About this article:
- Understand how Singapore’s new family support measures may help with the cost of raising a child.
- Learn what to budget for during pregnancy and delivery, including maternity packages and additional hospital charges.
- Find out how MediSave and health insurance may apply and which expenses you may still need to pay yourself.
Table of Contents
Recently, at the National Day Rally Speech 2026, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced greater financial, childcare, and workplace support for Singapore families. But is money motivation enough to have a child? When you look at things holistically, there are definitely things more important than money when it comes to raising a child, let alone children. And while that is an interesting area for debate, we’re going to focus on the financial side, because that’s what our whole website is all about.
Quick answer: Is financial support enough to encourage parenthood?
Probably not. But it can help tip the see-saw a bit. Financial support can make parenthood more manageable, but it likely won’t be the deciding factor.
The decision to have a child may also be shaped by career plans, housing, childcare arrangements, health, caregiving support, the state of the world, and whether a couple feels emotionally ready.
Money may not motivate someone who does not want children to become a parent. For couples who already hope to have children, however, greater support may make the financial commitment feel less daunting.
More support for families, but is money the deciding factor?
Now, in our modern society, there are more and more couples who consciously choose to have no children. And no matter how much money you think you can throw at them, they are still not going to have one. And that’s because money was never the deciding factor in the first place.
However, for couples who want to have children but are holding back because of inflation and the incredible financial commitment it takes to actually have a child, then yes, the financial support could help them finally make a decision.
Now rather than just focusing on whether financial motivation is enough, the more useful question may therefore be: How can couples combine government support with their own financial and healthcare planning?
Not sure if your plan covers what matters most?
Use the Hospital Bill Estimator to see what your expected costs could be.
What will families receive under the SG Child Support Package?
Support | Amount | When can it be used? |
|---|---|---|
Baby Gift | $10,000 in cash | Early expenses after the child is born |
Child Credits | $2,000 each year from ages one to 16, up to $32,000 | Everyday expenses throughout the child’s growing years |
CDA First Step Grant | $5,000 | Approved healthcare and education-related expenses |
Government co-matching | Up to $5,000 | Additional savings placed in the child’s CDA or PSEA |
PSEA top-up | $10,000 at age 17 | Post-secondary education expenses |
This adds up to as much as $62,000 under the new SG Child Support Package, subject to eligibility and the applicable scheme conditions.
Government-supported preschool fees (e.g. My First Skool, Sparkletots, MOE Kindergartens) are also expected to be reduced progressively. By 2030, full-day childcare fees are targeted to fall to $150 a month, while full-day infant-care fees are expected to fall to $300 a month.
And while these are meaningful forms of support, they are not all available immediately, and not every component can be used for any purpose.
For example, Child Credits are paid annually, while funds in the Child Development Account (CDA) and Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) can only be used for approved expenses such as school fees or school-related expenditures.
Basically, you’ll still need to be a financially responsible adult with your own earnings/savings for costs arising before birth, during delivery, and between the different stages of support.
Start by planning for pregnancy and delivery, not just the years after birth
Many discussions about the cost of parenthood focus on infant care, childcare, and education. However, some expenses begin well before your baby is born.
These expenses may include:
- Pre-conception consultations or health checks
- Fertility assessments or treatment, if required
- Obstetrician consultations and ultrasound scans
- Prenatal screening and diagnostic tests
- Supplements or medication
- Additional monitoring for a higher-risk pregnancy
- Hospital and doctor’s fees for delivery
- Time away from work or a temporary reduction in household income
The amount required can vary significantly depending on whether you receive care through the subsidised or private route, the hospital and ward selected, the obstetrician’s fees, and whether the delivery is vaginal or by Caesarean section (planned or emergency).
A maternity package can make delivery costs easier to anticipate
It is not uncommon for hospitals in Singapore to offer maternity packages that bundle selected hospital charges for a standard delivery and stay. You may even be offered packages from your chosen OBGYN once you reach the 4- or 5-month mark of your pregnancy. A package like this can give you and your partner a clearer starting estimate and make it easier to compare your options.
Where can you find maternity package and bill information?
Maternity packages and estimated delivery bills vary by hospital. Click through the links below to learn more about these maternity packages:
Public hospitals
- KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital – Delivery Bill Estimator
- National University Hospital – Maternity Services and Bill Information
Private hospitals
- Gleneagles Hospital – Maternity Packages
- Mount Alvernia Hospital – Maternity Tour and Packages
- Mount Elizabeth Hospitals – Maternity Packages
- Parkway East Hospital – Maternity Packages
- Raffles Hospital – Maternity Services and Package Information
- Thomson Medical Centre – Maternity Services and Packages
Note: This list is provided for general reference and is not exhaustive. Package availability, prices, and inclusions may change. Check directly with the hospital for the latest information and a personalised bill estimate.
