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Key Takeaways
- Meniscus tear surgery costs in Singapore vary based on the procedure, hospital type, surgeon’s fees, anaesthesia, implants and whether you need day surgery or an inpatient stay.
- Subsidised public-hospital treatment generally costs less than private care, but your final bill will depend on your subsidy status, procedure code and treatment needs.
- MediSave, MediShield Life and Integrated Shield Plans may offset part of eligible bills. Check your surgical code, claim limits and insurer’s pre-authorisation requirements before surgery.
Meniscus surgery costs vary in Singapore. Your bill depends on whether your surgeon repairs the tear or removes the damaged part of the meniscus. It also depends on where you have surgery and whether you go home on the same day.
Based on MOH’s 2023 transacted bill data, a subsidised public day-surgery bill for meniscal repair is typically about $4,600. A private inpatient bill for the same procedure is typically about $27,300. These figures are before MediSave and insurance payouts.
This guide explains the cost of meniscal repair and meniscectomy. It also outlines the MediSave and MediShield Life limits that may apply.
Two types of meniscus surgery
Meniscal repair stitches a suitable tear, while meniscectomy removes the damaged portion and preserves as much healthy tissue as possible.
Meniscus surgery is not a single procedure. Your surgeon may repair the tear or remove the damaged part of the meniscus.
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.
Meniscal repair is usually more complex. Your surgeon preserves the meniscus and may use repair implants to hold the tear in place while it heals. This procedure falls under the higher Table 5A category.
A meniscectomy removes the damaged part of the meniscus. It is usually a shorter procedure and generally does not require meniscal-repair implants.
The procedure that is right for you depends on your tear pattern, where the tear is located, whether it has an adequate blood supply, and your age and activity level. Your surgeon should recommend the procedure that best suits your knee injury, rather than the cheaper option.
How much does meniscal repair cost? (SB715K)
The table below shows MOH’s 2023 transacted bill data for meniscal repair, coded as SB715K. Amounts include GST. The typical bill is the median bill, which means that half of patients paid less and half paid more.
At a private hospital, meniscal repair as day surgery typically costs $21,898. This is $5,442 less than the typical inpatient bill of $27,340.
In a subsidised public hospital, day surgery typically costs $4,597. A subsidised B2 inpatient stay typically costs $4,997.
Public-hospital figures already reflect government subsidies. They do not yet deduct MediSave, MediShield Life, or private insurance payments. MOH’s published figures support the private day-surgery median of $21,898 and subsidised public day-surgery median of $4,597 for SB715K.
How much does meniscectomy cost? (SB808K)
A meniscectomy removes the damaged part of your meniscus. It is usually less complex than meniscal repair and typically costs less.
The table below shows MOH’s 2023 transacted bill data for meniscectomy, coded as SB808K. Amounts include GST. The typical bill is the median bill, meaning that half of patients paid less and half paid more.
MOH does not report a separate private day-surgery figure for SB808K in its 2023 dataset.
The MOH data does not list an implant fee for this procedure. This may partly explain why meniscectomy costs less than meniscal repair. Your final bill can still vary based on your hospital, surgeon, anaesthesia, and any additional treatment you need.
Repair and meniscectomy costs
Meniscal repair usually costs more because your surgeon preserves and stitches the torn meniscus. Meniscectomy removes the damaged part instead.
At a private hospital, the typical inpatient bill for meniscal repair is $8,485 higher than for meniscectomy.
At a subsidised public hospital, meniscal repair costs $1,579 more as day surgery. In a subsidised B2 ward, it costs $1,239 more.
Meniscal repair falls under the higher TOSP Table 5A. This gives you a slightly higher MediSave surgical limit and MediShield Life surgical claim limit than Table 4A meniscectomy. Current MediShield Life benefits are tied to the applicable procedure category and claim limits.
What makes up the bill
For meniscal repair at a private hospital day surgery, the typical bill is $21,898. MOH groups this bill into operation, implant, and other fees.
The operation fee includes the surgeon’s fee, anaesthetist’s fee, and facility charges. Within this amount, the typical surgeon’s fee is $8,573 and the typical anaesthetist’s fee is $1,610.
MOH also publishes fee benchmarks for private-sector doctors. These are reference ranges for typical cases. They are not fee caps.
