Subsidies

The Singapore government provides maternity and child care subsidies to qualified individuals. Learn more about how you can save through this financial assistance.

Medisave Maternity Package (MMP)

Expectant parents can use the MediSave Maternity Package for delivery and pre-delivery medical expenses. This can be used for public and private hospitals. The MediSave withdrawal limit for pre-delivery expenses has been doubled from $450 to $900 for mothers who have delivered on or after 24 March 2016.

Expectant parents can make MediSave claims in both public and private healthcare institutions. It can be used for pre-delivery expenses like pre-natal consultations, tests, ultrasound scans, and medications as well as delivery expenses.

You may withdraw:

  • Up to $900 for pre-delivery medical expenses
  • Up to $450 for each day in the hospital
  • An additional surgical withdrawal limit between $750 and $2,150 depending on the type of delivery procedure

You can refer here for a list of the different maternity packages provided at Thomson Medical Centre alongside the maximum MediSave claimable and additional MediSave Claimable. This will guide you how much extra you need to pay for surgeon fees and other hospital bills.

You can expect your bill to be divided into surgeon fees, hospital fees (operating theatre facility fee/labour ward fee and in-patient ward medication and equipment/supplies, etc.) and +/- anesthetist fee (epidural or C-section).

To claim for pre-delivery charges from MediSave, you may present the receipts for all the expenses incurred from pre-delivery medical care to the hospital where the baby is delivered. The hospital will submit these receipts to the CPF Board, along with the delivery expenses, to make MediSave claims under the MediSave Maternity Package. The amount of MediSave that can be used is capped by the amount of the actual bill or the withdrawal limit, whichever is lower.

MediSave Grant for Your Newborn

To defray the costs of your child’s healthcare expenses, a MediSave Grant is also available for newborns. This is available to all babies who are born a Singapore Citizen. Upon their registration of birth, a MediSave account will be automatically created in their name with a MediSave grant of $4,000 deposited.

This can help pay for expenses like recommended childhood vaccination, hospitalisations, and approved outpatient treatments. If you don’t receive any notification that a MediSave account has been set up for your baby days after birth, you may contact the CPF Board (1-800-227 1188 or member@cpf.gov.sg) to enquire.

Government Assistance for Child Care

The cost of child care in Singapore can put a dent on a family’s budget. To support couples in their decision to have more children, the Ministry of Social and Family Development offers the Baby Bonus Scheme (also known as the Child Development Co-Savings Scheme) as part of the Parenthood Package. It was recently enhanced to defray costs on child-raising. The scheme comprises a cash gift, Child Development Account (CDA) First Step grant and Government matching to savings in the child’s CDA.

You can check if your child is eligible for this scheme, here.

Enhanced Baby Bonus Cash Gift

The Baby Bonus Cash Gift has been enhanced by providing a Baby Bonus Plus of $2,000 cash for eligible children who are born on or after 1 January 2015. The enhanced Baby Bonus Cash Gift will be provided to all birth orders, with an extension to the 5th and higher birth-order children.

Baby Bonus Cash Gift

Birth Order Born between August 2012 and 31 December 2014 (for each child)
1st & 2nd Child $6,000
3rd & 4th Child $8,000
5th and Higher $0

Birth Order: 3rd & 4th Child

Born between August 2012 and 31 December 2014 (for each child): $8,000

Birth Order: 5th and Higher

Born between August 2012 and 31 December 2014 (for each child): $0

Enhanced Baby Bonus Cash Gift

Birth Order Born on or after January 1 2015 (for each child)
Enhancements Total Enhanced Baby Bonus Cash Gift
1st & 2nd Child $2,000 Baby Bonus Plus $8,000
3rd & 4th Child $2,000 Baby Bonus Plus $10,000
5th and Subsequent $8,000 Cash Gift and $2,000 Baby Bonus Plus $10,000

Born on or after January 1 2015 (for each child)

Birth Order: 1st & 2nd Child

Enhancements: $2,000 Baby Bonus Plus

Total Enhanced Baby Bonus Cash Gift: $8,000

Birth Order:: 3rd & 4th Child

Enhancements: $2,000 Baby Bonus Plus

Total Enhanced Baby Bonus Cash Gift: $10,000

Birth Order:: 5th and Subsequent

Enhancements: $8,000 Cash Gift and $2,000 Baby Bonus Plus

Total Enhanced Baby Bonus Cash Gift: $10,000

Parents will receive the enhanced cash gift, including the new Baby Bonus Plus in 5 installments over 18 months.

