Yes, maid insurance is compulsory in Singapore. Before your helper arrives, MOM requires you to buy two policies, and you cannot pass the cost to her:
- Medical insurance: covers inpatient care and day surgery in Singapore, with an annual claim limit of at least $60,000. For policies starting from 1 July 2023, the insurer pays 75% and you pay 25% of claim amounts above $15,000.
- Personal accident insurance: a sum assured of at least $60,000 a year for accidental death or permanent disability, payable to your helper or her beneficiaries.
Claiming a hospital bill: for policies with a start date from 1 July 2025, MOM's enhanced rules include direct payment by the insurer to the hospital once the claim is admissible. Tell your insurer as soon as she is admitted, keep the bills and discharge summary, and check your policy for its claim steps. Outpatient visits are generally the employer's cost, because MOM makes employers responsible for their helper's medical expenses. Non-Malaysian helpers also need a security bond, explained below. Confirm the current rules on mom.gov.sg.
A maid's security bond and her insurance do different jobs. The $5,000 security bond is a guarantee to the government that you and your helper will keep the Work Permit conditions; it is not insurance and pays nothing to you or her. Medical insurance (at least $60,000 a year for inpatient care and day surgery) covers her hospital bills, and personal accident insurance (at least $60,000) pays her or her family if an accident causes permanent disability or death. MOM requires all three before she arrives.
Security bond vs insurance at a glance
| Security bond | Medical insurance | Personal accident insurance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Banker's or insurer's guarantee to the government | Cover for her inpatient care and day surgery | Lump sum for permanent disability or death from an accident |
| MOM minimum | $5,000 per helper | Annual claim limit of at least $60,000 | Sum assured of at least $60,000 a year |
| Who it pays | The government, if conditions are breached | Hospital bills (from 1 July 2025, insurers pay hospitals directly once a claim is admissible) | Your helper or her beneficiaries |
| Malaysian helpers | Not required | Required | Required |
| Can she pay for it? | No | No | No |
Sources: Security bond requirements for MDWs and Insurance requirements for MDWs.
The security bond
- Buy it from any bank or insurer before she arrives, and ask them to send MOM the bond details. That takes up to 3 working days.
- It must be in effect when she lands, or she will not be allowed to enter.
- MOM may forfeit it if you or she breach the Work Permit or bond conditions, you do not pay her salary on time, you do not send her home when the permit ends, or she goes missing.
- It is discharged when you cancel the permit, she has gone home and nothing was breached, usually one week after she leaves.
More detail is in our main guide to the MDW security bond.
Medical insurance
- Annual claim limit of at least $60,000 for inpatient care and day surgery. Each sub-limit must also meet that minimum.
- For claims above $15,000, insurers pay 75% and employers 25%.
- You must not make your helper pay any medical costs, including amounts above what insurance pays. MOM encourages higher coverage. See MOM's FAQ on co-payment.
Personal accident insurance
- Sum assured of at least $60,000 per year.
- Covers sudden, unforeseen accidents that cause permanent disability or death.
- No extra exclusions beyond those in the Employment of Foreign Manpower Regulations. Compensation is payable to her or her beneficiaries.
Buying and renewing
You can buy all three as a package from one bank or insurer, or separately. At renewal you need a new security bond and must extend or replace both policies. MOM notes that if the insurance package is valid for less than 26 months, the renewed Work Permit runs only until 2 months before it expires. See Renew a Work Permit.
Related guides
- MDW security bond: amount, claims and release
- Maid salary and total cost in Singapore
- Work Permit application: employer checklist
This is a practical guide, not MOM. Rules and fees change, so confirm the current position on mom.gov.sg before you act. Last reviewed: 11 October 2026.
