More and more countries are opening up, and as the holidays are drawing near, many of us are getting ready to make plans. Are you planning a trip abroad?
Traveling during a pandemic can be challenging. There are uncertainties and most disruptions are COVID-19-related – whether a trip cancellation or infection. So aside from securing your flight ticket, don’t forget to protect yourself with the best travel insurance plan in Singapore.
Today, there are travel Insurance plans that provide compensation in case you or your loved ones are diagnosed with COVID-19 before, during, or after the trip. Find out how to choose and what to look out for when choosing the best travel insurance plans.
Why Should I Get Travel Insurance?
Whether you’re traveling for pleasure or business, travel insurance can give you peace of mind in case something unexpected happens. You may have heard of horror stories about travelers being robbed or getting into an accident that resulted in hospitalizations while on vacation. Travel insurance can go a long way in covering such expenses, and reducing financial and mental stress.
Here are a few reasons why you need a travel insurance plan:
- Travel concierge services
- Travel cancellations
- Emergency medical expenses
- Travel and luggage delay
- In case of urgent emergency medical evacuation
- Protection of personal belongings
- Baggage Retrieval
- Covid-19 coverage
Where To Get the Best Travel Insurance in Singapore
Consider shopping for the right travel insurance plan that fits your needs. Even basic travel insurance plans can offer coverage on lost items and medical expenses.
At a Glance
|
Travel Insurance Plan |
Cancellation Coverage |
Overseas Medical Coverage |
Loss or Damage to Personal Belongings |
Price |
Covid-19 Coverage |
|
FWD |
Up to S$15,000 |
Up to S$1,000,000 |
Up to S$1,000 |
From 40.45/week |
S$200,000 |
|
MSIG |
Up to S$15,000 |
Up to S$1,000,000 |
Up to S$7,500 |
From S$61/week |
Up to S$250,000 |
|
Singlife Travel Insurance |
Up to S$20,000 |
Prestige tier offers unlimited coverage |
Up to S$8,000 |
From S$39.77/week |
Up to S$200,000 |
|
HL Assurance Travel Protect360 |
S$15,000 |
S$750,000 |
From S$1,500 |
From S$34.80/week |
S$200,000 |
|
Sompo |
Up to S$10,000 |
Up to S$400,000 |
S$1,000 |
From S$64/week |
Up to S$200,000 |
|
Allianz |
Up to S$10,000 |
Up to S$1,000,000 |
Up to S$7,000 |
From S$49/week |
Up to S$1,000,000 |
|
AXA Wanderlust |
Up to S$6,000 |
Up to S$300,000 |
Up to S$5,000 |
From S$34.49/week |
Up to S$70,000 |
|
DBS Chubb |
Up to 15,000 |
Up to S$1,000,000 |
Up to S$8,000 |
From S$75/week |
Up to S$200,000 |
1. FWD Travel Insurance – Best for Budget Single-Trip Plan
FWD Travel Insurance offers some of the cheapest and most fuss-free single-trip travel insurance plans in Singapore. They offer one insurance plan with three tiers – premium, business, and first.
All three tiers provide coverage for worldwide emergencies as well as medical evacuation, COVID-19 coverage, and travel delay and cancellation. However, each tier has different reimbursement limits.
Premiums: Start at S$40.45/week to S$101.93/week
Medical Expenses (overseas): Starts from S$200,000 to S$1,000,000
Accident/Death: S$150,000
Trip Cancellations: From S$7,500 to S$15,000
Loss or Damage Baggage: From S$300 to S$1,000
COVID-19 Coverage:
- Medical expenses (overseas): S$200,000
- Overseas hospital cash (S$100/day): S$1,400
- Overseas quarantine allowance (S$50/day): S$700
- Trip cancellation: S$5,000
2. MSIG Travel Insurance – Best for Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
MSIG Travel Insurance offers a wide range of travel insurance plans and is one of the few travel insurance companies offering pre-existing medical condition coverage.
The MSIG TravelEasy plan provides excellent coverage for pre-existing medical conditions. Aside from the basic coverage, this plan also provides mobility aid reimbursement, overseas maternity medical expenses, as well as hospitalization daily benefit in Singapore.
