Maid insurance requirements in Singapore come from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), and there are three. Every employer must buy medical insurance with an annual claim limit of at least S$60,000, personal accident insurance of at least $60,000, and a $5,000 security bond for each helper who is not Malaysian. All three must be arranged before she arrives, and none of the cost may be passed to her.
Insurers sell the three together as a “maid insurance” package. This guide explains what each part does, where your own money is still at risk, and what the package does not cover.
The Three Maid Insurance Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | MOM minimum | Who it protects |
|---|---|---|
| Medical insurance | At least $60,000 a year for inpatient care and day surgery | You, against large hospital bills |
| Personal accident insurance | At least $60,000 a year | Your helper or her family |
| Security bond | $5,000 per helper (not required for Malaysian helpers) | The Government, against breaches of Work Permit conditions |
Source: MOM, as at November 2026. Check the MOM insurance requirements page before you buy, as the rules were tightened in 2023 and 2025.
The short version: The medical insurance pays hospital bills up to at least $60,000 a year, but above $15,000 you pay 25% of each claim. The personal accident payout goes to your helper, not to you. The bond is a promise to MOM that you could be asked to honour in cash.
Medical Insurance: $60,000 a Year, With a Co-Payment
The medical insurance must cover inpatient care and day surgery during your helper’s stay. MOM requires:
- An annual claim limit of at least $60,000. Any sub-limit, such as per condition or for day surgery, must also be at least $60,000.
- Co-payment above $15,000. Since 1 July 2023, for claim amounts above $15,000, the insurer pays 75% and the employer pays 25%.
- Cover for all helpers, new and existing, including confinement nannies.
A second stage took effect on 1 July 2025. MOM lists three changes:
- Standardised exclusions. Insurers may use only an allowable list of exclusion clauses.
- Two premium bands by age: 50 years old and below, and above 50.
- Direct payment. Insurers pay the hospital directly once a claim is admissible, so you do not have to pay the bill first and wait to be reimbursed.
The co-payment, worked through
Suppose your helper has a hospital bill of $40,000, all of it claimable.
| Part of the bill | Insurer pays | You pay |
|---|---|---|
| First $15,000 | $15,000 | $0 |
| Next $25,000 | $18,750 (75%) | $6,250 (25%) |
| Total | $33,750 | $6,250 |
This is an illustration of MOM’s formula. Any part of a bill above the policy’s annual limit is not paid by the policy at all.
Some insurers sell an add-on that removes the co-payment, or a higher plan tier without one. Income lists a waiver of co-payment as an add-on. HL Assurance’s page says the 25% co-payment applies on its Basic plan and is waived on higher tiers, up to the benefit limits. Our maid insurance comparison sets out four insurers’ terms.
Personal Accident Insurance: $60,000, Paid to Her
The personal accident insurance must have a sum assured of at least $60,000 a year. MOM says it covers sudden, unforeseen and unexpected incidents that result in permanent disability or death.
Two points matter here.
- The payout is a lump sum to your helper or her beneficiaries. It is not compensation to the employer.
- No extra exclusions. The policy may not carry exclusion clauses beyond those in the Employment of Foreign Manpower Regulations.
The $5,000 Security Bond
The security bond is not insurance in the usual sense. It is a pledge to the Government that you and your helper will keep to the Work Permit and bond conditions.
MOM says it takes the form of a banker’s or insurer’s guarantee. In a maid insurance package, the insurer sends a letter of guarantee to MOM for you. MOM says the details can take up to three working days to reach it, and the bond must be in effect when she arrives, or she will not be allowed to enter.
When the bond can be forfeited
MOM lists these cases:
- You or your helper violates any of the Work Permit or security bond conditions.
- You do not pay her salary on time.
- You do not send her home when her Work Permit expires, is revoked or is cancelled.
- She goes missing.
MOM also says you will not be liable for your helper’s own violations, such as becoming pregnant, if you can show that you informed her of the Work Permit conditions and reported the violation when you first became aware of it.
Why the guarantee is not the end of it
If MOM calls on the bond, the insurer pays MOM and then looks to you. HL Assurance’s page says so directly: it issues the $5,000 letter of guarantee, and the employer reimburses it if MOM makes a demand.
Insurers sell an optional add-on that limits what you repay. As at November 2026:
- Income offers a MOM Security Bond Protector that limits your liability to $250 if you did not cause the breach. Its page says it must be added within 30 days of the policy start date.
- HL Assurance offers an optional waiver of counter indemnity that limits your liability to a $250 excess.
Read the conditions. These add-ons generally do not help where the employer caused the breach, such as by not paying salary.
What the Package Does Not Cover
The MOM minimum is narrow. It does not include:
- Outpatient visits to a clinic for coughs, fevers or dental care.
- Routine medical check-ups.
- Costs above the annual limit, and your 25% share above $15,000.
- Your own losses, such as agency fees for a replacement, unless the policy adds them.
Many packages add some of these as extras: outpatient treatment after an injury, wages while she is in hospital, the cost of sending her home, and her liability to third parties. They differ widely between insurers and tiers, which is where comparing pays off.
Maid insurance is one of the personal general insurance policies covered by the Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme, according to MoneySense.
What To Do Next
- Confirm the current minimums on MOM’s website, then check that any quote meets them for the full contract period.
- Decide whether you could pay a 25% co-payment and a $5,000 bond demand from savings. If not, price the two add-ons that limit them.
- Compare insurers on the same terms using our maid insurance comparison.
- Add the premium, levy and salary to our monthly budget planner to see the full monthly cost of employing a helper.
- Taking your helper on a family holiday? Her maid insurance may not cover overseas treatment. See our travel insurance comparison.
