What is maternity insurance?
Maternity insurance is a prenatal insurance policy plan that can be purchased when one is pregnant. It covers unexpected pregnancy complications that could affect either the mother or the child.Claims are usually disbursed through one-time payouts. This helps to mitigate further medical expenses that might arise in the event of pregnancy complications.Maternity insurance comes either as a standalone plan or part of a package. A standalone policy only covers pregnancy-related complications, while a package bundles other coverage with the maternity policy.
What does maternity insurance cover?
Maternity insurance usually covers a wide range of pregnancy complications, including common problems such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, premature pregnancies, and miscarriages.It may also include mental health and hospitalisation benefits, where payouts are given if the mother is hospitalised for complications related to the pregnancy.Maternity insurance also covers birth defects. Some of the most common and serious birth defects include congenital heart diseases, cleft lip or palate, clubfoot, missing or undeveloped limbs, and Down syndrome. A maternity insurance plan should cover 17 to 26 types of birth defects.Premiums are not returned and there are no payouts if the pregnancy is successful.
There were 32,844 Singaporeans born in 2019
That is 8.8 births per thousand people
How does maternity insurance work?
There are 2 types of maternity insurance.
- Standlaone maternity plan
- Maternity plan with accompanying base plan
The following diagram illustrates what the plans cover in a nutshell. Additionally, if you opt for a maternity insurance bundle, your maternity rider will complement your base plan:
Situations to explain how maternity insurance works:
| Situations | ✅ | ❌ |
| Premature birth | Daily hospital care payout benefit can help to pay for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) fees. | Payout may not cover NICU costs fully. Apart from HSBC Life, medical insurance is generally declined by insurers until the baby reaches 12 months old. |
| Congenital illness | Congenital benefit payout benefit pays out between $5,000 and $30,000. Some policies will provide guaranteed critical illness and medical coverage for baby for life. | $30,000 may not be sufficient. Congenital illness may be excluded. |
| Miscarriage | Covers only after first trimester. | First trimester miscarriages not covered. |
Who is eligible for maternity insurance?
Expectant mothers who are between 13 to 36 weeks pregnant can purchase maternity insurance. You pay the same premium whether you purchase the policy at the 13-week or 36-week mark.
If you are thinking of getting maternity insurance, we recommend you buy it as soon as possible so you benefit from a longer period of coverage, since you pay the same premium.
Best Maternity Plans
Widest list pregnancy conditions covered: Great Eastern
Widest list of congenital illnesses covered: HSBC Life (Prevuously AXA) and Great Eastern
Guaranteed medical coverage for child: HSBC Life
Guaranteed life insurance coverage for child: All except Income
Best standalone maternity cover: Great Eastern
Comparison of maternity insurance policies
| Company | Great Eastern | Prudential | Manulife | Income | AIA | Singlife | HSBC Life (Previously AXA) |
| Plan name | Great Maternity Care | 1. PRUMum 2. PRUFirst Promise 3. PRUFirst Gift II | Readymummy | Maternity 360 | 1. AIA Mum2Baby Protect (AIA GPP(II)) 2. AIA Mum2Baby(IFP) | MyMaternityPlan | 1. HappyMummy 2. HappyFamily |
| Total permanent disability benefit | 100% of sum assured | NA | |||||
| Pregnancy complication benefit | 100% of sum assured | ||||||
| Number of pregnancy complications covered | 19 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 15 |
| Daily Hospital care benefit for mother | 2% of sum assured up to 30 days | 1% of sum assured up to 50 day, For ICU & HDU | 1% of sum assured up to 30 day | 1% of sum assured up to 30 day | 2% of sum assured up to 30 days | 1% of sum assured up to 30 days | 2% of sum assured up to 30 days |
| Number of hospital conditions* covered | 9 | 9 | – | 8 | 9 + 14 | 18 | 9 + 15 |
*Hospital conditions refer to those which are not specific to pregnancy and delivery, such as appendicitis during pregnancy and cardiomyopathy suffered after delivery.
