In Singapore, health insurance is non-negotiable. In fact, it’s deemed so important that the government makes health insurance mandatory. MediShield and MediShield Life: What is it? In 1990, the Singapore government introduced MediShield. It’s a low-cost basic medical insurance scheme meant to help individuals cover large Class B2/C hospitalisation bills that Medisave alone may not be sufficient for. When MediShield was introduced, members were automatically opted in, but were given the choice to opt out should they wish to. A quarter of a century later, in November 2015, MediShield Life was rolled out. It’s an enhanced version of MediShield and like its predecessor, is a basic health insurance plan that protects all Singapore Citizens (SCs) and Permanent Residents (PRs) against large hospital bills. It is similarly managed by the Central Provident Fund, and its premium is payable fully by Medisave. The difference: It’s now mandatory for all, and opting out is no longer allowed....