FWD Health Insurance
FWD is the insurance arm of Pacific Century Group, a Hong Kong-based private investment company founded in 1993 by Richard Li. FWD was founded in 2013 in Hong Kong, Macau, and Thailand, and subsequently expanded to Indonesia, Philippines, and China a year later. FWD entered Singapore and Vietnam in 2016.
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What you should know about FWD Insurance
FWD does not offer any local hospitalisation plans aka Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) to supplement your MediShield Life health insurance. Instead, FWD offers an international health insurance for expats or Singaporeans relocating abroad to work or study.
Some of FWD's most popular insurance policies include their travel insurance, car insurance, and maid insurance. Do note that FWD travel insurance does not cover COVID-19 as it is a known global event.
FWD Health Insurance Plans
What is FWD International Health Insurance?
FWD does not offer any local hospitalisation insurance aka Integrated Shield Plan (IP) for Singaporeans or Permanent Residents (PRs) to supplement the MediShield Life health insurance plans. Instead, FWD offers a series of critical illness insurance plans such as cancer, stroke, heart attack, or 3-in-1 plans. Also, FWD offer an international health insurance plan.
Who
The FWD International Health Insurance is meant for foreigners or expats relocating to Singapore, or Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs) relocating overseas to work as an expat, or to study. You will need to be aged between 18 and 65, and have a valid NRIC or FIN.
What
You will be covered for overseas hospital charges, cancer and kidney dialysis treatments, pre- and post-hospitalisation treatments, and home nursing. Your annual claim limits varies depending on the sum you chose to be insured for, between S$100,000 to S$3 million per year.
Riders
FWD offers 4 optional riders for this plan which you can choose to add on to suit your lifestyle and medical needs, namely the Outpatient Benefit for GP, TCM, health check-ups and vaccines, Dental, Vision, and Maternity.
Why choose FWD Insurance?
Aside from the core overseas hospitalisation, cancer and kidney dialysis treatment, emergency treatment, accidental dental, home nursing, and pre- and post-hospitalisation treatment benefits, you get to choose to add on riders to meet your specific lifestyle and medical needs. The 4 riders you get to choose from namely are: Outpatient treatments (include physiotherapy), Dental, Vision, and Maternity.
As international health insurance premiums tend to be costly, the FWD International Health Insurance plan comes with a deductible option so that you can keep your annual or monthly premiums lower – but you will have to pay deductibles when you eventually make claims from your policy.
FWD International Health Insurance Options
FWD offers options (similar to the concept of riders) for the FWD International Health Insurance plan for you to customise the overseas medical coverage you receive to suit your lifestyle and medical needs. FWD offers 4 options for FWD International Health Insurance policyholders, namely the Outpatient Benefit, Dental Benefit, Vision Benefit, and Maternity Benefit.
Option 1
Outpatient Benefit
The Outpatient Benefit extends your FWD International Health Insurance coverage to include prescribed medicines and visits to the General Practitioner (GP), any Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatments, health check-ups, and vaccinations. Coverage and claim limit varies according to your choice, from S$5,000 to full coverage a year.Option 2
Dental Benefit
The Dental Benefit extends your FWD International Health Insurance coverage to include routine dental checks, extractions, dental implants, and crowns. Coverage ranges from S$750 to S$1,400 a year, however, a 12 months waiting period applies for any complex dental work. This means that you’ll have to wait for a year and you will not be able to raise a claim against your insurance policy during this waiting period.Option 3
Vision Benefit
The Vision Benefit extends your FWD International Health Insurance coverage to include eye checks, and eyeglasses or contact lenses. Coverage ranges from S$100 to S$300 every 2 years.Option 4
Maternity Benefit
The Maternity Benefit extends your FWD International Health Insurance coverage to include cost of delivery, and pre- and post-delivery treatments and check-ups. Coverage ranges from S$8,000 to S$20,000 a year. Similarly, the 12 months waiting period applies to any claims you plan to make for this rider.FWD International Health Insurance Summary
While FWD does not offer any local hospitalisation or health insurance plans such as the Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) to supplement your MediShield Life health insurance plan provided by the Ministry of Health (MOH), FWD offers an International Health Insurance plan offering you medical coverage abroad if you are relocating overseas to work or study.
To apply for the FWD International Health Insurance, you will need to be aged between 18 and 65, and have a valid NRIC or FIN (residing in Singapore). The plan offers you between S$100,000 to S$3 million of coverage per year for overseas medical expenses such as hospital charges, cancer and kidney dialysis treatments, pre- and post-hospitalisation treatments, and home nursing.
There are 4 options available for this plan that you can choose to add on to suit your lifestyle and medical needs, namely the Outpatient Benefit for GP, TCM, health check-ups and vaccines, Dental, Vision, and Maternity.
