Private Shield with Riders

What is the cost of a Private Shield plan, covering medical bills as charged in a private hospital, together with a rider to cover the Deductible and Co-insurance of 10%?

I calculated the total cost from age 30 to 85 to be more than $100,000, based on the premium rates today. If you add the cost beyond age 85, it will be much higher. The premum rates will increase in future years, but the future increase can probably be covered through the interest earned on your savings.

If you wish to have a private Shield plan to cover your expenses in a private hospital, you must have $100,000 in your Medisave account by the time you retire.

Insurance agents advice you to buy a private Shield plan. I hope that they have pointed out to you about the lifetime cost, so that you are well informed.

If you have to set aside $100,000 for your private Shield insurance, how much of that money is actually paid in claims? Based on the figures available from MAS website, the claim payout is 43%. This means that you are paying $100,000 in premium to get $43,000 in claims. Can you afford to give away the additional $57,000 of your savings to the insurance company?

After paying so much in premium, are you worried that your claim may be rejected due to "non-disclosure of pre-existing medical conditions", especially if you were not aware about these conditions? This has happened to many policyholders.

Think about the lifetime cost, if you wish to buy the insurance plan that covers all expenses "as charged". Make sure that you have sufficient money to pay the premium up to age 85 and beyond.

Note: If you take a private Shield plan without the rider, the total cost is $66,000. In this case, you have to pay the Deductible and Co-insurance.