Issue #67: What’s Happening This Week? Beverage Container Returns Begin, New IP Riders Launch, and More

Today, big changes are rolling out: both the new Integrated Shield Plan riders and Singapore’s long-awaited beverage container return scheme kick in. This month, expect to see electricity and gas tariffs heading up, U-Save and S&CC rebates landing in household accounts, and Grab rides getting pricier for a while. We’ve also got a surprise move in HDB resale prices, plus a record spike in medical cost inflation that could affect many. Here’s your must-read guide to this week’s most important money and market news.

Psst, missed last week’s issue? View all past editions of What’s Happening This Week? to catch up.

[ms-toc title="Issue #67: What's Happening This Week?"]

New IP riders: Lower premiums, but you’ll pay more when you claim

From this week, Singapore’s new Integrated Shield Plan (IP) riders are rolling out, bringing some welcome news—lower insurance premiums—but with a catch: policyholders will now shoulder more out-of-pocket costs.

What’s changed?

• Premiums drop:
  • Up to 80% lower in some cases, depending on insurer and plan type.
  • Average annual savings:

• Higher costs when claiming:
  • New riders no longer cover the minimum deductible (you pay at least $1,500 first).
  • Co-payment cap doubled: Now up to $6,000.

Some plans add perks like home nursing cover, critical illness boosts, or retrenchment waivers.

ALSO READ: Best Integrated Shield Plans in Singapore 2026: Which One Should You Choose?

Back to top

Electricity and gas tariffs set to rise in Singapore

If you’re budgeting for household expenses, take note—electricity and town gas tariffs in Singapore are going up from April to June 2026. This increase is mainly due to higher fuel prices, with further, sharper rises possible later this year as global energy markets remain volatile.

Key points to know:

• Electricity tariffs will rise by 2.1%, to 29.72 cents per kWh for households.
• Average monthly bill for a 4-room HDB flat: up by $1.96.
• Gas tariffs will increase to 23.89 cents per kWh.
• These rates include GST.

What’s driving the increase?

• Global fuel prices are up, mainly due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
• Singapore imports around 95% of its natural gas, so global events have a direct impact.
• More increases are likely later in 2026 as fuel costs feed through.

Tip: Cut your energy bills by using energy-efficient appliances and keeping an eye on your usage. Use your Climate Vouchers to offset the cost of energy-efficient appliances.

ALSO READ: Compare the Best Electricity Price Plans: Open Electricity Market

Back to top

Over 1 million HDB households to get U-Save and S&CC rebates this April

Good news for HDB residents—over 1 million households will receive U-Save and Service & Conservancy Charges (S&CC) rebates this April, helping to ease the pinch from utilities and maintenance bills.

What’s covered?

• These rebates are part of the GST Voucher scheme, aimed at supporting lower- and middle-income families.
• April marks the first payout for FY2026, with rebates varying by flat type.

How much will you get?
Here’s a quick look at April’s payouts:

More support to come:

• Eligible households will get up to $570 in U-Save rebates and up to 3.5 months of S&CC rebates over the financial year.
• No need to apply—the money will be credited automatically to your utilities or S&CC account.

Check your latest utilities bill or with your town council to see your rebate reflected.

ALSO READ: Budget 2026 vs Budget 2025: What's New for Singaporeans?

Beverage container return scheme: How to get your 10-cent refund

Singapore’s new beverage container return scheme kicks off today, making it easy for you to recycle empty drink cans and bottles while pocketing a small reward.

Here’s what you need to know:

• What is it?
  • Return eligible empty drink containers at special vending machines to get a $0.10 refund per item.
  • Applies to pre-packaged plastic and metal containers (150ml–3,000ml) with a deposit mark.
• How does it work?
  • Don’t crush the container—barcode must be intact and scannable.
  • Over 1,070 reverse vending machines are now available across Singapore (including HDB estates, supermarkets, and schools).
• How do you get your refund?
  • Tap your SimplyGo EZ-Link card or scan your DBS PayLah! QR code after returning.
• Not eligible:
  • Glass bottles, pouches, paper cartons, and drink containers without the deposit mark.

This new scheme was introduced to help boost Singapore’s overall recycling rates, which have stayed stubbornly low. By encouraging everyone to return their drink containers, the aim is to recover more than a billion items a year—about 16,000 tonnes of material—while building good recycling habits across the island. The government hopes that 60% of eligible containers will be returned in the first year alone.

And here’s a pro tip: give your bottles and cans a quick rinse before returning them. It keeps things cleaner for everyone and helps make the recycling process even smoother—just make sure you check for the deposit mark before making your trip.

Back to top

LIA Singapore: Medical cost inflation hits record high—what it means for you

Medical cost inflation in Singapore is set to reach an eye-watering 16.9% in 2026, the highest ever recorded. The Life Insurance Association (LIA) Singapore is urging everyone—insurers, healthcare providers, and consumers—to work together to keep healthcare affordable.

What’s changing?

