Best Maid Insurance Singapore 2026: MOM Requirements + Plans Compared

Best maid insurance Singapore 2026: the short answer

If you are hiring or renewing a Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) permit in Singapore, MOM requires you to hold a maid insurance policy with at least S$60,000 personal accident cover and S$15,000 outpatient and hospitalisation cover. The S$5,000 Security Bond is a separate MOM requirement, and most insurers will issue a Letter of Guarantee to MOM to satisfy it.

For a clean standard plan at the lowest reasonable premium, MSIG MaidPlus or HLAS Maid Protect 360 win on price-to-coverage.

For enhanced coverage that includes outpatient consultations, dental and food poisoning, NTUC Income or Great Eastern's enhanced tier.

For an employer who wants the lowest possible 2-year premium and minimal upgrades, MSIG Standard plan at roughly S$240 covers both years.

Rates can shift after MOM regulatory changes; verify the most recent quote before purchase.

Table of Contents

1. Quick pick by hire scenario

2. What MOM requires from every employer

3. Letter of Guarantee vs Security Bond

4. Every maid insurance plan compared

5. MSIG MaidPlus: the cleanest standard pick

6. HLAS Maid Protect 360: enhanced for sole carers

7. NTUC Income Maid: the union-affiliated default

8. Great Eastern, FWD, AIG and ECICS: the full lineup

9. Standard vs Enhanced: when to upgrade

10. Pay the premium with the right credit card

11. What changes at renewal

12. FAQ

1. Quick pick by hire scenario

2. What MOM requires from every employer

Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) treats hiring a Foreign Domestic Worker as a regulated employment relationship. There are three financial obligations every employer takes on at the point of issuing a Work Permit.

Mandatory minimum 1: Medical insurance

Minimum S$15,000 a year in outpatient and hospitalisation coverage. The insurer pays the doctor or hospital directly when the FDW seeks treatment, up to the policy cap.

Mandatory minimum 2: Personal accident insurance

Minimum S$60,000 personal accident (PA) cover, paid out as a lump sum if the FDW dies or suffers permanent disability. This protects the FDW and the FDW's family, not you the employer.

Mandatory minimum 3: Security Bond

A S$5,000 Security Bond payable to MOM. The bond is forfeited if the employer fails specific obligations (most commonly: failing to send the FDW for the 6-monthly medical exam, or failing to pay her salary on time).

Most employers do not pay S$5,000 cash. Instead, the insurer issues a Letter of Guarantee to MOM that covers the bond. We explain this mechanic in detail next.

3. Letter of Guarantee vs Security Bond

The two terms confuse most first-time employers. They are NOT the same thing, but they are related.

Security Bond

The S$5,000 financial pledge to MOM. Required for every Work Permit holder. You pay it (or its equivalent) before MOM issues the permit.

Letter of Guarantee (LOG)

A document the insurer sends to MOM, on your behalf, promising to pay the S$5,000 if the bond is ever forfeited. Most maid insurance plans bundle the LOG into the standard premium. You do not pay extra for it.

Critical: if your insurer does NOT include the LOG in their standard plan (rare, but check), you pay the S$5,000 cash to MOM at permit issuance. You get it back when the FDW eventually leaves Singapore in good standing.

What gets the bond forfeited

• Failing to send the FDW for the 6-monthly medical exam
• Failing to pay her monthly salary on time (within 7 days of due date)
• Failing to repatriate her to her home country at the end of the contract
• Allowing her to work for a different employer or do non-domestic work
• Failing to provide acceptable accommodation, food and rest days

If MOM forfeits the bond, the insurer pays MOM, then claims the S$5,000 back from you. The LOG does not absolve you of responsibility; it only smooths the payment to MOM.

4. Every maid insurance plan compared

Premium ranges below are based on a healthy FDW aged 23 to 50 with no pre-existing conditions, for a 26-month Work Permit term. Add roughly 10-15% if the FDW is over 50 or has pre-existing conditions.

5. MSIG MaidPlus: the cleanest standard pick

MSIG MaidPlus is the cleanest first-time choice. The Standard plan covers MOM-mandated minimums, includes the Letter of Guarantee, and adds a few useful extras that most basic plans omit (repatriation, replacement, hospital cash).

What MSIG MaidPlus Standard includes

• S$60,000 personal accident (MOM minimum)
• S$15,000 outpatient and hospitalisation (MOM minimum)
• S$5,000 Letter of Guarantee for the Security Bond
• S$3,000 repatriation expenses
• S$300 hospital cash (S$50 per day, up to 6 days)
• Wage compensation if FDW hospitalised more than 3 consecutive days

When MSIG wins

First-time employer, FDW under age 50, no pre-existing conditions, standard household. The premium is competitive, the product is clean, and MSIG's claims process is straightforward.

