Singlife CareShield · CareShield Life supplement, Singapore
CareShield Life supplement: turn S$689 a month into as much as S$5,689
If you can no longer wash, dress or move around on your own, CareShield Life pays S$689 a month in 2026. A nursing home can cost S$4,900 a month before subsidies. Singlife CareShield adds S$200 to S$5,000 more every month, for as long as you stay severely disabled.
- More money every month, for life, on top of CareShield Life, while you are severely disabled
- Claim earlier than CareShield Life: Plus pays from 2 of 6 daily activities, not 3, with up to 12 months of payouts from just 1
- Stop paying, stay covered: premiums stop once you cannot do 1 daily activity
- Use MediSave, not cash: up to S$600 a year. In our example below, MediSave pays the whole premium
- Insured by Singlife
- Regulated under the CareShield Life and Long-Term Care Act
- Protected under SDIC's PPF scheme
- 60 days to change your mind
Why it matters
Is CareShield Life enough? The numbers say no for most people
CareShield Life is a good base, but it is not enough on its own for most families. In 2026 it pays S$689 a month if you cannot do 3 of 6 daily activities. Long-term care in Singapore cost an average of S$2,952 a month in 2024, and a nursing home can cost about S$4,900 a month before subsidies. The difference comes from your savings, or from your children. A CareShield Life supplement such as Singlife CareShield adds S$200 to S$5,000 a month on top.
What care costs vs what CareShield Life pays, per month
Illustration only. Sources listed below the chart.
Sources: CareShield Life payout and nursing home estimate from the Ministry of Health, 27 August 2025 (illustrative 2026 figures). Average cost from Singlife research, 2024. Government subsidies depend on household income: the higher your household income, the less subsidy you get.
1 in 2
Singaporeans who are healthy at 65 are expected to become severely disabled at some point in their lives, says the Ministry of Health.
About 4 years
is the usual (median) time people stay severely disabled. About 3 in 10 stay that way for 10 years or more.
Age 32
was Singlife's youngest claimant. A stroke, an accident or a nerve disease can happen at any age.
Average care cost S$2,952 a month, minus CareShield Life S$689, leaves S$2,263 a month to find. For 4 years, that is S$108,624. For 10 years, S$271,560. Before any price increases. This is an example, not a forecast.
Price
How much Singlife CareShield costs: 3 real examples
Yearly price for a male, age 31 next birthday, CareShield Plus, paying until age 69. Taken from Singlife's online quote on 18 October 2026.
| Extra a month | Usual price a year | Online discount | You pay a year | From MediSave | Cash |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S$900 | S$706.61 | 20% | S$565.30 | S$565.30 | S$0 |
| S$1,500 | S$1,095.94 | 25% | S$821.96 | S$600 | S$221.96 |
| S$3,000 | S$2,093.78 | 35% | S$1,360.96 | S$600 | S$760.96 |
About S$1.55 a day, all paid from MediSave in this example. Together with CareShield Life, about S$1,589 a month if you claim in 2026.
MediSave pays S$600 a year, you pay the rest. Closer to the average care cost when added to CareShield Life.
At this level the online discount is 35%. Together with CareShield Life, about S$3,689 a month.
The discount steps up from 20% to 25% to 35% as the premium grows. Move the slider on Singlife's page and watch the price, or ask me to find the best point for your age.
If your company insures you under a Singlife group insurance plan and you are 30 to 40, Singlife offers your first year for S$1 (paid by MediSave, Singlife covers the rest up to S$599), then 20% off every year after (terms apply). Singlife says this offer ends on 31 December 2026. Not sure if your company qualifies? Ask me and I will check before you buy.
Women and older ages pay more for the same cover. You can also choose to pay until age 99 for a lower yearly price over a longer time. The discount is Singlife's promotion and applies to policies with a yearly premium of at least S$500. Once you have it, it stays for as long as your policy is in force and the premium stays above the minimum. Premiums are not guaranteed: Singlife can change premium rates for everyone with 30 days' notice. MediSave can pay up to S$600 per calendar year per person for all CareShield Life supplements together. The price on Singlife's page is the price that applies.
The cost of waiting
Why buying later almost always costs more
Long-term care cover is cheapest and easiest to get on the day you feel you need it least. Here is what can change while you wait.
