WhatsApp
5 key factors to consider when comparing domestic helper insurance services – MSIG’s competitive edge
In Hong Kong, many families employ domestic helpers to assist with daily living activities. Taking out appropriate domestic helper insurance is not only a legal requirement but also a crucial step in safeguarding the rights and interests of both employers and helpers.
With a wide range of insurance options available on the market, many employers may find it challenging to determine which policy best suits their needs. This article provides a comprehensive comparison based on statutory requirements, coverage, and other key considerations to help you make an informed decision.
Why is domestic helper insurance so important? It protects employers from potential liabilities and helps mitigate unexpected risks
According to the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance (Cap. 282), all employers in Hong Kong are legally required to arrange employees’ compensation insurance for their staff, including domestic helpers. This insurance covers the employer’s liabilities for work-related injuries or occupational disease, with a statutory minimum coverage of HK$100 million.
However, this is only the minimum statutory requirement. Under the Immigration Department’s Standard Employment Contract (ID 407), employers are also responsible for covering medical expenses arising from non-work-related illnesses or injuries. These may include general medical consultation, hospitalisation, and emergency dental treatment. Given these obligations, selecting a domestic helper insurance plan that is both practical and comprehensive is critically important.
Take MSIG’s Domestic Helper Insurance as an example: in the event a helper requires surgery and hospitalisation following a traffic accident, the policy provides coverage of up to HK$30,000 for surgical and hospital-related expenses. This includes hospital accommodation, miscellaneous inpatient fees, anesthetist fees, operating room costs, and day surgery.
Such benefits significantly alleviate the employer’s financial burden while ensuring the helper receives timely and appropriate medical care for a smooth recovery. By going beyond the statutory minimum, the coverage offers employers not only legal compliance but also greater peace of mind and a more responsible approach to employee welfare.
Item | Maximum benefits payable |
| Surgical & hospitalisation expenses | Up to HK$30,000 per year |
| Up to HK$20,000 per year |
| Up to HK$350 per day |
| 25% of amount payable under surgeon’s fees |
| 12.5% of amount payable under surgeon’s fees |
| Included |
How to choose a comprehensive domestic helper insurance plan?
Choosing the right domestic helper insurance begins with a clear understanding of its coverage. A standard policy typically includes the following key components:
Basic elements of domestic helper insurance:
Statutory employees’ compensation
This mandatory coverage, as required by law, provides compensation for work-related injuries or occupational illnesses. It includes sick leave pay, medical expenses, and a lump-sum benefit in cases of permanent disability or death. With coverage of up to HK$100 million, it ensures full legal compliance and protects employers from significant financial and legal liabilities arising from insufficient compensation.Medical coverage
Comprehensive medical coverage that includes outpatient care, hospitalisation, and surgery, ensuring that your helper’s medical expenses are taken care in the event of illness or injury. Many plans also extend benefits to cover traditional Chinese medicine and physiotherapy, addressing a broader spectrum of healthcare needs and promoting overall well-being for domestic helpers.Personal accident insurance
Separate from statutory compensation, this benefit provides protection against accidental injuries that occur outside of working hours. It offers an additional layer of security for your helper’s health and well-being.- Repatriation expenses
In the event your helper needs to be repatriated due to serious illness, permanent disability, or death, the policy covers the costs of airfare and related transportation expenses, easing the employer’s financial burden during such difficult times.
