CHAS Card 2026: Blue, Orange, Green, Merdeka and Pioneer Subsidies Compared (Singapore)

The CHAS card gives Singapore Citizens cash subsidies at participating GP and dental clinics for everyday care. There are five tiers (CHAS Blue, Orange, Green, Merdeka Generation and Pioneer Generation) and the subsidy you get depends on your card colour, the type of visit and whether you have a chronic condition.

This guide compares all five tiers with verified 2026 amounts.

All subsidy amounts are sourced from the Community Health Assist Scheme (chas.sg).

Table of Contents

1. Quick eligibility check: who can get a CHAS card in Singapore

2. CHAS Blue vs Orange vs Green vs Merdeka vs Pioneer: subsidies side-by-side

3. CHAS Blue card benefits and criteria (the largest subsidies)

4. CHAS Orange card benefits and criteria

5. CHAS Green card benefits (chronic-only subsidies)

6. Merdeka Generation and Pioneer Generation: senior CHAS subsidies explained

7. What CHAS covers: chronic conditions, GP visits, dental and Healthier SG screening

8. How to apply for a CHAS card and how to use it

9. Stacking CHAS with Healthier SG, MediSave and CDMP

10. Action checklist: get the most out of your CHAS card

1. Quick eligibility check: who can get a CHAS card in Singapore

CHAS is open to all Singapore Citizens. Card colour is assigned automatically based on either your household monthly income per person, or the Annual Value of your home if no one in the household is earning. Pioneer and Merdeka Generation seniors get their cards by birthdate criteria, not income.

Who qualifies for which card?

Singapore PRs and foreigners are NOT eligible for the CHAS Blue, Orange or Green card. Only the Singapore Citizen status unlocks the scheme. PA cardholders get the strongest subsidies (full fee covered for in-scheme conditions).

2. CHAS Blue vs Orange vs Green vs Merdeka vs Pioneer: subsidies side-by-side

The fastest way to understand CHAS is to compare the per-visit subsidy at each tier. The figures below are maximum subsidy caps at participating CHAS clinics. Actual subsidy depends on the clinic's bill - if the bill is lower than the cap, the subsidy is capped at the actual bill amount. Clinic charges differ, so always check with your clinic before treatment.

↑ ★ marks the strongest amount in each row. Pioneer Generation seniors generally receive the highest CHAS subsidies, including free Healthier SG screening for eligible enrolments. Source: chas.sg subsidies page.

3. CHAS Blue card benefits and criteria (the largest subsidies)

CHAS Blue criteria

CHAS Blue is the strongest income-based tier. You qualify if your household monthly income per person is $1,500 or less, OR if no one in the household has any income, the Annual Value of your home is $21,000 or less.

Per-person household income is calculated by adding up the gross monthly income of every working family member living under the same roof, then dividing by the total number of household members (including those who do not work).

CHAS Blue benefits per visit (2026)

For dental procedures, the full subsidy schedule (covering procedures including scaling, polishing, root canal, dentures and filling) is published on chas.sg dental subsidy table. Subsidy ranges differ by procedure subtype.

Worked example: how much can a CHAS Blue holder save in a year?

A CHAS Blue holder with hypertension and high cholesterol (a "complex" chronic case under CDMP classification) who sees a CHAS GP every 2 months could claim up to $500 a year on chronic visits, up to $18.50 per common illness visit (subject to the 24-visit annual cap), and up to $615 on a single major dental procedure. Combined potential is over $1,000 a year, if they use chronic, acute and major dental subsidies.

Actual savings depend on clinic charges and the chronic complexity classification assigned by your doctor.

4. CHAS Orange card benefits and criteria

CHAS Orange criteria

CHAS Orange covers middle-income households. You qualify if your household monthly income per person is between $1,501 and $2,300, OR if no one in the household earns income, the Annual Value of your home is between $21,001 and $31,000.

CHAS Orange benefits per visit (2026)

CHAS Orange vs Blue at a glance: Orange subsidises both common illness and chronic care but at roughly 60-65% of Blue's amounts. Dental is also subsidised at Orange (CHAS Green is not). If your card was Orange and your household income drops below $1,500/person, your card automatically upgrades to Blue at the next means-test.

5. CHAS Green card benefits (chronic-only subsidies)

CHAS Green criteria

CHAS Green is the universal tier. Every Singapore Citizen who does NOT qualify for Blue or Orange (i.e. household income per person is above $2,300, or AV is above $31,000) is automatically eligible for CHAS Green. There is no upper income limit.

CHAS Green benefits per visit (2026)

CHAS Green is most useful for higher-income Singaporeans who develop a chronic condition. Diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and asthma management - covered under the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) - attract the chronic subsidy at participating CHAS GPs. For one-off coughs and flu, CHAS Green offers little beyond access to the $5 Healthier SG screening fee for eligible enrolments.

6. Merdeka Generation and Pioneer Generation: senior CHAS subsidies explained

Merdeka Generation and Pioneer Generation are not income-based. They are recognition packages for two generations of Singaporeans, with built-in CHAS benefits richer than even CHAS Blue.

Pioneer Generation (PG) eligibility

Born on or before 31 December 1949 (i.e. 1949 or earlier) AND obtained Singapore citizenship on or before 31 December 1986. Eligible Singaporeans were issued the PG card automatically.

