Can Expats Get Maternity Insurance in Singapore While Pregnant?
Expats who are already pregnant cannot get maternity insurance coverage in Singapore for their current pregnancy. This is because most international maternity insurance plans come with a waiting period of 10 to 24 months. To have your pregnancy covered, insurance must be in place well before conception.
Discover the world's top
health insurers.
Compare quotes with
a click of the button.
While maternity insurance for expats in Singapore does not cover an ongoing pregnancy due to mandatory waiting periods, there are still practical ways to lower and manage maternity-related expenses. Opting for public hospitals, leveraging Medisave benefits, and applying for government support like the Baby Bonus can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs. This guide outlines nine smart strategies and highlights future insurance options for those planning ahead. For personalized assistance, speak with one of our international insurance advisors today.
Maternity Insurance Options in Singapore for Expecting Expats
Singapore expats can begin a maternity insurance plan anytime while pregnant, but every plan comes with a 10 to 24-month waiting period. This means that if you are already pregnant when you establish international coverage, your current pregnancy will not be covered but your next one can be.
Because there are no international pregnancy insurance plans that have no waiting period, you must establish coverage at least 10 months before you become pregnant to have your full pregnancy and delivery insured.
But what can you do if you are already pregnant and need help covering your maternity expenses? Our next section will give you tips on how to manage and lower your medical bills!
9 Smart Ways to Handle Maternity Costs Without Insurance
The following are 9 tips on how Singapore expats can manage and pay their maternity bills out of pocket without insurance:
- Pick Public Healthcare for Lower Maternity Bills
- Talk Costs Early to Reduce Medical Fees
- Break Down Bills with a Hospital Payment Plan
- Check Hospital Charges for Epidurals in Advance
- Use Medisave Maternity Package to Offset Expenses
- Explore Cost-Saving Birth Options
- Audit Your Bill for Overcharges and Mistakes
- Take Advantage of the Baby Bonus Scheme
- Use the Medisave Grant for Baby’s Medical Needs
Let’s discuss each one in more detail.
1. Pick Public Healthcare for Lower Maternity Bills
If you are not going to have maternity insurance for this pregnancy, you’ll likely want to choose a healthcare provider who delivers in a public Singapore hospital. Public hospitals are far more affordable than private ones, so this will be in your best interest.
It’s also important to note not all hospitals are the same. Some public hospitals are more expensive than others. You’ll want to become familiar with the average costs of labor and deliveries in each Singapore hospital as you carefully select your provider and hospital to get the best deal.
2. Talk Costs Early to Reduce Medical Fees
It may be to your benefit to reach out to your healthcare provider as early as possible to negotiate your medical bills. Learning your options early may mean there are more options, such as getting a discount for paying your medical bill in full upfront.
Being proactive about this may mean your provider will have the ability to be more flexible with you.
3. Break Down Bills with a Hospital Payment Plan
A great way to manage your Singapore pregnancy bills is to set up a payment plan. Your hospital likely has the option for you to pay off your maternity fees in small increments over an extended time.
This can dramatically help you manage these bills slowly without breaking the bank all at once. Setting this up before the baby comes can alleviate a lot of stress you’d otherwise feel while also busy caring for your little one.
4. Check Hospital Charges for Epidurals in Advance
Without insurance, there may be additional costs that come with getting an epidural. It’s important you do your research ahead of time to know what those are in the Singapore hospitals you are considering giving birth in.
5. Use Medisave Maternity Package to Offset Expenses
Singapore offers a Medisave Maternity Package scheme to Singapore citizens to help cover delivery expenses and prenatal expenses. This package can give you:
- Up to $900 for prenatal costs
- From $750 to $3,950 for surgical delivery procedures
- Up to $550 a day for the first two days of hospital admittance and $400 for the third day and onward
You can submit claims for these benefits by presenting your bills at the hospital where your baby was delivered.
If the expectant mother or father is a Singapore citizen, you may qualify for this package.
6. Explore Cost-Saving Birth Options
Singapore expats can consider giving birth in a birthing center or at home instead of at the hospital. This can reduce your maternity costs since a birthing center typically is less expensive.
7. Audit Your Bill for Overcharges and Mistakes
Foreigners who give birth in Singapore may want to request an itemized maternity bill after their labor and delivery. This will give you a detailed list of every single service, medication, treatment, and room expense you are being charged.
Not only will having this list give you a better idea of what you’re paying for, but you can scan it for errors. If you feel you are being charged for a service you either didn’t receive or that is being overcharged, you can push back and request to decrease your bill.
8. Take Advantage of the Baby Bonus Scheme
Singapore has a Baby Bonus scheme designed to alleviate the financial burden of raising children. This is part of the Marriage and Parenthood Package established in 2023, and the scheme includes a Cash Gift and Child Development Account (CDA).
The following chart shows the cash payouts you can receive for each Singaporean child you have.
