The CPF MediSave Account (MA) is the CPF account reserved for healthcare: hospital bills, approved outpatient treatment and MediShield Life, CareShield Life and Integrated Shield premiums. It earns 4% a year, receives 21.6%–84.0% of each contribution depending on age, and is capped at the Basic Healthcare Sum.
Key takeaways
- MediSave savings earn 4% a year — the same floor as the Special and Retirement Accounts, extended to 31 Dec 2027 — plus 1% extra interest on the first SGD 60,000 of combined balances for members below 55.
- Between 8% and 10.5% of monthly salary goes to MediSave, rising with age: 21.6% of the total contribution at 35 and below, 84.0% above 70.
- The Basic Healthcare Sum — SGD 79,000 in 2026 — is the most the account can hold. It is adjusted yearly until a member turns 65 and then fixed for life; contributions above it flow first to the Special or Retirement Account until the Full Retirement Sum is set aside, then to the Ordinary Account.
- MediSave pays for hospitalisation and day surgery, approved outpatient treatment such as chronic-disease care, vaccinations and scans, rehabilitation and palliative care within limits, and MediShield Life, Integrated Shield, CareShield Life and ElderShield premiums — for the member and family members.
- Cash top-ups are capped at the BHS and earn tax relief of up to SGD 8,000 for the member’s own account and another SGD 8,000 for loved ones; self-employed persons pay mandatory MediSave on their Net Trade Income.
What the MediSave Account is for
Of the three working-age CPF accounts, MediSave is the one that cannot be spent on anything but healthcare. It is designed to carry a member’s basic subsidised medical costs into old age, when there is no salary to fund them, which is why it has a ceiling rather than a target.
Queries for a “MediSave cap” or “ceiling” mean the BHS. There is no separate contribution cap: mandatory MediSave stops going into the account only once the balance reaches the BHS, and the overflow is redirected rather than refunded.
How much of a SGD 5,000 salary reaches MediSave, by age
On a SGD 5,000 monthly wage the combined contribution is SGD 1,850 for employees 55 and below (lower totals apply above 55, so the amounts for older bands are illustrative at the same total). The MediSave share climbs steadily with age.
| Age band | MA share | To MediSave | To OA | To SA / RA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 and below | 21.6% | SGD 400 | SGD 1,150 | SGD 300 |
| Above 35 to 45 | 24.3% | SGD 450 | SGD 1,050 | SGD 350 |
| Above 45 to 50 | 27.0% | SGD 500 | SGD 950 | SGD 400 |
| Above 50 to 55 | 28.4% | SGD 525 | SGD 750 | SGD 575 |
| Above 55 to 60 | 30.9% | SGD 571 | SGD 653 | SGD 626 |
| Above 60 to 65 | 42.0% | SGD 777 | SGD 259 | SGD 814 |
| Above 65 to 70 | 63.6% | SGD 1,177 | SGD 112 | SGD 561 |
| Above 70 | 84.0% | SGD 1,554 | SGD 148 | SGD 148 |
A year of interest on SGD 40,000 in MediSave
Assumes MediSave is the member’s only CPF balance; in practice the SGD 60,000 extra-interest tier is shared with the OA (capped at SGD 20,000) and SA.
Where MediSave is used
Five things people get wrong
- CPF Board — Using your MediSave savings — what MediSave pays for, the Basic Healthcare Sum rule, MediSave share of salary
- CPF Board — CPF interest rates, Q4 2026 — quarterly OA and SMRA rates, floor extension, extra interest
- CPF Board — Top up your MediSave savings — top-up cap at the BHS, SGD 8,000 + 8,000 relief, Matched MediSave
- CPF Board — Saving as a self-employed person — mandatory MediSave contributions on Net Trade Income
- CPF Board — How much CPF contributions to pay — allocation of contributions to the MediSave Account by age
Official statistics for general information only. Not financial advice.
This page is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice. All figures and worked examples are estimates for illustrative purposes, are subject to change, and do not reflect any individual’s circumstances. Always refer to the CPF Board and seek independent professional advice before making any financial decisions.