7 Budget-Saving Dental Care Tips

Dental care can often feel like a hefty expense, especially for those without insurance. With advanced tools and equipment driving up costs, even routine checkups can strain your wallet. For instance, basic treatments like scaling and polishing range from S$50 to S$100 at public clinics, while private clinics may charge between S$80 and S$120. More complex procedures such as dental implants can set you back anywhere from S$3,000 to S$7,000 per implant. Can you imagine spending that?

Despite the government’s efforts to subsidize healthcare including dental services, many Singaporeans still find themselves covering a significant portion of these expenses out of pocket. One solution is to get your own dental insurance. However, dental insurance can have premiums varying from S$229 to S$693 based on the level of coverage and insurer. If this is beyond your budget, here are some essential tips for navigating the world of dental care without additional insurance:

#1: PRIORITIZE GOOD ORAL HYGIENE

The best way to minimize dental visits and expenses is to practice good oral hygiene. Unless faced with a medical emergency, regular brushing, flossing, and using antibacterial mouthwash can significantly reduce your need for dental interventions. Consistent care not only protects your teeth but also supports your overall health, as poor oral hygiene can lead to systemic health issues.

#2: ASK FOR DISCOUNTS

Many dentists offer flexible payment options or discounts for patients who pay upfront. Don’t hesitate to ask about financial relief for families seeking treatment together or for those experiencing financial constraints. A simple inquiry could lead to substantial savings.

#3: CHOOSE THE RIGHT TOOTHPASTE

Select a toothpaste containing the appropriate level of fluoride, typically between 1350-1500 ppm, suitable for all ages. Your dentist can recommend specific brands if fluoride levels are a concern for younger children, allowing you to maintain oral health without overspending.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

#4: USE AN ANTIBACTERIAL MOUTHWASH

Using antibacterial mouthwash daily helps combat harmful bacteria and reduces plaque buildup. Opt for an alcohol-free formula to avoid dry mouth; these can be found at local supermarkets starting at around S$5. This small investment can pay off in preventing costly dental issues.

#5: STEER AWAY FROM TOBACCO PRODUCTS

Smoking is a leading contributor to gum disease and oral cancer. Quitting can significantly improve your oral health, so consider discussing cessation strategies with your healthcare provider. Not only will you save money in the long run, but you’ll also enhance your overall well-being.

#6: DON’T FORGET YOUR TONGUE

Your tongue can harbor bacteria, so brushing it while you brush your teeth can contribute to better oral hygiene. A simple swipe with your toothbrush can make a big difference in your oral health.

#7: WATCH WHAT YOU EAT

Your dietary choices have a direct impact on your dental health. Minimize sugary snacks and beverages, as frequent consumption can erode enamel. Focus on nutrient-rich foods, particularly those high in calcium, to strengthen your teeth and maintain your smile.

My Dental Health Story

Growing up, I was always conscious of my dental health, partly due to having (somewhat painful) braces during my teenage years. The journey wasn’t easy, but it taught me the value of proper oral hygiene. Maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial for preventing issues like cavities and gum disease. Regular dental visits, combined with self-care practices, can save you money and ensure your smile stays healthy.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

For more insights on maintaining oral health and managing dental expenses, consider visiting reputable health sources or local dental associations in Singapore. With the right strategies, you can enjoy a healthy smile without taking a big bite out of your budget.

Sources: 1,2, 3 & 4

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5 Key Things to Understand About Singapore Healthcare

Singapore’s healthcare system has often been dubbed as one of the best in the world. Its technologically advanced facilities, first-rate practitioners, and streamlined administrative processes make it highly accessible to permanent residents, and a global health hub for medical tourists. To maintain its superb level of healthcare, it relies on several factors to keep its operations running smoothly. Let’s have a look at five of its key aspects to help you better understand how the Lion City’s healthcare system works.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) Plays a Crucial Role

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is the primary governmental authority responsible for the healthcare system in Singapore. It is tasked with the formulation and implementation of healthcare policies, regulations, and standards. MOH’s functions also extend to healthcare financing, resource allocation, and the provision of a safety net for those who require assistance in paying for medical services. With MOH’s guidance, Singapore’s medical facilities are capable of keeping a high standard of healthcare, whether they’re a private or public hospital.

Singapore’s Healthcare Facilities are Semi-Private, Even Public Hospitals

Singapore’s healthcare system operates via a “semi-private” approach, which allows healthcare providers to coexist with public institutions. This model encourages healthcare providers to continuously innovate, enhance their service quality, and offer a variety of healthcare options to meet their patients’ diverse needs with minimum waiting times. Having this system in place guarantees accessibility to healthcare services for a wide range of individuals, including expats and medical tourists. It also ensures that both private and public facilities deliver world-class care.