Singapore Baby Bonus Scheme Payouts |
|||
| Birth Order | Baby Bonus Cash Gift | First Step Grant | Maximum Government Co-Matching |
| 1st Child | $11,000 | $5,000 | $4,000 |
| 2nd Child | $11,000 | $5,000 | $7,000 |
| 3rd Child | $13,000 | $5,000 | $9,000 |
| 4th Child | $13,000 | $5,000 | $9,000 |
| 5th and Subsequent Child | $13,000 | $5,000 | $15,000 |
9. Use the Medisave Grant for Baby’s Medical Needs
If your baby is born as a Singapore citizen, they will be granted automatically a MediSave account and $4,000 will be deposited. This Medisave Grant for Newborns is to help pay for the newborn medical costs, vaccinations, hospitalization, and certain outpatient treatments.
Top Maternity Insurance Providers for Expats in Singapore
The best health insurance plans with maternity coverage for global travelers living in Singapore are from Allianz Care, Cigna Global, AXA, and VUMI. Each offers comprehensive coverage for prenatal, postnatal, newborn, and labor and delivery care.
Let’s introduce these top pregnancy insurance providers for Singapore expats.
- Allianz Care: Allianz offers comprehensive maternity insurance through their Bloom and Bloom Plus plans which can be added to their Care Pro or Care Plus plans. These include routine maternity care and childbirth complications. The waiting period is 10 or 18 months.
- Cigna Global: Cigna offers maternity coverage through their Gold and Platinum plans that include routine maternity care, maternity complications, and newborn care. The waiting period is 24 months.
- AXA: AXA is a global provider that offers maternity insurance coverage through their Prestige and Prestige Plus plans. These include maternity and birth complications and routine maternity and newborn care. The waiting period is 18 months.
- VUMI: VUMI offers international pregnancy insurance through their Global Flex VIP plans: VIP Total, VIP Ultra, and VIP Superior. These include maternity and birth complications and routine maternity and newborn care. The waiting period is 12 months.
To compare quotes and benefits of these plans, you can contact one of our insurance experts, and we’ll provide you with free, unbiased advice without any obligation to commit to a plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get maternity insurance in Singapore when pregnant?
Expatriates and foreigners who live in Singapore are not able to get maternity insurance for their current pregnancy if they are already pregnant. This is because all international health insurance plans with pregnancy and newborn benefits have a waiting period of at least 10 – 24 months.
Are there maternity insurance plans without a waiting period?
There are no maternity insurance plans for expats that do not include a waiting period. This is true in Singapore and all countries. There are, however, plans with waiting periods as short as 10 months, so if you are hoping to get pregnant soon but aren’t yet, you can still secure coverage.
Where can I get maternity insurance as a Singapore expat?
Singapore expats and international citizens can get a maternity insurance plan from a private international health insurance provider. The plans offered by these insurers are specifically designed for international travelers and for individuals and families living abroad long term.
What does a good expat pregnancy insurance plan cover?
Basic coverage benefits in a strong expat pregnancy insurance plan in Singapore or any other country would include doctor consultations, prenatal and postnatal treatments and care, medically prescribed c-sections, normal deliveries, pregnancy complications, childbirth complications, and more.
How do uninsured foreigners in Singapore cover childbirth bills?
Singapore foreigners who don’t have maternity insurance can cover their childbirth bills by negotiating their payments upfront, creating a payment plan, reviewing an itemized bill for errors, using Singapore’s Medisave Maternity Package, Baby Bonus Scheme, and Medisave Grant for Newborns, and more.
Conclusion
As you can see, we’ve explained why it is not possible to obtain maternity insurance as an international expat once you’ve become pregnant. However, there are ways you can decrease your bills and make it easier to pay for them without being so stressed or breaking your bank.
If you’ve found this article helpful, you’ll also want to read our posts Maternity Insurance with No Waiting Period in Singapore and The Best Maternity Insurance Plans in Singapore.
To get personal advice on your financial situation, you can talk to one of our insurance experts who can answer your questions and help you find more options to manage your maternity expenses.
If you aren’t pregnant yet and are interested in beginning a health insurance plan with maternity benefits, you can compare plans and quotes online.
Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).
Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.
- Cost of Living in Mexico - July 11, 2025
- Essential Guide to Expat Insurance for Global Nomads - July 10, 2025
- The Importance of International Health Insurance While Overseas - July 9, 2025
Comments
2 Comments
What are some affordable prenatal classes or resources available for expats in Singapore? Are there any community support groups for expecting foreign parents?
Affordable prenatal classes for expats in Singapore are available through community centers like those run by the People’s Association or public hospitals such as KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, which often offer cost-effective programs. Additionally, organizations like Expat Living Singapore or Meetup groups frequently host parenting workshops and connect expecting parents with community support groups. Joining expat-focused groups on platforms like Facebook can also help you find peer support and share resources with other expecting foreign parents.
For tailored advice on managing maternity and healthcare expenses as an expat in Singapore, feel free to visit our Contact Us page.
Ask a Question
We'll notify you
when our team replies!