How Much Does Pelvic Vein Embolisation (Embolization) Cost in Singapore?

How much does pelvic vein embolization cost? In Singapore, there is no fixed price, but there is an official reference point. The Ministry of Health (MOH) publishes a fee benchmark for ovarian vein embolisation, and the CPF Board sets how much MediSave you can use. This guide explains what those figures cover, what else goes into the bill, how insurance works, and the questions to ask for an itemised estimate. We do not quote clinic prices.

The MOH fee benchmark for ovarian vein embolisation

MOH publishes fee benchmarks to help patients judge whether a doctor’s fee is reasonable in the private sector. Ovarian vein embolisation for pelvic congestion syndrome is listed under procedure code SI703O, in table 3B of the Table of Surgical Procedures (TOSP).

• Surgeon’s fee benchmark: S$4,905 to S$8,175, including GST (S$4,500 to S$7,500 before GST).
• Anaesthetist’s fee: MOH does not publish a benchmark for this procedure.
• Hospital bill data: MOH does not publish typical total bills for this procedure.

The benchmark is a guide, not a price cap. Doctors can charge outside it, and it covers only the professional fee for the procedure itself. If internal iliac branches or other veins are treated as well as the ovarian veins, ask which procedure codes your bill will use, as this affects MediSave claims.

What makes up the bill

The total cost of ovarian vein embolisation is built from several parts. An itemised estimate should show each one.

• Specialist consultations. The first visit, and often a visit to review scan results.
• Scans before treatment. Usually a duplex ultrasound of the pelvic veins, sometimes CT or MR venography. See what the pelvic venous ultrasound involves.
• Blood tests, including a pregnancy test before the procedure.
• The doctor’s procedure fee. This is what the MOH benchmark covers.
• Sedation or anaesthesia. Many centres use local anaesthetic with light sedation. If an anaesthetist is involved, there is a separate fee.
• Facility charges. Use of the angiography suite, the day-surgery bed or a ward, nursing care and medicines.
• Devices and materials. Coils, plugs, foam or glue. Their cost depends on what is used and how much, which varies from patient to patient.
• Follow-up. A review appointment and sometimes a follow-up scan.

What pushes the cost up or down

• How many veins are treated. One ovarian vein costs less than both ovarian veins plus internal iliac branches.
• The materials used, and how many coils are needed.
• Day case or overnight stay. Most women go home the same day, but an overnight stay adds ward charges.
• The hospital or centre, as facility charges vary.
• Extra procedures, such as treating vulval or leg veins, or a stent if a vein is compressed.
• A repeat procedure, which some women need if symptoms return.

Using MediSave

Singapore citizens and permanent residents can usually use MediSave at approved centres, within limits set by the CPF Board. Under the schedule dated 1 April 2025:

• Table 3B operation limit: S$1,740. This one limit covers the surgeon’s, anaesthetist’s and facility fees combined.
• Day surgery: you can also claim up to S$830 per day for daily charges, on top of the operation limit.

Anything above these limits is paid in cash or by insurance. MediSave limits change from time to time, so check the current CPF schedule or ask the hospital’s billing office.

Integrated Shield plans and letters of guarantee

Most Singapore residents have MediShield Life, and many have an Integrated Shield plan (IP), which adds private-hospital cover. Whether an IP pays for embolisation depends on your plan’s terms, but treatment that a specialist documents as medically necessary is often covered, subject to deductibles, co-payment and riders.

Before the procedure:

• Ask for pre-authorisation. Many insurers will confirm cover in advance and may issue a letter of guarantee (LOG) to the hospital, so you pay less upfront.
• Check panel rules. Some plans pay more, or only offer pre-authorisation, when you see a doctor on the insurer’s panel.
• Check pre- and post-hospital cover. Many plans cover consultations and scans for a set period before and after admission. The window varies by plan.
• Ask about riders. A rider may reduce or remove your co-payment.

Is pelvic vein embolization covered by insurance elsewhere? It varies. In the US, some insurers have classed it as unproven, partly because the evidence comes mainly from small studies. The Society of Interventional Radiology provides patients with a template letter to appeal a refusal.

Questions to ask for an itemised estimate

• What is the doctor’s fee, and is it within the MOH benchmark?
• Will there be a separate anaesthetist’s fee?
• Will both ovarian veins and any iliac branches be treated, and is that included?
• How many coils or other devices do you expect to use, and what do they cost?
• Is it a day case, or should I expect to stay overnight?
• Are consultations, scans and follow-up included, or billed separately?
• How much can I claim from MediSave, and will you apply for pre-authorisation with my insurer?
• What would a repeat procedure cost if I needed one?

It also helps to know which specialist treats pelvic congestion, as consultations may involve a gynaecologist as well as the specialist doing the procedure. A Singapore vascular surgeon’s treatment guide includes a section on insurance, MediSave and letters of guarantee.

A note for overseas patients

Patients from Malaysia, Indonesia and elsewhere sometimes travel to Singapore for assessment. If you do:

• MediSave is not available to non-residents. Expect to pay directly or through your own insurer.
• Check with your insurer whether treatment overseas is covered, and what documents they need.
• Bring previous scans and reports, on a disc or as files, to avoid repeating tests.
• Ask for an estimate in writing before you travel, and how many visits and days you should plan for.
• Plan follow-up. Ask how any problems after you return home will be handled.

Is the cost worth it?

That is a personal decision. Embolisation helps many women: in a 2016 review, about three in four reported substantial early pain relief. But the evidence is rated low quality, not everyone improves, and symptoms come back in a minority. Compare all the options, including medicines, in our guide to pelvic congestion syndrome treatment, and read about recovery after embolisation.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor if you have long-term pelvic pain, pain during or after sex, or vulval or leg varicose veins that may come from the pelvis. Cost should not stop you getting a diagnosis: other causes of pelvic pain also need to be checked.

Get urgent medical help for sudden severe pelvic or abdominal pain, heavy vaginal bleeding, fever with pelvic pain or fainting. In Singapore, call 995 in an emergency.

This article is general information, not personal medical advice. Please speak to a doctor about your own symptoms. How we create our content.