Coverage for child
| Company | Great Eastern | Prudential | Manulife | Income | AIA | Singlife | HSBC Life (Previously AXA) |
| Death benefit | 100% of sum assured | 100% of sum assured | 100% of sum assured | 100% of sum assured | Before 14 days: 20% After 14 days: 100% | 100% of sum assured | 100% of sum assured |
| Congenital illnesses benefit | 100% of sum assured | ||||||
| Number of birth defects covered | 26 | 25 (up to 3y.o) | 24 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 26 |
| Daily Hospital care benefit for child | 2% of sum assured up to 30 days | 1% of sum assured up to 50 day, For ICU & HDU | 1% of sum assured up to 30 day | 1% of sum assured up to 30 day | 2% of sum assured up to 30 days | 1% of sum assured up to 30 days | 2% of sum assured up to 30 days |
| Number of hospital conditions covered | 6 | 8 | – | 8 | 6 (Including infectious disease/admit to HDU/ICU) | 8 (Including admission to NICU/HDU) | 17 (Including admission to ICU/HDU) |
Daily charges for premature babies are more than S$1,000
Additional benefits
| Company | Great Eastern | Prudential | Manulife | Income | AIA | Singlife | HSBC Life (Previously AXA) |
| Availability | Standalone + Guaranteed option to purchase life insurance for newborn | Standalone or Bundle with guaranteed option to transfer life insurance to newborn | Standalone + Guaranteed option to purchase life insurance for newborn | Standalone No GIO, require simplified underwriting within 60days, sum assured maximum of $150,000 | Bundle with guaranteed option to transfer life insurance to newborn | Bundle with option to purchase additional life plan can only cover up to $150,000 | Bundle with guaranteed option to transfer life insurance to newborn |
| Guaranteed coverage for newborn without medical underwriting | Life / TPD / CI / ECI (ECI coverage transfer below age 6 of max $30K for congenital illnesses) | – | Life / TPD / CI / ECI with possible exclusion clauses | – | Life / TPD / CI / ECI (ECI coverage transfer below age 6 of max $30K for congenital illnesses) | Life / TPD | Life / TPD / CI / ECI (ECI coverage transfer below age 6 of max $30K for congenital illnesses) |
| Sum assured | $5,000 to $10,000 | $5,000 to $20,000 | $5,000 to $20,000 | $5,000 to $10,000 | $5,000 to $25,000 | TBA | $5,000 to $30,000 |
| Mother entry age | 18-45 | TBA | 18-45 | 17-44 | 18-45 | 18-45 | 18-45 |
| Covers pregnancy from | 13 to 40 weeks | 13 to 35 weeks/ Assisted pregnancies 18 to 35 weeks | 13 to 36 weeks | 13 to 35 weeks | 13 to 36 weeks | 13 to 36 Weeks | 13 to 36 Weeks |
| Policy term | 3 policy years | 4 policy years | 3 policy years | 3 policy years | 3 policy years | 3 Policy Years | 3 Policy Years |
| Assisted pregnancies | Yes | Yes from 28 weeks | Yes | TBA | Yes | Yes (Cover IVF, ICSI, IUI + ICI – Depends on UW) | Yes |
| Others | |||||||
| Psychological benefits | Up to 3 sessions | Payout for psychological consultations is up to S$200. The Insured can receive up to 5% sum assured with postpartum depression diagnosis | Psychotherapy treatment – 10% of sum assured | ||||
| Developmental delays | Covers developmental delay of child (10% of SA) | Developmental Delay Benefit for Child: 15% SA (Cap at $3,000) | |||||
| Jaundice related benefits | – | GDM complications and resulting conditions – 10% of sum assured | 1% of sum insured/ day of rental of a phototherapy machine for the child (up to 10 days) | 1% of sum insured/ day of rental of a phototherapy machine for the child (up to 10 days) | Outpatient treatment for jaundice (1% of SA, up to 10 days) | ||
| Early delivery benefits | – | – | – | – | – | – | Early Delivery by Caesarean Section Benefit for Mother: 15% SA |
| Hospitalisation benefit for newborn | – | – | – | – | – | – | Free guaranteed issuance for Shield Plan B first year |
| More than 1 fetus benefit | Covered for twins (50% SA each) | – | Covered for twins | – | Covered for twins, 1 plan per fetus | Cover up to 4 babies in 1 pregnancy | Covered for twins, 1 plan per fetus |
The list is not exhaustive. For more details, write to us at ask@plannerbee.co.
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Is it worth buying maternity insurance?
With so many maternity insurance plans out there, it might be confusing to shortlist the best option as you contemplate whether it is even worth investing in maternity insurance. Let’s delve into some commonly asked questions so you can make a well-informed decision.
