How Much Maid Insurance Coverage is Needed in 2026?
Employers must meet mandatory MOM coverage when buying domestic helper insurance. Check out the exact coverage needed in 2026.
Key takeaways
Employers must provide at least S$60,000 in medical insurance coverage, S$60,000 in personal accident coverage, and a S$5,000 security bond (except for Malaysian helpers) to meet MOM requirements.
Coverage helps employers meet regulatory requirements but may not fully cover costs associated with serious illness, injury, repatriation, or employment disruptions.
When comparing domestic helper insurance plans, it also helps to look beyond mandatory coverage and consider benefits such as wage compensation, personal liability coverage, and expenses incurred if employment needs to end unexpectedly.
Many households in Singapore rely on a domestic helper for support with childcare, eldercare, and daily household responsibilities. Along with these responsibilities comes a legal obligation to provide insurance coverage that meets the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) requirements.
While most employers know that domestic helper insurance is compulsory, the specific coverage requirements are not always clear. Questions often arise about how much coverage is required, what each insurance component covers, and whether the minimum requirements are sufficient in every situation.
If you are wondering how much maid insurance coverage is required in Singapore, this guide explains MOM's requirements for 2026, what each type of coverage provides, and what employers should know before purchasing a maid insurance policy.
How much maid insurance coverage is required in 2026?
MOM requires employers to maintain specific insurance coverage throughout your helper's employment period.
Requirement | Minimum Coverage Required |
Medical insurance | At least S$60,000 per year for inpatient care and day surgery |
Personal accident insurance | At least S$60,000 that covers sudden, unforeseen and unexpected incidents resulting in permanent disability or death, without containing any extra exclusion clauses that are not in the Employment of Foreign Manpower Regulations |
Security bond | S$5,000 (exempted for Malaysian helpers) |
Source: MOM's website
1. Medical insurance (S$60,000 per year)
MOM requires every foreign domestic helper to have medical insurance with at least S$60,000 of coverage per year for inpatient care and day surgery. This coverage helps pay for hospital and surgical expenses if your helper is hospitalised due to illness or injury.
However, the S$60,000 requirement does not mean that every medical bill will be paid in full. For larger hospital bills, employers may still need to pay part of the cost under MOM's co-payment rules. You should also check your maid policy terms to understand what is covered and any limits that may apply.
2. Personal accident insurance (S$60,000)
Besides medical insurance, MOM also requires employers to provide personal accident insurance with at least S$60,000 of coverage for their domestic helper. This coverage provides a payout if your helper suffers permanent disability or passes away due to an accident.
Unlike medical insurance, which helps pay for treatment costs, personal accident insurance provides financial support in more serious situations that have a lasting impact on the helper or her family.
3. Security bond (S$5,000)
Lastly, employers are also required to provide a S$5,000 security bond for their foreign domestic helper. Only Malaysian helpers are exempt from this requirement.
The security bond is a commitment to MOM that employers will meet their responsibilities under the Work Permit conditions. If these conditions are breached, MOM may forfeit part or all of the bond.
The security bond is usually arranged together with the domestic helper insurance policy.
Under Income's Domestic Helper Insurance, you can consider taking up our Security Bond Protector optional add-on. You will need to pay an additional premium for it but it will limit your liability on the S$5,000 Security Bond to MOM to S$250 instead. This is provided that the breach of the $5,000 Security Bond is not due to your negligence or fault.
What other coverage to consider apart from MOM's minimum requirements?
MOM's insurance requirements provide a basic level of protection.
One area that sometimes catches employers by surprise is the co-payment requirement for large hospital bills.
Under MOM's guidelines, employers are required to share part of the cost when eligible hospital and surgical bills exceed S$15,000. For example:
Hospital bills of S$15,000 or less are generally covered in full, subject to policy terms and limits.
For hospital bills above S$15,000, employers must pay 25 percent of the amount exceeding S$15,000, while the insurer pays the remaining eligible amount according to the policy terms and conditions.
This means that even if a policy meets MOM's minimum coverage requirements, employers may still need to pay part of a large medical bill.
Other examples of costs to keep in mind and buffer for beyond MOM's requirements include:
Extended hospital treatment costs
Follow-up medical care after hospitalisation
Loss of domestic support during recovery
Temporary replacement domestic support arrangements
Repatriation costs if the helper needs to return home
Additional administrative and employment-related expenses
Additional maid insurance coverage that employers may consider
MOM's requirements set the minimum level of coverage that employers must provide. However, real-life situations do not always stop at medical bills or personal accident claims.
For example, if a helper is hospitalised for an extended period, the household may need to make temporary care arrangements while continuing to meet employment-related obligations.
In more serious situations, employers may face additional costs if the helper is unable to continue working and needs to return home before the end of her employment period.
This is why some employers look for benefits that provide support beyond the mandatory MOM requirements:
Wage compensation if your helper is hospitalised and unable to carry out her duties
Expenses if you have to stop employing your domestic helper due to a serious sickness or injury
Personal liability coverage if your helper accidentally injures another person or damages their property
Benefits that may help cover the cost of sending your domestic helper home if employment ends unexpectedly
While these benefits are not required by MOM, they may help employers manage costs that can arise when unexpected events affect the helper's health, ability to work, or continued employment.
How Income's Domestic Helper Insurance helps employers
Income's Domestic Helper Insurance meets MOM's mandatory insurance requirements while providing additional benefits that may help employers manage costs arising from unexpected situations.
