CHAS, Healthier SG and MediSave: What’s the Difference?

CHAS, MediSave and Healthier SG probably sound familiar. Most Singaporean adults group them together as "the government healthcare subsidy schemes" but are unsure how they differ. What each one does, when it applies, and whether they can be used together is where most people get stuck.

The simplest way to understand the difference:

• CHAS reduces eligible charges through government subsidies.
• Healthier SG connects you with an enrolled family doctor for preventive and ongoing care, with added benefits for certain services.
• MediSave lets you pay approved healthcare expenses using your healthcare savings.

Sometimes they combine on the same bill. Sometimes only one applies. The question to ask is: How does each apply to the care you need?

At a glance: CHAS, MediSave and Healthier SG

Three schemes, three different jobs. Here's how they line up:

CHAS subsidises eligible healthcare charges (+)

The Community Health Assist Scheme, or CHAS, is a government subsidy for eligible medical and dental care at participating clinics. Every Singapore Citizen can apply for CHAS.

The benefits available depend on your CHAS tier. They can include subsidies for common illnesses, chronic conditions, eligible screening and vaccinations, and selected dental treatments. Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation seniors receive separate benefits.

Once the CHAS subsidy is deducted from the clinic’s charges, you pay any remaining amount out of pocket. MediSave or employee medical benefits may cover part of the balance if the care qualifies.

See our CHAS guide for the benefits available under each tier.

MediSave: paying for approved treatments from your own savings (+)

MediSave is money set aside in your CPF healthcare savings account to pay for approved healthcare costs. Unlike CHAS, it does not lower the bill.

You can use savings from your own MediSave account, or that of an approved family member, to pay for approved costs within applicable withdrawal limits. These include hospital stays, day surgery, selected outpatient treatments and premiums for MediShield Life or Integrated Shield Plans.

At GP clinics, MediSave is mainly used for eligible chronic care, nationally recommended vaccinations and selected preventive tests. It generally cannot be used for an ordinary visit for a short-term illness such as a cough or sore throat. However, eligible people aged 60 and above can use up to $400 a year under Flexi-MediSave for approved outpatient care.

Learn more about what MediSave can be used for.

Healthier SG supports preventive and continuous care through your enrolled clinic (+)

Healthier SG is designed to help you take a more active role in staying healthy, identifying health risks earlier and managing existing conditions well. By enrolling with a clinic, you have a family doctor who becomes familiar with your medical history and can guide you on suitable health goals, screening and vaccinations.

Unlike CHAS or MediSave, Healthier SG is not a subsidy or savings account. It brings your preventive and continuous care together while giving you additional benefits for eligible services at your enrolled clinic.

Learn more about Healthier SG and the benefits of enrolment.

They are not three alternatives to choose between. CHAS and MediSave help you pay; Healthier SG aims to help you stay healthy.

Can you use CHAS, MediSave and Healthier SG together?

Whether you can use CHAS, MediSave and Healthier SG together depends on what you’re seeing the doctor for. They are not applied as an automatic package. These common situations show how the different parts can come together.

Doctor checking patient blood pressure during health examination

A walk-in GP visit for a short-term illness

You develop a sore throat and visit a GP for consultation and medication.

• CHAS: If you hold a CHAS Blue, Orange, Pioneer Generation or Merdeka Generation card, a common-illness subsidy can reduce your clinic bill.
• MediSave: It generally cannot be used for a short-term illness. However, Flexi-MediSave may cover approved outpatient care for eligible people aged 60 and above.
• Healthier SG: Enrolment does not usually provide an additional subsidy for such walk-in visits.

This is usually a situation where CHAS applies on its own, unless you are eligible to use Flexi-MediSave.

A preventive check-up and screening to stay ahead

You are well, and you want to keep it that way. This is the routine visit where your doctor checks how you are doing and recommends the screenings and vaccinations you are due for, based on your age, sex, health history and when you were last screened.

• Healthier SG: Your Health Plan helps your doctor keep track of the screenings and vaccinations you are due for. Eligible Singapore Citizens enrolled in Healthier SG can get their recommended Healthier SG screening and vaccinations at their enrolled clinic.
• CHAS: Not usually needed here, as recommended Healthier SG screening runs through the Healthier SG programme.
• MediSave: It is not normally needed when your eligible Healthier SG screening or vaccination is fully subsidised at your enrolled clinic.

Here, the value of Healthier SG goes beyond paying for one screening. Your enrolled clinic can continue to follow-up on and guide your care over time.

Ongoing treatment for a chronic condition

You are managing a long-term condition such as high blood pressure and seeing your doctor regularly for it. This is where all three come together on one bill.

• First, the subsidy. As a CHAS, Pioneer Generation or Merdeka Generation cardholder, a chronic-care subsidy reduces your clinic bill. (If you are enrolled in Healthier SG, this subsidy comes in two forms, covered below.)
• Then, MediSave. You pay the remaining eligible amount from MediSave rather than in cash, within the Chronic Disease Management Programme withdrawal limit.
• If you are enrolled in Healthier SG. That cash co-payment is waived. MediSave can therefore be used for the remaining approved amount, subject to your available balance and withdrawal limit.

Without Healthier SG, patients will need to pay at least 15% of the bill in cash, with MediSave covering the rest.

This is the one visit where all three do their separate jobs on the same bill.

CHAS Chronic Tier or Healthier SG Chronic Tier?

If you are a CHAS, Pioneer Generation or Merdeka Generation cardholder enrolled with a Healthier SG GP clinic, you can choose between two subsidy options for chronic care. The main difference is how each one reduces the cost of your medicines and the other parts of your bill.

Do note that only one subsidy tier can be used for each visit. They cannot be combined on the same chronic-care bill.

*Rates are accurate as at September 2026 and may be revised. CHAS subsidy limits depend on your card tier and whether your visit is classified as simple or complex chronic care. Healthier SG medication subsidies depend on your tier and the medicine prescribed.

Neither tier is automatically better. Your clinic can compare both options based on your prescribed medicines and the other charges in your bill, then explain which may provide more support. You can choose again at a future visit if your needs change.

What this means for your visit

Together, these schemes can help reduce the amount you need to pay out of pocket and make it easier to keep up with preventive and ongoing care. You do not need to use all three at every visit to benefit. What matters is using the support that applies to the care you need.

Referred to a specialist?

Private specialist consultations, investigations and procedures are funded differently. Read our guide to understanding how corporate medical benefits, an Integrated Shield Plan and MediSave may support private specialist care.

Not sure what applies to your next visit?

Our clinic team can check your eligibility and explain the CHAS subsidies, Healthier SG benefits and MediSave options available before payment.

Find a Healthway Medical GP clinic or enrol with a Healthway family doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Information is accurate as at September 2026 and is provided as a general guide. CHAS, MediSave and Healthier SG benefits depend on your eligibility, tier and the care you receive, and scheme rules may change. From 1 January 2027, the MediSave500/700 scheme will be renamed the MediSave Chronic and Preventive Care Scheme, with revised withdrawal limits.

For the latest details, refer to chas.sg, cpf.gov.sg and healthiersg.gov.sg, or check with your clinic. This article is for general information and does not constitute medical or financial advice.