Seeing A Health Professional Without Health Insurance
It is impossible to know how many people would ignore the need to see a clinician because they did not have health insurance. After all, if you do not have money to pay for insurance, then the prospect of paying for a medical appointment might be daunting. But thanks to technology and the advent of telemedicine, that has changed.
Telemedicine Reduces the Cost of Seeing a Clinician Without Insurance
Imagine you can pop your laptop open, sign into your account, and set up an affordable appointment with your a medical professional from the comfort of your home. Telemedicine allows you to do just this and the prices are competitive precisely because it costs way less to deliver the service.
There is also quite a substantial market for uninsured people who need basic checkups. Consider the following:
- There are about 30 million people in the US that do not have health insurance
- The average cost of health insurance for the average American, is above $3,400 dollars per year
- That is almost $300 per month, which is a substantial cost for many
- This creates a market for telemedicine
- Without the costs of keeping a clinic open, more people can get affordable healthcare on their computer screens
What is the Cost to See an Expert Without Insurance Through a Telemedicine Provider?
So, how much can it cost you to see a health professional with a telemedicine provider? The price of a single consult can range between $30 to$50 dollars. Think about that. You can get the care that you need withoutpaying high monthly insurance costs.
There are, however, certain advantages that health insurance does give you which you should keep in mind:
- Emergency medical care incase of an accident
- Discounts, reduced prices, or reimbursements on prescription medication
- Depending on your coverage, annual or periodical tests like bloodwork
But if you do not have the money to afford insurance, then you would not have access to those anyway.
Some Might Even Chose an Uninsured Appointment Visit
In some cases, even if you have the money, you might consider that given your age and lifestyle, you would be better off going for the occasional uninsured medical appointment instead of shelling out hundreds of dollars a month. This might be the case if you are:
- A low-risk contract worker
- An entrepreneur
Young people might be attracted to the prospect of remaining uninsured if they know they will have access to a doctor at an affordable price on demand, and they can keep the rest of the money they would otherwise spend.
The Convenience of your “No Insurance Clinic Near Me”
Saving money is one thing. Having a more efficient system that saves you time is the real hidden advantage. Telemedicine is your “no insurance clinic near me.”
Think about it from the point of view of an entrepreneur or a contract worker:
- If you can avoid traffic going to and coming from your appointment, you will have more time in your hands
- You can also see an expert without insurance from any place you want if you have an internet connection
No Insurance, No Problem!
All these advantages make it less scary to book your next delete appointment without insurance. Whether you cannot afford health insurance or you consider that you should be investing the money elsewhere, you now have a solution that suits your needs.
You will not have to give up on anything else:
- Telemedicine guarantees you access to a medical professional without a fixed monthly cost or at least with a very low monthly fee
- The clinician that will take care of you is licensed to practice medicine in your state
- You can get prescription for medication from your telemedicine provider
Additionally, telemedicine offers patients technological advances that most other practitioners would not have access to, like AI-powered diagnostics and more. In fact, the clinicians at the clinic down the street are already taking consults over the phone, on Zoom, or on Skype due to the pandemic.
In such an environment, getting a an appointment appointment without insurance through a telemedicine provider, makes sense all around.
Singapore is known for its top-notch healthcare system – great news for all of us, though it can also mean some hefty bills! To help navigate the issues around these costs, we asked the team at Pacific Prime to give us a better understanding of how the healthcare system works, the cost of healthcare in Singapore and what you need to factor in if you want to live here as an expat.
#1 Singapore’s healthcare sectors
In Singapore, the healthcare system is made up of two sectors: public and private. The option you choose will have a significant effect on the price you pay. It’s common for private clinics and hospitals to have a higher price range than public alternatives. However, the difference has become less steep over recent years since the two are in direct competition.
Here are some key differences between public and private hospitals:
- Wait times: It’s common to have to wait several hours after arrival for treatment in public facilities in Singapore. Private hospitals, on the other hand, often admit patients within an hour.
- Appointments: Singapore’s private hospitals have lower patient numbers, making it easier for them to accommodate most patients, whereas most public hospitals tend to operate on a “first-come, first-served” basis.
- Medical equipment: Private hospitals tend to have larger budgets to invest in equipment and treatment.