Premium: Starts from S$61/week to S$201/week
Medical Expenses (Overseas): From S$250,000 to S$1,000,000
Accident/Death: S$200,000
Trip Cancellations: From S$5,000 to S$15,000
Loss or Damage Baggage: From S$3,000 to S$7,500
COVID-19 Coverage:
- Medical expenses (overseas): S$75,000 to S$250,000
- Overseas quarantine allowance: From S$700 to S$1,400
- Trip cancellation: From S$3,000 to S$5,000
3. Singlife with Aviva Travel Insurance – Best for Protecting Your Frequent Flyer Points
Don’t let your frequent flyer points or miles go to waste due to canceled flights. Singlife with Aviva Travel Insurance can help you in claiming back your redeemed miles. If your miles are irrecoverable, you’ll be refunded the value of the airline ticket. Singlife Travel Insurance comes in three tiers – Lite, Plus, and Prestige.
Premium: Starts from S$39.77/week to S$156.51/week
Medical Expenses (Overseas): From S$250,000; Prestige tier offers unlimited coverage
Accident/Death: From S$100,000
Trip Cancellations: From S$5,000 to S$20,000
Loss or Damage Baggage: From S$3,000 to S$8,000
COVID-19 Coverage:
- Medical expenses (overseas): S$50,000 to S$200,000
- Overseas quarantine allowance: From S$1,000 to S$2,000; Lite tier doesn’t offer this coverage
- Trip cancellation: From S$500 to S$2,000
4. HL Assurance – Best for Covid-19-Related Claims
HL Assurance’s travel insurance plans will protect you where it counts. They will give you good coverage for common inconveniences, such as trip delays and lost luggage. They also provide coverage for anything COVID-19-related mishaps.
HL Assurance’s CovidSafe Travel Protect360 has one of the best pandemic covers in Singapore. It includes travel concierge services with 24/7 regional alarm centres that offer immediate support.
Premium: Starts from S$34.80/week
Medical Expenses (Overseas): S$750,000
Trip Cancellations: S$15,000
Loss or Damage Baggage: From S$1,500
COVID-19 Coverage:
- Medical expenses (overseas): S$200,000
- Overseas quarantine allowance: From S$1,500
- Trip cancellation: From S$3,000
5. Sompo Travel Insurance – Best for Balanced Protection
Back then, Sompo travel insurance plans were known as Sompo Travel Joy insurance plans with 3 tiers. Today, their insurance plans come with good COVID-19 coverage in 2 tiers – Essential and Superior.
As the name suggests, the Superior plan offers more comprehensive coverage. Both plans offer balanced protection, including personal accidents, overseas medical coverage, flight delays, baggage delay/loss, and stolen/lost passports.
Premium: Starts from S$64/week to S$167/week
Medical Expenses (Overseas): S$200,000 to S$400,000
Trip Cancellations: From S$5,000 to S$10,000
Loss or Damage Baggage: S$1,000
COVID-19 Coverage:
- Medical expenses (overseas): From S$100,000 to S$200,000
- Overseas hospital cash: S$700 to S$1,400
- Overseas quarantine allowance: From S$700 to S$1,400
- Trip cancellation: From S$2,000 to S$4,000
6. Allianz Travel Insurance – Best for High Medical Coverage
If you’re looking for travel insurance with good medical coverage, then you will not go wrong with Allianz. It comes with three tiers – Bronze, Silver, and Platinum. Additionally, depending on the duration and number of people traveling you can further categorize those three types of plans – single trip, annual multi-trip, and family travel insurance plan.
Its annual travel insurance plans offer both travel and medical protection for frequent travelers.
Premium: Starts from S$49 to S$241/week
Medical Expenses (Overseas): S$200,000 to S$1,000,000
Accident/Death: From S$100,000 (Silver) to S$200,000
Trip Cancellations: From S$5,000 to S$10,000
Loss or Damage Baggage: From S$3,000 to S$7,000
COVID-19 Coverage:
- Medical expenses (overseas): From S$200,000 to S$1,000,000
- Emergency Medical Evacuation: Unlimited
- Trip cancellation: From S$5,000 to S$15,000
7. AXA Wanderlust Travel Insurance – Best for Comprehensive Coverage
AXA Wanderlust is the successor to AXA’s Smart Traveller and it comes in three tiers- Lite, Easy, and Pro. Since 1 February 2021, AXA has updated its insurance plans to better suit your travel needs. While the COVID-19 medical expense coverage for the Essential Plan is lower compared to other plans, AXA covers medical expenses incurred within 90 days of your trip.
What sets AXA apart is its flexibility when it comes to travel insurance claims for trip restrictions, including situations when there is a COVID-19 outbreak in your destination country.
