Compare the Best Travel Insurance With COVID-19 Coverage in Singapore (2025)
If youâre one of those travellers waiting eagerly to check more places off your must-visit travel list, youâll be happy to know that Singapore recently opened more vaccinated travel lanes (VTLs) â to Vietnam and Greece, as well as more cities in Malaysia, Indonesia and India. Quarantine-free air travel to about 32 countries becomes possible again, which also means that travel insurance is now relevant again.
Itâs actually more important than before the COVID-19 pandemic as these days, the most likely mishaps to happen are related to COVID-19, whether they be an infection or a trip cancellation.
While not all travel insurers cover COVID-19, a handful provide decent coverage, to varying extents. Fret not if youâre planning a trip soon and are unsure of how to choose, what to look out for, or trying to find the cheapest travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage, weâre giving you a hand in picking a suitable plan with sufficient coverage. You can even tap on the MoneySmart comparison tool to compare the different travel insurance options available for your travels.
What Should I Look Out For In A Travel Insurance Plan?
Are you deciding whether to get COVID-19 coverage as an add-on benefit to an existing insurance plan which youâve already bought, or to get a totally brand new travel insurance package that is inclusive of COVID-19 coverage? This really depends on your preference, who you may be travelling with and what your current travel insurance company provides.
If youâre travelling with family members, then family travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage is definitely more apt. For those who are more particular about price range, the more affordable packages would probably be more suitable, and those who have pre-existing conditions would probably take up plans that cost slightly more or a lot more to provide that extra coverage for their health conditions in case of any emergencies.
Whatever needs you have for your travel insurance, thereâs bound to be an increase of premiums due to the additional COVID-19 coverage benefits. So weâve done the legwork for you in finding out which travel insurers are best known for which specific type of COVID-19 coverage.
Best COVID-19 Coverage For Travel Insurance
| Best for | Provider | Travel insurance plan | Estimated total premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best forBudget travellers | ProviderFWD | Travel insurance planFWD Premium plan | Estimated total premium$17 |
| Best forShort trips | ProviderBubblegum | Travel insurance planBubblegum Travel Insurance plan | Estimated total premium$21 |
| Best forLong trips | ProviderAllianz | Travel insurance planAllianz Travel Platinum plan | Estimated total premium$64 |
| Best forPre-Existing condition (if youâre pregnant or have other existing medical conditions, and contracted COVID-19 during your trip) | ProviderEtiqa | Travel insurance planTiq Entry, Tiq Savvy, Tiq Luxury plans | Estimated total premium$21 - $38 |
| Best forFamily | ProviderFWD | Travel insurance planFWD First Family Plan | Estimated total premium$39 |
| Best forSeniors | ProviderMSIG | Travel insurance planMSIG TravelEasyÂź Pre-Ex Standard, Elite, Premier plans | Estimated total premium$38 - $68 |
| Best forWork trips | ProviderMSIG | Travel insurance planMSIG TravelEasyÂź Standard, Elite, Premier plans | Estimated total premium$37 - $72 |
| Best forOutside of Southeast Asian countries | ProviderMSIG | Travel insurance planMSIG TravelEasyÂź Standard, Elite, Premier plans | Estimated total premium$27 - $56 |
| Best forExtreme sports | ProviderMSIG | Travel insurance planMSIG TravelEasyÂź Standard, Elite, Premier plans | Estimated total premium$27 - $56 |
| Best forCruise | ProviderBubblegum | Travel insurance planBubblegum Travel Insurance plan | Estimated total premium$21 |
| Best for*Estimated premium rates are based on a 3D2N single trip plan to a country in Southeast Asia. | Provider | Estimated total premium |
Compare the best travel insurance in Singapore at MoneySmart.
Best Covid-19 Travel Insurance Plans
With one of the best medical coverage in the market, Allianz Travel Insurance Singapore offers coverage for up to $1,000,000 in COVID-19 medical expenses incurred during/after your trip. You can choose from its Comprehensive Bronze, Comprehensive Silver and Comprehensive Platinum plans that are suited for single trips or annual multi-trips, and enjoy many of its complimentary benefits such as 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance service.
