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Key Takeaways
- Bunion surgery costs in Singapore depend on the type of correction, whether one or more foot osteotomies are needed, the hospital, ward class, and implants used.
- Based on MOH's 2023 transacted bill data, a subsidised public inpatient bunion procedure typically costs around $4,110 in a B2 ward. A private inpatient bill for a multi-osteotomy correction typically costs around $30,428.
- MediSave, MediShield Life and Integrated Shield Plans may offset part of eligible bills. Confirm your TOSP code, claim limits and insurer's pre-authorisation requirements before surgery.
Bunion surgery is not one standard operation, so there is no single cost in Singapore. Your bill can vary depending on the correction planned, whether one or more procedures are performed, the hospital, whether surgery is day surgery or inpatient care, your ward class and the implants used.
MOH’s published bill data illustrates the difference. For the procedure code SB732F—a hallux valgus or hammer-toe proximal osteotomy with or without soft-tissue reconstruction—the typical subsidised B2-ward bill is $4,110. For SB727F, which covers multiple foot osteotomies, the typical private-hospital inpatient bill is $30,428. These are median bills for different procedures and settings, not competing quotes for the same operation.
Three procedure codes for bunion correction
Bunion (hallux valgus) surgery is not a single procedure. Your surgeon may correct the deformity with soft tissue reconstruction alone, a single bone osteotomy, or multiple osteotomies done in the same sitting.
MOH assigns each procedure a Table of Surgical Procedures, or TOSP, code. The code affects the bill category and the MediSave and MediShield Life claim limits.
The appropriate technique depends on the shape and severity of the deformity, joint condition, symptoms, X-ray findings and your surgeon’s clinical assessment. Most patients who need surgery have a bone osteotomy.
A proximal osteotomy corrects moderate to severe bunions by cutting and realigning the first metatarsal bone. Small screws or plates are usually used to hold the bone in place while it heals.
Multiple foot osteotomies are common in real-world bunion surgery. Your surgeon may need to cut both the first metatarsal and the proximal phalanx (an Akin osteotomy), or correct a hammer toe or lesser-toe deformity at the same time. When this happens, the case is coded under SB727F, which sits in a higher TOSP table with a higher claim limit.
Your surgeon should recommend the technique that best suits your bunion, based on your deformity angle, joint condition, and activity level — not the cheapest option.
How much does bunion surgery cost in Singapore?
The tables below show MOH's transacted bill data. Amounts include GST. The typical bill is the median bill, meaning half of patients paid less and half paid more.
Public hospital bunion surgery: single-code procedures (SB732F)
MOH publishes transacted bill data for SB732F at only one setting. Other public and private settings had fewer than 10 cases and were not published.
At Tan Tock Seng Hospital, the typical B2 bill was $3,867, with an average stay of 1.5 days.
MOH does not publish separate transacted bill figures for SB832F (soft tissue only). This procedure is uncommon in Singapore and did not meet the ten-case threshold for publication.
Multi-osteotomy bunion surgery (SB727F)
When more than one foot osteotomy is performed during the same operation, the procedure may be coded under SB727F.
At a private hospital, an inpatient multi-osteotomy bunion correction typically costs $30,428. At a subsidised public hospital, the same procedure typically costs around $5,054 in a B2 ward.
Public-hospital figures already reflect government subsidies. They do not yet deduct MediSave, MediShield Life, or private insurance payments.
What makes up the bill
For a multi-osteotomy correction at a private hospital, the typical inpatient bill is $30,428. MOH groups this bill into surgeon, anaesthetist, implant, facility and other fees.
MOH’s “operation fee” category should not be treated as the surgeon’s professional fee alone. Your written estimate should separately clarify the surgeon’s fee, anaesthetist fee, hospital or facility charges, implant costs and other expected items.
MOH also publishes fee benchmarks for private-sector doctors. These are reference ranges for a routine, typical case. They are not fee caps.
All figures include 9% GST. Source: MOH fee benchmarks, surgeon fees as of 1 June 2026; attendance fees as of 1 January 2025.
MOH does not publish anaesthetist fee benchmarks or hospital fee benchmarks for these bunion codes. Your final bill can still vary based on your hospital, surgeon, anaesthesia, and implant choice.
The figures in each row may not add up exactly to the total typical bill. The median amount for each component may come from different patients.
What MediSave covers
You can use MediSave for eligible bunion surgery. You may use your own MediSave or an immediate family member's MediSave if you meet CPF's eligibility requirements.
