|
| . |
| Q. | Are there any ward class restrictions for compulsory medical insurance? |
| A. | No. |
| . | |
| Q. | Can an employer be exempted from the requirement to purchase medical insurance for their Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW)? |
| A. | All employers are required to purchase and maintain medical insurance for their Work Permit and S Pass holders, including Foreign Domestic Workers, in accordance to the stipulated requirement from 1 January 2008. |
| . | |
| Q. | Can employers arrange for their Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) to co-pay their medical expenses that exceed the insurance benefit limit, or part of the co-insurance/ deductible component of the medical insurance if applicable? |
| A. | No. |
| . | |
| Q. | Can Ministry of Manpower accept medical insurance policies purchased overseas ? |
| A. | Yes, as long as the policy benefits are valid in Singapore, fulfills Ministry of Manpower's minimum coverage, and is employer-financed. |
| . | |
| Q. | How can employers of Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) furnish the details of the medical insurance for their domestic workers? |
| A. | Employers of Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) will be required to furnish the medical insurance when applying for new issuance and renewal of the Work Permits for their FDWs from 1 January 2008. The
employer are required to furnish the following information via Work
Permit Online (WPOL): Employers are also required to purchase Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) for FDWs. Hence, a medical insurance rider plan to the PAI that meets the Ministry's stipulated requirement will also be acceptable. Alternatively, employers may choose to purchase separate insurance plans. |
| . | |
| Q. | How is the medical insurance for Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) different from the other employer-financed insurance requirements by Ministry of Manpower? |
| A. | Under
the Workmen’s Compensation Act, employers are required to purchase
Workmen’s Compensation Insurance (WCI), to cover the medical costs
and compensation for work-related injuries suffered by their workers.
This applies to both local and foreign workers. Employers of Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) are required to purchase Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) for their worker. PAI insures against accidental death and permanent disablement. The minimum sum assured is $40,000 and any compensation payable will be made to the FDW or her beneficiaries. The medical insurance requirement provides basic cover for the foreign workers’ medical expenses, including hospital bills that may not be work-related. |
| . | |
| Q. | I am not a Work Permit Online (WPOL) user. How can I furnish the details of the medical insurance for my Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) to Ministry of Manpower? |
| A. | For
greater convenience, all employers are encouraged to use the web-based
Work Permit Online (WPOL) facility to furnish the medical insurance details.
To access WPOL, you need a Singapore Personal Access (SINGPASS). With
the SINGPASS, you can proceed to register for a WPOL account via Ministry
of Manpower’s website. Registration for a WPOL account is free of
charge. You can access a broad range of other Work Permit services, including
Work Permit application, issuance and renewal. Alternatively, employers can authorise an Employment Agency to furnish the medical insurance details via WPOL. |
| . | |
| Q. | If an employer does not furnish his Foreign Domestic Worker's (FDW's) medical insurance details to Ministry of Manpower, will the Work Permit/ S Pass be issued or renewed? |
| A. | The medical insurance details shall be a requirement for the issuance and renewal of Work Permits and S Pass. Ministry of Manpower will not issue the Work Permit or S Pass without the necessary insurance details. |
| . | |
| Q. | What is the medical insurance requirement for Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs)? |
| A. | From 1 January 2008, employers will be required to purchase and maintain insurance for the medical expenses of their Foreign Workers (FWs). The requirement will apply to:
All new and existing FWs on Work Permit (WP) or
S Pass from 1 January 2008. The medical insurance coverage must be at least $5,000 a year for each FW's inpatient care and day surgery. The requirement will be a Condition of Work Permits/S Pass. |
| . | |
| Q. | What penalty would the employer of Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) face if he/she fails to meet the medical insurance requirement? |
| A. | Any employer who contravenes the Condition of Work Permits/S Pass to purchase medical insurance shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both. |
| . | |
| Q. | What should an employer do if he/ she is unclear if the medical insurance plan for his Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) meets Ministry of Manpower's requirement? |
| A. | Ministry
of Manpower (MOM) would consider the medical insurance plan to have met
the requirement if it includes a clause specifying that the underwriter/
insurance company guarantees the benefits of the insurance coverage will
not be worse than MOM’s requirement. A medical insurance with daily sub-limits for inpatient care and/or day surgery would meet MOM’s requirement if the total claims can still be made up to the overall benefit limit of at least $5,000 a year. |
| . | |
| Q. | Where can employers buy medical insurance for their Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs)? |
| A. | To
help employers meet the medical insurance requirement, Ministry of Manpower
(MOM) has worked with insurers to make available suitable plans. Employers
may consider purchasing insurance plans from NTUC Income Insurance Co-Operative
Ltd, Great Eastern Life Assurance Co Ltd, or Overseas Assurance Corporation
Ltd. They had responded to MOM’s Request for Proposal with competitive
plans. Employers may also choose other plans offered by any insurer, so long as it meets the coverage criteria. |
| . | |
| Q. | Why is Ministry of Manpower requiring employer-paid medical insurance for Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs)? |
| A. | The Ministry of Health (MOH) will withdraw hospital subsidies for all foreigners, including Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs), from 1 January 2008. The medical insurance requirement will help employers manage the potentially high medical bills of their FDWs. |
| . | |
