TL;DR
- Today, 22 insurers price an example five-day Philippines trip for one adult. Prices run from about S$15 to about S$114.
- That example is for one adult aged 18 to 59, on a single trip with no cruise, leaving in 30 days. Your own quote will differ.
- Check medical cover, trip cancellation, COVID-19 cover and pre-existing conditions first.
- Longer trips, older travellers and more people change the price. If you travel more than about three weeks a year, annual cover is worth a look.
How much does travel insurance for the Philippines cost?
Today's example runs from S$14.60 to S$113.80, across 22 insurers. That price is for one adult aged 18 to 59. The trip is five days in the Philippines, leaving in 30 days, as a single trip with no cruise.
Treat it as a snapshot, not your quote. Prices move, and the example only fits one kind of traveller. What you pay depends on your age, your dates, how long you're away and the plan level you pick. You can see the full spread on the Philippines price page.
Why is there such a big gap between the lowest and highest price?
The plans are not the same product. Most insurers sell two to four levels of cover. Higher levels pay more for medical bills, cancellation and lost bags.
On our results, plans are listed from the lowest premium up. Each one shows the three benefits that differ most between them. So the gap you see is partly price and partly how much the plan pays. Which end makes sense depends on what you'd want covered if things go wrong.
What should I check on a plan for this trip?
Start with medical cover. Travel insurance generally covers medical treatment and hospital stays overseas, plus emergency evacuation and repatriation. How much each plan pays differs, so compare the limits side by side on the travel quote page.
Next, look at the rest of the core cover:
- Trip cancellation and shortening. This pays back what you can't recover if you cancel or cut the trip short for a covered reason, such as illness or a death in the family.
- Baggage and belongings. This covers lost or damaged bags and items.
- Delays and missed connections. Plans differ in what they pay and when.
Then read the exclusions. Plans generally do not cover:
- Travel to places the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against
- Losses while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Belongings left unattended in a public place
- Medical conditions you already had, unless declared and accepted
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs point depends on where exactly you're headed. Check its travel advice for your route before you book and again before you fly.
Does it cover COVID-19 and conditions I already have?
Most plans now include COVID-19 cover for medical bills and cancellation. The prices on this site include it, unless you switch it off in the filters on the results page.
Pre-existing medical conditions are a different story. They are usually excluded unless you declare them and the insurer accepts them. A few plans do cover them, mostly on shorter single trips. You can find those with the filter on the results page.
This one really depends on you. It depends on what your condition is and how the insurer responds when you declare it. Be upfront on the form, because the insurer decides based on what you tell them.
When should I buy it?
As soon as you book. Trip cancellation cover only helps if the policy is in place before something goes wrong.
Cover for cancellation starts the day you buy. So if you buy early and fall sick before you leave, the plan can pay out for a covered reason. If you buy the night before your flight, you get none of that time. It's the same logic as booking your seat early, just for the bad-luck side of things.
Will a longer trip or travelling with family cost more?
A longer trip usually costs more. Single-trip prices rise with the number of days. Our other example pages show this. A long weekend in Malaysia today runs from S$11.40 to S$91.26 on the three-day example. A week in Thailand runs from S$17.15 to S$145.88 on the seven-day example. They're different destinations, so it's not a direct comparison, but you can see how days add up.
Who travels matters too:
- Age. 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.
- Families. A family plan covering two adults and their children usually costs less than separate plans.
- Groups. For couples, families and groups, we price plans from the insurers that offer a family or group plan.
One trip means one departure from Singapore and one return. Most insurers here cover a single trip of up to 90 or 182 days. If you're staying longer, check the limit on each plan.
Is annual cover worth it if I go to the Philippines a few times a year?
It can be. If you travel for more than about three weeks a year in total, an annual multi-trip plan usually costs less than buying a single-trip plan each time.
Annual cover covers every trip in a year, each up to a set length, often 90 days. You pick a region instead of countries: ASEAN, Asia Pacific or worldwide. Choose the one that covers the furthest place you expect to go. For a sense of scale, a year of trips in Asia for one adult today runs from S$165.60 to S$915.00 on the annual Asia example.
Whether it works out depends on how many trips you take and where else you go. Add up your days away for the year, then compare both options.
How do claims work if something goes wrong?
You claim with the insurer, not with us. When you pick a plan here, you finish buying on the insurer's own site. The insurer collects payment, issues the policy and handles claims.
In general, keep receipts, medical reports and any proof of delay or loss. Note the dates and times. Our Claims page walks through what to have ready.
What to do next
- Look at today's spread on the Philippines price page and note what the example assumes.
- Get your own quote on the travel quote page with your real dates, ages and trip length.
- Compare medical limits, cancellation cover, COVID-19 cover and the pre-existing conditions filter before you pick a plan.