Is Travel Health Insurance Worth It? Overseas Emergency Medical Coverage for Singaporeans

When planning an overseas trip, safeguarding yourself against unexpected medical emergencies abroad is crucial. Stand-alone travel medical insurance provides this vital protection, covering illnesses or injuries that may occur during your travels. While some premium travel credit cards offer medical coverage, it's often limited and may not provide sufficient protection.

While comprehensive travel insurance policies typically include emergency medical coverage, you can also purchase it separately. Even if you have local Singaporean health insurance, it may offer little to no coverage while you're abroad.

Navigating the various sources of information can be overwhelming, leading to confusion about your coverage or accidental duplication. To ensure you have the right protection for your trip, it's essential to understand the ins and outs of short-term medical insurance when it comes to international travel and choose the best option for your needs.

Travel medical insurance primarily reimburses you for emergency medical expenses, including evacuations, incurred during your travels. It's important to note that these policies do not cover routine medical expenses.

For instance, if you suffer a fracture while on an overseas holiday, your emergency medical coverage will apply. However, routine procedures such as dental cleanings performed abroad will not be covered. What travel medical insurance is specifically designed for, are unforeseen medical emergencies.

For Singaporeans who are expats, frequent business travellers, or those planning extended stays overseas (typically a year or more), comprehensive long-term international health insurance policies are available. These policies offer coverage for routine medical needs during your extended stay, unlike standard travel medical insurance which caters to holidaymakers. It's crucial to differentiate between these long-term policies and typical travel medical insurance.

Both travel medical insurance and comprehensive policies may extend coverage to your travelling family members or provide for a family member's visit if you're hospitalised. The definition of "family" can vary, but generally includes spouses, children, siblings, parents, and grandparents. If your travel companion experiences illness or injury, trip cancellation benefits may be applicable. Similarly, if you're hospitalised abroad, the insurer might cover travel and accommodation costs for a designated family member to visit you.

While natural disasters impacting your travel plans are usually covered, travel medical insurance policies often exclude pandemics or travel to countries with a "Do Not Travel" advisory issued by the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). If Singaporean citizens travel to these countries, travel medical insurance services may be limited or unavailable. Carefully review the policy's terms and conditions to understand the extent of your coverage.

When considering travel protection, it's important to understand the difference between comprehensive travel insurance and stand-alone travel medical insurance.

Comprehensive travel insurance offers a wider range of coverage compared to travel medical insurance alone. While travel medical insurance focuses specifically on emergency medical situations, comprehensive policies extend to various aspects of your trip, including medical care, trip cancellations, and more.

Here's a general overview of their key differences.

Travel medical insurance focuses on medical emergencies, so it doesn't include trip cancellation benefits. This typically makes it more affordable than comprehensive travel insurance, where the total cost of your non-refundable trip is factored into the premium.

While some travel medical plans might offer limited coverage for trip interruptions, the payout amounts are generally lower compared to comprehensive policies.

Find out more: Tips to buying the best travel insurance

For medical emergencies while travelling, you can claim reimbursements under your travel medical insurance. Our review of several plans shows that they commonly include the following coverage:

As shown in the table, the coverage limits vary significantly across different policies.

Find out more: Top things travel insurance should cover

Choosing the right travel medical insurance depends on your travel style and coverage needs. Familiarise yourself with these key terms: primary vs. secondary coverage, and single-trip vs. multi-trip plans.

Comparison of primary coverage & secondary coverage

Travel medical insurance policies specify whether the medical coverage is primary or secondary.

• Primary Coverage: This means you can directly submit your claims to the travel medical insurance provider before involving any other insurance.

• Secondary Coverage: With secondary coverage, you must first submit your claims to your primary insurance provider before seeking reimbursement from the travel insurance company.

For example, if you require emergency medical treatment abroad, primary coverage allows you to claim directly from your travel insurer. 

However, with secondary coverage, you would first need to claim from your local Singaporean health insurance, even if they do not fully cover overseas expenses. You may only be able to claim from your travel insurance after your local health insurance provider has refused coverage.

In fact, you may need to provide proof of the refusal response from your local health insurance provider when claiming from your travel insurer.

Single or multi-trip coverage

Whether you travel frequently or occasionally, you can select a plan that suits your needs:

• Single-Trip Coverage: This covers a single, round-trip journey. Once you return to Singapore, the coverage ends. This is suitable for individual trips, regardless of duration.

• Multi-Trip Coverage: This allows unlimited trips within a specified period (usually one year), with each trip lasting up to a set number of days (e.g., 30 to 90 days). Multi-trip coverage is ideal for frequent travellers who don't want to purchase a new policy for each trip.

Do I need local health insurance?

