Maid insurance is the cover the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) requires before your helper's work permit is issued. Every plan compared here includes hospital and surgical cover at or above the MOM minimum. Each also includes personal accident cover of S$60,000, the S$5,000 security bond and repatriation. Plans differ mainly in their hospital limits, whether a bond waiver is included, how long cover runs and the premium. The questions below follow the order most employers meet them: cover, exclusions, the bond, buying and paying, then claiming.
What maid insurance covers
Is maid insurance compulsory in Singapore?
Yes. MOM requires employers to buy medical and personal accident cover, and a S$5,000 security bond, before the work permit is issued. You must have all of it in place before your helper arrives in Singapore. You also cannot pass the cost on to her.
What does a typical plan pay for?
The plans compared here share four core benefits:
- Hospital and surgical bills, at or above the MOM minimum
- Personal accident cover of S$60,000, paid to your helper or her family if an accident leaves her permanently disabled or she dies
- The S$5,000 security bond, provided by the insurer
- Repatriation if your helper passes away or must return home
What changes from plan to plan is how far each benefit goes. The hospital and surgical limit is the one that varies most.
What is the MOM minimum for medical cover?
MOM sets an annual limit of at least S$60,000 for hospital stays and day surgery. On a bill above S$15,000, the insurer pays 75% and you pay 25%. Some plans set a higher limit than the minimum. A higher limit means fewer bills for you if your helper has a long hospital stay. It is worth comparing this figure side by side, not just the premium.
What maid insurance leaves out
What is not covered?
These are the common exclusions:
- Conditions found at your helper's pre-employment medical exam
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Cosmetic and routine dental treatment
- Self-inflicted injury
The exact wording differs between plans, so read the exclusions in the policy before you buy. Keep a copy of the medical exam results with your policy. That way you know what was recorded before cover began.
The security bond and the bond waiver
What is the security bond for?
MOM requires a S$5,000 security bond for each helper, unless she is Malaysian. The bond is provided by a bank or an insurer. MOM can take it if you break the work permit conditions. Examples include paying her salary late or not sending her home when her permit ends. With the plans shown here, the insurer sends the bond paperwork to MOM for you.
What does the bond waiver do?
If MOM forfeits the bond, the insurer pays it. Without a waiver, the insurer can ask you to repay that S$5,000. With a waiver, they usually cannot. A waiver protects you if the bond is lost, for example if your helper goes missing.
A plan with a bond waiver is better for employers who want less personal exposure if the bond is forfeited. A plan without a waiver is better for employers who are comfortable carrying that repayment risk themselves and want to compare the premium difference.
Buying and paying
Why are plans sold for 14 or 26 months?
Work permits run for one or two years. The extra two months cover the time between applying and the permit being issued. If your insurance and bond last less than 26 months, the permit ends two months before they do. That is why new helpers are usually covered for 26 months, and one-year renewals for 14 months.
26 months is better for a new helper on a two-year permit. 14 months is better for a one-year renewal.
When should cover start?
Cover should start before your helper starts work. It should also last as long as the work permit. Arranging it while you prepare the permit application gives the bond time to reach MOM.
How much does maid insurance cost?
Premiums vary with the length of cover, whether a bond waiver is included and your helper's age band. Here are today's examples, as at 18 October 2026. They are not what you will pay.
- New helper, 26 months, with bond waiver, helper aged 32: 15 insurers price it, from about S$385 to about S$1,098.
- Renewal, 14 months, no waiver, helper aged 38: 12 insurers price it, from about S$224 to about S$700.
Both examples assume no claims in 3 years. Other combinations are on the price pages.
How do I buy through this site?
Answer a few questions about your helper on the maid insurance quote page. Every plan shown meets MOM's minimum medical and personal accident cover and includes the bond. Plans are ranked by premium only. When you pick one, you finish buying on the insurer's own site, with your answers already filled in. You can also compare two insurers side by side or check the promotions running now.
Claiming
How do I make a claim?
Claims go to the insurer, not to this site. Each insurer sets its own process and document list. As a general habit, keep hospital bills, discharge summaries and receipts together, and tell the insurer early. The Claims page explains how claims generally work and where to start.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a security bond for a Malaysian helper?
MOM requires a security bond for each helper unless she is Malaysian. The medical and personal accident requirements still apply. Check how each plan handles this before you buy.
Does my helper's age change the premium?
The price pages split plans into helpers under 50 and over 50, for both lengths of cover. For example, see 26 months with waiver, under 50 and 26 months with waiver, over 50. The gap between the two differs between insurers.
What happens when my helper's permit is renewed?
You need new cover and a bond that last as long as the renewed permit. A one-year renewal is usually covered for 14 months. Renewal is a natural point to compare plans again on the quote page.