Singapore ranked ‘worst’ for uninsured overseas medical care

Singapore has been ranked the worst place to require medical treatment while abroad without travel insurance, according to a report by Forbes Advisor.

The financial advice platform noted that Singapore had the fourth highest healthcare costs across all countries included in the study, behind the US, Malta, and Switzerland, with out-of-pocket costs – those not reimbursed by local healthcare or medical insurance – sitting at $1,105 per capita.

However, it also fell within the bottom 25 per cent of countries when it came to availability of care, with just 2.5 practising doctors per 1,000 people – and the same amount of hospital beds. This means that while the standard of care in Singapore is considered very high, it may not always be available to those who need it.

Chile and Bahrain

The second-worst country to require medical care in while uninsured was Chile. There, the cost of care is lower – with out-of-pocket expenses being around $753 per capita. However, this represents a higher proportion of total health expenditure – meaning that those needing healthcare in Chile pay for 29 per cent of the total sum through personal expenses rather than through medical insurance, compared with just 19 per cent in Singapore. Chile also offers a lower availability of care than Singapore.

In third place is Bahrain. Similar to Chile, Bahrain’s out-of-pocket costs are significantly lower than Singapore’s, at $631 per capita. However, the country also suffers from a severe lack of healthcare availability, at just one doctor per 1,000 people – ranking it as second to last behind India in terms of availability. The country also has only two and a half nurses or midwives per 1,000 people.

Kevin Pratt, Travel Insurance Spokesperson at Forbes Advisor, said: “No matter how prepared you are and what precautions you take, there is no way to fully prevent the possibility of needing medical care while you are away. There may be some arrangements in certain countries that mean you will pay less or even nothing for some healthcare services, but none of these are a substitute for a good travel insurance policy.”

“It’s important to find cover that’s right for you based on your personal circumstances and your destination,” he added. “With cover in place, you can at least enjoy some peace of mind knowing that incurring necessary medical expenses while abroad shouldn’t break the bank.”

Availability of care and out-of-pocket costs are key considerations when assistance firms are looking to manage patients while containing costs. Experts at ITIC APAC 2023 discussed these challenges.