Its Health Insurance System Is Composed of the “Three M’s”

The basic structure of Singapore’s public health insurance system is built around Medisave, Medishield, and Medifund. Locally known as the “three M’s”, Singaporeans can use these plans to cover their medical expenses. Each “M” has a different scheme, as follows:

  • Medisave. A mandatory healthcare savings scheme that requires permanent residents to contribute a portion of their income to a personal Medisave account. This account serves as a financial safety net for healthcare-related expenses, including hospitalisation, certain outpatient treatments, and approved medical services.
  • Medishield. Medishield is Singapore’s universal healthcare insurance program that provides basic health insurance coverage for all Singaporeans. It acts as a shield against large medical bills, particularly for catastrophic illnesses or surgeries. It ensures that individuals are not financially burdened by the costs of extensive medical treatment. Those who have Medishield coverage pay premiums, which are usually deducted from their Medisave accounts.
  • Medifund. Medifund is an endowment fund set by the government to provide a safety net for individuals who, for any reasons, are unable to pay for heavily subsidised medical care at restructured hospitals, despite having funds in their Medisave accounts and Medishield. It’s a compassionate and critical element of Singapore’s healthcare system that ensures no one is left without access to essential medical care.

Singapore Boasts World-Renowned Speciality Clinics

Singapore is home to several world-renowned specialty clinics, known for their expertise and advanced medical services. These establishments cater not only to the local population, but also to international patients who seek specialised care. Let’s have a look at three of them:

National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS)

NCCS is a globally recognised cancer centre in Singapore, renowned for its comprehensive cancer care, cutting-edge research, and state-of-the-art treatment options. It offers a multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment and is a leading institution in the fight against cancer.

National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS)

NHCS specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of heart and cardiovascular conditions. It’s known for its expertise in cardiology, cardiac surgery, and heart transplant services. The centre is a pioneer in the field of cardiac care, serving both local and international patients.

Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)

SNEC is a world-class eye care facility that provides patients with a wide range of ophthalmic services. It offers comprehensive care for vision and eye health, which includes treatments for complex eye conditions and refractive surgery.

It Offers Premium Services for a Fraction of the Cost

Singapore’s ability to provide its permanent residents with excellent healthcare services at an affordable price for its permanent residents is a testament to the success of its healthcare system. The nation’s healthcare framework is centred on accessibility, quality care, and protection against the financial burden of medical expenses. These benefits can also extend to expats and medical tourists through different channels. Expats with private health insurance can receive quality care and be able to offset their medical costs. Meanwhile, foreign medical tourists who can’t afford healthcare in high-income countries can find cost-effective treatments in a highly advanced private healthcare facility in Singapore.

Now that you have a better understanding of Singapore’s healthcare system, it’s easy to see why it’s the envy of the world. Its ability to deliver exemplary service while keeping things accessible and affordable makes it so everyone can get quality healthcare and ensure Singaporeans can live happy, healthy, and long lives.

 

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How to Save Money on Healthcare in Singapore

When it comes to healthcare costs, we are wired to believe that things cost the way they do. If you have an insurance provider, chances are, you are paying a premium on a regular basis. If you are uninsured, you might be avoiding visits to the nearby clinic or hospital.

You can still save money on healthcare! To get the most value for your dollar, follow these money-saving tips.

#1: PRACTICE PREVENTIVE CARE

Do not get sick! One of the best things you can do to limit your healthcare costs is to establish a healthy routine that incorporates good nutrition, regular exercise, and stress management. Choose a wellness routine that works for you. When you nourish your body and spirit, you can have a meaningful impact on your future health and prevent healthcare costs.

#2: SELECT A SUITABLE HEALTH INSURANCE

Health insurance aids you in paying for your medical expenses when you get sick, get injured, or become disabled. Although all Singaporeans and Permanent Residents are covered by Medishield Life, you may face some restrictions to your uses and claims. Payouts correspond to the prices for the Class B2 and C wards in public hospitals. So, you must be prepared to pay a large amount of money if you want to stay in a Class B1 or A ward. You can combat this by enhancing your health insurance coverage with an Integrated Shield plan.

#3: OPT FOR GENERIC MEDICATIONS

Brand-name medications are more expensive than generic brands. From a medical standpoint, previous literature has shown that generic medications seem to perform in the same manner as brand-name medications. Instead of poking a hole in your pocket, you can opt for generics to reap its benefits.

For instance, you can pay S$11.50 for 100 tablets of Paracetamol (500 mg) instead of paying S$10.50 for 20 tablets of Panadol.

