In 2020, the first year of running this blog, I decided to downgrade my Enhanced IncomeShield from Preferred to Advantage. This meant that my plan’s eligibility went from private ward in private hospitals to A ward in public hospitals, and I did the downgrade because the premium difference was getting untenable to me back then.

Here are some reflections I have some 6 years down the line… and I hope it goes without saying that this is not financial advice.

Why I downgraded back then

Back then, the premiums for the Preferred Plan and Assist Rider amounted to S$784 a year (S$1,094 inclusive of MediShield Life) for someone in my age group, versus Advantage Plan and Assist Rider at S$284 a year (S$594 inclusive of MediShield Life). For added context, I was 32 back then (ah to be a young and innocent early-thirties again).

The absolute premium difference of S$500 per year is perhaps small, but