Should you buy a health insurance rider, downgrade your old rider or drop it?

The rules for Integrated Shield Plan (IP) riders changed on April 1, 2026. New mandates from the Ministry of Health mean that riders that offer nearly full coverage can no longer be sold. They have been replaced by plans that require higher out-of-pocket costs in exchange for lower premiums. In this episode, host Joyce Teo engages with a private sector surgeon and a health economist to discuss the new landscape of health insurance, how to think about your future healthcare needs, and the crucial role of personal responsibility. The guests are Dr Tan Yia Swam, a breast surgeon and former president of the Singapore Medical Association, and DrAkshar Saxena, an Assistant Professor of Economics at NTU.

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