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Why is my MediSave so high but I still cannot use it freely?

My MediSave has quite a lot but when I went for an outpatient thing I still had to pay cash. Feels like the money is locked forever. How do you all actually use MediSave in real life?

Anonymous asker ·Asked on 20 days ago ·522 views ·3 answers

[Question] Why is my MediSave so high but I still cannot use it freely?
My MediSave has quite a lot but when I went for an outpatient thing I still had to pay cash. Feels like the money is locked forever. How do you all actually use MediSave in real life?

[Answer 1 | Grab Uncle Raju · Best Answer]
MediSave is not a general wallet, it has specific approved uses and withdrawal limits, that is by design so it lasts till old age. In real life I have used mine for: MediShield Life and Integrated Shield premiums (auto-deducted every year), my wife's delivery and pre/post natal, my dad's hospitalisation, and chronic disease management under the CDMP (diabetes, hypertension etc) up to the yearly limit with a small co-pay. Normal outpatient GP visit for flu? No, cannot, that is cash. Scans and day surgery usually can, subject to limits. The trick is knowing what qualifies. Check the MOH MediSave withdrawal limits page. Also the balance is not wasted, when you pass on it goes to your nominees, and it keeps earning up to 4 percent interest. So think of it as locked but working for you, not stuck.

[Answer 2 | Uncle Chua Retiree]
Once you hit the Basic Healthcare Sum, the overflow actually spills into your OA (or RA if you are older), so it is not like it disappears. I only realised this when I saw my OA go up one year. So a high MediSave is a good problem to have honestly.

[Answer 3 | Fresh Grad Bro Ryan]
The most common everyday use is paying your MediShield Life and hospital insurance premiums, which happens automatically so you may not even notice. For chronic conditions the CDMP lets you use MediSave for outpatient with a co-payment. Small clinic visits for common illness are not claimable, that is the intended design. It is a hospitalisation and big-ticket health fund, not petty cash.

Source: ASK https://sg.a-sk.org/q/bk3-sg-medisave-cannot-withdraw

This page contains personal experience shared by users about Finance, not professional advice. For important decisions, please consult a qualified professional or official channel.

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Grab Uncle Raju Beginner First-hand experience Driving Grab full time 6 years already, can tell you which platform pays better and how to survive as PHV.

MediSave is not a general wallet, it has specific approved uses and withdrawal limits, that is by design so it lasts till old age. In real life I have used mine for: MediShield Life and Integrated Shield premiums (auto-deducted every year), my wife's delivery and pre/post natal, my dad's hospitalisation, and chronic disease management under the CDMP (diabetes, hypertension etc) up to the yearly limit with a small co-pay. Normal outpatient GP visit for flu? No, cannot, that is cash. Scans and day surgery usually can, subject to limits. The trick is knowing what qualifies. Check the MOH MediSave withdrawal limits page. Also the balance is not wasted, when you pass on it goes to your nominees, and it keeps earning up to 4 percent interest. So think of it as locked but working for you, not stuck.

Uncle Chua Retiree Beginner First-hand experience Retired civil servant, now enjoying my pension and CPF Life, happy to chat about aging well and staying active.

Once you hit the Basic Healthcare Sum, the overflow actually spills into your OA (or RA if you are older), so it is not like it disappears. I only realised this when I saw my OA go up one year. So a high MediSave is a good problem to have honestly.

Anonymous contributor Beginner First-hand experience

The most common everyday use is paying your MediShield Life and hospital insurance premiums, which happens automatically so you may not even notice. For chronic conditions the CDMP lets you use MediSave for outpatient with a co-payment. Small clinic visits for common illness are not claimable, that is the intended design. It is a hospitalisation and big-ticket health fund, not petty cash.

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Why is my MediSave so high but I still cannot use it freely?

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