Before you start

A valid work pass and FIN (your identity for any clinic, hospital, or insurer)
Clarity on what your employer's plan covers (and what it excludes)
A view on whether you need private/international top-up cover for yourself and dependants

Step-by-step

1
Understand what you are NOT entitled to
As a foreigner you do not contribute to CPF, so you have no MediSave account, and MediShield Life covers only citizens and PRs. You therefore cannot rely on the national schemes — your safety net is employer and private insurance.
OnlineWho: YouRead up before you arrive—
2
Confirm your employer-provided medical insurance
Work Permit and S Pass employers must, by law, provide medical insurance of at least S$60,000/year for inpatient care and day surgery. EP holders are usually offered an employer group plan too, though it is not legally required — ask HR for the policy details and coverage limits.
Via employerWho: Your employer / HRSet up around your start dateEmployer-paid (the cost cannot be fully passed to the worker)
3
Decide on private or international top-up cover
Employer plans often cap outpatient, maternity, dental, or overseas care. Many expats buy a local or international health plan for broader cover and access to private hospitals or treatment back home. Compare a local plan (cheaper, Singapore-focused) against an international one (portable, pricier).
OnlineWho: You (via an insurer or broker)A few days to compare and applyVaries widely by age and scope — local plans are cheaper than international ones
4
Know where to go for care
For everyday issues, private GP clinics and public polyclinics handle outpatient care; polyclinics often have same-day slots for minor problems. For hospital care, restructured (public) hospitals and private hospitals both treat foreigners — but as a non-resident you pay unsubsidised rates, so present your insurance card.
In personWho: YouAs neededGP visit ~S$30–80; non-resident hospital rates are unsubsidised — insurance matters

Documents you’ll need

Passport and work pass / FIN
Your employer's medical insurance policy details or card
Any private/international insurance policy documents
Referral or prior medical records where relevant

Things most newcomers don’t know

Foreigners are not on MediSave or MediShield Life.

Those national schemes are funded through CPF and reserved for citizens and PRs. Work pass holders do not contribute to CPF and have no MediSave, so the national safety net simply does not apply to you.

Source: MOH / CPF

For Work Permit and S Pass holders, employer medical insurance is the law.

MOM requires employers to buy and maintain at least S$60,000/year of inpatient and day-surgery cover per worker, and the cost cannot be fully passed to you. Non-compliant employers face fines — so you should be covered from the start.

Source: MOM — S Pass medical insurance

EP holders usually get cover, but it is not guaranteed by law.

Employment Pass employers are not legally required to provide health insurance, though most reputable firms offer a group plan. Confirm the details with HR rather than assuming, and check the exclusions.

Source: MOM / employer policy

Public vs private — and non-residents pay full rates.

Polyclinics and restructured hospitals are cheaper for citizens/PRs because of subsidies foreigners do not receive. As a non-resident you pay unsubsidised rates everywhere, which is why a private or international plan is the norm for expats.

Source: Expat healthcare guide (2026)

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming MediShield Life or MediSave will cover you — they do not, for foreigners
Relying solely on a basic employer plan that caps outpatient, maternity, or overseas care
Forgetting employer cover ends when your job does — mind the gap when switching employers
Expecting subsidised public rates as a non-resident — hospital bills are charged in full