Singapore helper insurance 2026: what MOM requires, who pays, and how to choose
Under Ministry of Manpower (MOM) rules, you must buy two policies for your helper (maid): medical insurance with an annual claim limit of at least $60,000, and personal accident insurance with a sum assured of at least $60,000 a year. Both must be bought before she arrives in Singapore, along with a $5,000 security bond (not needed for Malaysian helpers). You pay the premiums, the bond and any medical bills the insurance doesn't cover; none of it can be passed on to your helper.
What you must buy
| Item | Minimum | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Medical insurance | Inpatient care and day surgery during her stay in Singapore, annual claim limit of at least $60,000 | MOM insurance requirements |
| Personal accident insurance | Sum assured of at least $60,000 a year, covering permanent disability or death from sudden accidents | Same |
| Security bond | $5,000 per helper, as a banker's or insurer's guarantee; not needed for Malaysian helpers | MOM security bond |
Based on MOM's insurance page (updated 18 September 2026) and security bond page (updated 2 February 2026), checked October 2026.
Medical insurance: what to check
- Annual claim limit of at least $60,000, covering inpatient care and day surgery.
- Every sub-limit must reach $60,000: if the plan splits limits, such as inpatient care, day surgery or "per disability/medical condition", none can be below the minimum.
- Co-payment: since 1 July 2023, for claim amounts above $15,000, the insurer pays 75% and the employer pays 25%.
- Since 1 July 2025:
- allowable exclusion clauses are standardised (MOM publishes the list);
- premiums have two age bands: 50 and below, and above 50;
- insurers pay hospitals directly once a claim is admitted.
These apply to new policies, renewals and extensions starting on or after 1 July 2023 (the $60,000 limit and co-payment) and 1 July 2025 (the last three).
Personal accident insurance: what to check
- Sum assured of at least $60,000 a year;
- Covers sudden, unforeseen accidents that cause permanent disability or death;
- No extra exclusion clauses beyond those in the Employment of Foreign Manpower Regulations;
- Compensation is paid to your helper or her beneficiaries, not to you.
When to buy, and who pays
- Before she arrives in Singapore. MOM says you must buy both policies at the minimum coverage before you're allowed to employ her.
- You can't pass the premium on to her, and you can't ask her to pay for the bond.
- Medical bills the insurance doesn't cover are yours too. MOM says employers must bear all of a helper's medical costs, including hospitalisation and six-monthly medical exams, whether within or above what the insurance pays. MOM also encourages buying higher coverage so you're protected from large bills (MOM FAQ, updated 14 March 2024; MOM rest days and well-being, updated 16 January 2026).
For the six-monthly exam rules, see the helper six-monthly medical exam (6ME); for where insurance fits in the yearly budget, see how much a helper costs in Singapore.
When you buy: a simple routine
These are our suggestions, not rules.
- Check each item against MOM's minimums: the medical plan's annual limit and every sub-limit, the co-payment, and the accident plan's sum assured and who it pays.
- Decide whether to buy more cover: MOM encourages it, since anything the insurance doesn't pay comes from you.
- Note the policy's end date and renew it with her contract, so cover doesn't lapse.
- Keep photos of clinic and hospital receipts for claims.
When she's unwell, make it easy to say so
Good cover only helps if she speaks up. Some helpers don't want to trouble their employer and put up with feeling unwell; after a doctor's visit, how to take the medicine and when to go back may not land, even if you explained.
With Yiru:
- You write in English or Chinese; she reads the medicine and follow-up notes in her own language, such as Burmese, Indonesian or Filipino.
- She can message you about how she feels in her language; you read it in yours.
- After 9 pm and on her rest day, the app doesn't disturb her; reminders wait until she's back.
FAQ
Is helper insurance compulsory in Singapore?
Yes. MOM requires employers to buy medical insurance and personal accident insurance for their helper, at the minimum coverage, before she arrives.
What is the minimum medical insurance coverage?
An annual claim limit of at least $60,000 for inpatient care and day surgery, with every sub-limit at $60,000 or more. For claim amounts above $15,000, the insurer pays 75% and the employer 25%.
What is the minimum personal accident coverage?
A sum assured of at least $60,000 a year for permanent disability or death from accidents, paid to the helper or her beneficiaries.
Can my helper pay the premium?
No. MOM says you can't pass the cost of the insurance on to her, and she can't pay for the security bond either.
Who pays medical bills above the insurance limit?
The employer. MOM requires employers to bear all of the helper's medical costs, including amounts above what the insurance pays.
Sources
- Ministry of Manpower (MOM): Insurance requirements for MDWs
- Ministry of Manpower (MOM): Can I get my MDW to co-pay her medical expenses that exceed the insurance benefit limit?
- Ministry of Manpower (MOM): Rest days and well-being
- Ministry of Manpower (MOM): Security bond for MDWs
Checked October 2026. Rules may change; MOM's website is the final word.