Travel Insurance With Best Medical Coverage
Be it a solo backpacking trip, a romantic retreat with your partner, or a family vacation to a destination of your choice, one crucial facet of a safe journey is acquiring the right travel insurance.
When getting travel insurance, it is imperative to understand the breadth of medical coverage your policy offers. For instance, knowing the extent of coverage for specific medical expenses, encompassing overseas medical treatments, medical costs upon returning to Singapore, daily hospital cash benefits, and more, will be especially useful in the event you or your companions fall sick on a trip.
With that in mind, let’s delve into the essential medical coverage benefits, common exclusions, and explore your available options.
When getting travel insurance, it is imperative to understand the breadth of medical coverage your policy offers. For instance, knowing the extent of coverage for specific medical expenses, encompassing overseas medical treatments, medical costs upon returning to Singapore, daily hospital cash benefits, and more, will be especially useful in the event you or your companions fall sick on a trip.
With that in mind, let’s delve into the essential medical coverage benefits, common exclusions, and explore your available options.
Best Travel Insurance Plans With Medical Coverage Benefits
What is Usually Included in Travel Insurance Medical Coverage?
While the specifics of medical claim benefits in travel insurance may differ among insurers, there are several commonly acknowledged reasons that most travel insurance companies will cover.
These include emergency medical evacuation and repatriation, medical expenses accrued abroad, personal accidents, total and permanent disability, and/or death affecting you, your spouse, child, or travelling companion – all of which are widely accepted reasons for medical claims covered by insurers.
Other commonly accepted reasons which you or your travel companion can claim for include:
These include emergency medical evacuation and repatriation, medical expenses accrued abroad, personal accidents, total and permanent disability, and/or death affecting you, your spouse, child, or travelling companion – all of which are widely accepted reasons for medical claims covered by insurers.
Other commonly accepted reasons which you or your travel companion can claim for include:
Pre-existing conditions
In the event of a resurgence or exacerbation of a pre-existing medical condition (such as asthma to cancer or diabetes, heart conditions, etc.) that is stable and under control), leading to an injury or illness that results in the inability to travel, as determined by a certified and recognised medical practitioner; or if a family member experiences a life-threatening medical emergency immediately preceding or during your journey.
Medical costs relating to a pre-existing condition may be claimable if the plan you’ve purchased such coverage.
Overseas hospitalisation expenses
Medical, surgical, nursing or hospital charges up to a certain claim limit (as per your policy terms and conditions) with or without excess or co-payment requirements. Some plans do offer the option of including overseas ICU hospitalisation daily allowance for adult/child.
Overseas maternity medical expenses
These typically include reimbursement for medical expenses related to pregnancy and childbirth that occur during travel abroad such as prenatal and postpartum medical care, follow-up consultations, and medications prescribed after childbirth, neonatal care including neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), labour and delivery room fees, and more.
While this isn't always accepted by all travel insurance providers, there are a few exceptions that do such as Singlife and MSIG.
Daily hospitalisation benefits
Reimbursements for room charges, nursing care, diagnostic tests, or in the form of a fixed amount of money for each day spent as an inpatient in a hospital abroad due to an illness or injury covered by the policy.
This coverage can apply to both local and overseas hospitals.
Compassionate hospital visit
Travel and related costs of an immediate family member having to travel to and accompany the insured person during his/her hospitalisation overseas (outside of Singapore).
Emergency medical evacuation costs
Claims for expenses incurred for emergency medical evacuation services, including air ambulance services, ground transportation, and medical escort services to transfer the insured person from one medical facility to another, including transportation between hospitals for specialised treatment or higher levels of care, repatriating the insured person back to Singapore if it is determined that medical treatment cannot be adequately provided at the location of the medical emergency.
Best Travel Insurance For Different Medical Coverage Benefits
| Best for | Travel insurance plan | Estimated premium rate* |
|---|---|---|
| Best forUnlimited overseas medical coverage | Travel insurance planSinglife Travel Prestige | Estimated premium rate*$45.44 |
| Best forPre-existing conditions | Travel insurance planEtiqa Pre-Ex Entry | Estimated premium rate*$12.15 |
| Best forMaternity medical expenses | Travel insurance planMSIG TravelEasy® Pre-Ex Premier plan | Estimated premium rate*$38 |
| Best forEmergency medical evacuation and repatriation | Travel insurance planSinglife Travel Prestige | Estimated premium rate*$45.44 |
| Best forOverall good value | Travel insurance planFWD First | Estimated premium rate*$22.31 |
| Best for*Estimated premium rates are based on a 3D2N single trip plan to a country in Southeast Asia, all data last updated on 13 Jan 2025. | Travel insurance plan |
Catch the Trip, Not the Illness
Here’s the complete rundown on how to keep infectious diseases at bay with the right travel insurance plan!
Is Infectious Disease Covered by Travel Insurance?
When we think of infectious disease, the recent Covid-19 pandemic is likely the first to come to mind. However, if we look beyond that, infectious diseases have plagued our populations throughout history. It’s always boiled down to the matter of severity of the disease, our preparedness to contain and mitigate its spread, and our ability and innovation to develop effective vaccines and treatments.
