Guide to Travel Insurance

Travel insurance will provide financial protection if any mishaps or interruptions were to happen on your trip. It offers cover for a range of eventualities, such as losing your possessions, your flights and accommodation being cancelled, or if you become ill or injured while you’re abroad.

With the ongoing pandemic, there are more reasons to get yourself adequately covered if you’re heading overseas. Learn more on how to buy travel insurance in Singapore and the policies offering COVID-19 benefits.

When should I get travel insurance?

Travel insurance acts as a safety net. It protects you from a range of travel risks that can happen both at home and abroad. Buy your policy as soon as you’ve booked any part of your trip. By doing so, you’ll be able to take advantage of cancellation cover in the policy should anything go wrong.

What are the different types of cover?

Travel insurance policies vary a lot, but broadly speaking there are two main types of cover: single trip and annual (often called multi-trip) insurance.

• Single trip insurance. This policy type covers you for one continuous journey only, but it can include multiple destinations. Coverage ends once you return home.
• Annual insurance. Annual policies provide you with protection for multiple trips throughout a 12-month period.

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How to compare travel insurance plans

Most multi-trip and single policies cover you for a period between 90 and 180 days. So, check the details if you’re planning a longer break away. If you’re going away for longer than this, or are visiting multiple countries, you may need a long-stay or multi-destination policy.

What you’re doing also affects the level of cover that you need. If you’re going for work purposes, you’ll need a business travel policy. If you’re taking part in any high-risk activity, like sky diving or rock climbing, then you’ll probably need to seek out additional cover.

Family and group policies are also available to insure individuals who are travelling together as a group on the same journey. Check with your insurer for their available plans.

Key features to consider

When comparing policies, be sure to review these important features and find one that’s best suited to your needs:

• 1. Overseas Medical Cover

  Medical cover provides for emergency evacuation and treatment overseas if you suffer a serious illness or injury.

  What am I actually covered for?

  • Emergency medical, surgical and hospital treatment
  • Ambulance costs
  • Costs of your return to Singapore if necessary
  • Costs of extra accommodation, if medically necessary and you are unable to return home
  • Emergency dental treatment
  • Daily allowance for a hospital stay

  When won’t I be covered?

  • Treatment that can be undertaken back in Singapore
  • Unnecessary hospital costs
  • Medical losses following a cosmetic procedure
  • Expenses tendered more than 12 months from the date you first received treatment for the injury
  • Claims related to pregnancy, unless related to unforeseen complications
  • Treatment for a condition you were aware of when taking out the cover
  • Costs for injuries sustained while partaking in sports not covered in the product disclosure statement (PDS)

• 2. Trip Cancellation Cover

  This provides cover for cancellation fees as well as for prepaid deposits you made for travel and accommodation that you can’t recover if your journey is cancelled or shortened.

  What am I actually covered for?
  
  Trip cancellation insurance covers transport tickets, pre-booked accommodation and travel agent fees that are non-recoverable. You are only covered if the reason for the cancellation is outside of your control. You’ll have cover for the following reasons:

  • You or a member of your family passes away
  • Your travel operator goes bankrupt
  • You suffer a serious illness or injury
  • You are made redundant
  • You are required to stay in Singapore following a natural disaster or burglary at your home or business within 48 hours of when you were supposed to leave

  When won’t I be covered?

  • The cancellation is due to a pre-existing condition (either yours or that of a relative) that you were aware of when purchasing the policy
  • You have business, financial or contractual obligations (excluding being made redundant)
  • Your tour operator reschedules because there were not enough people for the tour to go ahead
  • You failed to obtain the necessary passport or visa required for your planned trip

• 3. Luggage and Personal Belongings Cover

  This provides cover for luggage and personal items that are lost, stolen or damaged on your trip. You can purchase additional cover for specific items.

  What am I actually covered for?

  • The repair cost or value of any luggage that is stolen, accidentally damaged or permanently lost. Depreciation is applied for unspecified items
  • Specified items listed at the time of your insurance application
  • The items were stolen from concealed storage departments of an unoccupied vehicle

  When won’t I be covered?

  • You fail to report the loss, theft or damage to your insurance brand or appropriate authority within 24 hours
  • The items were checked in to be held and transported in the cargo hold of a transport carrier
  • Your items were left unattended when the loss occurred
  • The items were being sent unaccompanied
  • Your items were left in the car overnight
  • Damage is the result of cleaning, repair or alteration
  • You do not provide appropriate evidence when making a claim, such as receipts, valuation documents and police reports

• 4. Travel Delay Expenses Cover

  This cover provides for delays and cancellations that are beyond your control, such as missing your flight home after your train to the airport was cancelled because of a storm. Travel delay cover can help you manage some of the additional expenses that may arise as a result, such as accommodation or other transport. You are only covered for the price of the original fare.

  What am I actually covered for?

