1 of 7 integrated shield plans available in Singapore, the NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield complements your MediShield Life coverage.
Unlike most integrated shield plans, the NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield is available for Singaporeans, Singapore Permanent Residents, and foreigners with valid work pass.
As with all shield plans, you can opt to pay your premiums using your MediSave account.
In this post, we reviewed the NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield plan.
Keep reading.
Available Plans – Basic, Advantage, Preferred
The NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield offers 3 major plans for different wards.
Here’s a table to summarise the key differences between each plan.
| NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield | Ward | Pre-hospitalisation cover | Post-hospitalisation cover | Annual coverage limit | Annual premium* |
| Basic | Class B1 | 100 days | 100 days | S$250,000 | $44 |
| Advantage | Class A | 100 days | 100 days | S$500,000 | $74 |
| Preferred | Private hospital | 100 days (180 days if you use a healthcare provider on their panel) | 100 days (180 days if you use a healthcare provider on their panel) | S$1.5 million | $225 |
*Premiums for non-smoking males between the age of 31 to 35.
Here is a table provided by NTUC Income indicating the benefits under each plan.
NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield Preferred Plan
The ward entitlement for the NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield Preferred Plan is a standard room in private hospitals with an annual coverage limit of S$1,500,000.
The preferred plan treatments coverage includes the below treatments.
Inpatient
- Emergency overseas treatment: As charged, limited to costs of Singapore private hospitals
- Planned overseas treatment: Not covered
- Pre-hospitalisation treatment: Up to 180 days
- Post-hospitalisation treatment: Up to 365 days
Outpatient
- Chemotherapy: As charged
- Immunotherapy: As charged
- Renal dialysis: As charged
- Post-hospitalisation follow-up
- TCM treatment is not covered
Despite the fact that the policy states that hospitalisation expenses will be paid in full “As Charged,” reimbursement of these eligible costs is subject to coinsurance, deductibles, ward classes, and plan benefit limits.
Here is a table to highlight the differences between the NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield Preferred and other Integrated Shield Plans for private hospitals.
| Integrated Shield Plan (IP) | Annual Premium for Age Next Birthday
(31 – 35) |
Pre Hospitalisation Coverage | Post Hospitalisation Coverage | Annual Claim Limit | Cost-Benefit Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIA Healthshield Gold Max A | $360 | 13 months | 13 months | $2,000,000 | $5,555.56 |
| AXA Shield Plan A | $292 | 180 days | 365 days | $2,500,000 | $8,561.64 |
| Singlife with Aviva MyShield Plan 1 | $409 | 180 days | 365 days | $2,000,000 | $4,889.98 |
| Great Eastern Supreme Health P Plus | $322 | 120 days | 365 days | $1,500,000 | $4,658.39 |
| NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield Preferred | $225 | 180 days | 365 days | $1,500,000 | $6,666.67 |
| Prudential PRUShield Premier | $300 | 180 days | 365 days | $1,200,000 | $4,000.00 |
| Raffles Health Insurance Raffles Shield Private | $339 | 180 days | 365 days | $1,500,000 | $4,424.78 |
| Raffles Health Insurance A with Raffles Hospital Option | $223 | 180 days | 365 days | $600,000 | $2,690.58 |
When it comes to premiums the NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield Preferred is the most affordable in this category.
Likewise, the cost-to-benefit ratio of $6,666.67 indicates that it’s a good value for money – in fact, in terms of value for money, it’s ranked second just behind AXA’s Shield Plan A.
NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield Advantage Plan
The ward entitlement for the NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield Advantage Plan is restricted to restructured hospitals for ward class A and below.
This policy has an annual coverage limit of S$500,000.
