When it comes to protecting yourself against rising healthcare costs in Singapore, many wonder: Which is the best Integrated Shield Plan (ISP) in 2025? With multiple insurers offering plans approved by the Ministry of Health (MOH), choosing between different Integrated Shield Plans and riders in Singapore can be overwhelming.
In this guide, we compare MOH-approved Integrated Shield Plans and their riders, covering premiums, benefits, and coverage differences — so you can decide which medical insurance is right for you.
What Is an Integrated Shield Plan (ISP) in Singapore?
An Integrated Shield Plan is a private medical insurance policy that supplements MediShield Life. It provides higher coverage limits and lets you choose treatment at A ward, B1 ward, or private hospitals.
Key features of ISPs in Singapore include:
Higher annual claim limits (some over $1 million in 2025)
Options for private or restructured hospital coverage
Optional riders to reduce co-payment or out-of-pocket costs
Premiums payable partly with CPF MediSave
MediShield Life vs Integrated Shield Plans
Some Singaporeans ask: Is MediShield Life enough?
MediShield Life: Basic coverage for subsidised wards.
Integrated Shield Plan: Enhanced coverage for A wards and private hospitals, plus optional riders for lower out-of-pocket costs.
Healthcare cost are on the rise in Singapore, one of our client was recently hospitalized at Mount Elizabeth Novena for gastroenteritis for 2 days and 1 night, with the total bill amounting to SGD 5,000
For a rough estimation of hospital fees, you can refer to the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) fee benchmarks.
Key Differences Between ISP Riders in Singapore
While base Shield Plans cover hospitalization, ISP riders can reduce co-payment and cover deductibles.
Co-payment riders: Limit your share of the bill (usually 5%).
Panel vs non-panel doctors: Some riders restrict benefits if you use non-panel specialists.
Pre- and post-hospitalisation coverage: Ranges from 90 to 365 days.
Choosing the right rider is important if you prefer private hospital coverage in Singapore or want higher certainty of claims.
Lifetime premiums of Private Hospital Coverage Comparison across all insurance companies
Ministry of Health (MOH) has recently tabulated a lifetime premiums comparison for Private Hospital coverage across 7 insurance companies. Let’s take a look at how much each insurers differs for their premiums.
Which Is the Best Integrated Shield Plan in Singapore for 2025?
There is no one-size-fits-all. The best ISP in Singapore depends on:
Your preferred ward (B1, A, or private)
Budget for annual premiums
Willingness to use panel doctors
Whether you want to minimize co-payment through riders
Examples:
For private hospital coverage, insurers like HSBC Life and Singlife offer higher claim limits.
For affordable premiums, NTUC Income is among the cheapest Integrated Shield Plans in Singapore for private hospital coverage with their classic care rider.
Interestguru.sg has shortlisted the Best 3 Integrated Shield Plan in the market and has provide a comprehensive breakdown of why the plans below offer the best value for your money
- Best Integrated Shield Plan/ Rider for overall coverage – HSBC Life Shield and HSBC Life Enhanced Care
- Best Integrated Shield Plan/ Rider for affordability – NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield and NTUC Income Classic Care Rider
- Best Integrated Shield Plan/ Rider for entire family coverage – Singlife Shield and Singlife Health Plus
This list of the 3 Best Integrated Shield Plan is updated as of 08/10/2025
Best Integrated Shield Plan for Overall Coverage – HSBC Life Shield and HSBC Life Enhanced Cover
HSBC Life Shield is one of the Integrated Shield Plan which has the most attractive premiums. Based on the total lifetime premiums tabulated by MOH, HSBC Life Shield is one of the lowest, yet, having the most attractive features among all its peer. What we like most about HSBC Life Shield is they only have one type of rider for each Private and Restructured hospital, straightforward and easy to understand!
Major Features and Benefits of HSBC Life Shield and HSBC Life Enhanced Care:
- Planned overseas treatment capped at S$50,000 per policy year (This is different from emergency overseas treatment).
- Outpatient benefit for fractures, dislocations, sports injuries, dengue fever. hand, foot & mouth disease and food poisoning
- Preferred consultation fees with a wide network of panel healthcare service providers, including General Practitioner
- Covers 180 days of pre-hospitalisation treatments and 365 days of post-hospitalisation treatments
- Cancer drug treatment of up to 23x the MediShield Life’s claim limit
- Highest among competitors: $30,000 per month coverage for drug treatment not on CDL.
- 24/7 Letter of Guarantee (LOG) hotline. A pre-assessment of your claim will be done by HSBC Life in 3 working days. Once approved, a Letter of Guarantee (LOG) will be issued to the hospital and you will not have to worry about the hefty hospital bills when you are discharged.
- No claim discount up to 20%
- Policy year Limit: S$2,500,000
Read about: HSBC Life Shield
Read about: HSBC Life Enhanced Care
Best Integrated Shield Plan for Affordability – NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield and NTUC Income Classic Care Rider
We love NTUC Income Integrated Shield Plans and rider(s) for their competitive premium pricing. Despite their recent increase in premiums to cope with the rising claims figures, NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield and NTUC Income Classic Care Rider have one of the lowest insurance premiums in the market. Any financial adviser worth his salt would know NTUC Income Shield Plans has always been the lowest over the years.