Every birthday raises your price
Singlife prices on your age next birthday, and that price is kept for every year you pay. Wait one birthday and you pay more, every year, for decades.
A health change can close the door
You must answer health questions to be accepted. Conditions you have before you buy can be excluded, or you may be turned down. A stroke, a back operation or a new diagnosis can mean you can no longer get this cover.
The discount is a promotion
Up to 35% off, kept for the life of the policy. Singlife can change or end this promotion at any time. Buy after it ends and you may pay the full price every year.
You may need it before 65
Singlife's youngest claimant was 32, and one claimant has been paid every month for over 15 years. Severe disability is not only an old age problem.
Pick your birthday month to see how long your current price lasts.
What you get
Singlife CareShield Standard vs Plus vs CareShield Life
Both Singlife plans pay on top of CareShield Life. The main difference is how early they start paying. The 6 daily activities (ADLs) are washing, dressing, feeding, toileting, walking or moving around, and transferring (for example, from bed to chair).
| Benefit | CareShield Life (government) | Singlife CareShield Standard | Singlife CareShield Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly payout starts at | 3 of 6 ADLs | 3 of 6 ADLs | 2 of 6 ADLs |
| Monthly payout | S$689 (2026), for life | +S$200 to S$5,000, for life | +S$200 to S$5,000, for life |
| Early payout (Add-on Benefit) 100% of monthly benefit, up to 12 months |
None | From 2 ADLs | From 1 ADL |
| Lump sum when you first claim | None | 3x monthly benefit | 3x monthly benefit |
| Caregiver relief | None | 60% more, up to 12 months | 60% more, up to 12 months |
| Dependant care child age 22 or below (age next birthday) |
None | 20% more, up to 36 months | 20% more, up to 36 months |
| Rehabilitation benefit if you improve but still cannot do 2 ADLs |
None | 50% of last monthly benefit | Not included |
| Death while claiming | None | 3x last monthly benefit | 3x last monthly benefit |
- On both Singlife plans, premiums stop once you cannot do 1 ADL, and you stay covered.
- Benefits are paid after a 90-day deferment period from the claim date. There is no separate waiting period after you buy.
- "Cannot do" an ADL means you need significant help from another person for the whole activity. An assessor appointed under the scheme checks this.
- You can choose a level benefit, or one that grows 2% or 3% a year until you claim or stop paying premiums. A growing benefit costs more.
- If you were accepted on standard terms, you can raise your benefit once without new health questions after a life event such as marriage, a new child or buying a home, by up to 50% (conditions apply).
The stroke leaves you unable to wash or dress yourself (2 of 6 ADLs). After the 90-day deferment, a one-time lump sum of S$9,000 for things like a wheelchair or home changes. Then S$3,000 every month on top of CareShield Life, plus S$1,800 a month caregiver relief for the first 12 months. No more premiums. This example only shows how the benefits work. Every claim is assessed by Singlife against the policy.
Which one should I choose?
you want money to start sooner. Disability often comes step by step, and Plus starts paying at an earlier step.
you want a lower price for the same monthly amount, or you value the rehabilitation benefit if you get better.
Common doubts
"I already have enough cover." Do you?
- "I have an Integrated Shield plan." Shield plans pay hospital bills. Long-term care is the years after you go home: a helper, day care, a nursing home, diapers, transport. Shield plans do not pay a monthly income for that.
- "I have critical illness cover." Critical illness pays a lump sum once, when you are diagnosed. Severe disability can last 10 years or more. A one-time payout can run out. This pays every month for as long as you are disabled.
- "My children will look after me." A monthly payout lets them pay for help, instead of quitting work to care for you. The caregiver relief benefit is there for exactly this.
- "I will think about it when I am older." Then you pay a higher price for every year you pay, and you need to pass the health questions at that age. Not everyone can.
- "Insurers never pay disability claims." Severe disability is assessed using the same 6 ADLs used by CareShield Life, by an assessor appointed under the scheme. Singlife has paid one claimant monthly for over 15 years.
Not covered
What it does not cover, and things to know
Read these before you buy, so there are no surprises later.
- Conditions you had before you bought. A disability, or a condition with signs before your policy starts, is not covered unless you declared it and Singlife accepted it. Answer the health questions honestly.