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All FWD Health Insurance Plans
FWD International Health Insurance
If you are a Singaporean relocating overseas for work or study, or an expat working in Singapore, FWD offers an international health insurance for you. If you are a Singaporean, this international health insurance supplements your Integrated Shield Plan (which offers you local medical coverage) by offering you medical coverage abroad in your choice of country. You will also get to choose your doctor or specialist of choice, enjoy a No Claim Bonus (meaning your annual claim limit will double if you do not make any overseas hospitalisation claims in 2 years – which is great 'cause you're in good health!), and a S$500,000 accidental death and disability benefit. Do note that an international health insurance is different from a travel insurance – the latter which is usually short-term, capped at 3 months coverage, and only covers you for emergency medical treatments (aka life or death situations).FWD Cancer Insurance
If you are between 18 and 65 years old, currently a Singaporean or Permanent Resident (PR), FWD offers a cancer insurance plan which gives you a full 100% lump-sum payout in the event you are diagnosed with cancer – all stages of cancer, including early stages. If you are a FWD cancer insurance policyholder and have received a cancer diagnosis, call the FWD customer hotline to submit your medical records for review, and go through the review with FWD in a video conference. While you do not need to attend a full health checkup to apply for the FWD cancer insurance, if FWD investigates and finds any pre-existing conditions in your medical records that may have led to your cancer diagnosis, you will not be able to make your cancer claim.FWD Big 3 Critical Illness Insurance
If you are a Singaporean or Permanent Resident (PR) between 18 and 65 years old, FWD offers a Big 3 Critical Illness Insurance which includes coverage for cancer, heart attack and stroke – 3 of the most common critical illnesses in Singapore. Upon diagnosis of cancer, heart attack, or stroke, you can make a claim to receive your assured lump-sum payout. However, if your diagnosis is linked to any pre-existing conditions, you will not be able to make a claim. Finally, you can opt to add an optional Heart Disorders rider or Neurological Disorders rider to include coverage for 24 more conditions related to brain or heart functions.FWD COVID-19 Insurance
For S$28, you can purchase FWD's COVID-19 insurance for 100 days of coverage against COVID-19. You will also receive a S$100 daily Intensive Care Unit (ICU) allowance up to 14 days while you are in the ICU. Post-hospitalisation, you will also receive a S$800 lump-sum cash payout to help with any follow-up outpatient treatments. In the event of death, your family will receive a S$50,000 death payout.FWD Heart Attack Insurance
If you are a Singaporean. Permanent Resident (PR) or foreigner between 18 and 65 years old, you will be eligible for FWD's heart attack insurance which offers coverage for Heart Attack of Specified Severity (your diagnosis must not be linked to any pre-existing conditions you had before). Upon diagnosis from your doctor or specialist, you can make a claim, go through the necessary investigations, and you will receive your sum insured or total premiums paid. FWD Stroke Insurance
If you are a Singaporean, Permanent Resident (PR) or foreigner between 18 and 65 years old, you will be eligible for FWD's Stroke insurance which offers you coverage for Stroke with Permanent Neurological Deficit. If you do get diagnosed with Stroke with Permanent Neurological Deficit, you can make a claim to receive your lump-sum payout. You can also opt to add an optional Neurological Disorders rider to include coverage for 11 more conditions related to your brain function.
What types of insurance does FWD Insurance offer?
FWD offers 16 types of insurance for individuals and businesses, such as travel insurance, maid, home, term life, critical illness, cancer, personal accident, car, motorcycle, COVID-19, and more.