Comparison of domestic helper insurance coverage
In addition to statutory employees’ compensation, most domestic helper insurance plans available on the market provide a range of supplementary benefits. Key coverage areas to consider include:
Outpatient coverage
Basic medical coverage typically includes daily and per-visit limits. In contrast, more flexible plans offer optional add-ons that expand coverage and increase maximum payable amounts. For example, MSIG’s optional Clinical expense top-up provides up to HK$400 per visit for outpatient treatment due to illness or injury, helping employers manage the rising costs of public healthcare.Enhanced medical and personal accident coverage
Extended benefits may include coverage for traditional Chinese practitioner, dental treatment, and physiotherapy. Under MSIG’s Standard and Premier Plans, up to two-thirds of eligible dental expenses are covered, helping employers support their helper’s everyday health and well-being.Critical illness protection
Critical illness coverage provides dedicated protection against a range of serious medical conditions, including cancer, heart disease, and other high-risk illnesses, helping employers manage the substantial costs associated with treatment and recovery. MSIG’s optional covers allow employers to customise coverage according to their specific needs. This significantly enhances protection against critical illnesses for domestic helpers and helps ease potential financial burdens for employers.Fidelity protection
Fidelity protection provides financial reimbursement for losses resulting from a helper’s fraudulent or dishonest acts, such as theft. It may also cover the cost of replacing and installing main door or security gate locks, safeguarding the employer’s property.Temporary helper allowance
If your domestic helper is hospitalised due to illness or injury and unable to perform their duties, this benefit helps cover the cost of hiring a temporary replacement, ensuring the smooth running of the household. MSIG’s service interruption coverage helps ease the employer’s financial burden in such situations.Domestic helper liability
This coverage protects you against third‑party claims for bodily injury or property damage caused by your helper’s negligence. It shields you from potential legal and compensation risks.Replacement helper expenses
In the event of your helper needs to be repatriated due to severe illness or death, this benefit not only covers the cost of repatriation but also reimburses expenses related to hiring a replacement, minimising the disruption to the employer.
5 key considerations when choosing Domestic Helper Insurance
After reviewing the coverage, consider these 5 key factors when comparing domestic helper insurance:
The helper’s age and health condition
For older helpers or those with chronic illnesses, it is advisable to choose an insurance plan with more extensive medical and critical illness coverage.Nature of work
If your helper will be caring for elderly family members or young children, consider a plan with higher liability protection and service interruption benefits to ensure the smooth running of your household.Budget
Choose a premium that fits your budget while balancing coverage and cost.Optional benefits
Consider whether optional benefits - such as critical illness protection or upgraded outpatient benefits – are necessary, based on your family’s needs.Reputation and service quality of the insurer
Efficient claims processing and high-quality customer service are essential when selecting a helper insurance. MSIG offers EASY Claims and a dedicated claims service hotline, making it easy for customers to submit claims and receive timely assistance. Eligible outpatient and dental claims can be processed in just 15 minutes, with payment issued the next business day.
Additional benefits of MSIG Domestic Helper Insurance and claims case sharing
Beyond statutory employees’ compensation, MSIG Domestic Helper Insurance provides extensive coverage including outpatient care, hospitalisation and surgery, service interruption benefits, dental treatment, personal accident protection, repatriation expenses, and fidelity guarantee.
For more comprehensive coverage, MSIG Domestic Helper Insurance also provides:
Medical and psychological support for abused family members, including trauma counselling benefits: Up to HK$1,000 per visit per day, with a total maximum of HK$10,000.
Automatic extension of cover: If your helper resigns and you are unable to hire a new one, the coverage period is automatically extended for free by 3 months each policy year.
Personal effects/money: Up to HK$10,000 coverage on accidental loss of or damage to the helper’s personal belongings and cash during the employment period.
The name of the insured helper can be changed free of charge during the insured period
These two cases illustrate how MSIG Domestic Helper Insurance can help in unexpected situations:
Case 1:
A helper borrows money from an unlicensed lender and soon falls into serious debt. To repay what she owes, she steals HK$9,000 cash from her employer’s drawer. Upon discovering the theft, the employer immediately terminates her employment. MSIG Domestic Helper Insurance can compensate the employer for the loss. For added family security, the employer can also claim up to HK$1,000 for replacing the security gate lock.
Item | Benefits payable |
Loss from theft | HK$9,000 |
Change of door lock | Maximum HK$1,000, benefits payable subject to actual cost |
Case 2:
A domestic helper is tragically passed away in a traffic accident on her day off. Although the accident is clearly caused by a speeding driver, the responsibility for repatriating her remains to her home country still falls on the employer. MSIG Domestic Helper Insurance provides up to HK$20,000 in repatriation benefits, helping to ease the employer’s financial burden in the event of a tragedy. This support also offers some comfort to the helper’s family.
