What to Check Before You Buy Travel Insurance in Singapore
Before buying travel insurance in Singapore, here's what to check first so you get the right cover for your trip, not just the lowest price.
Key takeaways
- The important things to check are medical coverage limits, whether your activities are covered, trip cancellation terms, and whether any pre-existing conditions coverage apply.
- Not all travel insurance plans cover the same things, and checking these few key details before buying can save you from an uncovered claim overseas.
- Income Insurance is the only insurer in Singapore that allows you to purchase travel insurance up to one day after departing (available for Per-trip plans only), so you are still covered even if you forget to purchase a plan before you leave¹.
Buying travel insurance in Singapore is easy - some people could even potentially get a plan in minutes.
But what’s harder is knowing whether the plan you are buying actually covers your trip, your health, and the things you plan to do while you are away.
This guide walks through what to check before you commit, so you can travel knowing your cover will hold up when it matters.
5 things to check before buying travel insurance
Taking a few minutes to check these things before buying is far more useful than reading the policy after something has already gone wrong.
1. Does the medical coverage limit match your destination?
Overseas medical costs may be costly. A low overseas medical limit relative to your destination means you could still face significant out-of-pocket costs even with insurance in place. If you foresee that you could spend a lot of money on medical expenses because of your destination, it might be a good idea to get a plan with a higher limit.
Check the plan tiers available and consider whether the baseline option is enough for where you are going.
2. Are your planned activities covered?
Standard travel insurance covers most recreational activities, but some require specific conditions to be met or are excluded entirely. If your trip includes scuba diving, skiing, white water rafting, or any other adventure sport, look for an adventurous activity benefit in the plan and confirm your specific activity is listed.
Key things to check include whether there are certification requirements, depth or altitude limits, and operator conditions that need to be met for the activity to be covered. Ignoring these details and assuming you are covered may cause your claims to be rejected.
3. What are the trip cancellation terms?
Trip cancellation clauses vary more than most travellers expect. Some plans only pay out for specific covered reasons such as sudden illness, a natural disaster, or a death in the family. Others offer broader protection that allows you to cancel for reasons beyond those listed.
Before buying, check what qualifies as a covered reason for cancellation and whether there are any time restrictions tied to when the policy was purchased relative to when the trip was booked. If flexibility matters to you, look specifically for a plan that offers cancel-for-any-reason coverage rather than assuming your plan includes it.
4. Do you have a pre-existing medical condition?
Standard travel insurance plans typically exclude claims that arise from a condition you had before departure. If you have a condition such as asthma, diabetes, or a heart condition, a standard plan may not cover you for the most likely medical situation you would face overseas.
If this applies to you, look for a specialised plan designed for travellers with pre-existing conditions, such as Income's Enhanced PreX Travel Insurance that offers up to $300,000 overseas medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation expenses coverage due to pre-existing medical conditions1. Have more questions? Check out our guide on travelling with pre-existing conditions.
5. Is a per-trip or yearly plan right for you?
The right plan type depends on how often you travel. A per-trip plan covers one specific journey from departure to return. A yearly plan covers unlimited trips in a year under a single premium, which works out to better value for frequent travellers. As a general guide, if you take multiple trips a year, a yearly plan is likely the more cost-effective option. If you travel once or twice a year, a per-trip plan is usually sufficient.
5 common mistakes to avoid when buying travel insurance
A few missteps at the point of purchase can leave you without cover when you need it most. Make sure you don’t fall for these five mistakes:
Buying the cheapest plan without checking coverage limits: A lower premium often means lower medical coverage limits. For trips to high-cost destinations, this gap can be significant if you end up hospitalised overseas.
Assuming all activities are covered: Adventure sports, water activities, and aerial activities often come with specific conditions or are excluded entirely. Never assume an activity is covered without checking the plan's adventurous activities benefit first.
Not declaring pre-existing conditions: Omitting a condition when purchasing can void your claim entirely. Always declare upfront and choose a plan that covers your specific situation.
Ignoring the trip cancellation terms: Many travellers assume they can cancel for any reason. Most standard plans only cover cancellation for specific reasons, so check the clause carefully before buying.
Waiting too long to purchase: Some benefits, such as trip cancellation coverage, only apply if the policy is purchased within a certain period of your booking date. Buying early gives you the broadest protection from the start.
Choose the right Income Insurance plan for your trip
Your situation | Key benefit | Recommended travel insurance plan |
Standard trip for a one-off travel | Income Insurance is the only insurer that allows you to purchase travel insurance up to a day after you have departed from Singapore. Available for Per-trip plans only. | Standard Travel Insurance (Classic, Deluxe, or Preferred) |
Needs flexibility to cancel or change plans | Income Insurance is the only insurer in Singapore that lets you cancel, postpone or shorten your trip for any reason2, even if your policy is purchased more than 30 days after booking your trip. | |
Frequent traveller taking multiple trips a year | Standard Travel Insurance Yearly plan | Unlimited trips covered under a single annual premium |
Traveller with a pre-existing medical condition | Up to S$300,000 overseas medical coverage including pre-existing conditions1 | |
Short trips or day activities within Asia | Essential travel coverage capped at just $3 per day3 within Asia! |
Get covered before your next trip
The right travel insurance plan is one that covers your destination, health situation, and the activitis you plan to do while you are there. Checking these details before you buy can make a real difference if you ever need to make a claim.
