How much does it cost to have a baby in Singapore?
Welcoming a newborn to the family is costly in Singapore. Medical expenses for each pregnancy typically range from $10,000 to $14,000 for a natural delivery and $12,500 to $16,000 for a caesarean. Bills for a complicated pregnancy or premature birth can be upwards of $20,000 and as high as $180,000.
What are some of the things to keep in mind when it comes to maternity cover?
Maternity insurance can’t 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. These costs include doctor and OB-GYN visits, routine scans, delivery costs, your hospital stay and treatment for pregnancy complications.
Do policies differ much from provider to provider?
While many policies restrict coverage for your newborn immediately following birth, especially if the mother hasn’t served a wait period under the policy, other policies are designed to provide coverage for a baby from birth. Common scenarios we hear about include no coverage for baby until after discharge from hospital, baby only being covered at 91 days old, and coverage beginning at 15 days after a normal, healthy birth.
If you have a little one on the way, consult your policy for terms relating to “newborn care” or “addition of newborn”.
What else is good to know?
It’s important to plan in advance, as most pregnancy insurance imposes waiting periods that 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 little one. Maternity insurance can help relieve many of the stresses associated with prenatal and postnatal care. You want to be able to focus on your baby instead of on your bills!
