Travel insurance is such a necessity, especially during the pandemic. Between booking your flight ticket and boarding the plane, when is the right time to purchase travel insurance?
Having travel insurance during the pandemic is paramount, especially if you catch COVID-19 abroad. Other than that, it may also cover trip cancellations, baggage loss or damage, accidents, theft, and more.
But what if you already booked your ticket? Would it be too late to get travel insurance? When exactly is the best time to get travel insurance, anyway?
The best time to get travel insurance
The best time to get your travel insurance is right after you’ve booked your flight tickets. By doing so, you’re maximising your travel insurance coverage timeline in case you need to cancel your trip before embarking on that flight. However, it’s always good to double-check with your travel insurance policy’s benefits to be sure.
Travel insurance is also extra handy when the money you shelled out for your trip is at risk. This includes non-refundable airfare tickets, cruise cancellation penalties, and such.
For travel insurance plans that cover pre-existing conditions, you must purchase this at a certain time frame, such as 14 days prior to your trip. A few insurers offer pre-existing medical coverage during travels, such as Tiq Travel Insurance or MSIG Travel Insurance. These plans may cover cancer, sleep apnea, and heart diseases.
Benefits of booking your travel insurance early:
- Saves you the hassle from car rental woes. Car rental usually requires you to have insurance coverage, and the car rental excess from your travel insurance may save you some bucks.
- Unforeseen travel cancellations will be covered
- Benefit from a ‘free-look’ period in case you wish to cancel your travel insurance plan and get a premium refund
- A better travel insurance coverage overall
When it's too late to get travel insurance
You wouldn’t be able to purchase your travel insurance once you depart Singapore. And yes, your insurer has the right to trace the time of insurance application in relation to your flight timing in the event of a claim. Moreover, you’d miss out on trip cancellation benefits if you purchase it on the last day or two.
So, don’t wait until the final hour to purchase your travel insurance. Get your travel insurance at least before midnight of your departure date to be good to go.
Can you purchase travel insurance during your trip?
Unfortunately, most insurance companies will generally not provide you a travel insurance policy once you’re on your trip.
Can you extend your travel insurance coverage while you’re abroad?
Most insurers provide coverage extension during your trip, but they will base it on the event that caused the need for it. It ultimately boils down to the conditions of your insurer. Some may extend your policy for a higher premium fee.
AIG Travel Guard Direct, for instance, has a policy period extension for a maximum of three days if you encounter circumstances beyond your control, such as an injury or illness that prevents you from travelling, adverse weather conditions, or an unexpected strike. This applies under one condition – you have to make every effort to get back to Singapore at the first available opportunity.
How to find the best travel insurance?
Well, you can comb through each Singapore travel insurance website and gauge the best prices on their platforms yourself. However, you’d potentially miss out on fantastic promos with this tall order method.
Get all the information you need on the best travel insurance deals at one glance. Click and compare travel insurance plans below to find all the details you need for you and your travel buddies!
SingSaver's Best Price Travel Campaign: All successful applicants of participating Travel Insurance products will receive 1x (single trip) or 3x (annual trip) draw chance to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed (up to a maximum of $2,000) and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Valid till 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply.
| Travel Insurance | Premium for Individual Cover | Covid-19 Coverage | Promotion |
|
FWD Travel Insurance
|
from S$22.50 (for 1 week in Asean) |
Yes |
Use the promo code ENDSEP to get 25% off on Single Trip and Annual Trip plans. Valid till 27 September 2023. T&Cs apply. Receive 1x Airalo eSim with up to 3GB data (minimum premium $60). Valid till 3o Sep 2023. T&Cs apply. Plus, till 30th September, every 58th sign up scores a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Additionally, enjoy up to 3x chances to enter our Weekly Lucky Draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. T&Cs apply. |
|
Etiqa (TIQ) Travel Insurance
|
from S$39 (for 1 week in Asean) |
Yes |
Single Trip: Use the promo code TIQSINGSAVER to get 40% off. T&Cs apply. Valid till 30 Sep 2023. T&Cs apply. Annual Trip: Use promo code TIQSINGSAVER to get 60% off COVID-19 add-on. Valid till 30 Sep. T&Cs apply. Plus, till 30th September, every 58th sign up scores a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Additionally, enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply. Plus, new customers get additional S$30 off on top of the discount with voucher code FREETRAVEL. Valid till 30 Sep 2023. T&Cs apply. Additionally, stand to win S$3,000 in TIQ Travel Insurance Monthly Lucky Draw Campaign 2023 (Fulfillment by TIQ). Valid till 31 Dec 2023. T&Cs apply. |
|
Starr TraveLead Travel Insurance
|
from S$11.05 (for 1 week in ASEAN) |
Yes |
Receive up to $50 Grab Vouchers and 35% discount plus an EXCLUSIVE Agoda promo code when you apply using the promo code SSVTL35. Valid till 30 September 2023. Additionally, enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw. 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply. |
|
Allianz Travel Insurance
|
from S$34.10 (for 1 week in Asean) |
Yes |
Get 35% discount and receive up to S$50 worth of Grab vouchers when you use the promo code G035. Valid till 30 Sep 2023. T&Cs apply. Additionally, enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply. |
|
MSIG Travel Easy
|
from S$34.10 (for 1 week in ASEAN) |
Yes |
Enjoy 40% off when you apply for Single Trips and 20% off for Annual Plan plus get up to $38 Grab Vouchers when you purchase now!! Valid till 31 Sep 2023. T&Cs apply Enjoy up to 3x chances to enter our Weekly Lucky Draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. T&Cs apply. |
|
Singlife Travel Insurance
|
from S$46.20 (for 1 week in ASEAN) | Yes |
Score an Airalo eSIM with up to 3GB data and receive it before you fly when you apply now! Valid till 30 Sep 2023. T&Cs apply. Additionally, enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply. Single Trip: Enjoy a 25% discount when you use the promo code TRAVEL25. Valid till 30 Sep 2023. T&Cs apply. |
|
Allied World Travel Insurance
|
from S$45 (for one week in Asean) | Yes |
Single Trip: Enjoy a 30% discount when you apply now! Valid till 30 Sep 2023. Annual Trip: Enjoy a 10% discount when you apply now! Valid till 30 Sep 2023. Additionally, enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply |
|
AIG Travel Guard® Direct
|
from S$30 (for 1 week in Asean) | Yes |
Single Trip: Apply promo code SSTGD and receive up to $50 worth of Grab eVouchers! (minimum premium $100, fullfilment by AIG) Valid till 30 Sep 2023. T&Cs apply. Annual Trip: Get up to 6 Plaza Premium Lounge Access Passes with the promo code SSTGD when you apply NOW! Fulfillment by AIG. Valid till 30 Sep 2023. T&Cs apply. Additionally, enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply. |
|
Great Eastern Travel Insurance
|
from S$52 (for one week in Asean) | Yes |
Single Trip: Get an 20% discount when you use the promo code TSP20S. Annual Trip: Get an 10% discount when you use the promo code TSP10A. Additionally, enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. T&Cs apply. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply. |
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