If you and your husband are planning to have a child in Singapore, one of the best decisions you can make is availing of a gynae pregnancy package.
Preparation is essential when having a child, especially for first-time parents who do not yet know the ins and outs of pregnancy and childbirth.
With a gynae pregnancy package, rest assured that you will have fewer things to worry about now that you have the bills taken care of.
You can then focus more on getting healthy for your baby so that they get all the nutrition and care they need to grow, says Healthline.
But how exactly do you get hold of these gynae pregnancy packages?
In Singapore, maternity hospitals offer gynae packages with varying costs depending on what you want and expect from the package.
There are many different factors you have to consider when choosing a specific gynae package that fits your needs, notwithstanding the total cost of the package.
Thankfully, Singapore offers its citizens and permanent residents (PRs) one of the world’s best maternity care services.
So whichever gynae package you choose in the end, you can breathe easy knowing that you will be getting quality maternity care.
In deciding on a gynae package, here are some of the factors you should consider:
Prenatal Checkup Costs – Public vs. Private Gynecologist
During your pregnancy, you will have to go to a gynecologist for prenatal checkups to check on the condition of your baby and how they are developing.
Gynae packages usually start when you are already in the second Trimester of your pregnancy since this is when women are already aware that they are pregnant.
If you find out you are pregnant early, you will have to pay for prenatal checkups per session, explains Mayo Clinic.
Private gynecologists understandably will charge more for prenatal checkups as, unlike public gynecologists, their services are not subsidized by the government shares pkwomensclinic.com.
However, the lines are usually shorter, and you can get back to what you were doing faster.
| 1st Trimester | 2nd and 3rd Trimester | |
| Public Gynaecologist | $80 to $120 per visit | $600 to $900 per package |
| Private Gynaecologist | $120 to $200 per visit | $2000 to $3200 per package |
Prenatal Checkup Cost Comparison between Public and Private Gynaes
Public vs. Private hospital for Delivering your Baby
There are many maternity hospitals for you to choose from in Singapore for delivering your baby.
We can divide all of them into two distinct categories – public and private hospitals, each with its own pros and cons.
In public hospitals, the first thing you can expect is that their gynae packages will be more affordable compared to private ones.
Also, the Singaporean government subsidizes many public hospital services, so you can save even more on the hospital bills, especially if you are a Singaporean citizen or PR.
However, there are downsides as the queue for public hospitals can get rather long as many Singaporeans use public hospital maternity services.
There are also some restrictive visitation hours, so you better give your family and friends a heads up.
You will also have to process your insurance claims personally since the hospital will not do it.
The amenities and accommodation may also not be as comfortable and luxurious compared to those in private hospitals.
On the other hand, choosing a private hospital is for people who value their time and comfort, even if it costs a bit more money.
Private hospitals are also less crowded, so you can expect to get a vacant room for accommodation.
Some private hospitals also offer other perks included in their gynae pregnancy packages, such as cocktail parties and massages.
If you already possess a robust insurance policy, you might want to go to a private hospital instead.
However, if you do not have insurance, the gynae package costs can get pretty expensive.
Type of Accommodation
The type of accommodation will also factor in the costs of a gynae package.
You have different choices, depending on the quality of the room and whether or not you are sharing the room with others.
| Single Bedded | 4 Bedded | 6 Bedded | |
| Public Hospital | $3800 to $5800 | $3000 to $4300 | $900 to $3000 |
| Single Bedded | 2 Bedded | 4 Bedded | |
| Private Hospital | $6500 to $12000 | $5000 to $9000 | $4500 to $6800 |
Type of Delivery
Another factor that can affect your gynae package’s cost is what type of delivery you will be having.
This will depend on the doctor’s recommendation, though, so you may not be able to choose.
There are three main types:
Normal Delivery –
a low-risk delivery where labor is allowed to progress on its own
Assisted Delivery –
forceps or a ventouse suction cup is needed to help deliver the baby; it costs about $1000 more than a normal delivery
Caesarean Delivery –
a type of delivery where the baby is delivered through an incision in the mother’s abdomen; costs about $2000 to $3000 more than an expected delivery
Medisave Maternity Package
There is some good news for you to save more money for your gynae package because you can avail of a Medisave Maternity Package that will shoulder some of the costs, says the Ministry of Health.
You can use it for public and private hospitals and save you anywhere from $3000 to $6000.