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 include travel insurance in your Singapore holiday budget.
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?
- 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, such as 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 haven't needed 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 product disclosure statement (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're usually covered for natural disasters or the illness of a close relative.
Make sure you read your PDS to understand your policy's 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, be aware that most insurers only cover you if you have an Australian motorbike licence. If you just have a regular car licence, 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 cover for a pandemic, 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.
The cheapest travel insurance for Singapore
To find the cheapest policies, we used our database of nearly 12,000 quotes for holidays to Singapore covering a huge range of scenarios.
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
- Price score for Singapore travel: 99%
- Unlimited medical cover; no cover for cancellation.
Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) Medical Only
- Price score for Singapore travel: 98%
- Medical cover only.
Tick Travel Insurance Budget
- Price score for Singapore travel: 94%
- Unlimited medical cover; $5000 cancellation cover.
Insureandgo Bare Essentials
- Price score for Singapore travel: 94%
- Unlimited medical cover; no cover for cancellation.
AHM Medical Only
- Price score for Singapore travel: 93%
- Medical cover only.
As is often the case, the cheapest travel insurance policy isn't always the best. To find which policies provide the best value – good cover for a good price – log in, or become a CHOICE member to see our results below.
Best value travel insurance policies for Singapore
Exclusively for CHOICE members, we've listed the best value travel insurance policies for travelling to Singapore.
If you're not yet a member, join CHOICE to see the policies we think provide the best balance of cover and price for Singapore travel.
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.