- Self-inflicted injury, alcoholism and drug addiction. Also war. These are excluded.
- Short or mild disability. Payouts start only after a 90-day deferment period, and only at the ADL level your plan needs.
- Government Additional Premium Support (APS). If you, or the person paying for you, get APS for MediShield Life or CareShield Life premiums, buying this plan stops that APS.
- No cash value. Nothing comes back if you never claim. You cannot surrender it for cash.
- Premiums are not guaranteed. Singlife can change premium rates with 30 days' notice. Payouts may also be reviewed.
Is it for you
Who this suits, and who it does not
It may suit you if
- You are a Singapore Citizen or PR aged 30 to 64 with CareShield Life or ElderShield
- Your family depends on your income, or you are single and do not want to rely on others
- You want a helper at home or a private nursing home, not only the basic option
- You have MediSave money and want it to work for you now
- You are healthy today and want to lock in a lower price
It does not suit you if
- You are on an Employment Pass, S Pass or Work Permit and not a PR. You do not have CareShield Life, so you cannot buy a supplement
- You receive Additional Premium Support and need to keep it
- You already have a CareShield Life supplement with enough cover
- You have large savings or rental income that can pay for care for 10 years
How to choose
How to choose any CareShield Life supplement: 6 checks
Only three insurers offer CareShield Life supplements: Singlife, Great Eastern and Income Insurance. Use these checks on any of them.
- At how many ADLs does it start paying? Fewer ADLs means money comes sooner. Check if early payouts are limited to a few months.
- How much a month do you need? Start from the care you want, minus CareShield Life. About S$2,300 more, on top of S$689, matches the 2024 average care cost of S$2,952.
- What is paid besides the monthly amount? Lump sum, caregiver relief, dependant care, death benefit.
- When do premiums stop? Paying until 69 costs more a year but ends sooner. Check from how many ADLs premiums are waived.
- How much can MediSave pay? Up to S$600 a year per person across all supplements. The rest is cash.
- What is the price after discounts? Discounts differ a lot between insurers. Compare the final yearly price, not the headline.
Get my price
Same Singlife policy, same price. But you are not on your own.
Buy on Singlife's website yourself and you get a policy. Buy through this page and you also get me as your named adviser, for as long as you keep the policy. It costs you nothing extra. Here is what that means in real life.
You will not be the one claiming. You cannot wash or dress yourself, so your family has to do it, often in a hurry. I help them book the disability assessment, fill in the forms and send the right papers, so the payout is not held up by paperwork.
The same disability can also qualify you for CareShield Life payouts, MediSave Care (up to S$200 a month in cash from MediSave) and the Home Caregiving Grant (S$200 to S$600 a month, based on household income). Many families do not know to apply. I go through each one with them.
Premiums stop once you cannot do 1 daily activity, but only if someone asks for the waiver. I make sure your family does, so you are not paying while you are unwell.
After a marriage, a new child, a new home or a big pay rise, you can raise your cover once without health questions, but only within 90 days. Miss it and the chance is gone. Tell me about the change and I will remind you.
| Buy on Singlife's website yourself | Buy through this page | |
|---|---|---|
| The policy and price | Singlife CareShield | The same policy, the same price |
| Online discount | Singlife's current promotion | The same promotion |
| A named adviser for life | No. You call the hotline | Yes. Kenneth Hing, on WhatsApp |
| Help with your family's claim | They handle it alone | Help with the assessment, forms and timing |
| Check for other payouts and grants | Find out yourself | CareShield Life, MediSave Care and Home Caregiving Grant checked with you |
| Premium waiver and cover increase reminders | None | Yes |
| Yearly check that your cover is still enough | None | Free, if you want it |
| Extra cost to you | None | None |
See your price in about 2 minutes
The button opens Singlife's own quote page. You buy directly from Singlife, and Singlife holds your policy and your payment.
What happens next:
- Enter your date of birth and gender.
- Pick Standard or Plus, choose to pay until 69 or 99, and slide to the monthly amount you want. Your price, with the discount, shows straight away.
- Answer the health questions, then apply and pay with MediSave, cash or both.
- No risk to try. You have 60 days after you receive your policy to change your mind. Your premium comes back, less Singlife's medical and issuing costs, if any.
