SHE was halfway through her pregnancy and seeing a doctor here.
Then Madam Hiuk Mee Yiun decided she would give birth in Malaysia, to save some money - about half of what she'd pay if she were to deliver in Singapore.
She's not the only one heading to Malaysia to save on medical bills. That number appears to be growing.
Since Mar 1 last year, Singapore residents have been allowed to use their Medisave for elective hospitalisation overseas.
The scheme kicked off with 12 hospitals and medical centres in Malaysia run by two Singapore-based private health-care providers - Health Management International (HMI) and Parkway Holdings. HMI and Parkway Holdings said they've had more people enquiring about their services in Malaysia.
Growing number
HMI said there's been a 60 per cent increase in the number of Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents (PRs) in its hospitals in Malaysia since last March compared to 2009. It declined to give specific numbers.
"The patients come for a wide range of medical treatment, including ENT (ear, nose and throat), obstetrics and gynaecology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, endoscopy and health screening," said an HMI spokesman.
At Parkway, 34 patients to date have been referred to Pantai group of hospitals and Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur.
"The majority of the cases we have processed are women in their 20s to 30s who have undergone obstetrics procedures," said a Parkway spokesman.
Patients are also using their Medisave to cover their medical bill overseas.
From Mar 1 to Dec 31 last year, 58 patients who went overseas to seek elective medical treatment claimed just under $125,000 from Medisave, said a Ministry of Health (MOH) spokesman.
But it wasn't just cost that persuaded Madam Hiuk to deliver her first baby in Malacca. She's a Malaysian citizen and a Singapore PR.
Her parents live in Malacca, her hometown.
But being allowed to use her Medisave to offset her hospital bills and the hospitalisation fees in Malaysia sealed it for her.