Types of Insurance offered by FWD Insurance
1
Car and Motorcycle
FWD offers 3 types of car insurance plans with NCD (No Claims Discount) guarantee, repairs at FWD workshops, roadside assistance, excess from S$750, tows, transport allowance, windscreen repairs, medical expenses, and more. For motorcycles, FWD offers third party only, third party with fire and theft, and comprehensive plans with NCD guarantees, roadside assistance, unlimited legal liabilities, and riders to include overseas coverage, hospitalisation expenses, daily transport allowance, and young rider excess waiver.2
Home Insurance
FWD's customisable home insurance for home owners include coverage for your house's building, furniture, domestic appliances, audio visual equipments, renovations, accidental losses or damages, including mirrors, glass, tenancy dispute, electrical, plumbing, and air-con services. Riders available to include personal accident coverage for dogs, cats, and family members. FWD's home insurance for tenants include coverage for liabilities, losses, or damages you may have incurred to your landlord, including furniture, appliances, AV equipment, alternative accommodation, accidental loss or damages, and more.3
Personal Accident
FWD offers 5 types of personal accident insurance plans with wealth, disability, guardian angel, and medical expense coverage (either a S$100k, S$200k, S$300k, S$500k, and S$1m claim limit). Riders are available to include daily hospital income replacement, disability income benefit, and damage of any personal electronic devices. FWD's Personal Accident (PA) insurance covers dengue and COVID-19 too.4
Heart Attack Insurance
FWD's heart attack insurance plan offers you a customisable level of coverage ranging from $50,000 to $200,000, plus a lump-sum payout (the amount chosen by you when you apply) in the event of a heart attack. You can choose to add a rider to increase your coverage to include 13 other conditions that are related to heart attacks. Also, do note that if you have an existing FWD 3-in-1 Critical Illness plan, you will not be eligible for this plan.5
International Health
If you are an expat relocating to Singapore, or a Singaporean relocating abroad to work or study, FWD offers an international health insurance plan to offer you coverage for hospitalisation, pre- and post-hospitalisation, nursing, cancer, and kidney dialysis treatments around the globe. Optional riders are available for you to include General Practitioners (GP), TCM, health check ups, vaccines, dental, vision, and maternity coverage.6
Endowment
FWD offers a short-term 3-year endowment plan that allows you to insure amounts between S$10,000 to S$1 million at a guaranteed return rate of 4.50% per annum at the end of 3 years. The endowment plan has stopped accepting new applications, but you are still able to sign up for the mailing list to receive notifications when applications reopen. However, note that this plan is available on a limited tranche basis only. Thus, application and payment made for this plan does not guarantee acceptance by FWD.7
Critical Illness, Cancer, Stroke
FWD offers a "Big 3 Critical Illness" plan for cancer, heart attack, and stroke which basically offers you a lump-sum payout in the event you're diagnosed with one of the 3 common critical illnesses (including all stages of cancer), and have the option to cover the protection gap in your existing critical illness plan with up to S$200,000. You're also guaranteed renewal of up to age 85. There’s also the flexibility to add on optional coverage for 24 other heart disorders or neurological disorders.8
Investments
There are currently 4 types of investment-linked policies for you to choose from, namely the Invest First, Invest Goal, Invest First Plus, and Invest Goal Flexi. Depending on your financial needs and goals such as saving up for your child’s education or planning for your retirement, you’ll be entitled to bonus rewards throughout your policy terms, adjust premium contributions, make penalty-free withdrawals, leverage on FWD’s auto-rebalancing service for your investment portfolio and invest in over 50 curated funds.9
Travel Insurance
FWD's travel insurance allows book online consultations, browse FWD panel clinics worldwide, and to submit claims on the FWD Flyer mobile app. Other key benefits include unlimited medical evacuation, sports equipment coverage, and haze-related flight delay coverage. This plan, however, does not cover COVID-19 related medical expenses or trip interruptions or delays as COVID-19 is considered a known event.10
Term Life
FWD offers 2 Term insurance plans, namely the Term Life Plus (either fixed term or renewable up to age 100) or Future First, which are available here on MoneySmart and you can scroll up and purchase directly online. FWD Term Life Plus offers you coverage of up to S$1.5 million coverage S$750k, with the option of adding a premium waiver benefit, while the Future First plan’s highlights include a 2-year term cover for your spouse that is worth S$250,000 for free, upon your death.11
Maid Insurance
According to the Ministry of Manpower, it is mandatory for you to purchase maid insurance for your foreign domestic worker or helper with stipulated minimum coverage and limits you have to abide by. FWD's maid insurance includes online consultations, a full waiver of the S$5,000 security bond payment to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), online consultations, refund upon cancellation, and coverage of pre-existing conditions. Just note that any expenses incurred as a result of a pre-existing condition will not be claimable unless your helper has been working in Singapore for more than 12 consecutive months. You can even opt for riders to extend healthcare coverage or performance bonds for your domestic helper.12
HDB Fire
FWD's HDB Fire insurance is a 5-year insurance plan offering your HDB flat's building, structure, fixtures, and fittings that were installed by the HDB against fires. Your personal furniture and any fixtures you installed personally, will not be covered. If you have a HDB mortgage loan, it is mandatory for you to purchase the HDB fire insurance.Get your personalised Health Insurance Plan here →
How to apply for your Health Insurance plan
Applying for a Health Insurance plan through MoneySmart
Step 1
Answer Some Questions
Don't have time to compare all the different health insurance plans in Singapore for foreigners? Answer some questions and let our intelligent system find the best health insurance plan for you.
Step 2
Speak To Our Insurance Specialists
After you submit your quiz, our expert insurance specialist team members may drop you a call to clarify your needs and explain your options to you. Seize this chance to ask our friendly colleagues the burning questions you may have about health insurance!
Step 3
Apply And Purchase Your Health Insurance
Once you have spoken to our insurance specialists, considered your options, and planned your finances, you are ready to apply for your health insurance plan online through our portal.
