Understand your maternity insurance. This is an important time for your family and understanding how a policy will cover you during this time is critical. You want to be able to focus on your baby instead of on your bills! 

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Maternity insurance in Singapore cannot be purchased on its own, as a separate insurance policy. This coverage is a benefit extension attached to your main health insurance policy to cover the medical costs you incur during pregnancy, such as:

• Doctor and OB-GYN visits
• Routine scans
• Delivery costs
• Hospital stay
• Treatment for any complications.

In Singapore, welcoming a newborn to the family is costly. Medical expenses for each pregnancy typically range between $10,000 and $14,000 for a natural delivery, and $12,500 and $16,000 for caesarean (C-section).

Bills for a complicated pregnancy or premature birth can reach upwards of $20,000 to $200,000. Typically, treatment for complications of pregnancy is included in your main health insurance policy. As coverage varies widely across products, we recommend you consult your policy wording, terms and conditions or speak with us directly to clarify how your coverage will respond should you experience complications during the course of your pregnancy.

It is important to plan in advance, as most maternity insurance imposes waiting periods, which can range from 10 months to 24 months. Again, policies differ so you need to know whether your wait period is prior to conception or prior to claim.

Ultimately, you want to know that you’re getting the best care possible for you and your baby. Ensuring you have quality maternity insurance can help relieve many of the stresses associated with prenatal and postnatal care.

Newborn Coverage

While many policies restrict coverage for your newborn immediately following birth, especially if Mum has not served a waiting period under the policy, other policies are designed to provide coverage for a baby from birth.

Common scenarios are:

• No coverage for the baby until after discharge from the hospital.
• Baby only covered at 91 days old.
• Coverage begins at 15 days after normal, healthy birth.

Our goal is to ensure you have a complete understanding of your maternity insurance so you are not surprised by anything other than the beauty of bringing your baby into the world.

Expat Maternity Insurance FAQ 

Q. Can I purchase maternity insurance if I am already pregnant?
A. Most insurers will not accept your application if you are already pregnant.

Q. What does maternity insurance cover?
A. Maternity insurance covers costs such as obstetricians’ and midwives’ fees, postnatal care and hospital charges.

Q. Does my insurance cover all tests?
A. Insurance coverage for tests during pregnancy vary depending on the insurer.

Q. What is a “waiting period”?
A. A waiting period is the time an insurance company will make you wait before you can claim expenses under your maternity insurance. Different insurers have different waiting periods. It is best to check with an advisor and with the individual insurer as to how long the waiting period is. It is essential that you know exactly what you are and aren’t covered for during the waiting period.

Q. Is my baby covered from birth?
A. It is best to check with the insurer regarding how much coverage your newborn with have from birth.

Q. Does the insurance cover birth defects?
A. Insurance coverage for birth defects, deformity and congenital conditions vary depending on the insurer.

Q. Am I covered for C-section?
A. Medically necessary C-sections are covered by maternity insurance. A voluntary C-section is not likely to be covered.