Ways To Cope With The Pandemic: Emergency And Insurance Hotlines

Geralyne Ong

Geralyne Ong

Last updated 26 June, 2020

Phase 2 is giving normalcy back to us, but we are still not out of the woods. If you find yourself worried or anxious over the ‘new norm’, here are all the help you need to keep calm and centered.  

You may have heard this countless times by now, but we are living in a very uncertain time. One moment, we were lamenting the extension of Phase 1 of post-Circuit Breaker and the very next, we were rejoicing at the freedom that was reinstated on 19 June 2020. And, if the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 isn’t enough, racial tensions in the U.S. have also caused more anxiety for minority groups around the world, including Singapore. 

With so much going on, it is only normal that you feel worried, anxious or even stressed. The best way (in our humble opinion) to manage this is to learn from past Circuit Breaker lessons and prepare for any scenario that life might bring (which includes the possibility of a second wave). If you find yourself nodding in agreement, here are 5 simple things you can do to stay calm amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stay informed

Knowledge is power, especially when a pandemic hits. We live in a world where information changes and spreads quickly — which can be both a blessing and a curse. Stay informed by consuming news from trusted sources like the World Health Organization, Ministry of Health or Channel News Asia, and always verify chain messages or emails that have been forwarded to you. Knowing the latest policies and understanding them will help you make more informed choices and feel less anxious about the world around you. 

Get your personal finances in order

There is no better time than now to get your personal finances in order since most of us are working from home and have time to spare. The easiest way to do this is to consolidate all your finances into a single document. This should ideally include your monthly spending, credit card bills, savings, emergency fund, budget plans, investments and insurance policies. 

Why is this important? Knowing these numbers will allow you to make better budgeting decisions, put more away for emergencies and expose bad investments or insufficient insurance coverage. Yes, insurance may be a touchy topic, but it really is one of the most important purchases you will make, one that will safeguard your finances in case of accidents. 


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Keep these important numbers on hand

Has something happened? Breathe. There is always someone to call if you’ve met with an emergency or need clarification regarding payouts, official announcements or insurance claims. Here’s a list of important numbers that you should bookmark. 

Medical emergency

NameContact numberPurpose
SCDF Emergency Medical Services995Life-and-death medical emergencies
Non-Emergency Private Ambulance Services1777Non-emergency medical situations
Homage Health6100 0055House call doctors
Speedoc8180 8948House call doctors

Apart from these, there are also many 24-hour clinics in Singapore and telemedicine apps that you could consider if you are feeling unwell. 

Government hotlines

NameContact numberPurpose
Ministry of Health1800 333 9999COVID-19 related questions
Ministry of Finance1800-2222-888Payout related questions
Ministry of Trade and Industry6898 1800Regarding suspension of activities or businesses
National Environment Agency1800 225 5632Dengue reporting
National CARE1800 202 6868Emotion or psychological support
SP PowerGrid1800 778 8888Power failure or blackout 
City Gas1800 752 1800Gas pipe leaks or disruption
HDB Essential Maintenance Service Unit1800 275 5555 / 1800 325 888Life failure, electrical or water supply disruption

Insurance customer service

NameContact numberOperating hours
FWD Insurance6820 8888

6322 2072 (24-hours daily, travel or home related matters only)
Monday to Friday: 9am to 10pm
Saturday: 9am to 1pm
Closed on Sundays and public holidays
Manulife6833 8188Monday to Friday: 9am to 6pm
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
Prudential1800 333 0333Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 5:30pm
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
AXA Insurance1800 880 4888Monday to Friday: 9am to 5:30pm
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
Great Eastern Life1800 248 2888Monday to Friday: 9am to 5:30pm
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
MSIG6827 7602Monday to Friday: 8:45am to 5:30pm
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
Etiqa Insurance6887 8777Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 5:30pm
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
Singlife6827 7988
6460 9391 (24-hours daily, travel or home related matters only)
6333 2222 (24-hours daily, car accident and breakdown related matters only)
Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 6pm
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays

Alternative grocery shopping sites

Gone are the days when you could only get groceries online from NTUC FairPrice, Cold Storage or Redmart. Since the start of Circuit Breaker, there have been many new websites that offer on-demand grocery delivery services at competitive prices. 

The next time toilet paper or eggs are sold out at your usual supermarket, don’t panic, visit one of these alternative grocery shopping sites and place your order with them instead. 

WebsiteBest forDelivery chargeRemarks
EAMARTFresh produce, fresh meats, fresh seafood, canned food and household itemsFree delivery for orders above $40Earn a 5% rebate on any order above $150
Maxzi Fresh produce, fresh meats and fresh seafoodFree delivery for orders above $100
Orders below $100 will incur a $30 delivery charge
No delivery on Sundays and public holidays
Melvado’sReady-to-eat meals, ice cream, breads and cakesFree delivery for orders above $50
Orders below $50 will incur a $10 delivery charge
Get $5 off your first delivery order by signing up to their mailing list
Food XervicesFresh produce, fresh meats, fresh seafood, canned food and household itemsFree delivery for orders above $60
Orders below $60 will incur a $10 delivery charge
Next working day delivery
MarketFreshFresh produce, fresh meats and fresh seafoodFree delivery for orders above $68
Orders below $68 will incur a minimum $12 delivery charge
No delivery on Mondays
Little FarmsFresh produce, fresh meats, fresh seafood and canned foodFree delivery for orders above $100
Orders below $100 will incur a $14.98 delivery charge
Place your order before 10am to get your order delivered on the same day. 

Meditate your stress away

Mental health may not be so openly discussed in Singapore, but it is just as important as being physically healthy. With so much noise around us and the amount of media we consume on a daily basis, it is easy to get overwhelmed or feel burned out. 

Practising meditation regularly can help you work through the noise, process thoughts better, be more aware of your emotions and improve concentration. All we are saying is, don’t knock it till you try it. 

AppPlatformPrice
Insight TimerAndroid and Apple iOSFree with in-app purchases
HeadspaceAndroid and Apple iOSFree for 14 daysFrom $8 a month
The Mindfulness AppAndroid and Apple iOSFree for 7 daysFrom $5 a month
CalmAndroid and Apple iOSFree for 7 daysFrom $8 a month
Simple HabitAndroid and Apple iOSFree for 7 daysFrom $11 a month

Read these next:
Phase 2 Post-Circuit Breaker: What Reopens And What’s Allowed
8 Best Physiotherapy Clinics In Singapore (2020)
Top 8 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Clinics In Singapore
6 Situations You Never Knew Personal Accident Insurance Plans Cover
4 Reasons Why You Need Personal Accident Insurance If You’re Into Sports

A lover of gin and all things Nigella Lawson, Geralyne’s constantly trying to adult like a pro. She spends most of her leisure time serving fur-babies and doing as many mountain climbers as she possibly can.

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