By The Ledger desk · Last verified 4 October 2026
MediSave is the CPF account set aside for healthcare. It pays for hospital stays, surgery, approved outpatient treatments and premiums for MediShield Life, Integrated Shield Plans and CareShield Life. Every use has a withdrawal limit: as of October 2026, CPF lists S$1,130 a day for the first two days of a hospital stay and S$400 a day after that, S$240 to S$5,290 per operation depending on its complexity, and S$500 or S$700 a year for chronic conditions under MediSave500/700. Your MediSave can hold up to the Basic Healthcare Sum (BHS), which is S$79,000 in 2026 for members aged 65 and below. Contributions above it overflow into your other CPF accounts.
The limits can look stingy, but they exist for a kind reason: to make sure there is still money in the account when you are 80.
Quick facts
- BHS 2026: S$79,000 for members aged 65 and below; it is fixed for life when you turn 65.
- You can use MediSave for yourself and immediate family members such as your spouse, children and parents.
- Day surgery: up to S$830 a day for hospital charges.
- Flexi-MediSave: S$400 a year for outpatient treatment if you are 60 or older.
- CT and MRI scans: S$600 a year at specialist outpatient clinics and polyclinics.
- MediSave cannot be withdrawn as cash at 55 or 65; it stays for healthcare.
What are the withdrawal limits?
| Use | MediSave limit (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Hospital stay (inpatient) | S$1,130 a day for the first two days, then S$400 a day |
| Inpatient psychiatric treatment | S$1,130 a day for the first two days, then S$230 a day |
| Day surgery | Up to S$830 a day for hospital charges |
| Surgical fees | S$240 to S$5,290 per operation, by the Table of Surgical Procedures |
| Chronic conditions (MediSave500/700) | S$500 a year, or S$700 for complex chronic conditions |
| Flexi-MediSave (aged 60 and above) | S$400 a year |
| Outpatient CT and MRI scans | S$600 a year |
| Renal dialysis | S$450 a month |
| Delivery (MediSave Maternity Package) | S$1,120 natural, S$2,380 caesarean, plus S$900 pre-delivery |
Cancer drugs, cancer scans, radiotherapy, rehabilitation and palliative care have their own limits; CPF’s MediSave pages list them in full. Premiums for MediShield Life and CareShield Life can be paid fully from MediSave, while the private-insurer part of an Integrated Shield Plan is subject to an annual Additional Withdrawal Limit that rises with age.
A worked example: a five-day hospital stay
Mr Tan spends five days in hospital. His MediSave can cover up to S$1,130 × 2 days = S$2,260 for the first two days, plus S$400 × 3 days = S$1,200 for the next three: S$3,460 in daily hospital charges. If he also had an operation, the surgical limit for that procedure is added on top. After MediShield Life or his Integrated Shield Plan has paid its share, MediSave can be used, within these limits, for the deductible and co-insurance he still owes. Anything left over is paid in cash.
How the Basic Healthcare Sum works
- The BHS is the most your MediSave Account can hold. For 2026 it is S$79,000 for members aged 65 and below, and it is reviewed every year.
- When you turn 65, your BHS is fixed at that year’s figure for the rest of your life.
- Contributions and interest above the BHS overflow. Under 55, they go to your Special Account, or to the Ordinary Account once the SA is at the Full Retirement Sum.
- From 55, with the SA closed, overflow goes to your Retirement Account if it is below the Full Retirement Sum, and otherwise to your Ordinary Account.
- If your MediSave is below the BHS, you can top it up in cash, and may qualify for tax relief within IRAS’s limits.
From 2026 to 2030, the Matched MediSave Scheme matches cash top-ups dollar for dollar, up to S$1,000 a year, for eligible lower-income members aged 55 to 70. Check your eligibility on the CPF website.
The WahLiao Verdict
Use MediSave for what it was built for: big hospital bills and insurance premiums. Before using it for routine outpatient visits or optional extras, ask whether paying in cash now would leave more for the hospital stay you might face at 75. If you are young and your MediSave is near the BHS, the overflow quietly boosts your retirement savings, so there is nothing to do. If you are older and below it, a cash top-up is one of the most useful presents you can give your future self or your parents.
Questions people ask
Can I use my MediSave for my parents?
Yes. You can use your MediSave for your own approved medical expenses and those of immediate family members, subject to the same limits.
Why can I not use more than the limit when the bill is bigger?
The limits are set to keep enough in MediSave for later life. Large bills are meant to be handled mainly by MediShield Life or an Integrated Shield Plan, with MediSave and cash covering the rest.
Does MediSave earn interest?
Yes. MediSave earns the same interest as the Special and Retirement Accounts, plus extra interest on the first tranches of your combined balances. CPF publishes the current rates every quarter.
What happens to my MediSave when I die?
Like the rest of your CPF savings, it goes to your nominees, or is distributed under intestacy rules if you have not made a CPF nomination.
Sources: CPF Board, MediSave limits for hospitalisation, surgery and maternity; CPF Board, MediSave limits for outpatient treatment; CPF Board, using your MediSave savings; DBS, 2026 Basic Healthcare Sum and Matched MediSave Scheme. The Ledger explains; it does not advise.
Read next: MediShield Life and Integrated Shield Plans · Withdrawing Your CPF at 55 and 65 · CPF Accounts Explained · Back to The Ledger
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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