Which rider should you choose for NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield?
There are 2 types of Integrated Shield Plan Riders offered by NTUC Income
- Deluxe Care Rider
- 5% co-payment capped at S$3000 per policy year for Panel Doctors
- Cancer drug treatment of up to 23x the MediShield Life’s claim limit
- $15,000/month coverage for cancer treatment not on CDL
- Annual premium for a 40 year old next birthday: S$1743/year
- Classic Care Rider
- 10% co-payment capped at S$3000 per policy year for Panel Doctors
- Cancer drug treatment of up to 23x the MediShield Life’s claim limit
- $15,000/month coverage for cancer treatment not on CDL
- Annual premium for a 40 year old next birthday: S$655/year
We would highly recommend the Classic Care Rider due to lower premiums, though the co-payment percentage for Classic Care Rider is higher, but it is still capped at $3000 per year, which means your liability for your hospitalisation is still capped at S$3000/year.
Major Features and Benefits of NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield and NTUC Income Classic Care Rider:
- Affordable premiums as compare to its peer. (We are not talking about Deluxe Care Rider)
- Covers 180 days of pre-hospitalisation treatments and 365 days of post-hospitalisation treatments
- Policy year Limit: S$1,500,000
- No coverage for planned overseas treatment
- No coverage for post-hospitalisation TCM treatment
- No frills kind of policy, covering the essentials of a hospitalisation
Read about: NTUC Income Enhanced Incomeshield
Best Integrated Shield Plan for Entire Family Coverage – Singlife Shield and Singlife Health Plus
Singlife Shield has also recently up their game, they was previously having the lowest coverage for Cancer Drug Treatment, which is 5x the MediShield Life’s claim limit, now, with the rider, the cancer drug treament limit is now 20x the Medishield Life’s claim limit! To make it even better, they do provide a S$15,000 coverage per month coverage for Cancer Drug Treatment NOT on the CDL.
What are the riders available for Singlife Shield?
There are 2 types of Integrated Shield Plan Riders offered by Singlife Shield
- Private Prime Rider
- 5% co-payment capped at S$3000 per policy year for Panel Doctors
- Lump-sum payout of S$10,000 for critical illnesses per lifetime
- Cancer drug treatment of up to 15x the MediShield Life’s claim limit
- Private Lite Rider
- Annual deductibles applies
- 5% co-payment capped at S$3000 per policy year for Panel Doctors
- Lump-sum payout of S$10,000 for critical illnesses per lifetime
- Cancer drug treatment of up to 15x the MediShield Life’s claim limit
Major Features and Benefits of Singlife Shield and Singlife Health Plus:
- Planned overseas treatment pegged to Private Hospital charges (This is different from emergency overseas treatment).
- Additional cancer coverage including proton beam therapy treatment as well as cell, tissue and
gene therapy, and preventive treatment - Policy year Limit: S$2,000,000
- Covers 180 days of pre-hospitalisation treatments and 365 days of post-hospitalisation treatments
- Lump-sum payout of S$10,000 for critical illnesses per lifetime
- 20% no claim discount from day 1 when you purchase the plan
- Letter of Guarantee (LOG) waives up to S$80,000 of hospital admission deposit
How does the free child coverage work?
When both you and your spouse take up the following:
- Integrated Shield Plan: Singlife Shield Plan 1 or 2
- Free Coverage for Child: Singlife Shield Plan 2, up to Age 20, up to a maximum of 4 children
Read about: Singlife Shield
Read about: Singlife Health Plus
Thinking of switching to another Integrated Shield Plan?
Do note that despite the increase in premium due to claims, switching to another Integrated Shield Plan provider is unrealistic if you have any pre-existing medical conditions. Pre-existing medical conditions, will results in exclusions from the new Integrated Shield Plan provider. Furthermore, the newer integrated Shield Plan provider will likely reject your application for their Integrated Shield Plan rider.
Read more: How Pre-exisiting Medical Conditions can affect your insurance application
This is one of the many reasons why we believe an Integrated Shield Plan is a top priority. A pre-existing medical condition usually results in exclusion clauses or even outright rejection on an Integrated Shield Plan rider.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Which is the cheapest Integrated Shield Plan in Singapore 2025?
Premiums vary by age, but if you can, always go for the private hospital plan first, if premiums become unaffordable when you get older, a downgrade is hassle free!
2. Can I pay for Integrated Shield Plans using CPF MediSave?
Yes, up to the Additional Withdrawal Limit (AWL), depending on your age. Excess must be paid in cash.
3. Do I need an Integrated Shield Plan if I already have MediShield Life?
If you prefer A wards or private hospitals, an ISP provides much higher coverage compared to MediShield Life alone.
4. Are ISP riders worth it?
Riders help pay off deductibles and reduce co-insurance payment, covering large bills, especially if you prefer private hospitals.
Which is the best Integrated Shield Plan for you?
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