Would you recommend going for a private hospital plan or a restructured hospital class A plan?

Hi anon,

Generally the price difference between private and restructured hospital plans is quite low when you are still in your 20s.

This changes considerably when you reach your retirement. However, you may downgrade the coverage then without any medical underwriting. Contrast this with a scenario, for example, where you took a restructured plan for coverage when you are in your 20s. When you reach retirement age, you decide that you want to upgrade the coverage to a private plan. This will require medical underwriting and there is a high chance that health issues may have set in already, which makes it hard, if not impossible, to get upgraded.

Thus I personally choose a private hospital plan with plans to downgrade coverage in time to come. However, this also depends on your budget, and don't feel pressured to take a private hospital plan if you do not think that it is affordable for yourself.

Private hospital. The additional few hundreds per year can save you so much time. Life is unpredictable, i rather pay more to ensure i get the services asap than to wait for a bed during urgent periods. If you can't bear to part with the money, try finding other ways to supplement it.

For me I would go for private plan (usually includes restructured class A too) if you have the spare cash flow for it.

It's easier to downgrade than to upgrade later in life.

You have to weigh your financial situation and your personal preferences. I'm going to make several assumptions here. You are talking about the Integrated shield plan for your Medishield plan.

In fact, the majority of the plan A shield plan gives you the option of choosing either a private hospital or a restructured hospital unless you are choosing a particular plan (Raffles).

Such a plan gives you the flexibility of choice. If a particular treatment is better in a private hospital and you have the financial ability to afford it, then you can by all means choose to get treated privately. On the other hand, if you feel that a procedure is too costly in a private hospital, you can also opt to go with a government hospital.

Another point of consideration is the efficiency and shorter waiting period in a private hospital. Air-conditioned wards may not be readily available if you choose to get treated at a government hospital.

Additionally, your future premiums may be affected if you choose to go with a private hospital with a higher claim amount. Premiums are calculated by claim based pricing, a practice by insurers that is becoming more common to reign in inflated medical cost.

Once, you are afflicted with a medical condition, you may not be eligible to switch plans.

Please take into account the various factors and choose wisely.