- Wards: The more expensive the ward, the more private and comfortable it’ll be. Some wards in private medical centres are even comparable to five-star hotel rooms, with plenty of amenities for patients to enjoy.
#2 Expats pay higher rates
Singapore citizens and permanent residents have access to various subsidised healthcare services through government healthcare facilities. The public health insurance system operates through Medisave and Medishield. By contributing to their Medisave account annually, Singapore citizens and permanent residents can use it to pay for routine expenses. If they end up reaching their deductible limit, they can start using the Medishield account.
Unfortunately, expats don’t enjoy these subsidies and will be charged regular high rates. While Singapore citizens and permanent residents can expect to pay between $39 to $59 for an initial visit to a specialist outpatient doctor, for example, private patients (or expats) can pay up to $150.
To ensure that you don’t need to pay everything out of your pocket when living in Singapore, buying a private health insurance plan is essential.
#3 You get what you pay for
In Singapore, you can be certain that any hospital you go to will be equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, well-maintained facilities and highly-trained English-speaking staff. Both public and private facilities also ensure that the entire process is efficient from start to finish. All of these reasons and more are why many expats living in other parts of Asia visit Singapore for medical care. This is also why the cost of healthcare in Singapore is on the high end.
That said, there are still some differences between public and private facilities. Public hospital wards range from simple shared rooms (up to nine beds) to modest private rooms with basic amenities, while private hospital rooms (and suites) tend to be more luxurious. Some of the perks available at private facilities include:
- Private single bed occupancy
- Sofa or sofa bed
- Entertainment such as TV and DVD player
- Mini fridge
- Complimentary slippers, toiletries, towels and Wi-Fi
- Separate living room
- Automatic drapery
Private hospital room rates vary across hospitals and depend on room type. For instance, one night in a single room at Raffles Hospital and Gleneagles costs $668 and $708 respectively, while the daily rate of a suite goes for $919 and $898 respectively.
#4 The impact of location on pricing
Location is a key factor to consider when you’re choosing a clinic or hospital. Prices can vary depending on where the facility is located. A hospital in the city will have higher prices than a family clinic in the heartlands. For instance, Mount Elizabeth, which is situated in Orchard, is one of Singapore’s most expensive private hospitals.
It’s advisable to find a doctor that’s close to your home and another that’s near your office. You might want to consider finding another one near your children’s school, just in case. To save on healthcare costs, you can secure individual health insurance in Singapore for access to a wide medical network and have inpatient and outpatient expenses covered.
Handy tip: Be wary of cheap insurance plans
Again, you get what you pay for when it comes to health insurance, so don’t be enticed by health insurance plans with appealingly low premiums. These are usually too good to be true and often result in extra costs such as rejected claims. The most common risks associated with cheap health insurance plans include:
- A small network of healthcare providers
- Unpredictable premium increases
- Low limits
- Limited options for pre-existing condition coverage, or none at all
- Many exclusions
- No outpatient benefits
- Poor customer service
Need some help?
Whether you’re looking for individual health insurance or family health insurance in Singapore, consider seeking the expert advice of a reputable insurance broker. One such broker is Pacific Prime; it has a team of experts who are happy to answer insurance-related questions and help you customise the ideal insurance plan for your needs and budget. Contact Pacific Prime Singapore for advice or an obligation-free quotation.
You can also check out Pacific Prime’s State of Health Insurance Report for a deeper understanding of key insurance trends.
Written in collaboration with:
Pacific Prime Singapore
18 Cross Street, China Square Central, #14-05
6346 3781 | pacificprime.sg
Read on
for more about insurance and other health and fitness topics in Singapore:
Top six health issues in Singapore
Local vs international health insurance
Get the latest events, stories and special offers
sent to your inbox.
By signing up, you'll receive our weekly newsletters and offers, which you can unsubscribe to anytime.
What can you do if you don't have money to see a doctor?
Are doctor visits free in Canada?
How can I see a doctor without insurance in California?
How much does it cost to visit the GP in Singapore?
General Practitioner (GP) | Specialists | |
In-office consultation fees Short Consultation (up to 10 mins) Long Consultation (11 to 20 mins) Extended Consultation (per 10 mins) | $20 - $30 $30 - $55 $20 - $25 | $60 - $100 $90 - $150 $50 - $80 |