Why do I need travel insurance for Singapore?
Singapore, fondly known as the Lion City, is consistently crowned one of the safest city-states in the world, in part because of its tough laws and active policing. But while violent crime against tourists is rare, pickpocketing and theft can still occur at airports, on public transport and at major tourist attractions.
If you lose your travel documents or other possessions to a thief, travel insurance can help cover your financial loss. Similarly, if you find you have to cancel or change plans unexpectedly, travel insurance can reimburse you for lost deposits and cancellation fees.
It’s also impossible to eliminate your chances of injury and/or poor health. Because Australia doesn’t have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with Singapore, you’re entirely responsible for any medical costs incurred during your trip. With most travel insurance policies, these expenses can typically be claimed through your insurer.
How to choose the right travel insurance for Singapore?
There is no ‘one size fits all’ travel insurance for Singapore. The right travel insurance will be one fitting your budget and covering everything you’ll need on your trip.
Basic insurance policies typically include unlimited cover for healthcare expenses. They may also cover public liability costs and the loss of baggage, up to a specified amount — this is called a sub-limit.
More expensive policies offer a wider and deeper range of coverage, such as cancellation costs or higher sub-limits.
It’s worth noting that the cheapest option is not always the best — a basic policy may only include the bare minimum. Consider prioritising what your policy covers over its quoted price.
For the thrill seekers abroad, Singapore also offers a variety of adventurous experiences to try. However, depending on the activity, you may not be covered by your policy unless specified otherwise in its Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). Coverage for a category of activity may be offered as an optional add-on (for an extra cost).
Singapore is also a popular stopover destination for cruises, such as the Disney Adventure. If you’re planning to travel to or from Singapore on a cruise, you’ll almost always need to take out cruise insurance as an add-on.
When comparing travel insurance, with Canstar, you can start by searching for policies that cover you for travel to Singapore. You can use the filters to tailor your results and compare limits for overseas medical and hospital cover, cancellation and lost luggage.
What does Singapore travel insurance cover?
The list of things generally covered by travel insurance policies for Singapore includes:
- Medical and dental emergencies: If you fall ill or have an accident while in Singapore, hospital admission, emergency care and medical evacuation are covered by travel insurance.
- Lost or stolen luggage, passport or other items: Replacing luggage and travel documents is the most common claim for travel insurance.
- Cancelling your trip unexpectedly: Cancellation due to illness, accident, revoked holiday leave, or a natural disaster at home or at your intended destination are covered.
- Legal liability: If you break a local law and need a lawyer or interpreter.
- Optional extras: Rental vehicle excesses, cover for kennels and catteries for your pets at home, and even cover if you suffer a loss of income or a permanent disability while overseas.
- Repatriation: The cost of flying your body and belongings back home to Australia. Some travel funds also include a separate sum for funeral expenses.
What does Singapore travel insurance not cover?
Your travel insurance policy won’t cover everything that happens to you while travelling in Singapore. There are a number of common exclusions, as well as things that could void your cover, such as:
- Riding without a helmet: Travel insurance will not cover you if you are found to be riding a bicycle, motorbike, scooter, etc. without a helmet.
- Being under the influence: Claims relating directly to drugs or alcohol, or incidents incurred under the influence, will likely not be covered.
- Pre-existing conditions: A pre-existing condition is one you had or showed symptoms for before your policy’s start date. How insurers classify them will vary. While you can sometimes extra to get them covered, an exclusion may apply if, at the time of purchasing the policy, you didn’t disclose the condition to the insurer.
- Unreported and unattended items: Leaving your valuables unattended will often void your cover. If your possessions are lost or stolen, you need to report the loss within 24 hours to your insurance provider.
How much does travel insurance cost for Singapore?
At the time of writing, travel insurance for Singapore can start from as low as $97 for a basic policy for a one-week trip for two people, and from $147 for more comprehensive cover.
The price can vary from there, depending on with the level of cover, your age, the inclusions that you need, and the duration of your trip. You can compare travel insurance with Canstar to find cover that suits your particular needs and budget.
