SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Monday (Sep 1) that it will expand Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) subsidies for dental procedures starting October 1.
Under the revised scheme, CHAS Orange cardholders will be eligible for higher subsidies for basic and preventive dental procedures.
Orange cardholders — households earning between S$1,501 and S$2,300 per month — can claim up to S$13.50 for consultation and polishing, and up to S$45.50 for a posterior tooth extraction per claim.
Previously, these subsidies were available only to CHAS Blue cardholders — households earning S$1,500 or less per month — as well as Pioneer and Merdeka Generation seniors.
The expansion will also increase subsidies for seven restorative dental procedures, including root canal treatment and dentures, for Pioneer and Merdeka Generation seniors, as well as CHAS Blue and Orange cardholders.
For instance, a Pioneer Generation senior can now claim up to S$625 for a permanent crown and up to S$594.50 for a molar root canal. Previously, subsidies for a permanent crown ranged from S$137.50 to S$625, while a molar root canal ranged from S$266.50 to S$594.50. Subsidies for denture repairs will remain unchanged.
From mid-2026, seniors aged 60 and above will also be able to use Flexi-MediSave to offset up to S$400 per year for root canal treatments and permanent crowns at CHAS dental clinics and public healthcare institutions.
Dental Fee Benchmarks
Alongside the subsidy increase, MOH will introduce fee benchmarks for common dental procedures. The benchmarks aim to provide a reference for patients and providers, promote transparency, and help patients make informed decisions.
“The fee benchmarks complement the increase in government support to ensure more affordable and accessible dental care for Singaporeans,” MOH said.
A dental fee benchmarking advisory committee developed benchmarks for 18 CHAS dental procedures. The government has accepted all of the committee’s recommendations. To establish the benchmarks, the committee reviewed past CHAS claims and considered factors such as procedure complexity, fee clustering, and the reasonableness of the fee range. Professional associations and dental clinics were also consulted.
According to the benchmarks, consultations could cost between S$21 and S$31, while scaling services may range from S$35 to S$60. MOH said the benchmarks reflect the majority of current charging practices in private dental clinics in the primary care setting.
MOH emphasized that the benchmarks are not strict fee caps. Dental providers are encouraged to refer to the benchmarks when discussing treatment charges with patients. Patients are advised to use the benchmarks as a guide when making treatment decisions.
CHAS dental clinics must display the fee benchmarks prominently from October. Starting September 1, 2026, clinics will also need to provide clinical justifications for CHAS subsidy claims that exceed the benchmarks.