#4: DROP BY YOUR LOCAL PHARMACY

For mild conditions, you can visit your local pharmacy to ask for advice. According to Unity’s website, their pharmacists can assist you with advice on minor ailments, medication concerns, travel medication, and so on.

For instance, you can consult their pharmacists if you have questions on your medications for your constipation. If you are experiencing mild ailments such as constipation, you can skip the clinic queues and go straight to the pharmacy. However, you must see a doctor if you are certainly unwell.

#5: SCREEN FOR LESS

Screen for Life is a national screening program that encourages Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents to go for regular health screening. Singaporean citizens only need to pay S$0 to S$5 per screening visit*. While Permanent Residents can check with their CHAS GP clinic on the screening test rates offered under the said program. The doctor consultation will be charged accordingly by the respective CHAS GP clinics.

Note: *Rates apply only at Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) General Practitioner (GP) clinics

#6: GO TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD POLYCLINIC FOR AFFORDABLE DENTAL CARE

If you are looking for a dental option for regular check-up and oral maintenance, search no further than the neighborhood polyclinic. Neighborhood polyclinics offer subsidized dental treatment and care. Both SingHealth and National Healthcare Group polyclinics have dental services, and it is easy to make an appointment online.

Recommended: 5 Most Affordable Dental Clinics In Singapore

Alternatively, you may utilize the company dental and health screening benefits. Check with your employee handbook or ask your Human Resources department to know which medical benefits you are eligible for.

#7: FREE VACCINATIONS AT POLYCLINICS FOR INFANTS

The National Childhood Immunization Program offers immunization against certain diseases, which are fully-subsidized. Full subsidies* for vaccinations under this program are available for Singaporean children at CHAS GP clinics and polyclinics.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Note: *This is applicable for certain vaccine brands. Refer to go.gov.sg/vaccine-list for the list of the latest subsidized vaccine brands.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, & 4

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Receive Prompt and Quality Medical Care at Private Hospitals with Minimal Cash Outlay

The current pandemic has made more people take a closer look at their health insurance coverage and recalibrate to focus on what truly matters. Short waiting times, choice of doctors and being able to rest and recover in the privacy of a single room are some of the factors considered when choosing a hospital for treatment.

Timely, Quality Medical Care

One often overlooked characteristic of medical treatment is value. In fact, the importance of timely and attentive medical care cannot be underestimated. For example, patients sometimes delay seeking treatment out of procrastination or superstition. We all probably know of a family member or friend amongst us who dismiss the emergence of some symptoms as one-off incidents or simply the inevitable outcome of aging. However, this could potentially lead to unintended consequences such as deteriorating or irreparable medical conditions.

Seeking treatment early could mean reduced chances of having invasive treatments due to complications, which in turn can reduce the overall cost of treatment.

At the IHH Healthcare Singapore group of private hospitals namely, Gleneagles, Mount Elizabeth, Mount Elizabeth Novena and Parkway East, consumers can book an appointment with specialists for the next working day and even schedule surgery within 48 hours. They are also supported by multi-disciplinary specialists with years of experience under their belts and equipped with modern technology and facilities. This naturally leads to an environment where prompt treatment and care is prioritised in a space that promotes their subsequent rest and recovery.

Minimal Cash Outlay

Worried about the size of your medical bills? Some people choose to avoid hospitals because they fear huge medical bills. A survey conducted found that 2 in 5 patients spent most of their life savings battling illnesses. This shows how important it is to have proper medical coverage through an integrated shield plan so that you are protected from huge medical expenses.

Do you know that it is actually possible to receive quality medical care with minimal cash outlay? The key to this is to ensure that you have an integrated shield plan with rider where co-payment can be capped at 5% of the total hospitalisation bill. Here are some examples from Parkway East Hospital:

  • A cataract surgery with lens implant is estimated at $7,718, pay either $0 (full rider) or $385.90* (co-pay rider)
  • A surgery for removal of gallbladder with 3 days of hospitalisation in a standard single room is estimated at $29,696. Integrated Shield Plan holders pay either $0 (full rider) or $1,234.70 (co-pay rider)

**Examples are calculated using NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield Preferred and Deluxe Care Co-pay rider. Out-of-pocket costs may be further reduced by Medisave, subjected to claim limits, and corporate insurance, if any. The estimated bill and average length of stay are calculated based on historical data and serves only as a guide. The bill size will differ depending on the severity of condition and other factors. In the event of any dispute, the decision of Parkway East Hospital is final. Please confirm your coverage with your health insurance provider.

According to the Straits Times, 7 in 10 Singaporeans and PRs have an integrated shield plan. Of the 2.94 million people in Singapore covered by integrated shield plans, 1.75 million have coverage for private hospital care. In all, about 1.1 million people have riders.