If you are into sporting activities when travelling, getting either the Allianzâs Silver or Platinum plan may be helpful as each plan includes search and rescue coverage of up to $10,000 for sport activities like trekking and diving, as well as Passport and ID card protection and money cover.
Those who are looking for travel insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions in Singapore will realise that only a handful of insurers in Singapore provide such a service and MSIG is one of them. MSIG TravelEasyÂź Standard, Elite, and Premier plans include COVID-19 travel insurance coverage, overseas and post-trip medical expenses, extreme sports coverage, replacement of traveller coverage, coverage for insolvency of licensed travel operator, emergency medical evacuation, delayed departure and more.
If you have any pre-existing conditions and would like to travel, you may like to tap on its TravelEasy Pre-ExÂź benefits which are provided as an add-on option, and get in-patient hospitalisation expenses overseas coverage of up to $150,000 that allows you to claim for medical, surgical, nursing or hospital charges, as well as up to $200,000 of emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage, and other benefits.
Complete Guide On The Best Travel Insurance (By Destination)
How To Choose And Buy Travel Insurance With COVID-19 Coverage?
Here are a few steps to help you get going:
Check the visa requirements and vaccination documents needed
As most travellers who are travelling abroad and returning to Singapore are advised to be vaccinated and to purchase travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage, you need to be sure of your vaccination status and the specific prevailing entry and on-arrival or pre-arrival PCR or ART tests requirements of the country youâre travelling to.
Some countries may still include a requirement for you to be vaccinated before embarking on your trip. This will affect the travel insurance benefits youâll receive as some travel insurers will not provide any cover if youâre refused entry to any location, just because you didnât do your homework and check the destinationâs entry requirements.
Be sure of any pre-existing conditions
There are only a few travel insurers out there who will cover you for claims relating to your pre-existing medical conditions such as pregnancy, injuries or illnesses sustained during the trip, this include COVID-19 related situations that may impact your pre-existing condition.
So for whatever pre-existing medical condition you have, youâll have to look for a travel insurance plan with COVID-19 coverage which will give you in-patient hospitalisation expenses overseas coverage that allows you to claim for medical, surgical, nursing or hospital charges, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage.
Check overall coverage including COVID-19 extension
Compare policy premiums
Consider special activities coverage
Think about the trip duration
If youâre going for a short trip, then the single trip travel insurance plans will probably be more suitable. On the other hand, if youâre the kind who travels far and for months, it might be worthwhile to consider buying annual travel insurance.
Unlike single trip travel insurance, annual travel insurance often charges a flat premium and insures you for an entire year of travel. It usually costs about $200 to $300 per year, which may be better for a frequent traveller who is probably going to travel overseas more than 7 or 8 times a year, at least.
For more tips on how to choose the best travel insurance plans for you and your travel companions, you can read about the best COVID-19 coverage travel insurance plans on our blog.
VTL countries
- Get covered with travel insurance that has a minimum coverage of S$30,000 for COVID-19-related medical treatment and hospitalisation costs in Singapore, prior to travelling to Singapore
- Been issued with a Vaccinated Travel Pass (Air)
- Get fully vaccinated, and have an accepted proof of vaccination
- Travelled to only one or more of the VTL countries/regions, and/or Singapore, in the last 14 consecutive days before departing for Singapore
- Undergo a COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test or Antigen Rapid Test (ART) within 48 hours before departure for Singapore (excluding children aged 2), at an internationally accredited or recognised laboratory, clinic, or medical facility, and obtain a test result certificate with the following: a negative COVID-19 test result, your name, and at least one other personal information such as your date of birth or passport number, the date and time when the COVID-19 test was taken, and the name of the testing institution that conducted the COVID-19 PCR test for you
Non-VTL countries
- Have a valid approval of entry from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore (ICA) as a short-term visitor, to be allowed to re-enter Singapore on non-VTL flights, but if youâre a Singapore Citizen (SC) or Permanent Resident (PR), you wouldnât need an entry approval to enter Singapore
- You may enter Singapore by default via the Returning Singapore Citizen and Permanent Resident Lane, which is a non-VTL arrangement where prevailing measures such as Stay Home Notice (SHN) may apply if recent travel history includes non-Category (I) countries/regions
- Serve a seven-day at your place of residence/self-sourced hotel/serviced apartment as a non-VTL traveller with a 7-day travel history to ICAâs list of Category II/III/IV countries/regions, and at the end of your SHN period, youâll need to take a COVID-19 PCR test
- Be exempted from pre-departure testing requirements but will still be subjected to all other prevailing border measures if youâre not fully vaccinated and recently recovered (i.e. within 14 to 90 days of your last COVID-19 infection)
What Does COVID-19 Travel Insurance Coverage Include?
