Last updated: October 2026 | SeaMoneyTips
Hiring a migrant domestic worker is a financial commitment that starts before the first salary payment. Maid insurance is the part most households underestimate, and the part the Ministry of Manpower refuses to let you skip. Without a valid medical policy, a personal accident policy and a security bond, your helper cannot clear immigration at Changi.
This guide covers what employers must buy in 2026, what each component pays for, and how the three largest insurers compare. Every figure comes from MOM's published requirements or the insurers' own product pages.
What Maid Insurance Actually Covers
A standard policy is really four contracts sold as one. Medical insurance pays for inpatient care and day surgery. Personal accident pays a lump sum to your helper or her beneficiaries for permanent disability or death from an accident. Personal liability covers injury or damage she causes to third parties. Repatriation covers the cost of sending her home.
Most plans add smaller benefits: daily hospital income, outpatient accident treatment, wage compensation during a hospital stay, and a replacement helper benefit. These extras are where cheap policies differ most from mid-range ones.
The Three MOM Requirements You Cannot Skip
MOM sets a floor, not a recommendation. A policy below any of these limits does not satisfy your legal obligation as an employer.
1. Medical insurance of at least S$60,000 a year
Your medical insurance must cover inpatient care and day surgery for the whole period your helper is in Singapore, with an annual claim limit of at least S$60,000. If the plan splits coverage into sub-limits for inpatient care, day surgery or per medical condition, each sub-limit must meet that same S$60,000. A plan with a generous total limit but a S$15,000 per-condition cap will not pass.
Since 1 July 2023 MOM has required enhanced medical insurance. Claims above S$15,000 carry a co-payment split of 75 percent insurer and 25 percent employer. A 2025 update also required age-differentiated premiums in two bands, 50 and below, and above 50.
2. Personal accident insurance of at least S$60,000 a year
The personal accident policy must pay at least S$60,000 a year for sudden, unforeseen incidents causing permanent disability or death, with no extra exclusion clauses beyond the Employment of Foreign Manpower Regulations, and compensation payable to your helper or her beneficiaries.
3. A S$5,000 security bond
You must buy a S$5,000 security bond for each helper, unless she is Malaysian. The bond is a banker's or insurer's guarantee, not cash, but it becomes a real liability if you breach the Work Permit conditions. It must be in effect when your helper arrives, otherwise the immigration officer will turn her away. Full rules are on MOM's security bond page.
You cannot pass the cost of insurance or the bond to your helper, and cover must run two months beyond the Work Permit, which is why terms are 14 and 26 months instead of 12 and 24. For the other employer costs, see our breakdown of the Singapore maid levy in 2026.
Why the 25 Percent Co-Payment Matters More Than the Headline Limit
A S$60,000 annual limit sounds reassuring until you read the co-payment clause. Any claim above S$15,000 is split, with the employer paying 25 percent. A S$40,000 hospital bill therefore leaves you with S$6,250 out of pocket, on top of the premium already paid.
This is the most under-priced risk in maid insurance. A hospitalisation for a serious infection or a fall can run into tens of thousands of dollars, and the co-payment scales with the bill. Two levers reduce it: a co-payment waiver add-on, and checking the ward class the policy covers before an emergency decides it for you.
Best Maid Insurance Plans in Singapore 2026
Three insurers dominate the market, and all meet MOM's minimums. The differences sit in tier structure, add-ons and how much of the co-payment they let you shift away.
| Insurer and plan | Tiers | Personal accident | Notable extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income Domestic Helper Insurance | Basic, Standard, Enhanced | Up to S$80,000 on Enhanced | Pre-existing conditions after 12 months of continuous employment, wage compensation up to 30 days, outpatient accident cover up to S$2,000 |
| Great Eastern GREAT Maid Protect | Four plans | Up to S$60,000 plus outpatient accident expenses | Hospital and surgical reimbursement up to S$90,000, repatriation up to S$10,000, personal liability up to S$50,000 |
| Etiqa Maid Insurance | Plan A, B, C | S$60,000 to S$70,000 | Letter of guarantee to MOM so the S$5,000 bond is not blocked in your bank account, critical illness and COVID-19 add-ons |
Income's Enhanced tier is the strongest all-round package for households with young children or elderly parents, because higher accident cover, outpatient benefit and wage compensation remove three cash flow shocks. Great Eastern wins on hospitalisation headroom. Etiqa suits first-time employers who want the bond handled by the insurer.
Do not choose on premium alone. A S$60 difference is small next to a S$6,000 co-payment, and the cheapest tier usually has the narrowest outpatient benefits.
