Personal accident insurance pays out when you are hurt in an accident. Depending on the plan, it pays a lump sum for accidental death or permanent disability, your medical bills after an accident and a daily cash benefit while you are in hospital. It does not pay for illness unless the plan names that illness. The price depends mostly on the kind of work you do, then on your age and how much cover you choose. The questions below are grouped in the order most people meet them: cover, exclusions, price, buying and claiming.
What personal accident insurance covers
What does personal accident insurance actually pay for?
Most plans have three main parts. The first is a lump sum if an accident causes your death or a permanent disability. The second pays medical bills after an accident, and this can include TCM and physiotherapy. The third is a daily cash benefit while you are in hospital. Some plans also cover infectious diseases such as dengue and HFMD, so check the plan page if that matters to your household.
Is personal accident insurance the same as health insurance?
No. Personal accident insurance pays for accidents only. A slip on a wet hawker centre floor is an accident. A stay in hospital for an illness is not. Hospital bills from illness need a health plan, such as an Integrated Shield Plan. Many people in Singapore hold both, because each fills a different gap.
Am I covered if I get hurt overseas?
Most plans cover you worldwide, 24 hours a day. That means a fall on holiday can be treated the same way as a fall on the MRT escalator. Some plans limit how long each trip abroad can be, for example 90 or 180 days per trip. If you travel often or for long stretches, check the trip limit on the plan page. For trip-specific risks such as delays and lost bags, travel insurance is a separate product, which you can compare on the travel page.
What it does not cover
What are the main exclusions?
Every plan has exclusions, and the common ones are similar across insurers. They include:
- Illness that was not caused by an accident, unless the plan names it
- Self-inflicted injury
- Injury while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- War, terrorism and nuclear risks
The exact wording differs between plans. Before you buy, read the exclusions section of the policy wording. It is usually short, and it tells you more about the plan than the headline benefits do.
How the price is set
Why does my job affect the premium?
Insurers group jobs into four occupation classes by accident risk. Office work is class 1. Heavy manual work is class 4, which most insurers do not cover online. Classes 2 and 3 sit in between, covering outdoor, light-duty and skilled manual jobs. A higher class usually means a higher premium for the same cover. You can see how prices compare on the pages for class 1 office jobs, class 2 outdoor jobs and class 3 manual jobs.
Does my age change the price?
The prices shown on this site are for an adult aged 18 to 59. Most insurers cover adults up to age 65, and some charge more from 60. The insurer confirms your age when you apply. If you are near 60, compare how each plan treats older applicants before you decide.
What do people pay today?
Prices on 15 October 2026 give a sense of the range. These are today's examples, not what you will pay.
- Accountant, S$200,000 cover: 14 insurers price it, from about S$174 to about S$1,106. See the accountant example.
- Sales executive who travels for work, S$100,000 cover: 14 insurers price it, from about S$109 to about S$1,194. See the sales executive example.
- Technician, S$500,000 cover: 3 insurers price it, from about S$850 to about S$1,756. See the technician example.
Two things stand out. The gap between the lowest and highest premium for the same profile is wide. Fewer insurers also price jobs with more manual work at high cover.
Buying a plan
How does comparing work on this site?
You enter your age, the kind of work you do and how much cover you want. Plans from each insurer on the panel are priced and listed from the lowest premium up. The list is ranked by premium only, so it does not weigh benefits for you. When you pick a plan, you finish buying on the insurer's own site, with your answers already filled in. You can start on the personal accident quote page.
How do I decide on the sum insured?
The sum insured is the lump sum paid if you die or are permanently disabled in an accident. Many people choose a few years of income. Medical bills after an accident are paid up to a separate, smaller limit. That limit differs between plans, so compare it alongside the headline sum. Price pages for S$50,000, S$100,000 and S$500,000 show how the premium moves with cover.
Can I cover my spouse and children too?
Yes, there are price pages for couples, parents with children and children on their own. Examples include you and your spouse, a family with one child and two children on their own.
A plan for one adult is better for a single person, or for someone whose spouse already has cover through work. A family plan is better for a household that wants one renewal date and one set of terms for everyone. Compare the per-person benefits either way, because they are not always the same for adults and children.
Making a claim
How do I claim after an accident?
You claim with the insurer directly, since your policy is with them. In general, an insurer will ask for the policy number, a description of the accident and supporting papers. These usually include medical reports, itemised bills and receipts. Keep originals or clear copies from the first clinic visit onwards, including TCM and physiotherapy receipts. Each insurer sets its own claim steps and time limits, so check the policy wording. The claims page explains how claims generally work.
Frequently asked questions
Can delivery riders, drivers and hawkers get personal accident cover?
Yes, there are price pages for delivery riders, taxi and private hire drivers and hawkers and F&B workers. The number of insurers and the price depend on the occupation class each insurer assigns. Heavy manual work in class 4 is usually not offered online.
Do I have to tell the insurer if my job changes?
Yes. Your occupation class sets the price, so the insurer needs to know if your job changes. If you do not tell them, a claim may be cut.
Why do premiums for the same person vary so much?
Plans differ in their medical bill limits, hospital cash, overseas trip limits and optional cover such as dengue. Insurers also rate occupations and ages in their own way. Comparing the benefits, not only the premium, shows what each price buys. You can compare plans side by side on the compare page.