Merdeka Generation (MG) eligibility

Born between 1 January 1950 and 31 December 1959 AND obtained Singapore citizenship on or before 31 December 1996. Singaporeans born in the 1950s who became citizens later (after 1996) are NOT covered.

How CHAS works for PG and MG seniors

If you hold both an MG (or PG) card AND a CHAS Blue/Orange card, the senior-tier subsidies (MG or PG) typically take precedence at participating CHAS clinics. You do not have to choose - present any valid card at registration and the clinic applies the highest applicable subsidy.

For more on senior packages including MediSave top-ups and outpatient care, see the Pioneer Generation portal and Merdeka Generation portal.

7. What CHAS covers: chronic conditions, GP visits, dental and Healthier SG screening

CHAS covers four broad categories of care, but each tier has different scope. Here is what each item actually means in practice.

Common illnesses (acute)

Coughs, colds, flu, fever, sore throat, gastric, minor injuries, urinary tract infection - one-off illnesses that resolve in days. Subsidised at Blue, Orange, MG and PG (NOT at Green). Subject to a 24-visit annual cap per patient across all CHAS clinics combined, and the actual subsidy is capped at the clinic's bill amount.

Selected chronic conditions

Diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol (lipid disorders), stroke, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), schizophrenia, major depression, dementia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, osteoarthritis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, Parkinson's disease, nephrosis/nephritis, epilepsy and rheumatoid arthritis - among others.

Simple = single chronic condition; Complex = multiple chronic conditions OR a single chronic condition with complications. The full list of CHAS-eligible chronic conditions is published on chas.sg.

Selected dental procedures (10 covered)

Scaling and polishing, fillings, root canal treatment (anterior, premolar, molar), simple extraction, surgical extraction of impacted tooth, complete dentures (acrylic), incomplete dentures, denture repair and crowns. Not covered for CHAS Green and not all clinics offer the full range.

Healthier SG screening

Cardiovascular disease screening, cervical cancer screening (women) and colorectal cancer screening (50+) under Healthier SG. For eligible Healthier SG enrolments, CHAS Blue/Orange holders pay $2, CHAS Green pays $5, MG seniors pay $2 and PG seniors pay nothing. Healthier SG enrolment with a participating clinic is required first.

8. How to apply for a CHAS card and how to use it

Any Singapore Citizen aged 21 and above can apply on behalf of the whole household. Application is free, online via Singpass, and you do not need to wait for a physical card to start using subsidies.

What you need to declare

Add all household members by NRIC (spouse, children, parents living with you). For each working member, declare gross monthly income from the past 12 months. If no one in the household earns income, the system uses the home's Annual Value instead. Card tier (Blue, Orange or Green) is auto-assigned based on per-person income or AV.

How to use a CHAS card at a clinic

1. Find a participating CHAS clinic via the chas.sg clinic locator
2. Present your NRIC and CHAS card (or MG/PG card) at registration. The clinic deducts the subsidy directly from the bill - no claims to file
3. Check your remaining subsidy balance via MyCHAS using Singpass - shows chronic visit caps, common illness visits used and dental claims made for the year

9. Stacking CHAS with Healthier SG, MediSave and CDMP

CHAS does not exist in isolation. Three other schemes work alongside it to lower your healthcare bill further.

CHAS + Healthier SG: lower visit fees for enrolled patients

If you enrol in Healthier SG with your nominated CHAS clinic, eligible health plan visits and chronic disease follow-ups can be heavily subsidised on top of CHAS - the headline rate is "from $2" for enrolled patients on selected services. Actual fees depend on clinic, service type and your enrolment status. See our Healthier SG guide for the full enrolment process.

CHAS + MediSave under CDMP

For chronic conditions covered under the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP), you can use MediSave (yours or a family member's) to pay the remaining bill after CHAS subsidy. MediSave usage is subject to a 15% co-payment and an annual withdrawal limit of $700 per Medisave account per year for chronic care.

CHAS + Public Assistance (PA)

Singapore Citizens on ComCare Long-Term Assistance (PA) receive FULL subsidies at participating CHAS clinics for in-scope conditions - effectively zero cost. Visit limits and treatment scope still apply.

CHAS does NOT stack with insurance

CHAS subsidies apply BEFORE any private health insurance reimbursement. If your insurer reimburses you for the visit, the subsidised amount (not the full clinic fee) is what gets reimbursed. Many insurers exclude subsidised visits altogether to prevent double-recovery.

10. Action checklist: get the most out of your CHAS card

Six steps to get the most out of your CHAS card in 2026.

1. Apply or re-apply if your circumstances changed - if your household income dropped, you may now qualify for a higher tier (Orange to Blue, or Green to Orange). Re-apply on chas.sg
2. Find a regular CHAS GP near home - same clinic, same doctor each visit gives better continuity, especially for chronic care under Healthier SG
3. Enroll in Healthier SG with your CHAS GP - unlocks the lowest visit fees and free annual health plan review
4. Use the chronic visit cap - the per-year cap on chronic care is "use-it-or-lose-it". Do not skip routine follow-ups for diabetes, hypertension or cholesterol if you have a chronic condition diagnosis
5. Schedule one big dental procedure per year - dental subsidies of up to $615 (Blue) make scaling, polishing or fillings worth scheduling once a year. Use the dental subsidy table to compare clinics
6. Check your MyCHAS balance before December - log in to see what chronic and dental subsidies remain. Annual caps reset on 1 January, so unused amounts are forfeited

Subsidy amounts can change - check chas.sg for the latest before each visit.