Common infectious diseases contracted while travelling include Monkeypox, Typhoid, Yellow Fever, Ebola, Hepatitis A/B, and more. Since prevention is indeed the best cure, getting vaccinated is no doubt crucial.
Most recently, the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) flu bug has been making its rounds across the news (and the globe) — with rising cases in countries close to home like China and Malaysia. CNA reports that the surge in HMPV cases are “consistent with global patterns (the winter season)” and is especially prevalent in children under the age of 14 and in colder northern provinces. Meanwhile in Malaysia, 327 HMPV infections have been reported in 2024, indicating a 45% increase from 2023. On the local front, Straits Times reports that Singapore saw a rise in HMPV cases among acute respiratory infection (ARI) between 5.5% to 9% in December 2024.
That aside however, what happens in the event that we still unfortunately contract an infectious disease while travelling, despite taking the necessary precautions? What then? Will travel insurance still cover it?
This is when it’s important to scrutinise your full policy benefits, especially the exclusions. For the most part, many travel insurance policies do include Covid-19 coverage, either as part of the standard policy or as an optional rider. However, some policies do not cover the following exclusions:
- Epidemics or pandemics, unless stated otherwise
- Travels to specific countries
- Transit stops outside the covered region
- Communicable disease, including any mutation or variation thereof
- Known outbreaks or health threats where the relevant authorities have issued a public warning or statement about in the destination country
and the list goes on.
Common Medical Coverage Exclusions in Travel Insurance
Most travel insurance plans with medical coverage still share common exclusions. The below are some examples which are often excluded in travel insurance policies with medical coverage.
Medical Tourism
Flying overseas to seek a second medical opinion, is not covered under most travel insurance plans. You will also not receive a payout if you travel against a doctor’s advice
Pregnancy-related Claims
Expenses incurred from injuries, illnesses, or complications related to childbirth, miscarriage or abortion unless caused by an injury (you are not covered due to sickness) may not be covered in certain circumstances.
Pre-existing Medical Conditions
This refers to medical claims that result from a pre-existing medical condition whether you were to travel against a doctor’s advice or not. In the case of trip cancellations resulting from family illnesses, however, a claim may be successful depending on your circumstances.
Certain Dental Expenses
Dental expenses incurred due to sickness, disease, infection or any physical defect or illness. Some plans do offer extra coverage for expenses related to dental injuries resulting from accidents, acute dental pain, or emergency dental procedures needed to alleviate severe discomfort or prevent further complications during your trip.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Treatments like acupuncture, tuina, cupping therapy sessions or consultation sessions with a chiropractor may or may not be claimable in certain situations, which are often assessed on a case-by-case basis by the travel insurance company.
Unnecessary Medical Evacuation
Any evacuation which can be treated locally in the travel destination and does not prevent you from continuing your trip or where the insurer assesses you are physically able to return to Singapore as a normal passenger without medical assistance.
Pre-existing Bodily Injury / Permanent Total Disablement
Any bodily injury prior to the beginning of the insured trip and permanent total disablement caused directly or indirectly by sickness, disease, infection or any physical defect or illness.
Which Airline Has The Worst Travel Disruptions?
We asked, you answered. Here's what we found about the worst airline delays and cancellation experiences as told by Singaporeans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be able to claim for medical expenses if I get diagnosed with an infectious disease or sustained a severe injury during my trip?
- Yes and no, this depends on the coverage limits and terms and conditions of your purchased travel insurance policy. Most plans provide medical coverage for medical, surgical, nursing or hospital charges up to a certain claim limit (as per your policy terms and conditions) with or without excess or co-payment requirements.
Some plans do offer the option of including overseas ICU hospitalisation daily allowance. It is best to consult your travel insurance agent for the most accurate details. What are usually excluded in medical coverage for travel insurance?
- The usual exclusions include:
- Medical tourism
- Medical claims that result from a pre-existing medical condition
- Treatments by a Chinese medicine practitioner
- Certain kinds of pregnancy-related claims
- Certain kinds of dental expenses
- Any bodily injury which existed prior to the beginning of the insured trip
- Any evacuation which can be treated locally in the travel destination and does not prevent you from continuing your trip
Is there travel insurance covering medical tourism?
- No, travel insurance does not typically cover medical tourism. Standard travel insurance is designed to cover for unforeseen medical expenses incurred during a trip, but it does not cover pre-planned medical treatments or procedures.
You’ll need to seek out a specialised insurance provider or consult your medical professional for such coverage. Which travel insurance has the best medical evacuation and repatriation coverage?
- The Singlife Travel Prestige plan offers unlimited coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation. This entails:
- Transportation to nearest medical facility
- Transportation to return home
- Hospital companion
- Travel companion
- Return of children
- Repatriation of mortal remains
Read More Articles about Travel Insurance in Singapore
Begin an adventure of enlightenment and readiness! Explore our selection of articles focused on travel insurance below. From crucial advice to in-depth coverage analysis, arm yourself with the information necessary for stress-free journeys. Begin your exploration today!