Overseas COVID-19 diagnosis quarantine allowance
Overseas hospital cash due to COVID-19
Medical coverage due to COVID-19
Coverage for trip cancellation/postponement due to COVID-19
Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation
What Are Not Included in COVID-19 Travel Insurance Coverage?
Pre-Existing conditions
Replacement of traveler or employee
Extreme sports / sports played in a professional or competitive capacity
Any travel against prohibitions/acts/travel alerts/bulletins by any government or public authority (except for specific COVID-19 situations)
Illegal activities resulting in a conviction
What Is The Average Cost Of A COVID-19 Travel Insurance Coverage?
| Travel insurance provider | Medical expenses due to COVID-19 coverage | Overseas quarantine allowance due to COVID-19 | Overseas hospital cash due to COVID-19 | Trip cancellation due to COVID-19 | Total premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel insurance providerFWD | Medical expenses due to COVID-19 coverageUp to $100,000 | Overseas quarantine allowance due to COVID-19N.A. | Overseas hospital cash due to COVID-19$200 per day | Trip cancellation due to COVID-19Up to $1,000 | Total premium$67 |
| Travel insurance providerAIG | Medical expenses due to COVID-19 coverageUp to $100,000 | Overseas quarantine allowance due to COVID-19$1,400 total cap | Overseas hospital cash due to COVID-19N.A. | Trip cancellation due to COVID-19Up to $1,000 | Total premium$172 |
| Travel insurance providerAllianz | Medical expenses due to COVID-19 coverageUp to $1,000,000 | Overseas quarantine allowance due to COVID-19N.A. | Overseas hospital cash due to COVID-19N.A. | Trip cancellation due to COVID-19Up to $15,000 | Total premium$116.35 |
| Travel insurance providerBubblegum | Medical expenses due to COVID-19 coverageUp to $150,000 | Overseas quarantine allowance due to COVID-19$100 per day | Overseas hospital cash due to COVID-19$100 per day | Trip cancellation due to COVID-19Up to $5,000 | Total premium$67 |
| Travel insurance providerIncome | Medical expenses due to COVID-19 coverageUp to $150,000 | Overseas quarantine allowance due to COVID-19$1,400 total cap | Overseas hospital cash due to COVID-19N.A. | Trip cancellation due to COVID-19Up to $5,000 | Total premium$148.80 |
To get you started, letâs use an example to illustrate (using MoneySmartâs round-up of the 6 best travel insurance plans with COVID-19 coverage in Singapore). Assuming that youâre planning to go for a 15-day holiday trip to America with your friends, and youâre getting a single trip insurance plan for yourself as you donât really travel very often in a year.
As you compare across the 6 travel insurersâ benefits and premiums, the average cost of a travel insurance plan with COVID-19 coverage is about $122.
Estimated average cost of a travel insurance plan:
$67 + $67 + $172 + $116.35 + $161 + $148.80 = $732.15
$732.15 Ă· 6 = $122.03
So, if youâre looking at more cost-efficient options, Bubblegum, FWD, and Allianz may be more suitable. Moreover, the medical expenses coverage by Allianz is quite extensive with a hefty maximum limit of $1,000,000, the highest among the 6 providers. Thatâs if youâre looking for comprehensive coverage for medical expenses in the situation that you get diagnosed with COVID-19.
