- Follow Jing Hui’s and Jian En’s life-saving kidney transplant journey, shaped by friendship, courage, and trust.
- Understand how Singapore’s healthcare and insurance systems support major organ transplants for both donor and recipient.
- Learn why layering health insurance plans can give you greater flexibility, faster access to care, and peace of mind during critical moments.
Table of Contents
When we first met Jing Hui and Jian En, we immediately felt the depth and warmth of their friendship. Their two lives converged at exactly the right time, bonding them forever. Jing Hui, the eventual kidney transplant recipient, and Jian En, his generous donor, were drawn to each other through their shared sense of humour and love for music. And through life’s coincidences, their paths aligned in a way that would change both their lives forever.
Early life and friendship
Jing Hui grew up in Singapore, known among friends as warm-hearted and resilient, the kind of person who faced life’s challenges with quiet determination. During a routine blood test before enlisting for National Service, he received an unexpected diagnosis: IgA nephropathy (also known as Berger’s Disease), an autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the kidneys.
Doctors advised him to monitor his kidney function regularly, but as life went on, it slipped into the background. Years later, in 2017, a hernia diagnosis brought him back to the doctor, and crashing back to reality. His kidney function had deteriorated significantly.
It was like a demon resurfacing from my past. I felt dejected.
Across the Causeway, Jian En was growing up in Malaysia. Though their backgrounds were different, both men shared similar values; kindness, humour, and an openness to life that would later form the strong foundation of their friendship. When Jian En moved to Singapore for work, fate stepped in. What started as casual dinners (and even an invitation for tang yuan), long work hours, and deep conversations soon grew into something personal and brotherly.
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The kidney transplant journey
However, as the years went by, Jing’s Hui’s kidney function began to decline sharply. Doctors told him he would soon need either lifelong dialysis or a kidney transplant. His then girlfriend (now wife), desperate to help, posted an appeal on Instagram. At the same time, Jing Hui reached out to his closest friends, including Jian En, explaining his condition and asking if anyone was willing to be tested as a potential donor. He made it clear that he would cover all medical expenses.
Without hesitation, Jian En volunteered to donate.
His decision came from a deeply personal place, his sister had previously needed a bone marrow transplant, so his family understood the emotional and medical toll of waiting for a donor.
I just felt that if I could help someone live a normal life again, I had to.
Under Singapore’s transplant regulations, all living donors undergo a thorough medical and psychiatric evaluation to ensure that they understand the procedure and that they’re not acting under coercion. According to Dr Adrian Liew, Jing Hui’s nephrologist, there are typically two types of kidney transplants: from a living donor or a deceased donor. A living donor is preferred, provided they’re either biologically or emotionally related.
On the morning of the surgery, life threw another emotional curveball. Jian En received a call from his wife, she was pregnant with their first child. Jing Hui told him he could still back out if he wanted to. But Jian En pressed on.
“It was a bitter-sweet moment,” Jing Hui remembered.
I was happy he was going to be a father, but I was also worried because I was putting him through medical risk.
After countless tests, screenings, and final clearances, the transplant took place. It marked not just the transfer of a kidney, but the continuation of two intertwined lives.
Today, Jing Hui enjoys renewed energy and health with his wife and baby daughter, while Jian En continues to live fully with his wife and two toddler daughters, grateful that his gift gave his friend a second chance at life.
Behind the surgery: The role of insurance
Here’s the part that many don’t talk about, beyond the emotional and medical challenges, Jing Hui and Jian En’s journey also required careful financial and insurance planning.
- Jing Hui had two types of insurance: an Integrated Shield Plan that covered up to A-class wards in public hospitals, and Corporate Insurance through his employer.
- Despite only having public-hospital coverage, Jing Hui chose to be treated at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, a private hospital, under the care of Dr Adrian Liew. His reasons were clear, his health was declining, he wanted faster access, and he trusted Dr Liew’s experience.
- The good news? His plan structure allowed coverage for both donor and recipient. This included pre-surgery screenings, blood tests, and even psychiatric evaluations required before the transplant.
The key takeaway: You can still go private, even with a public-hospital plan, by layering your coverage smartly. Jing Hui’s case shows how combining an Integrated Shield Plan with corporate benefits can bridge financial gaps and give you more flexibility in choosing your doctor and hospital.