And if you forget to buy before you leave, Income Insurance is the only insurer in Singapore that allows you to purchase travel insurance up to one day after departing (available for Per-trip plans only), so you are not left without cover.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on what to check before buying travel insurance in Singapore
1. What should I check before buying travel insurance in Singapore?
Check the overseas medical expenses limit relative to your destination, whether your planned activities are covered, the trip cancellation terms, and whether any pre-existing conditions need to be declared. These four areas account for the majority of travel insurance claim rejections.
2. Does travel insurance cover adventure activities?
Coverage for adventure activities depends on the plan. Most standard plans include a range of recreational activities but apply specific conditions such as certification requirements, operator rules, or depth and altitude limits. Consider Income’s Travel Insurance to enjoy coverage for adventure activities such as bungee jumping, skydiving, and more2.
3. What happens if I have a pre-existing condition?
Standard travel insurance plans typically exclude claims arising from pre-existing conditions. If you have a condition such as asthma, diabetes, or a heart condition, consider Income's Enhanced PreX Travel Insurance, which is designed to cover travellers with pre-existing medical conditions3.
4. Is a per-trip or yearly travel insurance plan better value?
It depends on how often you travel. If you take more trips a year, a yearly plan covering unlimited trips is usually better value. For fewer trips a year, a per-trip plan is typically sufficient.
5. Can I cancel my trip for any reason under travel insurance?
Most travel insurance plans only cover cancellation for specific reasons such as illness or a family emergency. If you want broader flexibility, look for a plan that specifically offers cancel-for-any-reason coverage and check the terms around when the policy needs to be purchased relative to your booking date.
6. What if I forgot to buy travel insurance before I left Singapore?
Income Insurance is the only insurer in Singapore that allows you to purchase travel insurance up to one day after departing. You can still buy cover for your trip even after you have already left, giving you a safety net if it slipped your mind before departure¹.
1 Based on Income’s Enhanced PreX Prestige plan, for an adult under 70 years old. Limit for claims due to pre-existing medical conditions are combined for Medical Expenses Overseas, Emergency Medical Evacuation and Repatriation. We do not cover claims arising from a pre-existing medical condition where you have been given a terminal prognosis with a life expectancy of under 12 months. Please refer to policy conditions for the precise definition of pre-existing medical conditions.
2 50% co-payment and the applicable sub-limits for other unused prepaid expenses will apply. Claims arising from the insured person or the policyholder cancelling/postponing/shortening and making changes to their transport, accommodation or any other service provider arrangements within 30 days from the date this policy was taken up will be excluded. This exclusion is waived when your yearly plan is renewed successfully. Other terms and conditions apply. Please refer to the policy conditions for full details.
3 Premiums will be charged on an hourly basis subject to a minimum premium payable that is equivalent to 6 hours of coverage, and capped at $3 per day.
1 If you buy a policy while on board any transport or vehicle, coverage will only commence for events which happen after you disembark. You must also ensure that all the conditions in the relevant section of your plan are met. This one-day extension will only be applicable if this is a per-trip policy.
2 Exclusions include taking part in flying or other aerial activities except as a fare-paying passenger in a licensed passenger-carrying aircraft. This exclusion does not apply to skydiving, paragliding, parasailing, hang-gliding, parachuting, bungee jumping, abseiling and hot air ballooning when the insured person takes part in these adventurous activities.
3 Based on the maximum coverage benefit per trip under the Enhanced PreX Travel Insurance tiers. This excludes terminal prognoses with a life expectancy of less than 12 months.
4 This policy does not cover trips that form part of your regular commute, travelling to get medical treatment or travelling against your doctor's advice. The period of insurance must include the entire duration of your trip, except if the post-departure purchase extension under section 25 applies. If not, your policy will not be valid. For example, if you are on a 5-day trip to Malaysia and you activate your policy on the third day of your trip, your policy will not be valid.
5 But cancellation must occur within 30 days before the start date of your trip.
This article is meant purely for informational purposes and does not constitute an offer, recommendation, solicitation or advice to buy or sell any product(s). It should not be relied upon as financial advice. The precise terms, conditions and exclusions of any Income Insurance products mentioned are specified in their respective policy contracts. Please seek independent financial advice before making any decision.
These policies are protected under the Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme which is administered by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation (SDIC). Coverage for your policy is automatic and no further action is required from you. For more information on the types of benefits that are covered under the scheme as well as the limits of coverage, where applicable, please contact Income Insurance or visit the GIA/LIA or SDIC websites (www.gia.org.sg or www.lia.org.sg or www.sdic.org.sg).
Related Articles
Related Articles