Enhanced Cash Gift Disbursement Schedule
(For children born on or after 1 January 2015)

Time Amount of Cash Gift Disbursed
1st and 2nd Birth Orders 3rd and Subsequent Birth Orders
Within 7 to 10 days after joining the scheme $3,000 $4,000
When the child turns 6 months old $1,500 $2,000
When the child turns 12 months old $1,500 $2,000
New Baby Bonus Plus when the child turns 15 months old $1,000 $1,000
New Baby Bonus Plus when the child turns 18 months old $1,000 $1,000
Total $8,000 $10,000

Amount of Cash Gift Disbursed

Time: Within 7 to 10 days after joining the scheme

1st and 2nd Birth Orders: $3,000

3rd and Subsequent Birth Orders: $4,000

Time: When the child turns 6 months old

1st and 2nd Birth Orders: $1,500

3rd and Subsequent Birth Orders: $2,000

Time: When the child turns 12 months old

1st and 2nd Birth Orders: $1,500

3rd and Subsequent Birth Orders: $2,000

Time: New Baby Bonus Plus when the child turns 15 months old

1st and 2nd Birth Orders: $1,000

3rd and Subsequent Birth Orders: $1,000

Time: New Baby Bonus Plus when the child turns 18 months old

1st and 2nd Birth Orders: $1,000

3rd and Subsequent Birth Orders: $1,000

Total for 1st and 2nd Birth Orders: $8,000

Total for 3rd and Subsequent Birth Orders: $10,000

Child Development Account

The CDA is a special savings account for children which you can open with UOB, DBS Bank, or OCBC. You can expect your child’s CDA to be opened within 3-5 working days from their birth registration, or after completing the online form, whichever is later.

You will have up to 12 years to save in your child’s CDA. This can help build up the savings that can be spent on approved uses. You can use it to pay for educational and healthcare expenses of your children at the following Baby Bonus Approved Institutions.

  • Child Care Centres
  • Kindergarten
  • Special Education Schools
  • Providers of Early Intervention Programmes
  • Providers of Assistive Technology Devices
  • Hospitals and Clinics
  • Pharmacies
  • Optical Shops

Note: You can refer to the list of approved institutions, here.

Once a CDA is opened, your child will also receive CDA benefits such as the CDA First Step and Government dollar-for-dollar matching contributions for each dollar the parents put in, up to the contribution caps shown below.

Child Order CDA Benefits
CDA First Step Dollar-for-Dollar Matching Total CDA Benefits
1st & 2nd Child $3,000 Up to $3,000 Up to $6,000
3rd & 4th Child Up to $9,000 Up to $6,000
5th Child & Higher Up to $15,000 Up to $18,000
Child Order: 1st & 2nd Child
CDA First Step: $3,000
Dollar-for-Dollar Matching: Up to $3,000
Total CDA Benefits: Up to $6,000
Child Order: 3rd & 4th Child
CDA First Step: $3,000
Dollar-for-Dollar Matching: Up to $9,000
Total CDA Benefits: Up to $6,000
Child Order: 5th Child & Higher
CDA First Step: $3,000
Dollar-for-Dollar Matching: Up to $15,000
Total CDA Benefits: Up to $18,000

Need Help?

Parents who need assistance to join Baby Bonus online or other related services may approach the Citizen Connect Centres, or the Baby Bonus One-Stop Centres at the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority and birth registration counters at these hospitals:

Disclaimer:
The information provided in this page is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. However, it should only be used as reference. We advise that you refer to appropriate government websites for the latest information.

You may ask more about the MediSave Maternity Package, the Baby Bonus scheme, and other concerns regarding your pregnancy during a consultation.

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