The surgeon’s fee is only one part of your total operation fee. Your final bill may also include anaesthesia, operating theatre charges, implants, medicines, consumables, and recovery care.
The figures in each row may not add up exactly to the total typical bill. This is because the median amount for each component may come from different patients.
Source: MOH 2023 transacted bill data and MOH fee benchmarks, inclusive of 9% GST.
What MediSave covers
You can use MediSave for eligible meniscus surgery. You may use your own MediSave or a family member’s MediSave if you meet CPF’s eligibility requirements.
Your MediSave limit depends on the TOSP table and whether you have day surgery or an inpatient stay.
Meniscal repair, SB715K
Meniscectomy, SB808K
For an inpatient stay, you can use up to $1,130 a day for hospital charges during the first two days. From the third day onwards, the limit is $400 a day.
These MediSave limits apply whether you receive treatment at a public or private hospital. For day surgery, the hospital-charge withdrawal limit is $830, while the surgical withdrawal limit depends on the operation’s TOSP table.
Source: CPF Board — MediSave Claim Limits
How MediShield Life and Integrated Shield Plans apply
how meniscus surgery may be paid
MediShield Life covers eligible meniscus surgery, subject to claim limits. For meniscal repair under Table 5A, the surgical claim limit is $2,700. For meniscectomy under Table 4A, it is $2,310.
MediShield Life also has limits for daily ward charges 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, it uses 10% of eligible surgical charges and 16% of eligible ward charges to calculate the claim. This means MediShield Life usually pays only a limited amount towards a private-hospital bill.
An Integrated Shield Plan, or IP, may pay more than MediShield Life alone. Your coverage depends on your plan, 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 amount 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 a policy year and does not include the deductible. You can use MediSave for the deductible and co-payment, subject to the applicable withdrawal limits and your available balance.
Before you book surgery, ask your insurer these questions:
- 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.
Day surgery or inpatient?
Many meniscus procedures are performed as day surgery. Day surgery usually costs less because you do not stay overnight.
For meniscal repair at a private hospital, day surgery typically costs $21,898. Inpatient care typically costs $27,340. Day surgery therefore costs $5,442 less.
In a subsidised public hospital, day surgery typically costs $4,597. A B2 inpatient stay typically costs $4,997. The difference is $400.
Your surgeon will advise whether day surgery is suitable for you. The decision depends on the type of repair you need, whether you need other procedures, 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:
- An MRI scan before surgery
- Specialist consultations before and after surgery
- Physiotherapy after surgery
- Follow-up scans, if needed
- A knee brace or crutches
Physiotherapy can be a significant ongoing cost after meniscal repair. Recovery after repair is often slower than recovery after meniscectomy because the repaired meniscus needs time to heal.
Ask your surgeon or hospital 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, in many cases, an MRI scan before your surgeon can confirm this.
Once you have a diagnosis:
- Ask your surgeon for the TOSP code. Meniscal repair uses SB715K. Meniscectomy uses SB808K.
- Request an itemised estimate. It should include the surgeon’s fee, anaesthetist’s 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
Health in Asia can help you compare orthopaedic specialists in Singapore based on your meniscus injury, insurance panel, preferred hospital, and whether you are considering public or private care.
After you choose a specialist, our Care Team can help you check appointment availability, understand the booking process, and ask insurance-related questions. You can also speak with our Care Team about an orthopaedic review, treatment-cost questions, or a second opinion.
Frequently asked questions
MediShield Life may cover eligible meniscus 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. Check your coverage and obtain pre-authorisation, if applicable, before surgery.
Yes. You may use MediSave for eligible meniscus surgery, 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 5A operation is up to S$2,610. For day surgery, you may also use up to S$830 for hospital charges, subject to the amount in your MediSave account and the bill incurred.
Usually, yes. Meniscus repair is generally more complex than partial meniscus removal (meniscectomy), may take longer and can require implants such as sutures or fixation devices. It is therefore commonly billed at a higher surgical table than meniscectomy. However, your total bill also depends on the hospital, surgeon, anaesthesia, implants and whether another procedure is performed at the same time.
Yes. Send us what you have. If anything's missing, we'll tell you exactly what to request and how.
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.
Tell us your insurer during the first conversation and we'll take it into account when identifying specialist options.
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…
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