Hip Replacement Cost Singapore: What You May Pay

If you have been advised to have a hip replacement, the question is not only “How much is the bill?” It is “How much will I pay after MediSave and insurance, and how can I reduce uncertainty before surgery?”

MOH’s 2023 data puts the typical bill for a primary total hip replacement at about $8,900 in a subsidised public ward and $47,875 in a private hospital. Your final out-of-pocket cost depends on your ward class, MediSave balance, MediShield Life and private-insurance cover.

Typical hip replacement bills in Singapore: The MOH data

MOH’s transacted-bill data shows what Singapore citizens were billed for comparable procedures in 2023.

For a primary total hip replacement (TOSP code SB839H, Table 6A), the figures are:

Private hospital (inpatient, inclusive of GST):

The typical private hospital bill was $47,875. The typical bill range shows the middle 50% of comparable bills.

Public hospital, subsidised

After applicable government subsidies, before MediSave and insurance payouts.

Public hospital, unsubsidised

Public B2 and C ward figures reflect applicable government subsidies, but they are before MediSave, MediShield Life and private-insurance payouts. Your final payment depends on your MediSave balance, claim limits, deductible, co-insurance and insurance cover.

Ward class can make a substantial difference. In 2023, the typical bill was about $8,900 in subsidised B2 or C wards, compared with $29,317 in an unsubsidised A ward.

These figures are MOH bill benchmarks, not personalised quotations or final out-of-pocket costs. They are based on 2023 transacted bills, include GST and may not reflect additional treatment, complications, a longer hospital stay or rehabilitation needs.

The figures and explanation align with MOH’s SB839H data, which reports bills for Singapore citizens, includes GST and describes the typical bill as the median of comparable bills.

Source: MOH bill information for SB839H.

Not all hip replacements are the same procedure

Hip replacement is not one single procedure code. MOH uses different TOSP codes for standard primary replacement, surgery requiring augmentation and revision surgery. These procedures have different cost benchmarks.

If your surgeon expects to use bone grafts or additional implants, ask whether SB723H applies. In 2023, its typical private hospital bill was $57,900—about $10,000 higher than the $47,875 benchmark for standard primary total hip replacement. Your final bill will still depend on your implant, hospital, length of stay and any additional treatment required.

What makes up the bill

A hip replacement bill at a private hospital is not one flat fee. MOH's transacted data breaks it into three broad categories:

Within the operation fee, MOH reports the surgeon fee at a P50 of $12,968 and the anaesthetist fee at $2,670. The facility component is not reported separately for this procedure.

MOH also publishes fee benchmarks for private-sector doctors in routine, typical cases. For SB839H, the benchmark is $9,600–$14,400 before GST for the surgeon and $2,100–$3,400 before GST for the anaesthetist. These are fee benchmarks, not fixed quotes.

How MediSave, MediShield Life and insurance affect your out-of-pocket cost

MediSave, MediShield Life and private insurance may each reduce the amount you pay for hip replacement surgery, but your final out-of-pocket cost depends on your personal circumstances.

MediSave

You can use MediSave from your own account or an immediate family member’s account for eligible hospitalisation and surgical expenses, subject to the applicable withdrawal limits and available MediSave balance.

For inpatient hospital charges, you can use up to:

• $1,130 per day for the first two days
• $400 per day from the third day onwards

For surgery, the MediSave withdrawal limit depends on the procedure’s Table of Surgical Procedures (TOSP) classification:

• Table 6A: Up to $3,260
• Table 6B: Up to $3,610

Primary total hip replacement, coded SB839H, is a Table 6A procedure. Hip replacement with augmentation, coded SB723H, is a Table 6B procedure. The amount you can use ultimately depends on the eligible charges, your MediSave balance and the details of your admission.

Source: CPF Board — Using MediSave for hospitalisation.

MediShield Life

MediShield Life is designed primarily for subsidised care in public B2 and C wards. For non-subsidised and private hospital treatment, CPF Board pro-rates relevant bill components before calculating the claim.

For Singapore Citizens in a private hospital, the pro-ration factors are 10% for surgical charges and 16% for ward charges. The claim is then subject to applicable claim limits, deductibles and co-insurance. 

If you are using only MediShield Life and MediSave for private treatment, you may still need to pay a substantial part of the bill yourself. Review CPF Board’s MediShield Life calculation examples and ask the hospital’s financial counsellor for an estimate of your expected claim before admission.

Source: CPF Board — MediShield Life pro-ration.

Integrated Shield Plans

If you have an Integrated Shield Plan (IP), your out-of-pocket cost may be lower than the full private hospital bill. However, the amount you pay depends on your plan, rider, insurer panel requirements, pre-authorisation, deductible, co-payment, available MediSave and any non-claimable charges.

Many private hospital IPs cover eligible Table 6A surgery, including primary total hip replacement. However, coverage is not automatic. Your insurer will assess the claim under your policy terms.

For new IP riders sold from 1 April 2026, riders cannot cover the minimum IP deductible set by MOH. Policyholders must also pay at least 5% co-payment. The annual co-payment cap is at least $6,000, excluding the minimum deductible, for eligible claims. Deductibles and co-payments may be payable using MediSave, subject to prevailing withdrawal limits.

Before booking private hospital surgery, confirm with your insurer:

• Whether your surgeon and hospital are on your plan’s panel
• Whether you need pre-authorisation for the procedure
• The deductible and co-payment that apply to your policy
• Whether the proposed implant, surgeon’s fees and other charges are claimable
• Whether you have sufficient annual claim limits remaining
• Whether your claim qualifies for any co-payment cap

Your insurer is the only party that can confirm your coverage and likely claim outcome. Ask for written confirmation before surgery.

Public or private: How to think about the choice

The bill difference is significant: roughly $9,000 at a public subsidised ward versus about $48,000 at a private hospital. But the out-of-pocket difference may be narrower than the headline figures suggest, depending on your insurance coverage.

For patients with a private-tier Integrated Shield Plan and rider, the cash portion of a private hospital bill can be considerably lower than the total. If you rely only on MediShield Life and MediSave, private treatment may still leave a substantial amount to pay.

In a subsidised public setting, you may have less choice over the individual surgeon than in private care. Waiting times, continuity with a named surgeon and ward preferences can also differ. Ask the hospital what applies to your referral and admission pathway.

Quick decision aid: which path fits your situation?

Use this as a starting point. Confirm costs and cover with your hospital and insurer.

How to get an accurate estimate for your case

If you have been advised to have a hip replacement, the most reliable way to understand your cost is to get the specifics rather than rely on online ranges:

• Ask your surgeon for the TOSP code (SB839H for primary, SB723H if augmentation is expected, SB724H for revision) so you can look it up on the MOH benchmark tool
• Request a written, itemised cost estimate covering the surgeon, anaesthetist, implant, facility, and ward charges
• Call your insurer to confirm coverage, deductible, co-insurance, and whether pre-authorisation is needed before the surgery, not after
• Ask the hospital how it will process your MediSave claim and whether you need to complete any authorisation forms

These four steps replace the guesswork that online ranges leave you with.

When Health in Asia can help

Understanding the published data is one part of the decision. You may also need help understanding whether you are considering a primary, complex or revision hip replacement, and what to ask your surgeon, insurer and hospital.

The HiA Care Team helps patients navigate this. If you are unsure whether public or private makes sense for your situation, want help preparing questions about your IP coverage for this procedure, or need help identifying an orthopaedic surgeon with the right sub-specialty experience, you can reach the Care Team on WhatsApp.

Health in Asia has no commercial relationship with any hospital or surgeon. The guidance is designed to clarify your options, not to steer you toward a particular provider.