Your MediSave surgical withdrawal limit depends on the procedure’s TOSP table and complexity tier (A/B/C). For the bunion-related codes commonly used in Singapore, recent MOH/CPF data show surgical limits in the region of:
- SB832F (Table 3B): about $1,740
- SB732F (Table 3C): about $1,920
- SB727F (Table 5C): about $2,770
Exact limits can change; ask the hospital or check the latest CPF/MOH schedule before you book.
How MediShield Life and Integrated Shield Plans apply
MediShield Life covers eligible bunion surgery, subject to claim limits. For admissions on or after 1 June 2026, the surgical claim limits are approximately:
- SB832F (Table 3B): $1,740
- SB732F (Table 3C): $1,920
- SB727F (Table 5C): $3,270
MediShield Life also has limits for daily ward and treatment charges. Your final payout depends on your bill, ward class, deductible and co-insurance.
If you have surgery at a private hospital, MediShield Life first applies pro-ration.
For Singapore Citizens, private inpatient bills are pro-rated before claims are calculated: roughly 10% of eligible surgical charges and 16% of eligible ward charges are treated as claimable under MediShield Life.
For private day surgery, different pro-ration factors apply (around 15% for surgical charges and 21% for day-surgery charges). Your actual claim depends on your bill, policy and pro-ration rules.
An Integrated Shield Plan, or IP, may pay more than MediShield Life alone. Your coverage depends on your plan tier, rider, hospital type, surgeon's panel status, and whether you obtain pre-authorisation.
Some private-hospital IPs may cover eligible treatment on an "as charged" basis. This does not mean the insurer will automatically pay every dollar charged. Your insurer will assess the claim under your policy terms.
For IP riders sold from 1 April 2026, the rider cannot cover the minimum IP deductible. You must also pay at least 5% of the bill after the deductible. The co-payment cap is at least $6,000 per policy year and does not include the deductible and applies to eligible claims, such as panel or pre-authorised claims.
Before you book surgery, ask your insurer:
- Do I need pre-authorisation?
- Is my surgeon on the panel?
- What deductible and co-payment will I pay?
- What is my estimated out-of-pocket cost?
- Will the hospital submit the MediSave and insurance claims for me?
Your insurer is the only party that can confirm how much it will pay for your specific claim.
Not sure what your bunion surgery will actually cost after MediSave and your IP? WhatsApp us and we'll come back with a personalised estimate within one working day.
A consultation allows your specialist to assess your condition and provide a more personalised estimate of expected treatment costs.
Does day surgery cost less than an inpatient stay?
Many bunion procedures can be performed as day surgery. Day surgery usually costs less because you do not stay overnight.
For a multi-osteotomy correction at a subsidised public hospital, day surgery typically costs $5,710. A B2 inpatient stay typically costs $5,054. In this case, inpatient is slightly cheaper because the day-surgery bills capture higher-complexity same-day cases.
For unsubsidised patients, the difference is wider. An unsubsidised day-surgery multi-osteotomy typically costs $18,454, while a B1 inpatient stay typically costs $18,060. Cost differences at this level are small compared with the surgeon and hospital you choose.
Your surgeon will advise whether day surgery is suitable for you. The decision depends on the number of osteotomies performed, whether you also need soft-tissue work, your general health, and whether you have support at home after surgery.
Other costs to plan for
MOH's hospital-bill data covers the surgical episode. This includes the operation, anaesthesia, implants, facility fees, and immediate care after surgery.
You may still pay separately for:
- A pre-operative consultation with an orthopaedic or foot-and-ankle surgeon
- Weight-bearing X-rays before surgery
- Post-operative footwear or a walking boot
- Follow-up consultations
- Physiotherapy after surgery
- Removal of screws or plates in a small number of patients
Recovery after bunion surgery typically takes six to twelve weeks, depending on the type of osteotomy. Most patients need a post-operative shoe or boot for the first four to six weeks. Your ability to return to normal footwear and full activity depends on the correction performed and how the bone heals.
Ask your surgeon to include these costs in your written estimate. This gives you a clearer view of what you may pay overall.
How to get an accurate estimate for your case
Your final bill depends on the procedure your surgeon recommends. You will usually need a clinical assessment and weight-bearing X-rays before your surgeon can confirm this.
Once you have a diagnosis:
- Ask your surgeon for the TOSP code. Soft tissue reconstruction alone is SB832F. A single proximal osteotomy is SB732F. Multiple osteotomies are billed under SB727F.
