Just about every Singaporean is well aware of the significance of health screenings. After all, detecting a serious illness too late could lead to substantial medical expenses or, even worse, loss of life.

But how much do you truly understand about health screenings and their associated costs in Singapore? Here’s the detailed breakdown.

1. Price list: Health screening packages in Singapore

The expense of health screenings in Singapore can fluctuate quite significantly. And with prices increasing across the board, here are the current health screening prices compiled, featuring a combination of public hospitals, private hospitals, and private clinics. All prices include GST.

As evident from this overview, a health screening doesn’t always have to be costly. However, more affordable health screenings typically include fewer laboratory tests and thus might not be as effective in detecting diseases.

Ultimately, you should examine what each package includes before deciding if the tests are relevant to your health concerns and if the price is justified.

You can also take advantage of interactive quizzes from healthcare providers such as Raffles Medical and Fullerton Health that recommend health markers to screen for based on your age and gender.

2. Do polyclinics offer health screenings?

You'll observe that polyclinics are noticeably missing from the list of health screening packages above. That's because polyclinics do not provide comprehensive health screenings — they only offer health screenings for specific diseases (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol).

So, you cannot simply walk into the nearest polyclinic without symptoms and request a full body check-up. You can, however, ask for specific screenings for diseases you might be susceptible to due to lifestyle or genetic factors.

If you're a Singaporean, you can also access affordable health screenings at GP clinics under the Health Promotion Board's Screen for Life programme. Depending on which CHAS card you hold, you'll pay no more than $5 for each screening:

Again, these are for specific diseases only, not a full-body check-up. Which subsidised health screenings you can undergo depend on your age and sex.

Screen for Life also offers screening for breast cancer at selected clinics, priced at $25 for Pioneer Generation, $37.50 for Merdeka Generation, $50 for Singapore Citizens and $75 for PRs.

3. How much do health screenings cost at public hospitals?

So, how much does it actually cost to get a comprehensive health screening that checks for everything, not just one or two diseases?

Most Singaporeans have a great deal of trust in public healthcare. So for important but expensive procedures like a comprehensive health screening, many would prefer to go to a public hospital where one would anticipate costs to be lower.

Here's the unfortunate news — health screenings at public hospitals are not subsidised because they aren't something you can get a referral for from a polyclinic or from A&E.

That means they're not necessarily cheaper than a private clinic. Furthermore, the prices of health screening packages (as well as the component tests in each health screening!) vary significantly from one public hospital to another.

Note: Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and KK Hospital do not offer health screening packages anymore.

4. How much do health screenings cost at private hospitals?

Although private hospitals tend to be generally more expensive than public hospitals in Singapore, there's a wide range in prices when it comes to health screenings. Therefore, private hospital screenings aren't necessarily more expensive — it depends on what tests you want to include.

As a general rule, private hospitals tend to offer packages with more exhaustive lists of tests and screening procedures. That said, basic health screening packages do exist (and at fairly competitive prices too).

5. How much do health screenings cost at private clinics?

If you thought there was a lot of price variation among the hospitals, wait till you see what it’s like with the private clinics.

Due to the intense competition, it’s possible to find super cheap health screening packages (from $50+!) at a private clinic. At the same time, prices can also go up to $500+.

Here’s a small sampling of clinics in Singapore to show you the variation in prices:

6. Which is the cheapest health screening in Singapore?

Our brief survey of the health screening options in Singapore shows that there's a massive range of prices and huge differences in what the packages entail.

As we've shown, private does not necessarily mean more expensive than public when it comes to health screening prices.

The cheapest health screening we found turned out to be the $48 (before GST) Basic Package at Central Clinic.

But clinics are generally less recognised than big brand names like Raffles Medical and Tan Tock Seng Hospital. That said, what matters more is that you're comfortable with the healthcare provider and the doctor you choose. On the other hand, you might get more personalised service if it's with, say, your family doctor.

Generally, the more tests a package has, the more expensive it is. Provided you're still young and healthy, and not genetically predisposed to certain disorders, you may want to opt for one of the super basic health screenings without all the bells and whistles.

However, you'll probably want to discuss the options with your regular doctor before you commit to a screening, just in case there's something you didn't think to look out for.

7. Can you pay for health screenings with Medisave?

Unfortunately, you can't offset general health screenings with Medisave.

Medisave can only be used for a limited range of specific screenings, such as mammograms (only for women aged 50 and up) and colonoscopy screenings.

If you already have a chronic disease like diabetes or hypertension, you might be able to make claims for screening as part of outpatient treatment.

8. Can you claim the fees from your health insurance?

Although Integrated Shield Plans are essential for coping with healthcare costs in Singapore, your regular health screenings are generally not covered.

However, certain health insurance plans do offer rewards for going for regular health screenings.

For example, if you’re an AIA policyholder enrolled in the AIA Vitality programme, you can earn points for going to eligible screenings. You can redeem your points for discounts on your insurance premiums.

PHOTO: MoneySmart

If you get PRUShield, a MediSave-approved Integrated Shield Plan, you can enjoy subsidised rates for health screenings.

PHOTO: MoneySmart

The popular AXA Shield does not offer a specific health screening benefit, but it does offer policyholders a subsidised $12 GP consultation fee which can help with your healthcare costs.

9. What goes into a basic health screening package?

PHOTO: MoneySmart

Health screenings can either be specific or general. If you suspect or are at risk for a specific ailment (say a hereditary disease), most