Here’s the table of premiums and benefits for shield plans covering Class A wards:
| Integrated Shield Plan (IP) | Annual Premium for
Age Next Birthday (31 – 35) |
Pre Hospitalisation Coverage | Post Hospitalisation Coverage | Annual Claim Limit | Cost-Benefit Ratio
(Annual Claim Limit/Annual Premium) |
| AIA Healthshield Gold Max B | $168 | 180 days | 180 days | $1,000,000 | $5952.38 |
| AXA Shield Plan B | $156 | 180 days | 365 days | $550,000 | $3525.64 |
| Singlife with Aviva MyShield Plan 2 | $168 | 180 days | 365 days | $1,000,000 | $5952.38 |
| Great Eastern Supreme Health A Plus | $106 – $123 | 180 days | 365 days | $1,000,000 | $9433.96 |
| NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield Advantage Plan | $74 | 100 days | 100 days | $500,000 | $6756.76 |
| Prudential PRUShield Plus | $119 | 180 days | 365 days | $600,000 | $5042.02 |
| Raffles Health Insurance Raffles Shield A | $112 | 180 days | 365 days | $600,000 | $5357.14 |
| Raffles Health Insurance Raffles Shield A with Raffles Hospital Option | $223 | 180 days | 365 days | $600,000 | $2690.58 |
From the table, it’s evident that the NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield Advantage Plan is the cheapest plan under this category at only $74 for non-smoking males aged 31-35.
Yet again, the cost-to-benefit ratio is the second highest at $6756.76, but this time just behind Great Eastern’s Supreme Health A Plus.
NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield Basic Plan
The basic plan provides you coverage for public/restructured hospitals in wards class B1 and below. The policy annual limit is set at a maximum of S$250,000.
Here’s the table of premiums and benefits for shield plans Class B1 wards.
| Integrated Shield Plan (IP) | Annual Premium for
Age Next Birthday (31 – 35) |
Pre Hospitalisation Coverage | Post Hospitalisation Coverage | Annual Claim Limit | Cost-Benefit Ratio |
| AIA Healthshield Gold Max B Lite | $102 | 100 days | 100 days | $300,000 | $2941.18 |
| Singlife with Aviva MyShield Plan 3 | $100 | 180 days | 365 days | $500,000 | $5000 |
| Great Eastern Supreme Health B Plus | $77 – $80 | 180 days | 365 days | $500,000 | $6493.51 |
| NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield Basic (Class B1 wards) | $62 | 100 days | 100 days | $250,000 | $5681.82 |
| Raffles Health Insurance Raffles Shield B | $83 | 90 days | 90 days | $300,000 | $3614.46 |
If you’re looking for a bargain, the NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield Basic is a good choice since the premium once again is the lowest.
Similarly, in terms of value, it’s the second best again with $5,681.82 coverage for every dollar spent, just behind Great Eastern’s Supreme Health B Plus.
NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield Riders
There are 2 riders you can add to your plan.
Deluxe Care Rider
This rider can be added to all NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield plans (Preferred, Advantage, and Basic plan). Like all riders, you need the main policies first before purchasing them.
It keeps your cash expenses on hospital bills as low as possible in the following ways;
Classic Care Rider
Using the Classic Care Rider, you can minimise your hospital expenses in the following ways;
How to Make Claims from NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield?
Your MediShield Life Scheme hospitalisation claim can be submitted electronically if you received treatment at a participating medical institution.
The forms you need to submit include Medical Claims Authorisation Forms, IncomeShield Letters of Guarantee, and Hospital Admission Authorisation Forms.
You can claim pre- or post-hospitalisation benefits by filling out the outpatient claim form and sending it to your insurance agent, Income’s claim service centre, or at any Income branch.
Frankly, this is what your agent should be helping you with when you purchase for them. So just ask your agent to help with the claims.
NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield Claims Duration
According to MOH, NTUC Income takes 0 to 1 day to process your claims. This is on par with other health insurers in the industry.
However, there have been mixed reviews about the claims process on Seedly whereby customers mention that the claims process is cumbersome and takes a long time before they get reimbursed.
On the other hand, those who managed to claim smoothly did it with the help of their financial advisors.
So make sure you can trust whomever you bought your policy from.
My Take On The NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield
The NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield plans are cheaply priced (the lowest in the market) and offer great value in terms of the annual limit.
The plans across the board are great if you’re looking for those looking to pay the least for their health insurance premiums and value-seekers.
However, their riders only limit your co-payments by 5% and 10% respectively. They don’t provide other sorts of benefits such as claims for ambulance charges or TCM.
Despite this, the NTUC Income Enhanced IncomeShield is definitely for you if budget is a concern.
If budget isn’t a constraint, there may be a lot more plans available with benefits and/or features that are more applicable to you.
We recommend reading our list of the best Integrated Shield Plans and the best Integrated Shield Plan Riders to find out what suits you most.
Otherwise, it’s best to talk to a financial advisor to recommend you what’s best for you.
We partner with financial advisors to help you with this (and your claims).