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FWD Health Insurance Claims
If you have a FWD car, motorcycle, home, medical, or travel insurance claim, do file it as soon as possible within 30 or 90 days (or less depending on your policy). If you miss the eligible claims period, you may no longer be able to file your particular bill for claims.
Car Insurance Claim
If you were involved in a car accident and you hold a FWD car insurance policy, immediately call the FWD Emergency Assistance hotline at (+65) 6322 2072 to seek roadside assistance. The FWD customer service will then guide you to drive or tow your car to a FWD Premium Workshop or your designated workshop. If you visit a FWD Premium Workshop, your claims can be filed directly through the workshop. Otherwise, login to the FWD Online Services customer portal to submit any documents, reports, evaluations, and bills to file a claim. If your car was stolen or your windscreen is damaged, call the FWD Emergency Assistance hotline at (+65) 6322 2072.
How Do FWD Health Insurance Claims Work?
It is better to keep in mind some of the necessary things to do or prepare before you make a health claim from FWD. These include knowing the grace period for your claim submission, what type of plan you purchased, what to claim for, when did the incident/illness occur, and who is/are involved.
Here are 3 simple steps to submit your FWD health insurance claim:
Step 1
Inform FWD of the incident/illness
Once you have given your FWD insurance agent a text or call about your claim, your insurance agent will clarify if it is a medical or accidental death or disability claim. For any medical claims, you must file it within 90 days, while accidental death and disability claims must be filed within 30 days. If it falls within the submission window, FWD will check if your medical treatment or bill is covered by your policy and your eligibility for the specific claim, and have you submit the required documents.
If there other optional benefits that you may have added on to your FWD International Health Insurance, namely the Outpatient, Dental, Vision, and Maternity benefits and you wish to claim for any of these, you can choose to visit the FWD Online Services customer portal, login with your user ID and password and submit your claim directly via the portal.
Step 2
Prepare and submit supporting documents
For any claim submission, you’ll need to upload all supporting documents, invoices, receipts, prescriptions, and medical records to FWD before receiving an acknowledgement email. Thus, when you visit any doctor or clinic, do remember to keep your original bills, receipts, inpatient discharge summary, and medical or diagnostic reports.
Step 3
Approval of claim and settlement
An acknowledgement email or text will be sent to you by the medical institutions or your FWD insurance agent once you’ve completed the claims submission, and your claim will be reviewed by FWD. Once the review is done and your claim is approved, FWD will liaise with any respective medical institutions involved and make the necessary payments needed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does FWD Insurance stand for?
- FWD insurance is the insurance division of the Hong Kong-based private investment group, Pacific Century Group, and was formerly known as "ING Hong Kong" before it was renamed to "FWD Hong Kong". The name "FWD" is an acronym for the company's name in mandarin, "富衛 (Fú Wèi)", which can be literally translated to mean "wealth" and "protection".
How to cancel FWD insurance?
- There are 3 ways you can pay for your FWD insurance online – via credit card, Visa or MasterCard debit cards, or GIRO. You will then have to choose your payment frequency – monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or yearly. If you are looking to arrange for a recurring GIRO payment, you can download the Interbank GIRO Application form from the FWD website's "Forms" section. If you are a FWD insurance policyholder and are looking to change your payment method, you will need to email the FWD customer service team to facilitate the change. If you missed your FWD premiums payment, you will need to call the FWD customer service hotline at (+65) 6820 8888 to have the FWD team assist with your payment. Do note that you will need to pay up within 62 days, else your policy will be terminated.
How to pay FWD insurance online?
- There are 3 ways you can pay for your FWD insurance online – via credit card, Visa or MasterCard debit cards, or GIRO. You will then have to choose your payment frequency – monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or yearly. If you are looking to arrange for a recurring GIRO payment, you can download the Interbank GIRO Application form from the FWD website's "Forms" section. If you are a FWD insurance policyholder and are looking to change your payment method, you will need to email the FWD customer service team to facilitate the change. If you missed your FWD premiums payment, you will need to call the FWD customer service hotline at (+65) 6820 8888 to have the FWD team assist with your payment. Do note that you will need to pay up within 62 days, else your policy will be terminated.
Is FWD insurance good?
- FWD's car and travel insurance plans are reliable, offers decent and competitive coverage, benefits, and good value for money, and are considerably popular. If you are a HDB homeowner, chances are you may already have the recurring 5-year FWD HBD Fire insurance plan for FWD is the appointed insurance company for the HDB Fire Insurance Scheme.
Who owns FWD insurance?
- FWD Group is owned by Richard Li, the Hong Kong businessman who founded the private investment company, Pacific Century Group. Richard Li is also famously the younger of 2 sons of Hong Kong tycoon and billionaire, Li Ka-shing.