The good news: Yes, Medisave can be used to pay for certain outpatient scans, under specific conditions. Here’s what patients in Singapore need to know.
What Is Medisave?
Medisave is a national medical savings scheme in Singapore, part of the Central Provident Fund (CPF). It allows you to set aside part of your income to pay for approved medical expenses—helping reduce out-of-pocket costs for healthcare.
You can use your own Medisave account, or the account of an immediate family member (such as a spouse, parent, or child), subject to withdrawal limits.
Pay for Outpatient Scans with Medisave
Under the Medisave500 scheme, Singaporeans can use up to $500 per Medisave account per year for approved outpatient diagnostic tests and scans that are part of a doctor’s management plan for a medical condition.
Here are some examples:
✅ Ultrasounds
- Pelvic/transvaginal ultrasound (e.g., for gynaecological evaluation)
- Abdominal ultrasound (e.g., liver, gallbladder, kidneys)
- Testicular or scrotal ultrasound
- Thyroid ultrasound
✅ Mammograms
- Screening mammograms for breast cancer detection
- Diagnostic mammograms for women with breast symptoms
✅ X-rays
- Chest X-rays (e.g., for lung infections or persistent cough)
- Limb or spine X-rays (e.g., for pain or injury evaluation)
- Abdominal X-rays (e.g., for bowel obstruction)
Note: Scans must be medically indicated and ordered by a Singapore registered medical practitioner to qualify for Medisave use.
How Much Can You Claim?
Under the Medisave500 scheme, you can claim:
- Up to $500 per year per Medisave account
- Covers approved outpatient diagnostic tests, including imaging and laboratory investigations
- Claim can be used in full or partially, depending on the scan cost
For example:
- If your pelvic ultrasound costs $200, you can use Medisave to cover the full amount (subject to your account balance and annual cap)
- If multiple tests are needed in a year, they count toward the $500 annual limit
How to Use Medisave for Your Scan
- Get a Doctor’s Referral
Medisave can only be used if the scan is medically necessary and part of a management plan for a health condition. - Confirm with the Clinic or Centre
Before your scan, confirm that the imaging centre or medical clinic accepts Medisave and that your scan is claimable. The clinic will help submit the claim on your behalf. - Using a Family Member’s Medisave?
You may need to complete an authorisation form to use your spouse’s or parent’s Medisave account.
What’s Not Covered?
You cannot use Medisave for:
- General health screening packages (unless part of approved national screening programs like Screen for Life)
- Cosmetic or non-medically indicated scans
- Second opinion scans not ordered by a doctor
Book an Ultrasound, X-Ray or Mammogram
Medisave is a valuable tool to ease the cost of important medical investigations—especially when used for doctor-recommended outpatient scans. If you’re planning a mammogram, ultrasound, or X-ray, check with your clinic whether Medisave claims are supported.
At our clinic, we help eligible patients use Medisave for a variety of scans as part of ongoing health monitoring or diagnosis.
Contact us to find out whether your scan is Medisave-claimable and to schedule your appointment.