Item | Benefits payable |
Repatriation expenses | Up to HK$20,000 |
A thorough comparison is the key to choosing the right domestic helper insurance. Beyond meeting legal requirements, a detailed domestic helper insurance policy comparison helps you assess coverage breadth, claims efficiency, and optional covers, so you can choose the policy that best fits the needs of both you and your helper. With flexible optional benefits and fast claims service, MSIG Domestic Helper Insurance is a choice you can trust. Compare plans now to find the best protection for you and your helper!
Domestic Helper (Overseas Domestic Worker) Insurance FAQs
What is the difference between domestic helper insurance and employees’ compensation insurance?
Domestic helper insurance is a comprehensive protection plan tailored for helpers, covering medical expenses, accidents, fidelity protection, and more. Employees’ compensation insurance mainly covers injuries and illnesses that arise from work activities during the period of employment.Is domestic helper insurance compulsory?
Under the Hong Kong Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, employers are legally required to arrange employees’ compensation insurance (also known as employer’s liability insurance or labor insurance) for their domestic helpers. MSIG Domestic Helper Insurance complies fully with this statutory requirement and extends coverage beyond the legal minimum.When should I purchase domestic helper insurance?
It is advisable to arrange coverage before your helper arrives in Hong Kong or prior to the commencement of the employment contract to ensure immediate protection and avoid any gaps in coverage.Can local domestic helpers be insured?
Yes. In addition to employees’ compensation coverage, you can also choose to provide medical and other protections for your local helper as needed.Are the age limits the same when taking out domestic helper insurance for local and overseas helpers?
MSIG Domestic Helper Insurance covers overseas helpers aged 16 to 65, while there is no age limit for local helpers.What is the renewal process for helpers over 65?
Renewing domestic helper insurance for those over 65 can be more complicated, and subject to insurance company’s decision on renewal based on the individual’s circumstances. We recommend contacting the insurance company in advance before your helper turns 65 to understand the renewal process, as well as any potential changes in premiums or coverage, to avoid any protection disruption.Does the policy cover cancer or heart disease?
MSIG Domestic Helper Insurance offers optional cancer and heart disease coverage, including related surgery, hospitalisation, and medical expenses, protecting against the financial risks of serious illness.Is my helper covered if they have an accident or fall ill during their day off?
MSIG Domestic Helper Insurance covers accidents and illnesses that occur during both work and rest days and includes outpatient care, hospitalisation, surgery, and personal accident benefits.Does the insurance cover third-party injury or property damage caused by the helper’s negligence?
MSIG Domestic Helper Insurance includes domestic helper liability coverage, offering up to HK$150,000 per incident for legal liability arising from third-party injury or property damage caused by the helper’s negligence.Can I switch to a different insurer during the domestic helper insurance policy term?
In most cases, employers can change insurers when the policy expires, but it’s important to ensure continuous coverage to avoid any gaps in protection.Is the policy still valid if my helper resigns?
If your helper leaves, coverage will depend on the end date of the contract. MSIG Domestic Helper Insurance offers an automatic extension of up to 3 months if you haven’t hired a new helper right away, ensuring there’s no protection disruption.If I hire a new helper after the previous one leaves, will my existing policy still apply?
Yes. MSIG allows employers to change the insured helper’s name for free, allowing you to transfer coverage to your newly hired helper at any time, with no need to take out a new policy or pay extra fees. Simply notify MSIG to update the details, and the policy will remain valid.Can I get a refund for any remaining coverage period if my helper leaves?
In some cases, you may receive a partial refund for the unused coverage period, depending on the policy terms.How do I make a claim under my helper’s insurance?
MSIG’s EASY Claims allows employers and helpers to submit claims anytime, while our dedicated hotline connects you directly with claims specialists for one‑on‑one support.How should I choose the right domestic helper insurance plan?
When choosing a plan, consider your helphttps://www.msig.com.hk/en/insurance/hong-kong/personal-insurance#helperer’s age, health, and job duties, as well as your budget. Also, compare the coverage and claims service among domestic helper insurance providers to find the option that best suits your needs. MSIG Domestic Helper Insurance offers flexible plans and optional benefits to suit different household needs.
If you have any queries regarding Helper Insurance, please feel free to contact us 
or find out more:
View product
Read more:
Protecting domestic helpers when cancer strikes
Domestic helper insurance: A win-win solution for employers and employees
Learn more about EASY Claims and file your claims online anytime, anywhere.
