TL;DR
- Today, 21 insurers price our example Chad trip, from about S$47 to about S$805. That is one adult aged 18 to 59, away for 14 days, on a single-trip plan.
- The gap is wide because the plans are not the same. Compare what each one pays out, not just the premium.
- Check medical cover and emergency evacuation first. Then look at cancellation, COVID-19 cover and pre-existing conditions.
- Your own price moves with trip length, your age and who is coming along.
- Buying soon after you book means your cancellation cover starts early.
How much does travel insurance for a Chad trip cost?
Short answer: for our example trip, today's premiums run from S$46.60 to S$804.75 across 21 insurers. The example is one adult aged 18 to 59. They spend 14 days in Chad, leave in 30 days, and buy a single-trip plan with no cruise.
Treat these as today's examples, not what you will pay. Your quote depends on your dates, your age, who travels with you and the plan level you pick. The full list sits on the Chad price page.
For a sense of scale, two weeks in Japan for the same adult runs from S$32.40 to S$517.99 today. Insurers group countries into areas, and where you go is one of the things that sets your premium.
Why is the gap between plans so big?
Short answer: because a low premium and a high premium usually buy different amounts of cover. Most insurers sell two to four levels of plan. Higher levels pay more for medical bills, cancellation and lost bags.
So the bottom of the range is likely an entry-level plan. The top is likely a higher tier with bigger limits. On our results page, plans are listed from the lowest premium up. Each one shows the three benefits that differ most between them.
Which level fits depends on you. Think about how much you are spending on flights and bookings, and how much medical cover you want. The exact limits differ between plans, so check them side by side when you compare plans.
What should I check on the medical side?
Short answer: medical cover and emergency evacuation come first. Travel insurance of this kind covers medical treatment and hospital stays overseas. It also covers emergency evacuation and repatriation.
Evacuation generally means moving you somewhere you can get proper treatment. Repatriation generally means bringing you home to Singapore. Each has its own limit, and the limits differ between plans.
Read the exclusions too. Losses while under the influence of alcohol or drugs are not covered. Neither is travel to places the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) advises against. That one depends on where exactly you go and when. So check the MFA's advice for your dates and route before you book, and again before you fly.
While you are on the exclusions list, note one more. Belongings left unattended in a public place are not covered, even though lost or damaged baggage generally is.
Will cancellation and COVID-19 cover help if plans change?
Short answer: yes, for covered reasons, but only if the policy is already in place. Trip cancellation pays back what you cannot get back if you cancel for a reason the policy covers. Illness or a death in the family are the usual examples.
The same goes for cutting a trip short, travel delays and missed connections, again for covered reasons. Cancellation cover starts the day you buy. A plan bought the day before you fly gives you none of that time.
Most plans now include COVID-19 cover for medical bills and cancellation. Prices on this site include it unless you choose "Not needed" in the filters. What each plan's COVID-19 section actually pays for differs, so read that part of the policy wording before you decide.
What if I have a pre-existing medical condition?
Short answer: it is usually not covered unless you declare it and the insurer accepts it. This applies to any condition you already had before buying the policy.
A few plans do cover pre-existing conditions, mostly on shorter single trips. You can find them with the filter on the results page.
Whether you get cover depends on your condition and on each insurer's decision. Declare it on the application, then check in writing what the insurer has accepted.
Single trip or annual cover for Chad?
Short answer: for one trip, a single-trip plan is the straightforward fit. Annual cover starts to make sense if you travel more than about three weeks a year in total.
One trip means one departure from Singapore and one return. Most insurers here cover a single trip of up to 90 or 182 days.
For annual cover, you pick a region instead of countries: ASEAN, Asia Pacific or worldwide. The rule of thumb is to pick the region that covers the furthest place you expect to go. Check which region your Chad trip falls under before you compare annual prices. Annual plans also cap each trip at a set length, often 90 days.
How do trip length and who's travelling change the price?
Short answer: longer trips cost more, and the mix of travellers matters. Single-trip prices rise with the number of days. The example uses 14 days, so a shorter or longer stay will quote differently.
Age counts too. Insurers charge less for children and more for older travellers. Some stop covering travellers above 75, 80 or 85. The insurer confirms your age when you apply.
If you are going as a family, a plan covering two adults and their children usually costs less than separate plans. For couples, families and groups, we price plans from the insurers that offer a family or group plan. So you may see fewer insurers listed than for one adult.
What to do next
- Look at the Chad price page for today's spread and what the example assumes, or browse other destinations.
- Get a quote on the travel insurance page with your own dates and travellers. Compare the medical, evacuation and cancellation limits, or put two insurers side by side.
- Read how claims work on the Claims page before you leave, so you know which receipts and reports to keep.