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Maid insurance in Singapore: what MOM requires (2026)

Checked 14 Oct 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Short answerBefore your helper arrives, MOM requires medical insurance with at least SGD 60,000 annual cover and personal accident insurance of at least SGD 60,000. Non-Malaysian helpers also need a SGD 5,000 security bond. You cannot pass these costs to her.

Before your helper arrives, MOM requires you to buy medical insurance and personal accident insurance for her. You cannot pass the cost of the insurance on to your helper.

Sketch: the three things MOM requires before your helper arrivesThree boxes in a row feeding an arrow to an aeroplane-arrival label. Box 1: medical insurance, at least SGD 60,000 a year. Box 2: personal accident insurance, at least SGD 60,000. Box 3: security bond, SGD 5,000, for non-Malaysian helpers. Beneath, in red: you pay, not her.Before she arrives, you need:1MedicalinsuranceSGD 60,000+a year2PersonalaccidentSGD 60,000+sum assured3SecuritybondSGD 5,000non-MalaysianYou pay, not her
Before she arrives: medical insurance (SGD 60,000+ a year), personal accident insurance (SGD 60,000+) and, unless she is Malaysian, a SGD 5,000 security bond. The employer pays for all three.

Medical insurance

  • Must cover inpatient care and day surgery during her stay in Singapore.
  • Annual claim limit of at least SGD 60,000; any sub-limits must each meet that minimum.
  • For policies starting from 1 July 2023: insurers pay 75% and employers 25% of claim amounts above SGD 15,000.
  • From 1 July 2025: standardised allowable exclusions, premiums in two age bands (50 and below; above 50) and direct payment by insurers to hospitals once a claim is admissible.
Sketch: who pays a large medical claim, for policies from 1 July 2023A claim bar split at SGD 15,000. The part up to SGD 15,000 is covered as normal. The part above SGD 15,000 is split: insurer pays 75%, employer pays 25%.A big hospital bill: who pays?up to SGD 15,000above SGD 15,000Insurer75%You25%policies from 1 July 2023
For policies starting from 1 July 2023, claim amounts above SGD 15,000 are split: the insurer pays 75%, the employer 25%.

Personal accident insurance

  • Sum assured of at least SGD 60,000 a year.
  • Covers accidents resulting in permanent disability or death.
  • No extra exclusion clauses beyond those in the Employment of Foreign Manpower Regulations; compensation is payable to the helper or her beneficiaries.

Security bond

For each non-Malaysian helper you must buy a SGD 5,000 security bond (a banker's or insurer's guarantee). You cannot ask your helper to pay for it. It must be in effect when she arrives, or she will not be allowed to enter.

Sources: MOM, Insurance requirements for MDWs; MOM, Security bond requirements. Checked 14 Oct 2026. Premiums vary by insurer; we do not quote them.

Common questions

What insurance must I buy for my helper in Singapore?

Medical insurance covering inpatient care and day surgery with an annual claim limit of at least SGD 60,000, and personal accident insurance with a sum assured of at least SGD 60,000 (MOM, checked 14 Oct 2026).

Do I need a security bond for my helper?

Yes, a SGD 5,000 security bond for each helper unless she is Malaysian. You cannot ask your helper to pay for it.

Can I deduct insurance costs from my helper's salary?

No. MOM states you cannot pass on the cost of purchasing the insurance to your helper.

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