What is travel insurance and how does it work?
Travel insurance is a type of short-term insurance that protects you financially while you're travelling. It typically covers expenses related to medical emergencies overseas, trip cancellations, flight delays, lost or stolen belongings, and more. Some policies even offer COVID-19 coverage, which is now a must-have for many destinations.
When you purchase a travel insurance plan, you’ll pay a premium based on your trip duration, destination, age, and coverage level. In return, you receive a range of protections, and if something goes wrong, you can make a claim to get reimbursed for covered expenses.
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What does travel insurance in Singapore cover?
Travel insurance plans vary across insurers, but here are the most common areas of coverage:
Overseas medical costs
This covers medical treatment overseas due to accidents or sudden illness. It typically includes hospitalisation, surgery, and outpatient visits.
Overseas allowance for hospital stays
If you're hospitalised abroad, some plans pay you a daily cash allowance to cover incidental expenses like food or communication costs.
Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation
If you need to be airlifted to the nearest hospital or brought back to Singapore due to a medical emergency, this benefit covers the high costs of evacuation and transport.
Cancellation/alteration/interruption/delay of trip
If you have to cancel or shorten your trip due to unforeseen events — like a family emergency or natural disaster — this benefit helps recover your pre-paid, non-refundable expenses.
Flight cancellation linked to known events
Some policies cover flight cancellations due to known events like strikes, political unrest, or airport closures, provided the policy was bought before the event was widely reported.
Compensation for a cancelled flight with refund/replacement
Even if your airline offers a refund or replacement flight, your insurance may still compensate for associated losses, like hotel cancellations or rebooking costs.
Cancellation for one’s own flight/trip
If you cancel your trip for personal reasons (e.g., falling ill before departure), travel insurance may cover unused flights or accommodation if your policy includes this clause.
Pre-existing conditions
Some policies include coverage for medical complications arising from existing health conditions, though this often comes at a higher premium or under special plans like “PreX” policies.
Natural disasters
Events like earthquakes, typhoons, or volcanic eruptions may disrupt your travel. Good plans cover cancellation, delay, or evacuation due to natural disasters.
Adventure sports
If you plan to ski, hike, scuba dive, or engage in similar activities, make sure your insurance covers adventure or hazardous sports. Many standard plans exclude these by default.
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Types of travel insurance
Not all travel insurance policies are created equal, and choosing the right type can make a big difference in both coverage and cost. Whether you’re planning a one-off holiday, frequent business trips, or a family vacation, there’s a travel insurance plan tailored to your needs.
In this section, we break down the main types of travel insurance available in Singapore, so you can better understand which one fits your trip, travel frequency, and personal situation.
1. Single trip insurance
Single trip insurance is the best option for travellers who are taking only one trip as it provides coverage for a specified number of days, typically a period of 180 or 182 days, and the plan can be customised to meet your own needs. Single trip insurance makes perfect sense for those who don't travel often, but it might not make sense for those who travel very often as it might require a frequent traveller to spend too much applying for the many travel insurance plans for each of their travels.
2. Annual multi-trip travel insurance
Annual multi-trip travel insurance is a travel insurance policy that covers you for multiple trips in a single year. This makes it the best option for those who travel frequently as you don't have to purchase a new insurance plan each time you travel.
3. Individual travel insurance plan
An individual travel insurance plan is a policy designed for individuals travelling domestically or internationally. So if you are travelling solo or purchasing insurance for yourself then you probably should apply for an individual travel insurance plan.
4. Family travel insurance plans
Family travel insurance plans are comprehensive insurance policies designed to protect families travelling domestically or internationally. This type of travel insurance plan is perfect if you are travelling as a group with your family members - subjected to the maximum number of adults and children to be covered under the insurance plan. This
makes it a more cost-effective way to ensure all your family members have sufficient travel insurance coverage.
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How do travel insurance claims work
Claims are the process of getting reimbursed for expenses covered under your policy. After an incident (like a missed flight or medical emergency), you’ll need to submit a claim to your insurer with supporting documents. They’ll assess your claim and, if valid, reimburse you up to the stated benefit limit.
When can you make a travel insurance claim
You can make a claim if an insured event occurs, for example:
- You fall ill overseas and seek treatment
- Your flight is delayed or cancelled
- Your baggage is lost or stolen
- You cancelled your trip due to a covered reason
Savvy-saver tip
Timing matters; claims usually need to be submitted within 30 days of returning from your trip.
How to submit your travel insurance claim
1. Report the incident to your insurance providers
Notify your insurer as soon as possible. Most have hotlines and online forms to initiate the claims process.
2. Gather all your relevant documents
You’ll typically need receipts, boarding passes, police reports (for theft), medical bills, or proof of flight changes/cancellations.
3. Submit your claim
Upload or email your documents via the insurer’s online portal. Some providers even offer in-app submissions.
4. Wait for review
Your insurer will assess your claim and request additional documents if needed. Once approved, you’ll receive reimbursement to your bank account, typically within a few weeks.