• All seven Integrated Shield Plan insurers are rolling out new riders from April, as required by the Ministry of Health.
• New riders:
  • Lower premiums (some up to 84% cheaper)
  • But you’ll pay more out of pocket before insurance kicks in—at least $1,500
  • Co-payment cap now $6,000 (up from $3,000)

Why are costs rising?

• Ageing population
• Costly new treatments and technology
• Higher operating expenses

Quick facts:

Remember to always check what your insurance rider actually covers before you commit—cheaper plans may mean less coverage.

Back to top

HDB resale prices dip for the first time in almost 7 years

There’s been a small but notable shift in Singapore’s housing market—HDB resale flat prices have fallen for the first time since 2019, dropping 0.1% in Q1 2026.

Key facts:

• First decline in HDB resale prices since Q2 2019
• Q1 2026: Prices down 0.1% quarter-on-quarter
• Resale transactions: 6,179 units, a 4.5% drop from the same period last year

What’s driving the change?

• Slower price growth over the past 5 quarters
• Uncertain macroeconomic outlook

Coming up, HDB will offer about 6,900 new flats in areas like Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Bukit Merah, Sembawang, and Woodlands in the June Build-To-Order (BTO) exercise.

Back to top

Grab rides to cost a bit more with higher fuel surcharge from 7 April

If you use Grab for getting around, be ready for a small price jump. From 7 Apr to 31 May 2026, the fuel surcharge on Grab rides will temporarily go up to $0.90 per trip—that’s an extra $0.40 compared to before. This applies to all passenger rides except standard and metered taxi rides.

What’s changing?

• The fuel surcharge (previously called the Driver Fee) is now a single line item.
• All of the surcharge goes directly to Grab drivers to help with high fuel costs.

Quick facts:

• Grab says it will monitor fuel prices and review the surcharge as needed.
• Other ride-hailing and taxi companies (ComfortDelGro, Strides Premier) are also offering extra support or temporary fees for drivers.

Tip: If you’re budgeting for rides, factor in the higher surcharge for the next couple of months.

ALSO READ: Best Credit Cards for Grab Rides, Food Delivery & Wallet Top-Ups in Singapore (2026)

Back to top

Condo managers get smart to tackle rising electricity bills

With electricity prices climbing—thanks to global tensions and fuel supply worries—Singapore condominiums are stepping up efforts to keep costs in check.

How are condos responding?

• Smarter solutions:
  • Some estates are exploring solar panel installations.
  • AI-powered lighting is being trialled at Bellewoods, set to cut energy use by around 30%.
• Day-to-day habits:
  • Residents are encouraged to switch off lights and air-con at shared facilities.
• Contract management:
  • Estates are eyeing better electricity rates with early contract renewals.

What are the challenges?

The need to reduce energy use is growing, but it’s a balancing act—saving money while making sure residents don’t lose out on comfort. Expect to see more condos rethink their power use and adopt new tech, especially as electricity tariffs are tipped to rise further in 2026.

ALSO READ: Downpayment for Condo: How Much Do First-Timers Need in Singapore?

Back to top

Singapore market overview: Week ending 1 Apr 2026

Singapore’s main stock market index, the Straits Times Index (STI), was volatile but ended a touch lower this week, closing at 4,885 points on Tuesday, 31 March. Overall investor sentiment was cautious, with local shares tracking swings in regional markets and reacting to ongoing geopolitical tensions.

What moved the market this past week

• Wednesday, 25 Mar 2026: The STI rallied 0.9% to 4,904, mirroring strong gains in Asia as markets responded positively to news of a US proposal for peace with Iran. Banks and blue-chip stocks led the gains, and trading activity was robust, with S$2.1 billion worth of securities traded.
• Friday, 27 Mar 2026: After some midweek turbulence, the STI rebounded by 0.2% to 4,898. This came as investors weighed rising geopolitical tensions and rejected peace deals in the Middle East, which contributed to nervousness about global growth and energy prices.
• Monday, 30 Mar 2026: The STI ended flat, dipping just 0.02% to 4,897, as markets digested news of escalating Middle East tensions and increased US troop presence in the region. Banks were mixed, and regional markets mostly declined.
• Tuesday, 31 March: The STI fell 0.2% to close at 4,885, following renewed threats from the US towards Iran and ongoing global uncertainty. OCBC rose on the day, but the broader market saw more decliners than gainers.

Highlight:OCBC broke the S$100 billion market cap mark during the week, joining DBS as the only Singapore-listed companies in this “club”—a milestone driven by strong results and positive analyst views.

What this means for everyday investors

Over the past week, the STI’s movements show how sensitive Singapore’s market is to global headlines, with optimism one day quickly giving way to caution the next. While these ups and downs may seem dramatic, they are typical in periods of heightened geopolitical uncertainty. For everyday investors, it’s a reminder that weekly price swings often reflect short-term reactions to news rather than any major shift in Singapore’s long-term economic outlook..

Back to top

That’s it for this week! Stay tuned for next week’s What’s Happening This Week to keep up with the latest in finance, business, and beyond. 

This article was first drafted with the help of AI and later reviewed and refined by the author.