgage
~75%
of avg Medisave
~4.6 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
$606 – $23,163
Ward B2 · Subsidised · 6 beds
$186 – $23,781
Ward B1 · Non-subsidised
$3,173 – $27,990
No more subsidies below
Private · Single room
$4,042 – $116,460
up to 5x Ward C
Insurance impact
What insurance actually does
Ward C bill. The bar shows how much you still pay.
$606 – $23,163
No insurance. You pay the full bill out of pocket or Medisave.
Good to know
Average Medisave balance ($31,000) covers this 1x 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.
Wound carePhysiotherapyPain managementFollow-up imagingSpecialist reviews
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
Get a second opinion
For elective surgery, a second opinion costs $100-$300 and can save you thousands if an alternative approach exists.
2
Ask about day surgery
Many procedures that used to require overnight stays are now done as day surgery, significantly reducing the bill.
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.