Last Updated on June 15, 2023 by Tree of Wealth

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Having children is a cost not to be taken lightly. From pre-birth of gynae checks and supplements, to giving birth, care and education thereafter and especially in Singapore where costs of living are high, there are additional considerations to the cost of giving birth in Singapore in 2022. This is part of the reason why many future parents are looking further into maternity packages in Singapore – for instance, with the MediSave maternity packages.

This is especially of concern for foreigners in Singapore as well, as baby delivery costs for foreigners in Singapore might be different. Delivery charges also vary from hospital to hospital – so how much does it cost to deliver a baby in Singapore?

While needs vary from person to person – some parents go for pre-natal massages and some don’t, for instance – we will cover the essential and optional costs of giving birth in Singapore. These costs further vary from provider and provider, and you may want to consider drafting up your own budget with preferred providers as necessary.

Pregnancy

Essentials Costs

Gynaecological visits are the most essential cost here, and will likely cost anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000 depending on which OB/GYN you visit. Certain vitamins can be obtained at the OB/GYN, or purchased externally over-the-counter, and generally cost up to $300.

Optional Costs

Prenatal genetic testing is a common test undertaken by mothers and is used to gauge the genetic health of their children. This will be around $700 – $3,000, depending on the extent. Genetic tests can tell you whether your baby is likely to have a predisposition for certain things such as Down’s syndrome.

Prenatal classes and massages are frequently taken up as well and often cost anywhere between several hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on which classes parents take up.

Birth

Essentials Costs

Singapore hospitals roughly classify births into three categories: normal (unassisted), assisted, and Caesarean-section (C-section) births. The costs for all thee vary as more in-depth involvement of medical personnel are involved as you go along. They also vary based on where you are having your birth – private hospitals are a little more expensive than public hospitals, and even then the costs of different hospital wards may vary as well. A rough summary follows for public hospitals:

	Ward A, B1	Ward B2, C
Unassisted Birth	~$5,000	~$1,500
Assisted Birth	~$6,000	~$2,500
C-Section Birth	~$9,000	~$3,000

Individual bills vary from birth to birth, as different circumstances may necessitate additional care.

Optional Costs

Here are the labour costs for a private hospital:

	Private
Unassisted Birth	~$9,000
Assisted Birth	~$9,500
C-Section Birth	~$13,000

After Giving Birth

Essentials Costs

Baby essentials will cost the most here; for the first year, you are likely looking at around $500 – $1,000 of initial investment and then repeating investments in baby formula, diapers, etc. for around $200 – $400 per month depending on the quality of products you prefer. This does not quite include things like toys and other accessories parents may want to buy for their children.

The next thing that will cost a lot is essentially anything necessary for the mother to recover. This can look like additional supplements or anything prescribed by the physician based on individual circumstances. This will likely be around $200 – $300 as well.

Optional Costs

Many parents opt for confinement nannies to help mothers recover while at the same time taking care of the new addition to the family. The nanny usually stays with the family for a month or more, and usually cost around $3,000 – $4,000 per month. Some foreigners in Singapore frequently look at getting confinement nannies from their own countries as well, and that will come with a different cost.

Government Programmes

The government-provided MediSave Maternity Package allows Singaporean Citizens and PRs to use their MediSave to cover expenses before and during delivery. It covers pre-delivery expenses, hospital stays, and delivery procedures. While it is no insurance, expecting parents may withdraw up to $900 for pre-delivery items, and up to $550/day for the first two days of delivery, then $400 for each subsequent day.

An additional surgical withdrawal can be made for delivery procedures, between $750 and $3,950. It can be used in both public and private hospitals.

Differences for foreigners

Singaporeans receive price subsidies in public hospitals when they give birth there.

Foreigners that give birth in either public or private hospitals in Singapore are unfortunately required to pay full price for the services of the hospital, notwithstanding insurance coverage.

Maternity Insurance Packages

Insurance policies may decline your application if you are already pregnant or planning to be pregnant. Most maternity packages actually require a waiting period of about a year before they will begin covering pregnancies. This means that you should be planning for your children at least a year or two in advance if you are planning on getting an insurance package.

Insurers will frequently cover costs relating to prenatal and postnatal treatments and exams, planned or emergency C-sections, costs of delivery, costs of managing birth-related complications, or hospital delivery costs. Various providers may provide different options, so it is important to speak with your financial planners about your plans when you can to gauge your options and preferred choices.

More comprehensive plans may even cover congenital birth defects or medical treatments for unexpected issues with your newborns.

While some plans allow you to make choices as to where you can or cannot deliver, others may have preferred providers. Some parents who have made the decision to deliver in a certain hospital due to one reason or another may purchase policies that specifically cover that hospital.

Several popular maternity insurance packages follow:

AXA HappyMummy Bundled Maternity Plan

This plan can guarantee protection for your child for life, and has two options to select from. One is a regular plan that provides protection while building steady value over time; the other is actually an investment-linked plan that allows you to invest and insure at the same time for your child.

We do advice to take up the whole life plan for best protection, as well as including early critical illness coverage right from the start so you can give your child a comprehensive coverage ranging from early to advance critical illness to death and total permanent disability.

Read more about our Maternity Plan Review: AXA HappyMummy & HappyFamily

Singlife with Aviva MyMaternityPlan

If you are currently a Singlife with Aviva policy holder, do consider this maternity plan by Singlife with Aviva as it covers for Stem Cell treatment and developmental delays. To be able to purchase, you or your spouse have to be existing policy holder, or purchase other Aviva policies at the same time.

NTUC Income Maternity 360

The NTUC Income Maternity360 is known as a low-cost option with a one-time fee and ensures basic coverage for both mother and child for common pregnancy problems, congenital defects, and hospitalisation. It can last until your child is three.

Conclusion

Life can be unpredictable in many ways, and the best gift anyone could have is to have a head start advantage. When it comes to safeguarding, early coverage and protection could mean a huge impact on the child’s life in the future.

If you do not have a protection policy yet, or if you are unsure of what kind of plan is suitable, this is a great time to check out the different insurance providers and see what they are offering. Get in contact with us right now to have a quick assessment and updates on the latest happenings in the market.

Drop us an inquiry below and our friendly professional licensed FA advisor will be getting in touch with you shortly!

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