How Much Maid Insurance Costs in 2026
Premiums depend on term, tier and your helper's age. Expect roughly S$180 to S$230 for a 14-month basic policy, and S$260 to S$320 for a 26-month mid tier. Top tiers and older helpers can exceed S$400 for a two-year term.
Age matters because from 1 July 2025 insurers must price medical insurance in two bands, 50 and below, and above 50. Budget the whole package rather than the premium line: insurance, levy, salary and food together. Our Singapore cost of living guide puts those numbers against median household income.
Is the Security Bond Protector Add-On Worth It
The security bond is S$5,000 of contingent liability. If your helper breaches a Work Permit condition, absconds or overstays, MOM can call on the bond and the insurer will recover the amount from you. A bond protector add-on limits your liability, typically to around S$250, provided the breach was not caused by your own fault.
At a few tens of dollars a year this is cheap risk transfer. The usual triggers are outside your control, such as a helper going missing or refusing to return home when her permit is cancelled. Paying S$250 instead of S$5,000 is an easy trade.
How to Buy Maid Insurance: Step by Step
- Confirm your eligibility. You must be at least 21, not an undischarged bankrupt, and able to supervise your helper. First-time employers must complete the Employer Orientation Programme.
- Get the FIN from the in-principle approval. Insurers need your helper's Foreign Identification Number to issue the bond. For new helpers it is assigned within three working days after the Work Permit is approved, so regenerate the IPA if it is missing.
- Pick a plan that clears every sub-limit. Check medical sub-limits, not just the headline annual limit, and confirm the personal accident sum assured is at least S$60,000.
- Decide on add-ons. Co-payment waiver, bond protector and higher hospital and surgical limits are the three worth pricing.
- Make sure cover starts before arrival. Bond details take up to three working days to reach MOM. If the bond is not in effect on arrival day, your helper will be sent home.
Common Mistakes New Employers Make
The most expensive mistake is renewing late. A Work Permit renewal does not extend the insurance, and a gap of a few days is a breach. Set a reminder 30 days before expiry, which is when insurers release renewal pricing.
The second is assuming the bond is refundable cash. It is a guarantee, discharged about a week after your helper leaves Singapore, but you never receive a S$5,000 cheque because you never paid one.
The third is ignoring ward class. A policy that meets the S$60,000 limit but covers only a lower ward class can still leave a large bill after an emergency admission. It is one line in a wider review, the same logic as our comparison of HDB fire insurance versus contents cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is maid insurance compulsory in Singapore?
Yes. MOM requires every employer to buy medical insurance with an annual claim limit of at least S$60,000, personal accident insurance of at least S$60,000 and a S$5,000 security bond for non-Malaysian helpers. Without all three in force, the Work Permit cannot be issued.
How much does maid insurance cost per year?
Most households pay between S$180 and S$400 per term depending on tier, term length and the helper's age. A basic 14-month policy sits near the bottom, while a top-tier 26-month policy with add-ons sits near the top.
Can I pass the insurance cost to my helper?
No. MOM states that you cannot pass on the cost of medical insurance, personal accident insurance or the security bond to your helper. Deducting these costs from her salary breaches the Work Permit conditions.
What is the 25 percent co-payment on maid medical insurance?
For claims above S$15,000, insurers pay 75 percent and employers pay 25 percent. This applies to enhanced medical insurance policies effective from 1 July 2023. Some insurers sell a co-payment waiver add-on that reduces your share.
Does maid insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Only on some plans, and usually after a qualifying period. Income covers pre-existing conditions on its Standard and Enhanced plans once your helper has worked in Singapore more than 12 months in a row.
Key Takeaways
- MOM sets a hard floor: S$60,000 medical, S$60,000 personal accident and a S$5,000 security bond, with sub-limits counted separately.
- The 25 percent co-payment above S$15,000 is the real financial risk, not the headline annual limit.
- Income, Great Eastern and Etiqa all meet the minimums; the difference is tier depth, outpatient benefits and bond handling.
- Bond protector add-ons cap your liability at around S$250 instead of S$5,000.
- Cover and bond must be active before your helper lands, and must run two months past the Work Permit.
Conclusion
Maid insurance is one of the few household costs where the legal minimum is close to adequate, provided you check the sub-limits and understand the co-payment. Choose a mid tier from a major insurer, add the bond protector, and set a renewal reminder 30 days ahead.
If you are still working out the cost of employing a helper, read our guide to the Singapore Work Permit and S Pass rules next.
Featured image: Katerina Holmes / Pexels
This article was written by the SeaMoneyTips Editorial Team, focused on personal finance education for Indonesia and Singapore readers. For inquiries, please contact us.