In order to qualify for suspension of premium collection, you must have resided outside Singapore for at least five years immediately preceding your application, except for short visits back to Singapore (not exceeding 140 days in total during the five years). As such, you may wish to apply only after you have fulfilled all the criteria.

The administrative arrangement is only for those who live abroad permanently with no intention to reside in Singapore. Obtaining permanent residency in another country is one of the indicators required to demonstrate an individual’s intention to reside in another country permanently.

No. The Singapore Government does not allow Singapore Citizens, aged 21 and above, to hold dual citizenship. The suspension application will not be processed until your dual citizenship status has been resolved with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

Please contact ICA at ICA_Citizenship_Unit@ica.gov.sg to resolve your citizenship status if you are aged 21 and above and holding dual citizenship.

Minors aged below 21 who hold dual citizenship may apply for suspension of MediShield Life premium collection, subject to the eligibility criteria. Minor dual citizens (DCs) must possess a valid permanent residency permit in their country of residence, or other foreign residency documents permitting them to reside in their country of residence permanently with no end date.

This is considering that Singapore citizens who have acquired a citizenship of a foreign country can only renounce their Singapore citizenship after they turn 21 years old. If the application is approved, minor DCs will be granted suspension of MediShield Life premiums starting from the next policy year at point of application until the age of 20 years (inclusive).

Minors less than five years old will have their overseas residency qualifying period eligibility criteria correspondingly reduced, according to their age. All other criteria will apply.

Universal lifelong coverage under MediShield Life is in line with our move to a more inclusive society with stronger collective responsibility. MediShield Life coverage is thus mandatory for all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents.

The MediShield Life Council’s recommended administrative arrangement is targeted at overseas Singaporeans who live abroad permanently with no intention to reside in Singapore. The criterion of 140 days over five years was included to help to determine administratively who can be regarded as permanently away, save for short visits to Singapore.  The duration takes into consideration the general length of stay granted to tourists coming to Singapore for short visits, but with flexibility to be assessed on a cumulative basis over five years.

For those who live abroad permanently but need to stay in Singapore for a longer period of time than the specified limit, we can review their specific circumstances on a case by case basis.

The suspension of MediShield Life premium collection is meant for Singapore citizens living outside Singapore permanently with no intention to reside in Singapore. One of the eligibility criteria for the suspension of premium collection is that the applicant has adequate healthcare coverage in their country of residence and does not need to rely on MediShield Life. If you have received a payout and benefitted from MediShield or MediShield Life in the five years preceding your application, you will not be eligible for suspension of premium collection.

National Service is a key institution that is vital to the security and defence of Singapore. Under the Enlistment Act, all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents above the age of 18 years are required to serve National Service.

In line with this, only the following overseas Singaporean males will be eligible to apply for the suspension of MediShield Life premium collection:

a)    Those who have completed full-time National Service; or

b)    Those who have been informed by MINDEF that they are not required to serve full-time National Service.

Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) automatically include a MediShield Life component. You will have to pay the premium (inclusive of the MediShield Life component) to retain your IP.

As coverage for IPs are designed for local treatment please consider if you wish to retain your IP if you are planning to move overseas permanently.

MediShield Life is a compulsory, basic health insurance which helps members meet the large costs of hospitalisation at Class B2 or C wards and certain outpatient treatments in Singapore’s approved medical institutions. All Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents are required to be covered under MediShield Life. The intent of this insurance is to give all Singapore residents assurance of universal healthcare coverage, including those with pre-existing conditions, for life.

Overseas Singapore citizens who live abroad permanently with no intention to reside in Singapore can apply for suspension of MediShield Life premium collection. Singapore Permanent Residents will not be eligible for the suspension of premium collection. Permanent Residents have applied to reside in Singapore and should continue to meet their MediShield Life obligations.