Depending on the plan selected, coverage includes:
Accidental death or permanent disability due to a personal accident1 coverage of up to S$80,000
Local and emergency overseas hospitalisation2 coverage for your helper (including COVID-193)
Coverage for pre-existing medical conditions4 If your helper is employed for more than 12 months in Singapore
S$5,000 security bond to the Ministry of Manpower
Outpatient medical expenses coverage due to injury
Domestic helper's personal liability coverage
Wages compensation if your helper is hospitalised or on hospitalisation leave and is unable to carry out her duties (up to 30 days). Available for Standard or Enhanced Plan.
As part of Income's Domestic Helper Insurance hospital and surgical expenses coverage, we can also provide a Letter of Guarantee, subject to the policy conditions, so that you do not need to place the cash deposit. Take note our LOG is only applicable to the following Singapore public hospitals:
- Alexandra Hospital
- Changi General Hospital
- Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
- KK Women's and Children's Hospital
- National University Hospital
- Ng Teng Fong General Hospital
- Singapore General Hospital
- Tan Tock Seng Hospital
- Sengkang General Hospital
Employers may also choose add-ons such as a Waiver of Co-payment, which can help reduce out-of-pocket costs when large hospital bills occur.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about maid insurance cvoverage in Singapore
1. How long must maid insurance coverage last?
MOM requires all maid insurance and bond to have an additional two months of cover so that in any event / reason the maid overstays in Singapore after her work permit has expired, she is still covered under the insurance.
For Income's Domestic Helper Insurance policy, we only charge the premium for a 12- or 24-month period. We do not charge any additional premium for the additional 2 months of cover
When renewing a Work Permit or maid insurance policy, employers should make sure the coverage does not lapse. A gap in coverage could mean failing to meet MOM's requirements and having to pay unexpected out-of-pocket costs.
2. Can I buy maid insurance after my helper arrives in Singapore?
No, employers must purchase the required insurance before MOM can issue the helper's Work Permit. Insurance is one of the requirements that must be met before a helper can legally start work in Singapore.
Once the policy is in place, employers are responsible for ensuring that coverage remains valid throughout the helper's employment period. If the policy expires and is not renewed on time, it affects compliance with MOM requirements and leave employers responsible for costs that would otherwise be covered by insurance.
3. Does maid insurance cover visits to a GP clinic?
Not always. The medical insurance required by MOM is intended to cover hospital stays and day surgery. GP visits, health screenings, vaccinations, and other routine medical expenses are not covered under the mandatory medical insurance requirement.
However, some domestic helper insurance plans may offer additional healthcare benefits. Employers should check their maid insurance policy details to understand what outpatient benefits are available under their plan.
For example, Income's Domestic Helper Insurance provides access to preferential rates6 for GP and specialist consultations, dental treatments, vaccinations, plus compulsory six-monthly medical examinations through the MediPass app7, subject to the applicable terms and conditions.
4. Can I use the same insurance policy for a new helper?
No, maid insurance policies are issued for a specific helper and are tied to her employment details. If your helper leaves and you hire a replacement, you will need to arrange a new policy for the new helper.
Some insurers may offer a partial refund for the unused portion of the premium when a policy is cancelled early. The amount refunded, if any, will depend on the insurer's terms and whether any claims have been made under the policy.
It is best to check with the insurer before cancelling an existing policy or arranging new coverage.
5. What should I do if my helper is admitted to the hospital?
Your first priority should be ensuring that your helper receives the necessary medical treatment. Once she has been admitted, contact your insurer as soon as possible to understand the claims process and find out what documents may be required. Keep copies of medical reports, hospital bills, and receipts, as these may be needed when submitting a claim.
1The accidental death or permanent disability suffered by your helper due to an injury must happen within 12 months from the date of the accident. The amount of benefit payable is subject to the scale of compensation in the policy contract.
2 The final claim amount you will receive depends on the relevant pro ration factor applicable to the eligible hospital and surgical expenses being claimed. Please refer to the policy conditions for the pro ration factor table.
3 For cover on inpatient hospital and surgical expenses only. Please refer to the policy conditions for more details.
4 Covers pre-existing medical condition provided your domestic helper has been working in Singapore as a foreign domestic helper for more than 12 months in a row.
5 This Letter of Guarantee (LOG) service is only applicable if your domestic helper is hospitalised at a Singapore government restructured hospital. The LOG limit will be up to a maximum of $60,000 per year and the LOG amount issued will depend on the actual hospital bill and is subject to our policy terms and conditions and individual hospital guidelines.
6For the avoidance of doubt, the preferential rates for general practitioner, specialist consultations, dental treatments, vaccinations and 6-monthly medical examinations are independent from the Domestic Helper Insurance Plan and subject to separate terms and conditions. They do not constitute, nor should they be construed as a component of the Domestic Helper Insurance Plan. The Preferential Rates are provided by third-party service providers, Income Insurance bears no liability for any modifications, limitations or discontinuation of such rates.
7The application (“App”) is owned, hosted and managed by MY-INSURER PTE LTD, a service provider of Income Insurance Limited (“Income”). Income may from time to time change the service provider or terminate this service without prior notice. Income is not responsible for the contents of the App, the consequences of accessing the App, any transaction in the App and the services provided in the App. The App, the service and the benefits therein are not part of any insurance policy.
This article is meant purely for informational purposes and does not constitute an offer, recommendation, solicitation or advice to buy or sell any product(s). It should not be relied upon as financial advice. The precise terms, conditions and exclusions of any Income Insurance products mentioned are specified in their respective policy contracts. Please seek independent financial advice before making any decision.
These policies are protected under the Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme which is administered by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation (SDIC). Coverage for your policy is automatic and no further action is required from you. For more information on the types of benefits that are covered under the scheme as well as the limits of coverage, where applicable, please contact Income Insurance or visit the GIA/LIA or SDIC websites (www.gia.org.sg or www.lia.org.sg or www.sdic.org.sg).
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