[20 Oct 2020 update] Government subsidies and insurance coverage for medical bills of SCs, PRs and LTPHs who travel out of Singapore
In line with the progressive move to reopen our borders, all Singaporean Citizens (SCs), Permanent Residents (PRs) and Long-Term Pass Holders (LTPHs) travelling overseas from 20 Oct 2020 will be able to access government subsidies and insurance coverage for their medical bills.
There is no change to the charging policy for SCs/ PRs/ LTPHs who departed Singapore before 27 Mar 2020, i.e. the Government will continue to pay for their inpatient medical bills for COVID-19 treatment upon return, if any.
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[26 Aug 2020 update] Assistance on pre-departure testing for non-discretionary reasons of travel
The Chinese Embassy announced on 21 Aug 2020, that all travellers from Singapore to China will be required to take a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 within five days before boarding.
Travellers that require pre-departure tests in Singapore for flight departures on or after 1 Sep 2020, for nondiscretionary reasons of travel listed below, can write to the following agencies for assistance:
All travellers should ensure that they have sufficient time to arrange for the test and to receive the results, in time for their departing flight. Test results could take up to 48 hours to process.
Note: In Singapore, COVID-19 testing is guided by the national testing strategy focused on diagnostic testing and active case finding in the community, as well as active surveillance testing on targeted groups who are deemed vulnerable or who have a higher risk of exposure to COVID-19. For now, pre-departure COVID-19 testing only applies to travellers under the Green Lane arrangements for essential business and official travels.
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[21 Aug 2020 update] Travel advisory update
The following travel is now allowed:
All travellers will be subject to the prevailing border measures upon entry, including payment for their stay at dedicated SHN facilities and tests, where applicable.
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[6 Aug 2020 update] Healthcare financing arrangements
From 7 August 2020, all Singapore Citizens (SCs)/Permanent Residents (PRs)/Long-Term Pass Holders (LTPHs) who travel abroad under permitted travel arrangements will be able to tap on regular healthcare financing arrangements for their inpatient medical bills, should they have onset of symptoms within 14 days of their return to Singapore and require hospital admission for suspected COVID-19 infection.
Permitted travel arrangements include Green/Fast Lanes which are currently in place, as well as any permitted travel arrangement that may be implemented in the future.
In other words, SCs/PRs will be eligible for Government subsidies and MediShield Life/Integrated Shield Plans coverage, and will be required to pay any remaining co-payment. LTPHs may tap on their prevailing financing arrangements (e.g. foreign worker insurance), where applicable.
SCs/PRs/LTPHs who are not under permitted travel arrangements and travel in breach of the travel advisories will continue to pay for their COVID-19 inpatient medical bills in full, with no access to subsidies and MediShield Life/Integrated Shield Plan coverage.
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[22 Mar 2020 update] MOH advisory on deferring all travel
As of 22 March 2020, COVID-19 has affected 185 countries worldwide. There are more than 260,000 cases, and around 11,200 deaths.
Around 80% of recent cases were imported - most of them by Singapore residents and Long-Term Pass holders returning home from abroad.
These imported cases had travel histories to 22 different countries.
In view of the heightened risk of further importation, MOH on 18 March 2020 advised Singaporeans to defer all travel abroad.
This expansion is to reduce the risk of Singaporeans being infected with the virus when abroad, and spreading it to other Singaporeans when they return.
[24 Mar 2020 update] Singapore Residents and Long-Term Pass Holders who disregard travel advisory
Any Singapore resident or Long-Term Pass holder who leaves Singapore from 27 March 2020, in disregard of the prevailing travel advisories, will be charged at unsubsidised rates for their inpatient stay at public hospitals, if they are admitted for suspected COVID-19 and have onset of symptoms within 14 days of returning to Singapore.
Singapore residents will also not be able to claim from MediShield Life or Integrated Shield Plans for these treatments at public and private hospitals.
Any work pass holder or his/her dependant who leaves Singapore from 27 March 2020 will be deprioritised for entry approval and could see significant delays before they are allowed to return to Singapore if they persist in travelling abroad and return infected.
Travel restrictions – 3 types
If you must travel overseas during this period, e.g. for exceptional reasons, check on the latest travel advisories, as well as the entry restrictions of the countries you are travelling to.
Some countries may have restrictions against travellers from Singapore, including those who have been in transit.
Here’s a broad guideline of the type of travel restrictions in place:
1. Deny entry
Some countries deny entry to all foreign visitors who have been in or transited through Singapore within the last 14 days.
2. Allow entry, but subject to quarantine/self-isolation
Some countries may subject foreign visitors who have been in or transited through Singapore to a quarantine or self-isolation period of 14 days upon arrival.
3. Allow entry upon clearing medical screenings
Some countries may only allow entry to visitors from Singapore that have passed through medical screenings at checkpoints, such as temperature screenings or swab tests.
Source: IATA Travel Centre
As travel restrictions may evolve quickly, travellers should check the latest travel restrictions before leaving Singapore.
Here are some recommended websites to check for the latest travel restrictions:
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Country
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Pages by ASEAN Countries |
Pages by Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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Brunei |
• Singapore High Commission in Bandar Seri Begawan Facebook page |
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Cambodia |
• Cambodia Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC) |
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Indonesia |
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Laos |
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Malaysia |
• Singapore High Commission in Malaysia • Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur’ Telegram Channel |
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Myanmar |
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Philippines |
• Philippine Bureau of Immigration |
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Thailand |
• Thai Ministry of Public Health • The Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore |
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Vietnam |