The requirement for local health insurance varies:

• For single-trip plans with primary coverage, you don't need additional health insurance.

• For single-trip plans with secondary coverage, you must have local health insurance.

• Some multi-trip plans may require proof of local Singaporean health insurance.

Find out more: Is it too late to get travel insurance?

To find suitable travel medical insurance policies, you can explore options through various insurance comparison platforms. While specific platforms may vary, it's essential to ensure that the policies you consider are relevant to Singaporean residents. Given the evolving travel landscape, especially in light of global health situations, it's advisable to verify that the policies are currently available and applicable to your travel destinations.

You might already have some form of travel medical coverage through your existing credit cards. If the coverage limits meet your needs, you might choose not to purchase a separate travel medical insurance policy.

Consider, for example, the Citi Rewards Card. It offers up to S$1,000,000 coverage with HL Assurance when you charge your travel tickets to this card, including S$40,000 for Overseas Medical Expenses (including Accidental Dental Treatment). This card has an annual fee of S$196.20.

While this coverage may seem substantial, stand-alone travel medical insurance policies in Singapore can offer unlimited Overseas Medical Expenses coverage, or generally cover in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is considerably more comprehensive than the S$40,000 limit provided by the Citi Rewards Card for overseas medical expenses.

Therefore, if you require higher coverage limits – even with a credit card like the Citi Rewards Card offering travel benefits – purchasing a supplemental travel medical insurance plan is advisable. This is particularly relevant if you're travelling to countries with high healthcare costs, remote or rural areas, or engaging in high-risk activities.

If you're planning an overseas trip and your existing Singaporean medical insurance doesn't cover you in your destination, travel medical insurance is essential. You can opt for a comprehensive policy or one focused solely on medical coverage.

Medical-only travel insurance is ideal for:

• Travellers with pre-existing medical conditions.

• Those with credit cards providing sufficient trip cancellation and delay coverage.

• Individuals on extended stays or frequent travellers (e.g., for work or long holidays).

• Participants in adventure sports or high-risk activities.

• Parents travelling with children or elderly travellers with potential medical needs.

If you lack credit card trip cancellation benefits and desire emergency medical coverage, a comprehensive policy is recommended.

The cost of travel health and medical insurance varies based on:

• Destination country

• Your age

• Coverage provided

Medical-only insurance, covering only medical emergencies, is a more affordable option for short trips or destinations with reliable healthcare.

While specific providers may vary, it's recommended to explore policies offered by reputable insurers in Singapore. Here are some with the highest medical coverage.

Singlife Travel Prestige

The Prestige plan from Singlife Travel Insurance has the following coverage:

• Overseas medical expenses: Unlimited

• Overseas hospitalisation allowance: S$ 50,000

AIG Travel Guard® Direct - Supreme

The AIG Travel Guard® Direct - Supreme plan from AIG travel insurance has the following coverage:

• Overseas medical expenses: S$2,500,000

• Overseas hospitalisation expenses: S$50,000

In the event of a medical emergency while travelling, it is crucial to immediately contact your insurer's 24/7 emergency hotline for assistance. Be prepared to pay for medical expenses upfront, as you may need to submit a reimbursement claim later. To facilitate this process, retain all medical receipts and ensure you have your policy details readily available. It is also essential to keep your policy details and emergency contact information accessible at all times during your trip.

Terms to know

Travel medical coverage involves understanding limits, exclusions, and deductibles.

• Deductibles: This is your initial out-of-pocket expense before coverage begins. Deductibles are adjustable, affecting your premium.

• Exclusions: Policies exclude certain events or activities, such as high-risk sports. Always check your policy for exclusions related to your planned activities.

• Limits: Coverage has monetary caps. For example, dental treatment might be covered up to a set amount, with you responsible for any excess.

For expats

Singaporean residents living or working abroad for extended periods might require long-term travel medical insurance. This differs from standard travel medical insurance, which focuses on emergency coverage.

Travel health insurance offers crucial protection against unexpected medical emergencies during your overseas trips. While it's not a pleasant topic, understanding your options is essential for a worry-free journey.

Depending on your specific needs, you can choose between a standalone medical insurance policy or a comprehensive travel insurance plan. The best choice depends on your individual circumstances and any existing coverage you might have through your premium credit cards.

Choose a travel credit card that meets your needs. Here are some top travel credit card options for 2025.

• Best for families: HSBC Live+ Credit Card

• Unlimited flat-rate airmiles: Citi PremierMiles Card

• Dining & shopping cashback privileges: Standard Chartered Simply Cash Credit Card

• Everyday spending rewards: OCBC 365 Card

• Maxing out cashback for daily spend: UOB One Card

• Luxury and premium services: American Express Platinum Card