7 Things to Consider When Comparing Maid Insurance in Singapore

Key takeaways

• All maid insurance plans must meet the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) minimum coverage of S$60,000 for medical insurance and S$60,000 for personal accident insurance. Meeting the minimum is just the starting point.
• The co-payment structure matters: employers co-pay 25% of medical claims above S$15,000¹, and some plans offer upgrades to reduce or eliminate this.
• The security bond of S$5,000 is bundled in most plans, and many insurers offer an optional Security Bond Protector add-on that can limit your liability to S$250.
• Additional benefits such as wages compensation, a Letter of Guarantee, and repatriation coverage are where plans differ most significantly.
• A 26-month policy usually works out cheaper per month than a 14-month policy and reduces the hassle of more frequent renewals.
• Comparing maid insurance plans in Singapore can feel overwhelming when every insurer claims to offer the best value. The truth is, all plans must meet the same MOM requirements so the real differences show up in the details. 

Knowing exactly what to look for makes it easier to compare quotes fairly and choose a plan that actually fits your household. 

Here are seven key points to consider.

1. MOM's requirements

Before anything else, confirm that the plan meets MOM's current minimum insurance requirements. Any plan that falls short is not legally valid for issuing or renewing your helper's Work Permit, so this is non-negotiable.

As of 2026, every maid insurance plan that meets the MOM’s requirements must include:

1. Medical insurance with an annual claim limit of at least S$60,000 for hospitalisation and surgical expenses, including day surgery

2. Personal accident insurance with a sum assured of at least S$60,000 for sudden, unforeseen and unexpected incidents resulting in accidental permanent disability or accidental death

3. A security bond of S$5,000 (for non-Malaysian helpers)

4. Direct payment by the insurer to the hospital when a claim is approved

If a quote looks unusually cheap, check whether it actually meets all four of these requirements before proceeding.

2. The co-payment structure 

Under current MOM requirements, employers must co-pay 25 percent of inpatient medical claims above S$15,000, with the insurer covering the remaining 75 percent. This is standard across all basic plans.

What differs between plans is whether you can reduce or remove this co-payment. Some insurers offer a waiver of co-payment as an optional add-on so you do not have to pay, while other insurers offer reduced co-payment tiers at a higher premium.

For most households with a young, healthy helper, the standard co-payment is unlikely to come into play. But if your helper is older or has a history of health issues, a co-payment waiver is worth factoring into your comparison to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.

3. Medical coverage limits beyond the minimum S$60,000 

All plans cover MOM's minimum of S$60,000 per year for hospitalisation and surgical expenses including day surgery, but some insurers may offer higher limits as part of their standard or premium tiers. 

When comparing plans, check:

1. Whether the plan offers higher tiers such as S$80,000 or S$100,000 for additional premium
2. Whether outpatient treatment for accidents is included, and if so, up to what limit

Outpatient coverage is not part of MOM's minimum requirement but is a useful benefit for minor injuries that do not require hospitalisation. Not all plans include it at the base tier.

4. Personal accident coverage & definitions

All plans must include at least S$60,000 in personal accident coverage, but the definitions and conditions vary between insurers.

When comparing, look at:

1. Whether the sum assured increases at higher plan tiers 

2. How the policy defines permanent disability, and whether partial disability is covered proportionally

3. Whether worldwide accident coverage is included if your helper travels with your family or returns to her home country for home leave

4. Whether there is a special grant payable to your helper's family in the event of death

These details can make a meaningful difference to the actual payout if a claim is made.

5. Security bond inclusion & the protector add-on

Most maid insurance plans bundle the mandatory S$5,000 security bond at no extra cost. However, the key thing to check is whether a Security Bond Protector add-on is available.

By default, if the bond is forfeited, you are liable for the full S$5,000 even if the breach was caused by your helper rather than you. 

Here’s how a Security Bond Protector limits your exposure:

• Without the protector: Up to S$5,000 liability if the bond is forfeited
• With the protector: Liability capped at S$250, provided the breach was not caused by your negligence
• Not all insurers offer this add-on. If it matters to you, confirm it is available before committing to a plan. For more details on how the bond works, read our guide on the maid security bond.