One thing you need to remember is that a maternity package should not automatically be treated as the final bill. Depending on its terms, it may not include:
- The obstetrician’s professional fees
- Anaesthetist or paediatrician fees
- Epidural charges
- Additional scans, tests, or medication
- A longer hospital stay
- Emergency procedures or an unplanned Caesarean section
- Treatment required by the mother or newborn
Before choosing a package, ask for a clear list of inclusions and exclusions. It is also useful to ask how the estimated bill may change if the delivery does not go as planned.
Can MediSave be used for pregnancy and childbirth?
Yes. Under the MediSave Maternity Package, you can use your MediSave for eligible pre-delivery and delivery expenses; this is subject to prevailing withdrawal limits.
Some of these limits include up to $900 for eligible pre-delivery medical expenses, such as consultations and antenatal scans. A separate withdrawal limit applies to the delivery procedure, while inpatient charges are subject to the applicable daily hospital withdrawal limits.
The amount claimable therefore depends on the type of delivery and length of hospital stay.
While this is helpful, it is only a band-aid for a much larger “wound”. Meaning, it may reduce the amount you have to pay in cash, but it does not cover the full bill. This is especially true if you choose to deliver your baby in a private hospital such as Thomson Medical, Mount Elizabeth Novena, etc or even if you deliver as a private patient in public hospitals.
If you are still uncertain, your chosen hospital has a business office where you can request financial counselling or a bill estimate and check how much can be deducted from MediSave before admission.
Does health insurance cover pregnancy and childbirth?
Unlike in many countries, MediShield Life and a standard Hospitalisation Plan (together, they form the Integrated Shield Plan), generally do not cover routine pregnancy care or an uncomplicated delivery.
However, if you or your baby requires certain medically necessary treatments arising from serious pregnancy or delivery complications, it may be claimable, depending on the diagnosis, treatment, and policy terms.
You may also be thinking of purchasing a maternity insurance plan. These plans may also cover specified pregnancy complications or congenital conditions. However, the coverage, exclusions, waiting periods, and claim requirements differ between insurers.
Before pregnancy (or as early as possible when planning for a baby), check the following:
- Whether you already have maternity-related protection
- Which pregnancy complications are covered
- Whether there is a waiting period
- Whether congenital conditions are included and how they are defined
- When and how the newborn can be insured
- Whether the baby receives any temporary coverage immediately after birth
Do not assume that your Integrated Shield Plan will automatically cover your newborn. If the baby requires hospital care after birth, eligibility and coverage will depend on the relevant policy terms and when the child is insured.
Also, you can only insure your child with their own Hospitalisation Plan once they reach a certain age.
Do not forget the cost of the unexpected
Now, a budget may account for a routine delivery and the baby’s everyday needs. But what we usually fail to plan for (because we always assume it will never happen to us) is a pregnancy complication, premature birth, neonatal care, or an extended period away from work. But trust me, it happens, and you will want to be prepared, just in case.
This is where an emergency fund becomes important.
Beyond saving for the expected hospital bill, set aside a separate buffer for:
- Charges outside the maternity package
- A longer hospital stay
- Follow-up treatment for the mother or baby
- Unpaid leave or reduced income
- Additional caregiving or domestic support
If you have a completely uneventful pregnancy, then the money you saved can go towards other things like paying for your baby’s first birthday, their first child-care fees, or a nice gift you’ve been eyeing for yourself!
The right amount to save will differ from family to family. A couple with two stable incomes and strong family support may need a different buffer from a self-employed parent or a household relying mainly on one income. But any amount saved is a good amount.
Five questions to ask yourself before the baby arrives
Contrary to popular belief, financial readiness does not require you to predict every expense. It begins with understanding where the biggest gaps may be.
Ask yourselves:
- How much of our pregnancy and delivery expenses must we pay ourselves?
- What is included in our hospital’s maternity package, and what could be charged separately?
- How much MediSave can we use, and how much may still need to be paid in cash?
- Would our insurance cover any pregnancy, delivery, or newborn complications?
- Could our household manage an unexpected medical bill or temporary loss of income?
There is no single number for being “ready”
The new SG Child Support Package can make raising a child more affordable, especially because the assistance continues beyond the baby years.
Lower preschool fees and additional childcare leave may also address two things many working parents need most: money and time.
But financial support alone does not determine whether someone is ready to become a parent. Nor does receiving government support mean that every pregnancy, delivery, and child-raising expense will be covered.
For couples who already hope to have children, the package can form one part of their wider plan. However, speaking from experience, parenthood never feels completely predictable. There’s always some surprise around the corner, but a clearer financial plan, however, can help families begin the journey with greater confidence.
Information is accurate as at September 2026. Government benefits, MediSave withdrawal limits, and insurance coverage are subject to eligibility, prevailing regulations and individual policy terms. Speak to the relevant agency, hospital or insurer for advice based on your circumstances.
Know your coverage, before you need it
Before you need care, take time to check your coverage. It may make a meaningful difference to what you eventually pay.
