How much does an angioplasty cost in Singapore, and what affects the costs?

The total cost for an angioplasty in Singapore depends on whether you go to a private or public institution.

Hospital

Total cost of angioplasty in Singapore

Public, subsidised

$4,800 - $9,000

Public, unsubsidised

$20,000 - $30,000

Private

$40,000 - $60,000

The total angioplasty bill size that I've quoted above typically includes:

• The price of the heart stent (costs will increase based on the type and number of stents inserted)
• Cardiologist fees for the actual procedure
• Anaesthetic fees
• 2 - 3 days of hospital stay
• Medication and other consumables

An overview of how inserted heart stent helps open up your blocked heart vessels.

This is what a price breakdown of the total angioplasty procedure in a public hospital, as a subsidised patient (eg. Ward C) looks like:

• Angiogram (dye test to detect blockages): $1,474
• Angioplasty (PCI): $4,379
• C class ward stay for 2 days: $672
• X-Ray and tests: $496
• Medications and consumables: $213
• Cardiologist procedure fees, OT and anesthesia charges: $3,492

Total cost of angioplasty procedure: $10,726

The most important factors that will determine how much an angioplasty in Singapore will cost you are:

1. Whether you choose a private or public hospital in Singapore

2. The length of hospital stay you require (2 - 3 days are required, on average)

3. How many heart stents you require during the angioplasty

4. The type of heart stents used. The most commonly used heart stents in Singapore are drug-eluding stents. Less commonly, bare metal stents are used. Drug-eluding stents can cause about $2000 alone, while bare metal stents cost about $400. Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVSs) cost even more.

At your consultation, the cardiologist will be able to recommend which type of stent is most suitable for you, and how many stents you required.

It's important that you ask for full price transparency of the procedure. Many hospitals do not include prices for essential provisions such as anaesthesia and theater costs in the initial price quote for you.

If you want to get more personalised quotes for an angioplasty tailored to your condition, it helps if you reached out to a few doctors directly.

Finally, yes, you are also able to claim government grants and subsidies, as well as claim from your Medisave for the angioplasty if you are Singaporean or a PR.

Costs vary significantly depending on hospital and class of bed one chooses:

For a straightforward elective single stenting, only 1 night stay is required and the following are estimates (before GST and medisave/medishield):

Public (subsidised): 5-6 k

Public (non subsidised): 10-20 k

Private: 20-28 k

After medisave (singaporean and PR) and medishield, the out of pocket cost for C class patient in public hospital can be lower than 1k.

The above cost may be higher if:

1) additional angioplasty balloon is needed

2) more than 1 stent is required (each additional stent would add 5-8 k to total bill size in private hospital)

3) further imaging of the coronary artery is needed during the procedure

4) complications occur (not frequent)

5) one requires anaesthetist. Angioplasty is a local procedure and > 98% do not require anaesthetist. Some patients feel more comfortable with light sedation but this does not require an anaesthetist.