Whether you're planning a family trip to Sentosa Island for beach days and theme parks, a shopping spree on Orchard Road, or an adventurous getaway cycling through East Coast Park – you’ll need to factor travel insurance into your budget as well.
We explore why travel insurance is a must-buy for your trip to Singapore, and our experts reveal the best policies for your holiday.
On this page:
- Do you need travel insurance for Singapore?
- Will travel insurance provide cover for pandemics in Singapore?
- What is the cheapest travel insurance for Singapore?
- Best value travel insurance policies for Singapore
Do you need travel insurance for Singapore?
Travel insurance is a must for Australians travelling to Singapore. It provides cover for when things go wrong, like medical care in case of an accident, alternative accommodation if something interrupts your travel, and cancellation costs. For example, medical care in Singapore is expensive and if you need it, you could end up paying thousands.
Medical Cover
Singapore's medical care is of a high standard, but it's much more expensive than medical care in Australia and payment may be required upfront, so it's important to make sure your travel insurance policy covers medical costs and medical repatriation (the process of returning you home to Australia for medical treatment or recovery if needed).
If you have a pre-existing condition, read the fine print to make sure you understand whether you're covered if you need medical treatment for the condition while in Singapore. Minor conditions are often covered if you have not required treatment in the previous 12 months, but some insurers will only cover pre-existing conditions for an extra fee and pending a medical assessment – so read your PDS.
Cancellation cover
One of the most common travel insurance claims is for a flight or tour being cancelled, or cancelling a trip before the departure date. A number of situations are commonly excluded from cancellation cover such as terrorism, or travel agent insolvency, but you are usually covered for natural disasters or the illness of a close relative. Make sure you read your PDS to understand your policies cover.
Top tip: If you buy your insurance at the same time as you book your trip, cancellation cover may come in handy if you have to cancel for some reason before you go.
Scooter and motorbike cover
If you plan on renting a motorbike or moped while you're away, beware that most insurers only cover you if you have an Australian motorbike license. If you just have a regular car license, chances are your insurer will reject your claim for not being licensed to drive the vehicle. Make sure you think about how you're going to get around and read the fine print of your policy documents if you need cover for scooter, moped, or motorbike riding.
Will travel insurance provide cover for pandemics in Singapore?
Most travel insurers now offer cover for COVID-19. But what about the next pandemic? Some policies now offer medical-only, or more comprehensive cover for pandemics other than COVID, but the type of cover varies from policy to policy.
There are also other exclusions, especially for cruises and pre-existing conditions, so you need to read the insurer's PDS carefully to check what you're covered for.
Checklist for your Singapore holiday
- Use our guide below to buy a travel insurance policy that suits your needs.
- Check if your passport is still valid, and if not, renew your passport online.
- Keep a printout of your travel insurance details with you at all times on your trip. It's also a good idea to share your insurance details with family or friends before you leave.
- Keep on top of the latest travel advice for Singapore.
What is the cheapest travel insurance for Singapore?
Note that medical-only policies provide medical cover and cover for medical repatriation. They don't provide cover for things like cancellation costs, lost baggage, or missed connections.
The five cheapest travel insurance policies for Singapore are:
Tick Travel Insurance Basic
Singapore Price Score 99%
Unlimited medical cover; no cover for cancellation.
Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) Medical Only
Singapore Price Score 98%
Medical cover only.
Tick Travel Insurance Budget
Singapore Price Score 94%
Unlimited medical cover; $5000 cancellation cover.
Insureandgo Bare Essentials
Singapore Price Score 94%
Unlimited medical cover; no cover for cancellation.
AHM Medical Only
Singapore Price Score 93%
Medical cover only.
As with most things in life, the cheapest travel insurance policy isn't always the best. To find out the policies that also provide good cover, log in or become a CHOICE member.
Best value travel insurance policies for Singapore
Exclusively for CHOICE members, we've listed the best value travel insurance policies for travelling to Singapore.
Below, we reveal the best value policies. Log in to unlock this members-only content, or to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews.
As a member, you'll also be able to access our full travel insurance reviews, as well as other reviews that might be helpful if you're expecting, such as cot, stroller, high chair and portable cot reviews.
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
