On 1 July 2023, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) implemented enhancements to the mandatory medical insurance (MI) required for all new and existing Work Permit (including Migrant Domestic Workers) and S Pass holders.
The MI enhancements are:
a) minimum annual hospital and surgical coverage will be increased to $60,000 with a co-payment element for employers for amounts above $15,000.
b) Standardised allowable exclusion clauses.
c) Introduction of age-differentiated premiums.
d) Requirement for insurers to reimburse hospitals directly upon the admissibility of the claim.
These MI enhancements were implemented in two phases on 1 July 2023 and 1 July 2025. All MaidPlus coverage plans meet these requirements.
Please visit MOM's website here for more information on the MI enhancements.
The start date is dependent on the type of maid you are hiring:
i) New maid: On or before the maid’s arrival date in Singapore.
ii) Transfer maid: The agreed transfer date which is also the day you apply for issuance of the maid's new work permit.
iii) Renewal maid: One day after the expiry date of the maid's current work permit.
Section 2 – Hospital & Surgical Expenses:
a) The hospital & surgical expenses sum insured have been increased to:
- $60,000 for Standard plan
- $80,000 for Classic plan
- $120,000 for Premier plan
b) 25% co-payment by policyholder for hospital expenses exceeding $15,000 up to the sum insured
c) Covers inpatient hospitalisation treatment expenses for COVID-19
d) Covers your helper’s pre-existing condition(s) if she has been employed for at least 12 months with you
Age differentiated premium for 2 categories:
a) 50 years old and below
b) 51 to 60 years old
Direct reimbursement to hospital
We will pay directly to the hospital if the claim is assessed to be admissible.
We have also added more benefits to cover unexpected expenses which might occur during the employment of your maid.
Section 4 – Wages and Levy
We will reimburse you for your maid’s wages and levy during her compassionate leave, when she travels back home due to the passing of her legal parent, spouse or child.
Section 10 – Maid’s Welfare
We will cover for travel expenses up to the plan’s limit, if your maid travels back home due to the passing of her legal parent, spouse or child.
Section 14 – Reduction of Co-payment
For better protection against unexpected medical expenses, we provide the option for you to reduce the 25% co-payment to 10% or 0% for Section 2 – Hospital & Surgical Expenses.
We will pay for the first $15,000 of the hospital bill. For claim amount above $15,000, the co-payment is 75% by insurer and 25% by the employer up to the covered sum insured under Section 2. Please see the examples below on how these are applied.
In the event of a large hospital bill and where the sum insured under Section 2 is depleted, the employer is liable for the remaining hospital bill. Selecting a higher tiered plan can therefore help to reduce your liabilities as illustrated in example 3 compared to example 2.
Example 1:
Maid’s hospital bill = $40,000
Standard plan H&S Expenses limit $60,000
MSIG pays the first $15,000
Remaining $25,000 hospital bill
MSIG pays 75% = $18,750
Employer pays 25% = $6,250
Total payments made
MSIG pays $33,750 (First $15,000 + $18,750)
Employer pays $6,250
Example 2:
Maid’s hospital bill = $100,000
Standard plan H&S Expenses limit $60,000
MSIG pays the first $15,000
Remaining $85,000 hospital bill
75% = $63,750
As the standard plan has a limit of $60,000, MSIG will only pay $45,000 ($60,000 – first $15,000)
As the limit under section 2 is exhausted, employer pays remaining $40,000 ($85,000 - $45,000)
Total payments made
MSIG pays $60,000 (first $15,000 + $45,000)
Employer pays $40,000
*Employer pays more if the hospital bill exceeds the sum insured under the selected plan.
Example 3:
Maid’s hospital bill = $100,000
Standard plan H&S Expenses limit $120,000
MSIG pays the first $15,000
Remaining $85,000 hospital bill
MSIG pays 75% = $63,750
Employer pays 25% = $21,250
Total payments made
MSIG pays $78,750 (First $15,000 + $63,750)
Employer pays $21,250
MaidPlus offers optional covers to reduce the 25% co-payment to 10% or 0%. This additional cover can be added to any of the three plans.
