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Published on 20 Nov 2025 by Pamela A.
As an employer of a migrant domestic worker (MDW) in Singapore, you take on more than just a helper, you take on responsibility. One of those key responsibilities is ensuring your helper is medically insured. Thanks to recent changes from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the rules for medical insurance (MI) have been enhanced, giving you greater financial protection and peace of mind. Here’s what you need to know and how to choose the right insurance.
What changed: MOM’s enhanced medical insurance requirements
1. Two-Stage Rollout
MOM is rolling out the enhanced MI requirements in two stages:
Stage 1 (from 1st July 2023):
- The annual claim limit for medical insurance has increased from S$15,000 to S$60,000.
- There’s also a co-payment mechanism: for claims above the first S$15,000, insurers pay 75% and employers pay 25%.
Stage 2 (from 1st July 2025): More protections are added:
- Standardised exclusion clauses so you won’t be surprised by what’s not covered.
- Age-differentiated premiums (helpers 50 or under vs above 50) to make coverage more affordable.
- Direct reimbursement by insurer to hospital once a claim is approved, reducing the need for you to pay large bills upfront.
Why these changes matter
Better financial protection
Medical emergencies happen and when they do, hospital bills can get very expensive, especially for non-Singaporeans in public hospitals. With the higher S$60,000 claim limit, more of those large bills fall within the insured range, minimising how much you have to pay out of pocket.
Predictable coverage
Standardising what insurers can exclude (in Stage 2) means fewer surprises. As an employer, you’ll have more clarity about what treatments are covered, reducing uncertainty.
Improved cashflow
Paying a huge hospital bill upfront can be stressful. But once the claim is admissible, the insurer pays the hospital directly. That keeps your cashflow more stable.
Fairer premiums
Because of age-based premiums, helpers 50 and under will generally cost less to insure than older ones. This makes it more reasonable, since many MDWs are under 50.
What you must do as an employer
- Ensure the MI policy for your helper meets MOM’s minimum requirements, especially if the policy starts on or after the Stage 1 / Stage 2 effective dates.
- Buy before your helper arrives (or before renewing/extending her work permit) to avoid regulatory issues.
- Review the exclusion clauses of any MI policy, especially for Stage 2 policies.
- Look into additional coverage beyond the minimum for more peace of mind.
The enhanced insurance requirements from MOM are a big win for you as an employer. They reduce financial risk, simplify claim processes (especially in Stage 2), and give more transparency. While you must meet the minimum, it’s often a smart move to go beyond, considering extra coverage can save you headaches later.
You might be interested in:
How to Do a Thorough Background Check on Your Potential Helper
How to Set Safe Household Chores Boundaries for Your Helper
How to Manage Night Duties for Helpers Caring for Babies or Toddlers
Need a Maid Urgently? Here’s How to Find the Right Helper Quickly and Stress-Free
Empower Your Helper: The Value of Maid Training Courses and Free Courses for FDWs
As an employer of a migrant domestic worker (MDW) in Singapore, you take on more than just a helper, you take on responsibility. One of those key responsibilities is ensuring your helper is medically insured. Thanks to recent changes from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the rules for medical insurance (MI) have been enhanced, giving you greater financial protection and peace of mind. Here’s what you need to know and how to choose the right insurance.
What changed: MOM’s enhanced medical insurance requirements
1. Two-Stage Rollout
MOM is rolling out the enhanced MI requirements in two stages:
Stage 1 (from 1st July 2023):
- The annual claim limit for medical insurance has increased from S$15,000 to S$60,000.
- There’s also a co-payment mechanism: for claims above the first S$15,000, insurers pay 75% and employers pay 25%.
Stage 2 (from 1st July 2025): More protections are added:
- Standardised exclusion clauses so you won’t be surprised by what’s not covered.
- Age-differentiated premiums (helpers 50 or under vs above 50) to make coverage more affordable.
- Direct reimbursement by insurer to hospital once a claim is approved, reducing the need for you to pay large bills upfront.
Why these changes matter
Better financial protection
Medical emergencies happen and when they do, hospital bills can get very expensive, especially for non-Singaporeans in public hospitals. With the higher S$60,000 claim limit, more of those large bills fall within the insured range, minimising how much you have to pay out of pocket.
Predictable coverage
Standardising what insurers can exclude (in Stage 2) means fewer surprises. As an employer, you’ll have more clarity about what treatments are covered, reducing uncertainty.
Improved cashflow
Paying a huge hospital bill upfront can be stressful. But once the claim is admissible, the insurer pays the hospital directly. That keeps your cashflow more stable.
Fairer premiums
Because of age-based premiums, helpers 50 and under will generally cost less to insure than older ones. This makes it more reasonable, since many MDWs are under 50.
What you must do as an employer
- Ensure the MI policy for your helper meets MOM’s minimum requirements, especially if the policy starts on or after the Stage 1 / Stage 2 effective dates.
- Buy before your helper arrives (or before renewing/extending her work permit) to avoid regulatory issues.
- Review the exclusion clauses of any MI policy, especially for Stage 2 policies.
- Look into additional coverage beyond the minimum for more peace of mind.
The enhanced insurance requirements from MOM are a big win for you as an employer. They reduce financial risk, simplify claim processes (especially in Stage 2), and give more transparency. While you must meet the minimum, it’s often a smart move to go beyond, considering extra coverage can save you headaches later.
You might be interested in:
How to Do a Thorough Background Check on Your Potential Helper
How to Set Safe Household Chores Boundaries for Your Helper
How to Manage Night Duties for Helpers Caring for Babies or Toddlers
Need a Maid Urgently? Here’s How to Find the Right Helper Quickly and Stress-Free
Empower Your Helper: The Value of Maid Training Courses and Free Courses for FDWs