  • You miss your flight because you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident
  • You miss your connecting flight following a natural disaster or extreme weather that occurred after you took out your policy
  • You suffer a medical condition (non-pre-existing) and are not fit to travel, which must be verified by a medical practitioner

  When won’t I be covered?

  • If your airline is responsible for paying compensation, which may include mechanical delays or the flight being overbooked
  • You miss your flight due to events that could have been reasonably avoided, for example, if you left your bag at the hotel or were caught in traffic

What’s generally covered?

The following list shows cover types that are typically offered by a comprehensive travel insurance policy. When comparing policies it’s really important that you are aware of exactly what a policy will cover you for, and what it won’t.

If you’re looking for cover that isn’t included in a policy, you can ask a provider if they’ll offer it as an add-on. If they won’t, you’ll need to shop around for specialist policy to get the cover you need.

How much does travel insurance cost?

There are several factors that affect the cost of your travel insurance, including:

• The level of cover. This is a major factor in the cost of your policy. For example, if you’re travelling light, opt for a policy with a lower luggage limit, or if you’re older and have health issues, you may need a policy with higher medical benefits.
• Your age. Age is the other major factor when it comes to the cost of travel insurance. The older you are, the more risk you pose to an insurer, which could mean you face a higher premium.
• Where you’re going. Your destination will impact the cost of your cover depending on its perceived risk to the insurer.
• The length of travel. The longer you’re away, the more risk you pose to an insurer.
• Number of travellers. The number of travellers increases the cost of your premium. Some insurers offer discounts for insuring multiple travellers on one policy. Always check with your insurer before buying a policy.

When will travel insurance not pay out?

Even the most expensive and comprehensive travel insurance policy will come with exclusions, which are conditions where the policy will not pay out.

Your travel insurance policy will typically not cover your claim in the event of:

• Unattended belongings: You need to take reasonable care to prevent or reduce any loss you may suffer, including keeping an eye on your belongings at all times.
• Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, except those prescribed by your medical practitioner.
• Risky pursuits: Standard policies will typically not pay out for injuries or loss resulting from your involvement in an adventure activity like bungee jumping or parasailing, or even more regular sports like rugby.
• Failure to obey local laws: You are required to comply with all local laws for the duration of your stay.
• Undeclared pre-existing conditions: You should inform your insurer of pre-existing conditions where applicable, because that’s how you get them covered. You are generally not covered for pre-existing conditions otherwise.

Make sure you read and understand the total list of exclusions that an insurer has before signing up for a policy with them.

Tips when buying travel insurance

• Get your coverage early. Take out coverage as soon as you’ve paid for any part of your trip. Certain coverage requires that you’ve held the policy for a minimum amount of time, generally between seven to 14 days. This affects coverages such as CFAR and financial default.
• Don’t skimp on overseas medical cover. Many countries across the world have very expensive private healthcare costs. So, make sure your policy offers a high level of medical coverage.
• Get coverage for your pre-existing conditions. If you have a pre-existing condition, check with your insurer about getting a waiver.
• Get cover for only what you need. If you’re backpacking, choose a policy with minimum coverage for luggage. Don’t over-insure your trip.
• Check cruise coverage. While cruise coverage can be expensive, it’s worth it. Evacuation at sea can be eye-wateringly expensive.
• Read your policy documents. Every policy is different. Even if you’ve bought travel insurance before, chances are there will be slight variations in coverage. Again, it’s worth taking the time to make sure you read through the policy document in full.
• Ensure you are covered for extreme sports. When it comes to skydiving, bungee jumping or white-water rafting, you’ll need to check to see whether your choice of travel insurance offers options to cover these activities. If not, you might have to take up personal accident insurance.

Frequently asked questions

• Do I really need travel insurance?

  Travel insurance is compulsory for some countries such as Cuba, Qatar and Belarus among others. But even if it’s not compulsory for other countries, you should think of travel insurance as a small price to pay compared to the thousands you could lose if something unexpected happens.

• How much will my travel insurance cost?

  There is no flat fee when it comes to travel insurance. The cost depends on a range of factors including:

  • The trip length
  • The level of cover you choose
  • Where you go
  • Your age
  • Activities you’ll do
  • Pre-existing medical conditions.

  Prices can also vary based on which travel insurance company you choose. That’s why it’s so important to compare travel insurance from a range of providers.

• What's an excess?

  An excess is an out-of-pocket expense you’ll have to pay if you need to make a claim on your travel insurance policy. Depending on how risk-averse you are, you can opt for a higher excess, which will mean lower premiums (policy cost), but this might mean that smaller claims are not worth it.

• Are there age restrictions on travel insurance?

  Most insurers will set their own age limit for seniors, which can vary from 65 onwards. Those that do cover all ages often have limits on trip durations and exclusions on pre-existing conditions.

• Will travel insurance cover me against natural disasters?

  Travel insurance can cover cancellations and injuries that arise from natural disasters depending on your policy type and when it was issued. If you buy your policy after the natural disaster becomes a “known event”, you won’t be covered.