Are you one of the seven in 10? For those who already have existing integrated shield plans, do speak to your insurance agent to understand what your health insurance coverage entails. It will be good to understand beforehand if you will be able to afford the co-payment if admitted into a private hospital. If your insurance agent is unable to assist, simply pick up the phone to dial or WhatsApp IHH SG’s Parkway Insurance Concierge hotline at 9834-0999. They will be able to address queries related to the coverage on your integrated shield plans, panel doctors and help patients make appointments.

Hospital Bill Estimator

To provide greater peace of mind, it is now possible to have an estimate of your hospital bill before seeking medical treatment. This service is available online at Gleneagles, Mount Elizabeth, Mount Elizabeth Novena and Parkway East Hospitals. All the customer needs to do is to provide information on his/her Integrated Shield Plan and riders to have an approximation of the out-of-pocket medical expenses for common surgical procedures.

Here is an example of how to attain the out-of-pocket medical expenses for a colonoscopy (diagnostic) with Polyp Removal at Parkway East Hospital.

Step 1: Select a Body Part (Eg: Stomach and Lower Body)

 

Step 2: Select a Procedure (Eg: Intestine, Colonoscopy (Diagnostic) with polyp removal)

 

Step 3: Select your Private Integrated Shield Plan (Eg: Income Enhanced IncomeShield Preferred)

Step 4: Select your Private Integrated Shield Plan rider (Eg: Deluxe RiderCare)

Step 5: Receive your estimated out-of-pocket costs

Knowing the estimated bill size and estimated out-of-pocket costs allows the customer to plan and budget properly and seek medical treatment with greater confidence. In this example, having to fork $200.95 (only 5% of the hospitalisation bill) out-of-pocket means one less worry and ensures that a patient is able to focus on getting treated and recovering. This is an invaluable factor that contribute to a patient’s well-being. In addition, out-of-pocket costs can be further reduced with corporate insurance (if any) and MediSave.

Take Charge of Your Health Insurance Coverage

It pays to find out more about your health and hospitalisation coverage before you even need it. For those who have yet to purchase an integrated shield plan, take action now to ensure that you are guarded against the risk of insufficient medical coverage.

Remember, an empowered consumer armed with the correct information is always in a better position to make better healthcare decisions! Know your options.

Dial or WhatsApp IHH SG’s Parkway Insurance Concierge hotline at 9834-0999 to make an appointment or have your queries on integrated shield plans and panel doctors answered.

 

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5 Highest Paying Jobs In Singapore’s Healthcare Sector

Singapore’s Healthcare Sector consists of the private healthcare systems, public healthcare systems, and voluntary organizations. A job at this sector entails hard work, long hours, dedication to studies, and attractive pay.

JobStreet.com, a premier online recruitment company in Asia, conducted a nationwide study in 2013 and found that the highest paid fresh graduates were doctors. With an average starting pay of over S$3,000 a month, entry-level doctors even surpassed the starting pay of corporate finance’s fresh graduates!

Salary.sg, a website dedicated to relay information on career and jobs, used the Ministry of Manpower Wage Data (2014) and excluded the bonuses and profit-sharing to generate the monthly gross wages of over a hundred jobs in Singapore.

Applying that information with your desire to earn big, you may consider these five jobs:

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

5. MEDICAL RESEARCH SCIENTISTS

Medical Research Scientists can be found in universities, research institutions, and hospitals. They make and conduct experiments in order to increase our scientific knowledge in areas such as treatments or drugs. They earn a median monthly wage of S$6,489.

4. HEALTH SERVICE MANAGER

The Health Service Manager is responsible for the daily running of the hospital or the community health center. Managers liaise with clinical and non-clinical staff while considering the demands of the local laws and local situations. Interestingly, they earn about S$7,848 a month.

3. GENERAL PRACTITIONERS

General Practitioners (GP) give primary and continuing care for patients by taking physical, emotional, and social factors into account when diagnosing disorders and prescribing the appropriate treatments. GP’s in Singapore earn an average of S$16,354 per month.

2. CLINICAL DIRECTORS

A Clinical Director’s responsibilities include the management and quality assurance of clinical services as well as the training and supervision of all the healthcare staff. They earn a median monthly salary of S$25,000.

1. SPECIALIST MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS

Specialist Medical Practitioners diagnose and treat the disorders of patients in a wide range of areas including anaesthesiology, pathology, internal medicine, ophthalmology, pediatrics, dermatology, surgery, and radiology. Depending on the area of specialization, Specialist Medical Practitioners can have demanding and irregular shifts. But, all is compensated as they earn an average monthly salary of up to S$30,250!

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Sources:1, 2, 3, & 4

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