6. Additional benefits

Once you have confirmed MOM compliance and the core coverage, the additional benefits are where plans start to differ most noticeably. 

Consider these additional benefits that some insurers may offer:

1. Wages compensation: Pays you a fixed daily amount if your helper is hospitalised and cannot work. Available in Standard and Enhanced tiers with most insurers.

2. Letter of Guarantee (LOG): Allows your helper to be admitted to a public hospital without you paying a cash deposit upfront. The insurer settles directly with the hospital.

3. Clinic network access: Preferential rates at panel clinics for general practitioner visits, specialist consultations, dental treatment, vaccinations, and the compulsory six-monthly medical examination.

4. Repatriation coverage: Covers the cost of sending your helper home in the event of serious illness, injury, or death.

5. Termination expenses: Covers agency fees and temporary replacement costs if you need to stop employing your helper due to serious illness or injury.

Not every plan includes all of these. For a detailed breakdown of what maid insurance coverage typically includes, read our guide or check out our frequently asked questions about domestic helper insurance.

7. Policy duration & overall value

This final factor is often overlooked. Maid insurance in Singapore is sold as either a 14-month or 26-month policy, and the choice affects both your cost and your admin burden.

When comparing quotes, calculate the total cost over the full policy period rather than the upfront premium alone. A 26-month policy usually works out cheaper on a per-month basis. It also means one less renewal to manage over a two-year Work Permit cycle.

How Income's Domestic Helper Insurance compares

Income's Domestic Helper Insurance addresses all seven considerations to meet the MOM’s requirements:³

Depending on the plan selected, our maid insurance in Singapore also includes:

• A Letter of Guarantee³ with no upfront deposit required for hospital admission. We will also pay for your helper’s hospitalisation expenses directly to the hospital on your behalf.

• Get preferential rates¹ for general practitioner and specialist consultations, dental treatments and vaccinations, plus compulsory 6-monthly medical examination through the MediPass app².

• Coverage for pre-existing conditions if your helper has been employed in Singapore for more than 12 consecutive months⁴.

• An optional Security Bond Protector add-on that limits your liability to S$250 if the security bond is forfeited for reasons not caused by your fault.

Compare what truly matters, not just the price

The cheapest maid insurance quote is not always the best value. A plan that saves you S$50 upfront but leaves you with a large co-payment, no wages compensation, or no Security Bond Protector can cost significantly more in the long run.

Go through all seven considerations before making your decision and make sure the plan you choose fits your helper's profile and your household's actual needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on comparing maid insurance in Singapore

1. What is the most important thing to check when comparing maid insurance plans?

Start with MOM requirements. Every plan must include medical insurance of at least S$60,000 per year, personal accident insurance of at least S$60,000 per year, and S$5,000 security bond (for non-Malaysian helpers). 

2. What is the co-payment for maid insurance in Singapore?

Under current MOM rules, employers co-pay 25 percent of inpatient medical claims above S$15,000. The insurer covers the remaining 75 percent. Some plans offer an optional waiver of co-payment add-on that reduces or eliminates your out-of-pocket expenses.

3. Is a 14-month or 26-month maid insurance policy better value?

A 26-month policy usually works out cheaper on a per-month basis and reduces the administrative burden of more frequent renewals. However, a 14-month policy may make more sense for first-time employers or short-term arrangements.

4. What additional benefits should I look for in maid insurance?

Beyond MOM's requirements, consider looking at wages compensation if your helper is hospitalised, a Letter of Guarantee for hospital admissions, clinic network access, repatriation coverage, and termination expense coverage. 

5. Can I reduce the 25 percent co-payment on my maid insurance?

Yes, some insurers offer an optional waiver of co-payment add-on at an additional premium. This reduces your co-payment share for eligible inpatient claims. Not all insurers offer this, so check before committing to a plan.

6. Does all maid insurance include a security bond?

Most plans bundle the S$5,000 security bond at no extra cost. However, the bond itself does not protect you from liability if it is forfeited. For that protection, you may wish to look for a Security Bond Protector add-on, which limits your liability to a lower figure if you did not cause the breach of the bond.