Quick Guide to the new Cancer Drug List (CDL) in Singapore and how it can affect your cancer treatment

If you hold an Integrated Shield Plan (IP) from any of the 7 IP insurers in Singapore currently, you would likely have heard about the recent changes to the financing of outpatient cancer treatment announced by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in August 2021. These changes aim to help ensure that cancer treatments and insurance premiums remain affordable over time, as well as to encourage more appropriate use of cancer drugs.

In a bid to understand the changes simply, I attempt to summarise below:

TLDR Version:

• CDL changes introduced for cost sustainability
• CDL provides list of cancer drugs with claim (quantums) under MSHL, MSV, IP
• Relevant costs to the policyholders are (1) CDL drug treatments, (2) Drug services, and (3) non-CDL drug treatments
• Depending on IP plan and rider, coverage of drug treatments and services can go up to 15x MSHL limits; non-CDL drug treatments up to $150,000 a year
• There are various support measures in place — premium freezing, transitional support and subsidies.

*Note that this article has been drafted prior to the 04Mar23 announcement that the MSHL benefit limit…