When MSIG is not the best choice

FDW with pre-existing conditions (Great Eastern handles this better), elderly-care sole-carer scenario (HLAS Maid Protect 360 Plus is better), or you want outpatient consultations included (NTUC Income Enhanced).

6. HLAS Maid Protect 360: enhanced for sole carers

HLAS Maid Protect 360 has two tiers: Standard (cheaper than MSIG, similar coverage) and Plus (enhanced for sole-carer scenarios). The Plus tier is the rare maid insurance plan that explicitly covers the higher-liability scenario where the FDW is the primary caregiver to an elderly or disabled family member.

Why Maid Protect 360 Plus is worth the premium

If your FDW is the only person at home with an elderly parent during the day, your liability exposure goes up. If something happens (a fall, a missed medication, an emergency), the legal and insurance scrutiny is heavier. Plus covers higher PA limits (up to S$80,000) and adds a sole-carer rider that smooths claims process for elderly-care scenarios.

Standard tier

Covers MOM minimums plus the LOG, comparable to MSIG Standard but typically S$10 cheaper for the 26-month term. Pick HLAS Standard over MSIG only if every dollar counts; the coverage difference is marginal.

7. NTUC Income Maid: the union-affiliated default

NTUC Income is the union-affiliated default for many SG employers. The NTUC Income Maid plan has the strongest claims-process reputation in Singapore (less back-and-forth, faster payout). The Enhanced tier is the only mid-priced plan that includes outpatient consultations at the GP without requiring a hospital visit first.

Standard vs Enhanced

Standard covers MOM minimums + repatriation + LOG, at a slightly higher premium than MSIG. Enhanced adds outpatient consultations (up to 30 visits a year), basic dental, and food poisoning cover, for roughly S$40-60 more across the 26-month term.

When NTUC wins

Employer who values claims-process certainty (helps when the FDW gets sick on a weekend and you cannot wait), or anyone who has had a previous bad experience with another insurer's claims back-and-forth.

8. Great Eastern, FWD, AIG and ECICS: the full lineup

Great Eastern Maid

Great Eastern Maid offers strong underwriting for FDWs over 50 or with pre-existing conditions (most other insurers exclude them or charge a 40-50% loading). The Comprehensive tier is the easiest path if your FDW has anything in her medical history.

FWD Maid Insurance

FWD Maid Insurance is digital-first. The whole policy can be bought, renewed and claimed via the FWD app. Mid-range premium, best for tech-comfortable employers.

AIG Maid Plan

AIG Maid Plan's strength is the personal accident add-ons (up to S$100,000 PA on the Plus tier). Worth considering for higher-value households. Otherwise the differentiation vs MSIG is thin.

ECICS Maid Insurance

ECICS Maid Insurance is the cheapest legally-compliant plan on the market. Covers MOM minimums and the LOG, nothing more. Pick only if absolute lowest premium is the goal and you accept thinner coverage.

Tiq by Etiqa Maid

Tiq by Etiqa Maid is the Etiqa digital brand. Premium comparable to FWD. Useful bundling if you also buy Tiq travel insurance. Standalone, no compelling reason over MSIG or HLAS.

9. Standard vs Enhanced: when to upgrade

Every insurer offers two tiers: a Standard that covers MOM minimums plus a few extras, and an Enhanced (or Plus / Comprehensive) that adds outpatient consultations, dental, food poisoning and higher PA limits. The cost difference is typically S$50 to S$120 across the 26-month term.

Stick with Standard when

• FDW is healthy, under 45, no pre-existing conditions
• Household has more than one adult home most of the time (lower sole-carer risk)
• You have a regular GP you would take the FDW to for outpatient visits (you pay out of pocket and save the premium)

Upgrade to Enhanced when

• FDW is over 50 OR has any pre-existing condition
• Elderly-care sole-carer scenario (FDW is the primary daytime caregiver)
• You want outpatient consultations included rather than paying GP fees out of pocket
• You want dental included (rare in Standard plans)
• FDW will travel with your family overseas (some Enhanced plans include short-trip overseas medical)

The verdict

For most healthy first-time hires, Standard is enough and the Enhanced upgrade does not pay back. For higher-risk situations (elderly care, pre-existing conditions, FDW over 50), Enhanced is worth the S$50-120 premium because a single avoided out-of-pocket claim covers the difference.