As for claiming benefits for trip cancellation if youâre down with COVID-19, Allianz, AIG and Income will provide higher coverage of up to $15,000 and $5,000 respectively for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is COVID-19 coverage compulsory for my travel insurance if I want to travel?
- Yes, if youâre a short-term visitor applying to enter Singapore via the Air Travel Pass (ATP), Reciprocal Green Lanes (RGLs) and Vaccinated Travel Lane (Air), you must have travel insurance for COVID-19-related medical treatment and hospitalisation costs in Singapore, with a minimum coverage of S$30,000 (based on COVID-19 bill sizes at private hospitals). According to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore (ICA), this is a requirement regardless of your vaccination or recovery status, as there is still a risk that you can get a COVID-19 infection and require medical attention.
I am fully vaccinated, so am I eligible to travel to any country without serving a quarantine period?
- No. Every country has its own prevailing entry requirements including serving quarantine measures/Stay-Home Notice (SHN), undergoing a COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test or Antigen Rapid Test (ART) and other related procedures to ensure a safe entry for each traveller.
What are the benefits of having travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage?
- While COVID-19 coverage benefits vary from insurer to insurer, the key aspects of coverage will usually include overseas medical coverage due to COVID-19, emergency medical evacuation & repatriation, overseas COVID-19 diagnosis quarantine allowance, overseas hospital cash due to COVID-19, trip cancellation/postponement/curtailment/disruption coverage due to COVID-19.
What is a VTP and do I have to get it to travel?
- A VTP is a Vaccination Travel Pass (VTP) which allows you as a vaccinated traveller who is also considered a short-term visitor (including business and official travel), to travel to any Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) country and return to Singapore.
How long will it take for a VTP application to be processed?
- If you successfully submitted your VTP application online, your VTP will be issued immediately to you.
Is there a limit to the number of times I can apply for a VTP?
- No. Currently, there isnât a limit to the number of times travellers can apply for a VTP.
Where can I get COVID-19 coverage for my travel insurance?
- You will be able to get COVID-19 coverage as an add-on benefit or as part of an existing insurance plan, through your preferred travel insurance mobile app, website or insurance agent. Some travel insurance companies offer COVID-19 coverage as an add-on benefit to an existing plan, while others include COVID-19 coverage benefits in their range of travel insurance plans.
I will be travelling from Singapore to a VTL country/region and will be back in less than 7 consecutive days. Am I eligible to return to Singapore on a VTL flight?
- Yes, you will be eligible for the VTL as long as you travelled to only one or more of the VTL countries/regions, Category I countries/regions and/or Singapore, within the past 7 consecutive days before departure for Singapore.
Can I use the VTP to transit/transfer through Singapore?
- No, the VTP is only valid for travellers who intend to enter Singapore and is not applicable for transfer/transit passengers.
What tests do I have to take to travel on a VTL flight?
- Youâll need to undergo a COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test or Antigen Rapid Test (ART) within 48 hours before departure for Singapore (excluding children aged 2), at an internationally accredited or recognised laboratory, clinic, or medical facility, and obtain a test result certificate.
Besides a VTP, is there anything else I need to submit?
- Yes. Youâll have to submit your pre-trip health and travel history declaration via the SG Arrival Card (SGAC). It should be done up to 72 hours before arrival in Singapore. All SGAC submissions are free-of-charge, and you should also upload your digitally-verifiable vaccination certificate if you have one (i.e. certificate with a QR code).
Can I enter Indonesia if my passport expires 6 months before my trip?
- Yes, you can still enter Indonesia. Ensure that passport is valid at least six months from your date of entry into Indonesia. It is better to renew your passport more than 6 months before the expiry date for a better peace of mind. If you want to renew your passport but don't know how, check out our step by step guide on how to renew your passport.