Travel insurance pays for a set list of problems on a trip abroad. These are medical bills overseas, emergency evacuation, cancellation for covered reasons, lost bags and travel delays. It does not pay for everything. Undeclared pre-existing conditions are a common exclusion. So are trips to places the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) advises against, losses while drunk and bags left unattended. Your premium depends on where you go, how long you stay, who travels and which plan level you pick. The questions below are grouped in the order most people meet them: cover, exclusions, plan shape, buying and paying, then claims.
What travel insurance covers
What does travel insurance actually pay for?
Most plans are built around five areas of cover:
- Medical treatment and hospital stays overseas
- Emergency evacuation and repatriation
- Trip cancellation and shortening for covered reasons
- Lost or damaged baggage and belongings
- Travel delays and missed connections
The limit for each area differs between plans. Higher plan levels pay more for medical bills, cancellation and lost bags. The comparison results show the three benefits that differ most between plans.
Which benefit matters most?
Medical cover overseas usually carries the most weight. Treatment in Japan, Europe or the United States can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Trip cancellation comes next for many travellers. It pays back what you cannot recover if you cancel for a covered reason, such as illness or a death in the family.
Does it cover COVID-19?
Most plans now include COVID-19 cover for medical bills and cancellation. The prices on this site include it unless you choose "Not needed" in the filters. Check the policy wording for how each plan handles it.
What travel insurance leaves out
Are my existing health conditions covered?
Usually not. Conditions you had before buying are excluded unless you declare them and the insurer accepts them. A few plans do cover pre-existing conditions, mostly on shorter single trips. You can find them with the filter on the results page.
What else is commonly excluded?
Three other exclusions appear across plans:
- Travel to places the MFA advises against
- Losses while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Belongings left unattended in a public place
The last one catches people out. A bag left on a café chair or a station bench may not be covered. Treat it the way you would treat your phone on a hawker centre table.
Choosing the plan shape
Is single-trip or annual cover the right shape for me?
A single-trip plan covers one journey, from the day you leave Singapore until you return. Annual cover covers every trip in a year, each up to a set length, often 90 days. For annual cover, you pick a region instead of countries: ASEAN, Asia Pacific or worldwide. The region needs to include the furthest place you expect to go.
Single-trip cover is better for households that travel once or twice a year, or for one long holiday. Annual cover is better for people away more than about three weeks a year in total. At that point, annual cover usually costs less than buying a single-trip plan each time.
What counts as one trip?
One departure from Singapore and one return. Most insurers here cover a single trip of up to 90 or 182 days. A weekend in Johor and a week in Bangkok are two separate trips.
Can I cover my whole family on one plan?
Yes, with insurers that offer a family or group plan. A family plan covering two adults and their children usually costs less than separate plans. For couples, families and groups, the comparison prices plans from the insurers that sell these.
Buying and paying
When is the right time to buy?
As soon as you book. Trip cancellation cover starts the day you buy. A plan bought early pays out if you fall ill or a family member dies before you leave. A plan bought the day before you fly gives you none of that time.
How much does travel insurance cost?
It differs widely between insurers and plan levels. Here are today's examples (24 October 2026) for one adult aged 18 to 59, leaving in 30 days. Each was priced by 21 insurers. They are examples, not what you will pay.
- Long weekend in Malaysia: from S$9.45 to S$211.02 (see prices)
- One week in Thailand: from S$14.70 to S$289.28 (see prices)
- Two weeks in Japan: from S$25.20 to S$517.99 (see prices)
- Three weeks in France and Italy: from S$67.38 to S$1,182.34 (see prices)
- A year of trips in Asia Pacific: from S$165.60 to S$915.00 (see prices)
The gap within each trip reflects different plan levels and benefit limits. Compare what each plan pays, not only the premium.
Who do I pay, and who issues the policy?
The insurer. You compare plans on the travel insurance page, listed from the lowest premium up. When you pick one, you finish buying on the insurer's own site. Your answers go with you, so you do not type them again. The insurer collects payment and issues the policy.
Making a claim
How do I claim if something goes wrong?
Claims go to the insurer that issued your policy. In general, insurers ask for proof of what happened and what it cost. Keeping receipts, medical reports and airline or police reports helps. Each insurer sets its own steps and time limits, so check your policy wording. The Claims page explains how the process generally works.
Frequently asked questions
Does age change what I pay?
Yes. The example prices are for an adult aged 18 to 59. Insurers charge less for children and more for older travellers. Some stop covering travellers above 75, 80 or 85, and the insurer confirms your age when you apply.
Why does Japan or Europe cost more than Malaysia?
Insurers group countries into areas. Trips within South East Asia cost the least, and Asia Pacific costs more. Worldwide cover, which includes the United States, costs the most because medical care there is so expensive.
Do longer trips cost more?
Yes. Single-trip prices rise with the number of days away. If your trips add up to more than about three weeks a year, compare the annual plan prices as well.
Can I see prices for my destination before I start?
Yes. There are example prices for many destinations, such as Japan, Europe and Australia. You can browse all price pages or compare two insurers side by side.