You can find affordable travel insurance, but for trips with higher risks, it's wise not to compromise on essential coverage.
updated: Apr 14, 2025
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Seeking cheap travel insurance is common among Singaporean travellers aiming to safeguard their well-being and finances while abroad.
However, should one prioritise affordability or opt for a more comprehensive travel insurance plan? The answer depends on individual needs. If you have travellers in their 70s or over, or if you have pre-existing medical conditions, it may be worth considering travel insurance plans with better coverage.
Typically, a comprehensive plan covering trip cancellations, medical expenses, baggage protection, and other potential issues will cost around 5%-10% of the trip's total expense.
For instance, a comprehensive policy for a trip costing S$2,000 might range from S$100 to S$200. Factors like trip cost and duration, travellers' ages, and desired protection levels significantly impact the plan's price.
Find out more: Do You Need Insurance To Rent a Car Overseas?
When seeking the best travel insurance plans, we considered several key factors.
Price: Affordability is paramount for travellers seeking budget-friendly travel insurance options.
Coverage scope: The optimal budget travel insurance plan offers a broad spectrum of protections at a reasonable cost, ensuring coverage for various travel scenarios.
Specialised or customisable features: While many plans offer standard protections, some provide unique coverage tailored to specific needs, such as "Cancel For Any Reason," cruise-specific coverage, or protection for pre-existing health conditions. We prioritized plans that offer a balance of cost-effectiveness and essential coverage, rather than the most expensive, comprehensive options.
Find out more: When is Annual Travel Insurance Worth the Extra Cost?
We examined travel insurance quotes for a simulated 10-day trip to Tokyo in 2025. The traveller is a Singaporean male flying to Japan alone.
Insurer |
Travel insurance policy |
Total amount payable |
Who should use this |
Starr Travel Insurance |
Starr TraveLead Comprehensive with COVID-19 Coverage (Silver Plan) |
From S$39 |
Adventure travellers seeking comprehensive medical and COVID-19 coverage. |
Allianz Travel Insurance |
Allianz Travel Hero - Elite |
From S$42 |
Travellers concerned about epidemics and weather disruptions. |
Income Travel Insurance |
Income Travel Insurance Classic Plan |
From S$43 |
Frequent travellers who value flexibility in their coverage. |
MSIG Travel Insurance |
MSIG Standard Plan |
From S$36 |
Travellers seeking high-value protection with comprehensive coverage. |
Singlife Travel Insurance |
Singlife Travel Lite |
From S$44 |
Travellers prioritising extensive medical coverage and seamless claims processing. |
Great Eastern Travel Insurance |
Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier Classic |
From S$55 |
Travellers requiring comprehensive coverage including home and pet protection. |
Direct Asia Travel Insurance |
Direct Asia Travel Insurance - Voyager 150 |
From S$30 |
Families seeking comprehensive coverage for international trips. |
Reasons for choosing this:
Fast checkout
Unlimited emergency medical evacuation and repatriation
Free coverage for child under family plan
Starr TravelLead Insurance is ideal for adventurous Singaporeans who prioritize robust medical protection, COVID-19 medical expenses, and want optional add-on coverage for activities like scuba diving and snow sports.
Reasons for choosing this:
Child coverage same as adults
Affordable COVID-19 coverage without sub-limits
Reimburse purchase of essential items for baggage delays
Allianz Travel Insurance is well-suited for cautious Singaporean travellers who seek comprehensive protection against unexpected events, especially epidemics and severe weather, with strong emergency support.
Reasons for choosing this:
The only insurer that allows post-departure purchase
Exclusive deals for Income policyholders
Income Travel Insurance caters to frequent Singaporean travellers who value flexibility and require reliable coverage for various travel scenarios, including those with pre-existing conditions.
Reasons for choosing this:
Fast checkout
High post-trip local medical coverage
Comprehensive medical coverage
Coverage for large groups
MSIG provides value for money protection for Singaporean travellers seeking extensive COVID-19 coverage and safeguards against travel disruptions and financial risks like travel agency insolvency.
Reasons for choosing this:
Comprehensive outdoor activities coverage
Further 15% off for MINDEF/MHA/POGIS policyholders
Singlife Travel Insurance appeals to Singaporean travellers who prioritize high medical coverage and appreciate a seamless, digital claims process.
Reasons for choosing this:
High overseas medical coverage
High trip cancellation coverage
High baggage delay coverage
Great Eastern Travel Insurance is designed for Singaporean travellers who seek extensive coverage for various travel needs, including adventurous activities, lost baggage, and protection for home contents and extended stay at kennels or catteries for pets.
Reasons for choosing this:
Unique add-on: Cover your maid under the family plan
Children get same coverage as adults
Cover up to 4 children for free with Family Plan
High value car rental excess coverage
High value travel delay coverage
Direct Asia Travel Insurance is ideal for Singaporean families traveling internationally, offering comprehensive coverage and specialized options for domestic helpers.
Securing the best affordable travel insurance
To obtain the lowest possible travel insurance rate, a strategy is to input S$0 as your trip cost.
This means you won't be reimbursed for trip cancellations or interruptions. However, you may still benefit from the plan's medical, trip delay, missed connection, baggage, and other protections.
Recommended travel insurance coverage
Comprehensive travel insurance plans typically cost 5%-10% of your total trip expenses. This generally includes full trip cancellation and interruption coverage, baggage protection, emergency medical coverage, and other benefits.
Generally, higher premiums correlate with broader and more extensive coverage.
Optimal timing for travel insurance purchase
While many plans allow purchase up to your departure date, to maximise protection, it’s advisable to book between two days and two weeks after making your initial deposit.
Find a travel credit card that matches your priorities. Here are our top travel credit card recommendations in Singapore.
Best for flat rate rewards: Citi Cash Back+ Card
Best for flexibility and bonuses: UOB PRVI Miles Visa Card
Best for portal benefits: DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card
Best for cashback on travel bookings: Standard Chartered Simply Cash Credit Card
Best for luxury perks: Citi Prestige Card
Best for business travellers: Citi PremierMiles Card
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