Before starting work, what insurance does a student actually need?

For most students, I would think of it in three layers:

1. Hospital cover. If you are a Singapore citizen or PR, you already have MediShield Life, which covers basic ward bills. An Integrated Shield Plan upgrades this to a private hospital or A/B1 ward. Starting young usually means lower premiums.
2. Personal accident (PA). This is cheap, and it covers accidents like sports injuries or road accidents, including clinic bills and a payout for injury. Check what your school or CCA already gives you so you do not pay twice.
3. Travel insurance. Buy it per trip for exchange, internships or holidays. Many schools require it for overseas programmes.

You can skip life and critical illness until you have dependants or a steady income. Always read what your school or future employer already covers first.

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Disclosure: I work at Shenton Insurance Brokers. We arrange PA and travel cover, not hospital plans. If you want to compare PA or travel quotes across insurers, happy to help, but check your school cover first.

I'd start with hospitalisation insurance since medical bills can get expensive. Other coverage like life or critical illness insurance really depends on your budget and personal needs.