Your CPF accounts form a basic layer of financial protection for your future. Mandatory CPF contributions from your monthly salary go into your Ordinary Account (OA), Special Account (SA) or Retirement Account (RA) and MediSave Account (MA) – helping you save for a home downpayment, retirement nest egg and healthcare from the day you start working.
That’s why, beyond mandatory CPF contributions, many Singaporeans make voluntary CPF top-ups. In 2024, 335,000 CPF members made voluntary CPF top-ups, amounting to $14.8 billion.
There are two main ways you can make CPF top-ups in cash. You can 1) top-up your Special Account or your Retirement Account, for your retirement or 2) top-up your MediSave Account for your healthcare expenses. These voluntary top-ups can also give you a dollar-for-dollar tax relief on up to $8,000 (combined across both SA/RA and MA top-ups).
Read Also: CPF MediSave Top-Ups Or Special Account Top-Ups Via RSTU. Which Makes More Financial Sense?
There’s A Limit To How Much You Can Top-Up Into Your CPF MediSave Account
For those interested in maximising your CPF top-ups, it’s worth nothing that you cannot make unlimited top-ups. There are limits to how much money you can put into your CPF accounts.
For those with a Special Account (i.e. you are under 55 years old), you can only make cash top-ups worth up to the prevailing Full Retirement Sum (FRS). In 2025, this amount is $213,000, and will rise to $220,400 in 2026.
If your Retirement Account (RA) has been opened (i.e. you are 55 and above), you no longer have a Special Account. Having an RA means you can top-up to a higher limit of the prevailing Enhanced Retirement Sum (ERS). In 2025, the ERS is $426,000 – which is double the FRS. Similarly, the 2026 ERS of $440,800 is double the 2026 FRS.
Most relevant to this article, your MediSave Account has an upper limit known as the Basic Healthcare Sum (BHS). In 2025, the BHS is $75,500. In recent years, the BHS has increased between 3.8% and 5.6% each year. This means we may expect the 2026 BHS to be around $78,369 to $79,728.
The CPF website explains that the BHS is the “estimated savings you need in your MediSave Account for your basic subsidised healthcare needs in old age”.
Another important thing to note is that your BHS only increases annually if you are below 65 years old. In the year that you turn 65, your BHS will be fixed.
Read Also: CPF Medisave: Here’s How Your Basic Healthcare Sum Might Look Like When You’re 65
You Can Top-Up Your MediSave Account Even After Hitting Your BHS
Ordinarily, you cannot top-up your MediSave Account after hitting the BHS. However, we list down 4 instances when your MediSave Account may dip below the BHS – giving you a window to make cash top-ups.
This strategy tends to be most beneficial for those who have already hit the FRS, and are still looking to optimise tax relief and bump up their CPF savings.
#1 At The Start Of The Year – When Your BHS Rises
The Basic Healthcare Sum (BHS) increases in January each year, creating an opportunity to top-up your MediSave Account.
For example, in December 2024, you would have known that the BHS was going to increase 5.6% in 2025. Let’s say you already had the prevailing 2024 BHS of $71,500 at that point, and know that the BHS would rise to $75,500 at the start of January 2025.
When you enter the new year, you would see your MediSave Account credited with interest earned for the year. If you had $71,500 for the full year in 2024, your 4% floor interest rate on MA balances would have generated $2,860 in interest. This means your MA balances would have grown from $71,500 to $74,360 at the start of January 2025.
This means you have a window to top-up your MA by up $1,140 to hit the new BHS. Note that you should aim to make the top-ups before your January salary is paid. This is because part of your mandatory CPF contributions will flow into your MediSave Account, and you may not be able to top-up as much to your MA after that.
Read Also: Complete Guide To Your CPF MediSave Account (MA) – And What You Can Use It For
#2 When You Make Premium Payments For Your MediShield Life, CareShield Life & Supplementary Plans
As you may already know, you can use your MediSave balances to pay for certain insurance premiums, including your MediShield Life, private Integrated Shield Plan (IP), CareShield Life, and CareShield Life Supplementary plan.
These premiums are deducted each year around your policy renewal dates. Your MediSave Account balances will then dip below the BHS, enabling you to make cash top-ups to make up the difference.
Again, you should aim to make the top-ups not long after the premium deductions have been made, as the mandatory CPF contributions from your monthly salary will start flowing into your MA until it hits the BHS again.
#3 When You Use MediSave Balances To Pay For Healthcare
You can also use your MediSave to pay for various medical treatments, such as:
– Day surgeries;
– Chronic disease treatments
– Vaccinations
– Selected outpatient scans and screenings
– Maternity-related costs
If you incur medical expenses and you use MediSave to pay for them, your MA balance may fall below the BHS. Again, you can voluntarily top-up your MediSave back up to the BHS.
This may be one way to turn any eligible healthcare payment you may have made in cash, into a potentially tax-saving expense.
#4 Make Payments For Your Loved Ones
This is an extension of the previous two points. You can also apply to also pay the insurance premiums of your loved ones, including your parents, spouse, children, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren. Similarly, your MediSave balances can also be used to pay certain healthcare expenses for your loved ones.
When you make any of these payments from your MediSave, you can top-up to cover the gap back to your BHS.
Again, remember to make the top-ups before any mandatory CPF contributions from your monthly salary.
Topping Up Your MediSave Account Doesn’t Have To Stop Once You Hit The BHS
For many, hitting the BHS may feel like the end of your MediSave Account optimisation. But, as discussed, there are still opportunities to continue topping up your MediSave when your balance dips below the limit.
Those who want to make payments from their MediSave, especially on behalf of loved ones, should also first discuss with other family members as this approach may benefit higher-income earners or those who have already hit the FRS.
Read Also: 9 Ways You Can Use Your MediSave To Pay For Your Healthcare Expenses