Premium: Starts from S$34.49 to S$142.24
Medical Expenses (Overseas): From S$30,000 to S$300,000
Accident/Death: From S$50,000 to S$250,000
Trip Cancellations: From S$1,000 to S$6,000
Loss or Damage Baggage: S$2,000 to S$5,000
COVID-19 Coverage:
- Medical expenses (overseas): From S$30,000 to S$70,000
- Overseas hospital cash: S$1,000 to S$3,000
- Trip cancellation: From S$500 to S$800
8. DBS Chubb – Best for Comprehensive Coverage
The DBS TravellerShield Plus (provided by Chubb) comes in 3 tiers- Classic, Premier, and Platinum. It offers comprehensive coverage for overseas medical expenses, accidental death, and COVID-19. However, it is one of the most expensive insurance plans in Singapore. This travel insurance is underwritten by Chubb which has a great worldwide reputation and recognition.
Premium: Starts from S$75/week to S$280/week
Medical Expenses (Overseas): From S$300,000 to S$1,000,000
Accident/Death: From S$150,000 to S$500,000
Trip Cancellations: From S$5,000 to S$15,000
Loss or Damage Baggage: S$3,000 to S$8,000
COVID-19 Coverage:
- Medical expenses (overseas): From S$50,000 to S$200,000
- Overseas hospital cash: S$700 to S$1,400
- Overseas quarantine allowance: From S$700 to S$1,400
- Trip cancellation: From S$2,500 to S$7,500
Who Is the Best Company for Travel Insurance?
The best travel insurance provider depends on your unique needs. For instance, if you have pre-existing conditions, then the MSIG insurance plan is a good choice since it offers up to S$1,000,000 in overseas medical coverage. Singlife with AVIVA Travel Insurance, on the other hand, offers unlimited medical coverage if you’re willing to pay for the Prestige tier at S$156.51/week.
If you are more concerned about suffering from a travel inconvenience due to COVID-19, then the Allianz travel insurance plans are a good option. Its COVID-19 medical expense coverage is significantly higher than other plans on this list.
Which Travel Insurance Is Best for International Travel with Covid 19 Coverage?
The FWD insurance plan (with a COVID-19 rider) is a good choice if you’re looking for comprehensive coverage for your overseas trip. The basic overseas plan costs S$70.83 for a week-long vacation. With this plan, you can enjoy up to S$200,000 in medical expense coverage and up to S$200,000 in COVID-19 coverage.
Factors To Consider When Choosing a Travel Insurance Plan
With plenty of options to choose from, how do you choose the best insurance plan for your next holiday? Different insurance providers offer different levels of coverage. Choose one that you are comfortable with at the price you are willing to pay. Here are a few factors to consider:
- Price: Depending on your destination country, travel duration, and other factors, insurance premiums can range from S$30 for a week-long vacation to several hundred dollars. It’s best to consider the cost you can afford as well as the coverage you need.
- Coverage: When choosing a travel insurance plan, make sure that it covers the following:
- Overseas medical expenses – treatment, evacuation, and repatriation
- Personal Accident/total and permanent disability/death
- Missing or lost baggage
- Flight cancellations and delays
- COVID-19 coverage
In the current pandemic situation, it’s advisable to ensure that your plan includes COVID-19 coverage. It must have benefits, such as medical expense coverage, hospitalization allowance, quarantine allowance, flight cancellation, and more.
- Reliability of the Insurance Provider: Take your time comparing travel insurance plans and make sure the provider is authorized by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Choose an insurance provider with a great track record, ask for receipts, and ensure that all details in the policy are accurate.
- Ease of Claims: Does the company have a tedious and lengthy claim process? Check customer reviews to see what their previous clients have to say. Additionally, check the restrictions in the fine print. Highly restrictive rules may lead to claims being denied.
- Additional Features: Some insurance providers may offer value-added services and features. For instance, some may offer travel concierge services. Others may offer a 24/7 global medical assistance hotline for medical treatment and transportation while abroad.
Closing
Similar to other types of insurance products, travel insurance plans help us manage risk by lowering the cost you have to pay out of pocket in case of unforeseen events. Although it’s not mandatory for travelers from Singapore, having one provides peace of mind when travel disruptions occur.
Key Takeaways:
- Aside from travel delays and lost luggage, a travel insurance plan can also provide coverage for medical expenses and other COVID-19-related travel inconveniences.
- There are travel Insurance plans that provide compensation in case you or your loved one is diagnosed with COVID-19 before, during, or after the trip.
- The best travel insurance provider depends on your unique needs. How comprehensive a policy is will depend on several factors, including your pre-existing condition, and more.
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