Employers also told to consider a flexible benefits program
Employers in Singapore are putting more focus on preventive care to better manage the cost of benefits amid double-digit medical inflation in the country, according to a new report.
Pacific Prime's Global Employee Benefits Trends Report 2026 found that employers in Singapore are "redesigning plans" as medical inflation is expected to hit 16.9% in 2026.
Among the trending benefits in Singapore now include preventive care, mental health perks, employee assistance programs (EAPs), and wellness programs.
"Employers are increasingly investing in preventive programs and wellness initiatives to catch illnesses early and prevent major illnesses, which account for a large portion of healthcare costs," the report read.
Under preventive care programs, the report suggested the following benefits that employers can implement:
- Onsite checkups and screenings
- Onsite vaccinations
- Chronic disease management programs
Growing pressure on benefits
The findings follow recent advice from experts to focus on preventive care instead of cutting benefits amid surging healthcare costs and diversifying demands from the workforce.
In Pacific Prime's report, 44% of employees said employers should support employee wellbeing. More than half of employees (65%) are also willing to sacrifice existing benefits for better ones.
Some benefits that employers increasingly offer to attract and retain talent include enhanced leave, caregiver support, benefits specific to women's health, and ageing workforce benefits.
"With tightening budgets, employers want to extract the most value out of their benefits packages, including setting their organisation apart in the tight talent competition and demonstrating their proposition value through tangible and impactful benefits," the report read.
Considering flexible benefits
Aside from preventive care, the report also suggested offering flexibility and personalisation in benefits programs.
"Flexible benefits enable employers to meet the diverse needs of their employees better than traditional benefits packages," the report read.
It added that flexible benefits allow employers to have better control over costs, and boost employee engagement by letting the workforce take ownership of their benefits.
Some of the popular choices of flexible benefits include additional health coverage, gym membership, mental health services, wellness programs, and lifestyle benefits.
According to Pacific Prime, some considerations before starting a flexible benefits programme include:
- Company goals and how flex benefits can impact them
- Competitors' offerings, the industry's standards, and employees' needs profile
- The right flex platform to manage offerings
- A communication plan to better inform employees of flex benefits
- A regular review schedule to keep benefits competitive and optimal
