Employing a helper
The six-monthly medical examination (6ME) for helpers
Every helper below 50 must pass a medical examination every six months. What it tests, who pays, and how it fits with maid insurance.
Checked against MOM on 19 Oct 2026.
The tests
| Test | How often |
|---|---|
| Pregnancy | Every 6 months |
| Syphilis (VDRL) | Every 6 months |
| HIV | Every 2 years |
| Tuberculosis | Once, after 2 years in Singapore |
| Body mass index and visible signs of abuse | At each examination |
The rules
- Every helper below 50 must have it every six months; a helper aged 50 or over needs a medical examination only when the Work Permit is renewed.
- MOM posts a notification letter and the 6ME form when it is due; it must be done at a clinic by the due date, without the employer in the room.
- The employer pays for the examination and any medical costs arising from it.
- If the helper fails it, MOM's rule is to cancel the Work Permit and send her home.
Maid insurance and the 6ME
MOM requires every helper to have at least S$60,000 a year of hospital and surgical cover and S$60,000 of personal accident cover. It pays for illness and accidents, not routine screening, so the 6ME is the employer's cost. Maid insurance for new helper, 26 months, with bond waiver costs from S$447.88 today, across 14 insurers.
- Does maid insurance cover dengue?
- Does maid insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
- Does maid insurance cover pregnancy?
- Does maid insurance cover dental treatment?
- Does maid insurance cover outpatient treatment?
- Does maid insurance pay to send a helper home?
- Does maid insurance cover the security bond?
- Does maid insurance cover mental illness?
Questions people ask
What does the 6ME test for?
Pregnancy and syphilis every six months, HIV every two years, and tuberculosis once after two years in Singapore; the clinic also checks her body mass index and for visible signs of abuse.
Who pays for the 6ME?
The employer pays for the examination and any medical costs arising from it.
Does maid insurance pay for the 6ME?
No. Maid insurance pays for the helper's hospital stays, surgery and accidents; many of the plans we compare name health screening and preventive care as an exclusion.
What happens if my helper fails the 6ME?
MOM's rule is to cancel her Work Permit and send her home. A pregnancy found at the 6ME is reported to MOM by the clinic.