Question #1: I already have MediShield and IP. Why do I still need to purchase maternity insurance?
At the moment, MediShield Life provides coverage for 24 pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. The full list of complications can be found on MOH’s website here.
Your IP also covers pregnancy complications, but only if it is a stated pregnancy complication condition, including preeclampsia and eclampsia.
All Singapore Citizen babies are automatically covered by MediShield Life from birth, including those with congenital and neonatal conditions for life. However your IP does not provide coverage for your little one and you can only apply for insurance for your infant when they are at least 15 days old.
A maternity insurance can complement your MediShield Life plan and IP as the payout will be made on top of those coverage.
Question #2: Are the premiums for my maternity insurance one-time or ongoing?
If you choose to buy a standalone maternity insurance, you will only have to make payment for your maternity insurance once.
If you choose to buy a Maternity insurance package that includes the maternity rider and base plan, you will pay the premiums for the maternity rider once and the base plan continues based on the chosen term.
For a one-time premium, your maternity insurance (rider) will provide coverage for 3 to 6 years.
Question #3: I will be undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Am I still eligible to purchase maternity insurance?
Yes, you can still purchase maternity insurance for peace of mind. However, bear in mind that not all insurers provide coverage for pregnancies through IVF. Compared to naturally conceived pregnancies, some insurers who cover pregnancies through IVF may impose extra premium loading.
If you are undergoing an IVF pregnancy, be sure to look out for a plan that provides you with coverage for the IVF-associated risks. Furthermore, pregnancies following assisted reproductive technology tend to result in more than one baby at the same time.
Singlife MyMaternityPlan provides broad coverage for congenital illnesses, as babies born after IVF have an increased risk for congenital abnormalities. In fact, it provides coverage for up to 4 children in a pregnancy (even if it is via IVF), for 23 congenital disorders. Furthermore, MyMaternityPlan covers your child’s developmental delays and stem cell therapy.
However, this plan only provides coverage for 10 pregnancy complications, so you may wish to consult your doctor prior to purchase, to assess what coverage suits you best.
Question #4: Will my child get lifelong protection from my maternity insurance?
If your base plan is a life insurance, your policy will provide you coverage until your newborn has a birth certification. A transfer of the whole life plan to your child can be made within 60 days of birth without any medical underwriting.
One example would be the AIA Mum2Baby Protect plan. However, this is a rider that customers can only purchase on top of AIA’s whole life policy (AIA Guaranteed Protect Plus) or ILP (AIA Pro Lifetime Protector).
To provide your child with lifelong protection, you have the option of transferring your base policy of AIA Guaranteed Protect Plus or AIA Pro Lifetime Protector to your infant, with the assurance that your little one can get basic life insurance without underwriting.
Additionally, Great Eastern’s Great Maternity Care and HSBC’s HappyMummy, HappyFamily and EmpoweredMum policies also provide coverage for twins conceived through IVF.
Question #5: What if my pregnancy fails?
In the unfortunate event that you suffer from a failed pregnancy, the maternity insurance you choose will still provide you with coverage until the end of your pregnancy term. If you chose a bundled plan that includes a base plan, this will continue to cover you for life.
Question #6: What if my health deteriorates during my pregnancy?
It is common for a mother’s health to deteriorate during pregnancy, with conditions like gestational diabetes or hypertension arising. In this situation, you may wish to keep the base plan for yourself, since it is difficult to purchase a new plan without exclusion for yourself. As for your infant, you can always purchase a fresh policy to provide coverage.
To purchase, or not to purchase
In Singapore, health insurance coverage is compulsory. However, MediShield Life and the Integrated Shield plans do not offer any payouts for emergency Caesarean sections, miscarriages, premature births, or birth defect treatments.
These conditions will require you to pay out-of-pocket. Should a baby be delivered prematurely, the Neonatal ICU fees can be as high as $2,000 per day at a private hospital. Unfortunately this cannot be fully covered even with a maternity plan, because the highest daily payout is $600 per day up to 30 days.
Should you decide to purchase one, it is important to note that only listed pregnancy complications or birth defects are covered by your policy. Other conditions falling outside the list will not provide payouts.
Additionally, if your maternity insurance is part of a package, the accompanying whole life or investment-linked insurance policy (ILPs) will still be payable in the event that your child or foetus dies. The maternity policy will continue to cover the mother.