Insurance

The Group Hospitalisation and Surgical Insurance (GHSI) scheme is compulsory for all full-time international students, including Singapore Permanent Residents. It applies to:

• Undergraduates
• Graduate students
• Non-graduating students
• Exchange students (in-bound)

How the GHSI benefits international students

Falling ill and being hospitalised in Singapore can be a financial drain on international students who are not entitled to the medical subsidies that Singapore citizens enjoy. Visit the website of any government/ restructured hospitals for an idea of how much hospitalisation could cost.

Hospitals typically require a deposit of the entire estimated bill size upon admission. For e.g., if the estimated bill size is $5,000, then a student must place a cash deposit of $5,000 with the hospital upon admission. Being on the GHSI waives the need for such a deposit as NTU or AXA Insurance Singapore Pte Ltd (the underwriter of GHSI) will prepare a Letter of Guarantee (LOG) for students to present to the hospital upon admission.

 Back to top

Premium - AY 2008-2009

The GHSI costs $79 in premium for one academic year.

 Back to top

Benefits

* For mental illness only, hospitalisation is allowed up to a 4-bedded ward in a private hospital.

** The specialist must be referred by a general practitioner. If there is no referral, the consultation charge for the first visit to the specialist will not be covered.

*** Treatment must be sought within 48 hours of the accident; follow-up treatment is covered up to $300 and within 60 days from the date of initial treatment.

**** Covers cost of a single economy class air ticket to home country and/or cost of one return economy class ticket for an immediate relative to travel to/ return from Singapore when student’s study is terminated due to mental illness/ accident/ illness.

***** Please note that this benefit covers charges for treatment of emergency cases only. Emergency cases are critical or life-threatening situations which require immediate medical attention (e.g., major trauma, severe bleeding, fractures, acute breathlessness, severe pain in the head, chest, abdomen, severe burns, etc.). Non-emergency cases (e.g., cough and colds, headaches, sprains, mild abdominal pain, superficial injuries, etc. which can be treated by a General Practitioner) are not covered.

Mental illness refers to any disease of the mind or a psychological state of someone who has emotional or behavioural problems serious enough to require psychiatric or psychological intervention. Examples of these include depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia, anxiety disorder, panic disorder, adjustment reactions, etc.

 Back to top

Main exclusions

• routine medical check-up and vaccinations
• congenital conditions
• treatment or services which are not medically necessary
• charges for non-medical items
• preventive or elective treatment
• pregnancy, childbirth, abortion, fertility
• cosmetic or plastic surgery/ treatment (including treatment for acne)
• prosthesis, medical appliances and implants
• elective overseas treatment for non-emergency or chronic medical conditions
• AIDS, sexually-transmitted diseases
• self-inflicted injuries
• alcohol or drug abuse/addiction
• dental treatment, except due to accident
• illegal activities
• racing (except on foot), professional sports, parachuting, sky diving, hang gliding and bungee jumping
• experimental medical treatment
• sleep apnoea, obesity, varicocele
• war

GP outpatient services are not covered under the GHSI unless you are seeking treatment at a clinic or hospital within 48 hours of an accident. Please see table of benefits.

Treatment by a specialist (including diagnostic tests like x-rays or scans) or A& E department (for accidents and emergencies only) in Singapore government/ restructured hospital is covered up to $300 per year. The specialist must be referred by the NTU Medical Centre or the A&E department of a government/ restructured hospital.

Please click here for more details on the GHSI.

 Back to top

Hospital ward

Benefits of the GHSI include room and board in a B1 ward in a Singapore government/ restructured hospital.

 Back to top

Letter of Guarantee (LOG)

Upon admission, the hospital will request a deposit of the entire estimated bill size. To avoid having to make such a deposit, please obtain and present a Letter of Guarantee (LOG) to the hospital. Note that an LOG will be issued only for covered medical conditions. Click here for main exclusions of the GHSI. For conditions that are not covered, ensure that you have the funds to bear the deposit and all expected expenses. You may contact the admissions office of the hospital for assistance in estimating your bill size or look up the information at their website.

Pre-scheduled hospital admission/ surgeries:
Request a Letter of Guarantee (LOG) from AXA Insurance Singapore Pte Ltd (the underwriter of the GHSI) at least two working days before admission and present the LOG to the hospital upon admission. You are also required to sign and submit a Letter of Indemnity (LOI). Click here to download the LOI.

In a medical emergency or after office hours, the weekends and public holidays:
Call the ISC crisis hotline for assistance in sending an LOG direct to the hospital the next working day. Please provide the following information when you call:

• full name as in matriculation card
• matriculation card number
• programme and year
• hospital (provide ward and bed number as soon as available)
• handphone number
• medical problem

You may also click here to make an online request for an LOG from ISC.

 Back to top

Letter of Indemnity (LOI)

If an LOG is issued, you will have to sign the Letter of Indemnity (LOI). In the event of any of the following, the insurer will instruct you to settle your bill directly with the hospital or recover the relevant sums from you if payment has already been made by the insurer to the hospital.

• the total medical cost exceeds the maximum coverage limit
• the treatment cost/ medical condition is excluded under the GHSI
• interest is charged by the hospital due to a delay in settlement of fees to the hospital caused by your delay in submitting the claim documents

Your benefits under the GHSI will be suspended pending settlement. Reinstatement will be granted as soon as full payment has been received by the insurer or the hospital. You are legally bound by your undertaking to indemnify AXA Insurance and must settle all outstanding bills within 30 days of the request made for such payment.

 Back to top

Notify your school

Keep your school informed if you are going to miss classes, tests and examinations as a result of illness. If you are too ill to do so, please contact ISC for assistance. Provide your school with a copy of your medical certificate (“MC”) when available.

 Back to top

Making a claim

Submit the following to ISC within 30 days from your date of discharge from hospital. ISC will submit your claim to AXA Insurance Singapore Pte Ltd. Please provide your reasons in writing if you are unable to submit your claim within 30 days.

• completed AXA Medical Claim Form [PDF file ~68KB]
• original invoices/receipts
• signed Letter of Indemnity (LOI)
• copy of hospital in-patient discharge summary/ day surgery authorisation form
• copy of referral letter from the A&E department of a government/restructured hospital or the NTU Medical Centre for outpatient specialist claims.

You may wish to retain a copy of your claim documents, particularly your invoices/ receipts, for your own records. Click here for more information on the claims/ reimbursement process.

 Back to top

Termination

To ensure that you continue to receive coverage under the GHSI, please ensure that you have paid the premiums on your insurance. Coverage ceases i.e., the insurance is terminated when:

• the insured leaves the university
• the insured converts to part-time studies
• the insured exhausts the cover limits
• the insured reaches the age of 65
• the insurance policy expires

 Back to top