- Request an itemised estimate. It should include the surgeon fee, anaesthetist fee, hospital or facility charges, implant fees, medicines, and expected rehabilitation costs.
- Ask your insurer whether you need pre-authorisation. Confirm whether your surgeon and hospital are on your plan's panel.
- Ask for your estimated deductible, co-payment, and out-of-pocket cost.
- Check whether the hospital will submit your MediSave and insurance claims directly.
When Health in Asia can help
The published figures show what other patients paid, not what you will pay. Your bill depends on your procedure, surgeon, hospital and policy.
If you are considering bunion surgery, the Health in Asia Care Team can help you:
- Find a foot-and-ankle specialist suited to your condition and hospital preference
- Coordinate your appointment and prepare scans, records and referral details
- Check insurer panel status and whether pre-authorisation is needed
- Get an itemised estimate covering surgeon, anaesthetist, facility, implant and follow-up costs
- Estimate your out-of-pocket cost after MediSave and insurance
You pay the specialist the same fee as booking directly. Our Care Team is free to you, and we do not take a share of the specialist’s fee. WhatsApp us for help comparing options and estimates.
Health in Asia is an independent healthcare-navigation service. We do not have commercial relationships with hospitals or surgeons, and we do not recommend providers based on referral payments.
Frequently asked questions
MediShield Life may cover eligible bunion surgery up to its claim limits. If you have an Integrated Shield Plan, it may cover a larger part of your bill, depending on your plan, deductible, co-payment, hospital type, insurer panel and whether pre-authorisation is required. Cosmetic bunion surgery is not MediSave or MediShield Life claimable — the procedure must be medically indicated (pain, deformity, or functional limitation). Check your coverage and obtain pre-authorisation, if applicable, before surgery.
Yes, for medically indicated bunion surgery. You may use MediSave subject to the withdrawal limits for your procedure's TOSP table and the applicable hospitalisation or day-surgery limit. For example, the MediSave surgical withdrawal limit for a Table 5C multiple osteotomy is up to $2,770. For day surgery, you may also use up to $830 for hospital charges, subject to the amount in your MediSave account and the bill incurred.
Most patients need a post-operative shoe or boot for four to six weeks after surgery. Return to normal footwear usually takes six to twelve weeks. Return to running or sport can take three to six months, depending on the type of osteotomy and how the bone heals. Your surgeon will guide your recovery timeline based on the correction performed.
Some patients choose to have both bunions corrected in one operation. This shortens the total recovery period but increases the difficulty of walking during the first few weeks. Bilateral surgery is usually billed under SB727F because more than one osteotomy is performed. Your surgeon will advise whether this is safe for you.
Most bunion implants do not need to be removed. A small proportion of patients develop discomfort over the hardware and choose to have it removed after the bone has fully healed, usually a year or more after surgery. Implant removal is a separate procedure with its own cost.
You may be able to seek treatment through a public hospital, but the referral route and your subsidy eligibility can affect your bill and waiting time. Ask the public hospital how you can be referred and whether you qualify for subsidised treatment.
Tell us your insurer during the first conversation and we'll take it into account when identifying specialist options.
Yes. Once we've found the right specialist, we check them against your insurance panel and work out the likely out-of-pocket cost, then share it with you before you commit. We can't speak for the insurer's final decision, but we'll make sure you go in with the clearest picture we can give you.
Yes, the Care Team will remain your point of contact for follow-up appointments, questions about medication, transitions between specialists, and anything new that comes up.
Disclaimer
This article and its contents are provided for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or professional services specific to you or your medical condition. For decisions about your health or treatment, speak with a qualified doctor who knows your situation. An…
How we reviewed this article:
Health in Asia has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
- MOH: SB732F — Foot, Hallux Valgus/Hammer Toe, Proximal Osteotomy, With Or Without Soft Tissue Reconstruction https://www.moh.gov.sg/managing-expenses/bills-and-fee-benchmarks/cost-financing/tosp-sb732f-bill-information/
- MOH: Hospital Bills and Fee Benchmarks hub https://www.moh.gov.sg/managing-expenses/bills-and-fee-benchmarks/hospital-bills-and-fee-benchmarks/
- CPF Board: Using MediSave for hospitalisation https://www.cpf.gov.sg/member/healthcare-financing/using-your-medisave-savings
- MOH: New requirements for Integrated Shield Plan riders (April 2026) https://www.moh.gov.sg/newsroom/new-requirements-for-integrated-shield-plan-riders-to-strengthen-sustainability-of-private-health-insurance-and-address-rising-healthcare-costs/