The ""reduction of co-payment"" option will help to reduce the cash amount which you have to fork out for hospital bills which is above the first $15,000 up to the sum insured.
If you have selected to reduce your co-payment to 0%, you will not be required to pay any cash upfront under example 1 and 3 in the next FAQ.
You can select “Reduction of co-payment” option only at the point of purchase and this option cannot be amended once the period of insurance has started.
This applies on a per policy year basis. MSIG shall cover the first $15,000 of hospital & surgical expenses with no co-payment requirement by you, and this shall reset annually based on the period of insurance start date.
Take for example, your maid policy’s period of insurance starts on 1 January.
In February, your maid was admitted to the hospital for injury and incurred a bill of $15,000. We pay the entire bill as it falls within the first $15,000.
In November of the same year, your maid was once again admitted to hospital for another injury and incurred a bill of $10,000. The co-payment would apply immediately for the second bill where we would pay 75% ($7,500) and employer would pay 25% ($2,500).
On 1st January of the following year, the first $15,000 cover will re-set and we will pay the first $15,000 for any new hospital bills incurred in the new policy year.
Section 1 – Personal Accident Medical Expenses covers outpatient medical expenses such as the cost of dental treatment, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment due to injury and treatment for dengue fever.
Section 2 - Hospital & Surgical Expenses covers for inpatient treatment at a hospital as a result of major illnesses or accidents. In addition, medical expenses incurred during the 90 days’ pre and post-hospitalisation as well as day surgery are covered.
MaidPlus will reimburse you for your helper’s wages and levy for the period:
a) she is hospitalised due to an injury or illness for up to 60 days and where Section 2 is payable.
b) she is on compassionate home leave for the purpose of travelling back to her home country due to the death of her legal parent, spouse or child.
MaidPlus will cover hospitalisation expenses incurred during an overseas trip due to injury or illness sustained by your maid outside Singapore, provided she is travelling with you.
However, we recommend purchasing a separate travel insurance for your maid as the travel benefits provided are more relevant and comprehensive to deal with overseas situations where medical and evacuation costs incurred are much higher.
Hospital and surgical expenses for pre-existing condition is covered after your maid’s first 12 months of employment with you. This is subject to the following limits under Section 2 – Hospital & Surgical Expenses, applicable to all plans:
a) Sum insured up to $60,000 and
b) 25% co-payment borne by the employer for the portion of eligible claim amount which is above $15,000.
The above is subject to policy terms and condition such as permanent exclusion for birth defects, congenital abnormalities, hereditary conditions and their associated conditions.
We will issue a Letter of Guarantee for a $5,000 security bond on your behalf to MOM.
If MOM makes a demand, we will first make the payment and recover the payment from you under the policy conditions of the section on the Maid Insurance Guarantee Bond.
You can purchase the optional cover for Waiver of Counter Indemnity to reduce your liability to re-pay us for the bond payment to $250.
For new and transfer maid policies which are purchased:
- within 14 days before the period of insurance start date
MOM’s record will be updated within 3 working days after the policy purchase date
- more than 14 days before period of insurance start date
MOM’s record will be updated within 14 days before policy start date
For renewal maid policy:
MOM’s record will be updated within 3 working days after the policy purchase date.
You can cancel the policy by emailing us a written instruction or through your intermediary. We will cancel the policy provided full discharge is given to us in writing by MOM in respect of our liability under Section 11.
You will receive a refund of the premium based on our short-period rates for the unexpired period of insurance coverage, subject to a minimum charge of $50 as stated in the cancellation conditions of the policy.
There will be no refund if the cancellation is made 180 days or more after the commencement date of the period of insurance or if there is any claim made on the policy.
Please contact MSIG Claims Department as soon as possible after any event giving rise or likely to give rise to a claim and complete a Claim form to facilitate the claim process. Written proof of the accident, such as a police report, doctor's report, original medical receipts, invoices and all supporting documents, must be furnished as proof of claim.
For medical expenses claims arising from hospital admission, we will assess your claims submission and notify you of the outcome. Thereafter, we will make direct payment to the hospital for our share of the hospital expenses if it is an admissible claim.