Many Singaporeans assume that if their plan only covers public hospitals, they’re limited to public care. But Jing Hui and Jian En’s experience proves otherwise.
With thoughtful planning and multiple layers of protection, they accessed private specialists and received timely treatment without unbearable out-of-pocket costs.
Their story reminds us that health insurance isn’t just a checkbox, it’s a financial strategy that can shape your healthcare choices and peace of mind. And when the stakes are as high as an organ transplant, that strategy becomes as vital as the surgery itself.
How-to guide: Managing insurance for an organ transplant in Singapore
If you or a loved one are preparing for an organ transplant, here’s how Singapore’s healthcare and insurance systems come together, and what to look out for.
1. What national schemes cover
Every Singapore Citizen and Permanent Resident is automatically covered under MediShield Life, part of Singapore’s “3Ms” framework (MediSave, MediShield Life, MediFund). MediShield Life helps pay for immunosuppressant drugs for organ transplant patients, up to S$710 per month.
However, major transplants involve large bills that include surgery, hospital stay, post-op care, and lifelong medication. Relying on MediShield Life alone may still leave significant gaps.
2. What Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) cover
Most insurers in Singapore list major organ transplant under their inpatient benefits, often “as charged,” subject to limits.
Some policies even cover the donor’s medical costs, such as hospitalisation and harvesting procedures, if both donor and recipient meet policy conditions.
3. Why layering insurance matters
Layering policies, like Jing Hui’s combination of his Integrated Shield Plan and Corporate Insurance, gives flexibility and reduces out-of-pocket costs.
When evaluating your plan, check for:
- Hospital entitlement (public vs private)
- Coverage for both donor and recipient
- Post-hospitalisation benefits (for follow-up and immunosuppressants)
- Deductibles and co-insurance amounts
- Waiting periods for living-donor benefits
Adding a rider or Critical Illness Plan can also help cover income loss or expenses not included in your hospital plan.
4. Key questions to ask your insurer
- Does my plan cover major organ transplants for both recipient and living donor?
- Are donor-related expenses like harvesting and hospital stay included?
- What types of hospitals or wards are covered?
- Are post-hospitalisation visits and lifelong medication covered?
- Can I coordinate between multiple policies (corporate + private)?
- What’s my potential out-of-pocket cost if I choose a private hospital?
Why you can still go private and why it matters
Jing Hui and Jian En’s story highlights that private healthcare doesn’t always mean unaffordable. With the right combination of insurance plans, private hospitals can be accessible, even if your base plan is for public wards.
Here’s why going private can make a difference in transplant care:
- Faster scheduling: Private hospitals have shorter wait times for specialist consults and surgery.
- Specialist continuity: You can choose your preferred specialist and surgeon and maintain care under the same care team.
- Comfort and recovery: Private wards offer better amenities for both donor and recipient, improving rest and recovery.
- Comprehensive follow-up: Private hospitals and clinics provide more tailored and personalised post-transplant monitoring.
For many patients, that peace of mind and speed of care make all the difference.
Final thoughts: Take action early
If you or someone you love is at risk of needing a transplant, it’s never too early to review your insurance portfolio.
Here’s a quick checklist you can start with:
- Review your health plan for major organ transplant and donor coverage.
- Combine layers: MediShield Life + Integrated Shield Plan + Corporate Insurance (if available) + Critical Illness Plan.
- Check waiting periods, ward entitlements, and exclusions.
- Budget for lifelong medication and follow-up.
- Keep an emergency buffer for non-covered costs.
- Revisit your policy every year as healthcare costs and premiums evolve.
Jing Hui and Jian En’s story is more than just a medical miracle, it’s proof that friendship, courage, and foresight can change the course of a life. And that understanding your coverage early can make all the difference when it matters most.
Key Insurance Types
Integrated Shield Plan: An Integrated Shield Plan covers inpatient treatment and hospitalisation costs.
Personal Accident Plan: A Personal Accident Plan covers accident-related expenses, including outpatient treatment.
Critical Illness Plan: A Critical Illness Plan provides a lump sum payout upon critical illness diagnosis, which can be used to cover non-insurable expenses like off-list drugs.
Know Your Coverage, Before You Need It