10. Pay the premium with the right credit card

Maid insurance is a perfect candidate for credit card cashback or miles. The premium is S$240 to S$450 in one-off charge, payable to the insurer directly. Most insurers accept all major credit cards.

Best card for cashback

MariBank Credit Card or AMEX True Cashback both pay 1.5% on insurance payments. On a S$300 premium, that is S$4.50 cashback. UOB Absolute Cashback also pays 1.5% uncapped and is a good alternative if you already hold UOB.

Best card for miles

HSBC Revolution earns 4 miles per S$1 on contactless and online payments. If the insurer charges via online portal (most do), Revolution earns 1,200 KrisFlyer miles on a S$300 premium. Citi Rewards is the runner-up at 4 miles per S$1 on shopping but excludes insurance payments from the bonus category, so it earns only the base 1 mile per S$1.

PayAll for the spend-sensitive

If you are chasing a credit card sign-up bonus that requires a minimum spend (e.g. S$1,000 in 30 days), maid insurance is a clean way to hit it in one transaction. We cover the PayAll and CardUp mechanics for routing premiums through credit cards in the big purchases guide.

11. What changes at renewal

Maid insurance is typically sold in 26-month terms, aligned with the Work Permit cycle. At renewal, three things change.

1. The premium goes up if she has aged into a new bracket

FDWs aged 50 and above face higher PA premiums (because risk of accident-related death or disability rises). If your FDW crosses age 50 between policy terms, expect a 10-20% premium increase.

2. Pre-existing conditions exclusions kick in

Any condition diagnosed during the first 26-month term becomes a pre-existing exclusion at renewal. Most insurers will still renew but will not cover treatment for that specific condition. Great Eastern Maid Comprehensive is more lenient here.

3. The Security Bond rolls over

The S$5,000 Security Bond does not need to be repaid at renewal; MOM rolls it over with the new permit. Your insurer's Letter of Guarantee covers it again as part of the standard renewal premium.

Renewal vs switching

If your current insurer's renewal quote is competitive (within 15% of cheapest alternative), stay. Switching mid-term means re-underwriting, possible exclusions on conditions developed during year 1-2, and admin overhead. If the renewal quote is more than 15% above market, get 2-3 alternative quotes and switch.

12. FAQ

Q1: What is the security bond for helper MOM?

A S$5,000 financial pledge to MOM at Work Permit issuance, forfeited if you fail specific MOM obligations (medical exam, salary payment, repatriation, working for other employers). Most employers do not pay it in cash because their insurer's Letter of Guarantee covers it.

Q2: What is a Letter of Guarantee to MOM?

A document the insurer sends to MOM, on the employer's behalf, promising to pay the S$5,000 Security Bond if it is forfeited. It is bundled into most standard maid insurance plans at no extra cost. You do not pay the S$5,000 to MOM up front; the LOG stands in.

Q3: Is the Letter of Guarantee the same as the Security Bond?

No. The Security Bond is the underlying S$5,000 pledge. The Letter of Guarantee is the insurance instrument that satisfies the bond requirement without you paying cash to MOM.

Q4: What is a release letter for a domestic helper?

Not the same as maid insurance. A Release Letter is the document a current employer signs to allow a FDW to transfer to a new employer without going home first. It is unrelated to the Security Bond or insurance, but employers often confuse the three documents.

Q5: Do I need to renew the maid insurance every year?

Most plans are sold in 26-month terms (matching the Work Permit cycle). At Work Permit renewal, you buy a new 26-month maid insurance plan. Some insurers offer shorter terms for non-standard scenarios; default is 26 months.

Q6: Does maid insurance cover the FDW if she travels with us?

MOM only requires coverage within Singapore. Most Standard plans extend cover to short overseas trips (typically up to 30-60 days) only if you bring the FDW along with the family. Some Enhanced plans extend up to 90 days. Always check the overseas coverage clause if you plan to travel with the FDW.

Q7: What happens if my FDW dies or is permanently disabled?

The personal accident lump sum (minimum S$60,000) is paid to the FDW or her named next of kin. The insurer also pays repatriation costs to her home country. The Security Bond is typically NOT forfeited in this scenario because no MOM obligation was breached.

Related guides

Paying the maid insurance premium on the right credit card recovers 1.5% to 5% via cashback or miles. See the Best Credit Cards Singapore 2026 decision guide for the full cashback vs miles by spend tier comparison.

For routing large one-off insurance premiums through credit cards via Citi PayAll or CardUp, the Best Credit Card for Big Purchases Singapore guide has the spend math.

If you also buy travel insurance for the FDW or your family, the Best Travel Insurance Promotions in Singapore guide compares 10+ plans with the latest sign-up gifts.