- Lock in your age and the discount. Your price is set by your age next birthday on the day you buy.
- The discount is Singlife's promotion. Singlife can change or end it at any time.
Buying through this link is an online purchase without financial advice. Kenneth Hing is recorded as your servicing representative. Singlife states that product features and premiums are the same whether you buy online or through a representative. Promotions, eligibility and prices are set by Singlife and can change or end at any time. This page is not a contract of insurance.
Not sure yet? Ask me first.
I am Kenneth Hing, a licensed financial adviser representative in Singapore (MAS Rep No. HYH300584638). Tell me your age and what you already have. I will tell you straight if you need more cover, and how much, even if the answer is none.
Prefer to talk directly? WhatsApp +65 8825 8725 or email [email protected].
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is CareShield Life enough in Singapore?
For most families, no. In 2026 CareShield Life pays S$689 a month if you cannot do 3 of 6 daily activities. Long-term care cost an average of S$2,952 a month in 2024 (Singlife research), and a nursing home can cost about S$4,900 a month before subsidies (Ministry of Health, 2026 illustration). The gap is paid from your savings or by your family. A CareShield Life supplement adds a monthly payout on top.
What is a CareShield Life supplement?
A private insurance plan that pays extra money every month on top of CareShield Life or ElderShield if you become severely disabled. Only three insurers offer them: Singlife, Great Eastern and Income Insurance. They are regulated under the CareShield Life and Long-Term Care Act, and MediSave can pay up to S$600 a year of the premium.
What is the best CareShield Life supplement in Singapore?
There is no single best plan for everyone. Compare how early each plan starts paying, the monthly amount, the extra benefits, when premiums stop and the final price after discounts. Singlife CareShield Plus starts its lifetime monthly payout at 2 of 6 daily activities, pays up to 12 months from 1 activity, stops premiums from 1 activity, and had an online discount of up to 35% for the life of the policy when checked on 18 October 2026.
How much does Singlife CareShield cost?
It depends on your age, gender, plan and how long you pay. On Singlife's online quote on 18 October 2026, a male aged 31 next birthday paying until age 69 for CareShield Plus paid S$565.30 a year for S$900 more a month (20% off, fully payable by MediSave), S$821.96 a year for S$1,500 (25% off) and S$1,360.96 a year for S$3,000 (35% off). Premiums are not guaranteed.
Can I pay for a CareShield Life supplement with MediSave?
Yes. MediSave can pay up to S$600 per calendar year per person for all CareShield Life supplements together. Anything above that is paid in cash. In the S$900 example above, MediSave pays the whole premium.
What is the difference between Singlife CareShield Standard and Plus?
Standard starts its monthly payout at 3 of 6 daily activities and has an early payout from 2. Plus starts at 2 and has an early payout from 1, for up to 12 months. Standard includes a rehabilitation benefit of 50% of the last monthly payout if you improve. Both pay S$200 to S$5,000 a month for life, a lump sum of 3 times the monthly benefit, caregiver relief and dependant care, and stop premiums from 1 activity.
At what age should I buy a CareShield Life supplement?
You can apply from age 30 to 64. The earlier you start, the lower your yearly price, because Singlife prices on your age next birthday and keeps that price for every year you pay. You also need to pass the health questions, which is easier when you are younger and healthy.
Can foreigners or Employment Pass holders buy a CareShield Life supplement?
No, not unless they are Singapore Permanent Residents. You need a CareShield Life or ElderShield policy first, and CareShield Life covers Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents.
Will buying a supplement affect my Additional Premium Support?
Yes. Anyone who pays for, or is insured under, a CareShield Life supplement is not eligible for the Government's Additional Premium Support (APS). If you or the person paying receives APS today, it will stop.
Do I have to buy through you?
No. You can buy Singlife CareShield directly on Singlife's website. Singlife states that product features and premiums are the same whichever way you buy. If you use the link on this page, you pay the same price and I am recorded as your servicing representative. That means your family has a named person to help with the disability assessment and claim forms, I check whether you can also get CareShield Life payouts, MediSave Care and the Home Caregiving Grant, and I remind you about the premium waiver and the 90-day window to raise your cover after a life event. Buying through the link is an online purchase without financial advice.
Want the full background on CareShield Life and ElderShield? Read the CareShield Life guide.