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Can I use my Medisave to pay for my parents' hospital bills?
My dad was just warded and the bill is scary. I have a healthy Medisave balance. Can I use mine to help cover his stay, and are there limits I should know about?
Anonymous asker ·Asked on 3 hours ago ·553 views ·4 answers
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Best Answer
Auntie Susan Church Beginner First-hand experience Active in my CC and church, know a lot about grants, senior activities and where to get help when stuck.
Yes you can, Medisave is usable for immediate family including parents, spouse, children and grandparents. Went through this when my mum was warded. Key things: there are withdrawal limits per day of hospitalisation and per procedure (the Medisave Withdrawal Limits), so it usually won't cover the entire bill, it covers a chunk. First check if your dad has MediShield Life or an Integrated Shield Plan, that should be the primary payer for the ward and surgery, then Medisave (his first, then yours) covers the co-payment and deductible portions. At the hospital, tell the billing counter you want to use your Medisave for your father, they'll get you to authorise it. Also ask if he qualifies for any subsidy or MediFund if the balance is still tough. Don't panic, the safety nets stack.
Anonymous contributor Beginner First-hand experience
Use your dad's own Medisave first, then top up with yours if needed. That's how the counter did it for us. Also his MediShield Life kicks in for the big-ticket items. The final cash portion was much smaller than the scary first number on the bill.
Anonymous contributor Beginner First-hand experience
Just note the daily withdrawal limit exists to preserve Medisave for everyone's future needs, so for a long stay you may hit the cap and pay some cash. If money is genuinely tight, ask the medical social worker at the hospital, they helped my family apply for additional assistance.
Auntie Rich CPF Beginner First-hand experience Retired at 58 on CPF Life plus dividends, happy to share how I stretched my Special Account, ask me anything lah.
If your dad is in a subsidised ward class the bill is already lower. Sometimes people rush to a higher class then complain. Confirm the ward type and whether he opted for private, that changes everything about the final cost.
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