Digital disruptions and changing travel trends have made it easier for you and I to make our own travel plans, but it’s likely that we are missing some essential considerations! A recent study by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) revealed that one in 10 travellers have never ever purchased a travel insurance, putting themselves at risk before and during their trips. If you have been taking chances and skipping travel protection to save a few bucks, this article will share with you the importance of getting the right travel insurance and how you can get one that suits you!
First off, here’s what you need to know about travel insurance:
A travel insurance is a plan that travellers buy to safeguard against certain risks and losses that can occur during one’s trip. In addition to protection, a travel insurance gives you access to assistance services wherever you are in the world. Imagine being pick-pocketed in a foreign land where people speak different languages, you won’t be stranded if you have purchased a travel insurance that includes 24-hour emergency assistance.
There are different types and categories of travel insurance, depending on one’s travel habits. Here’s a quick explanation on the common types of travel insurance offered in Singapore:
Common types of travel insurance
Single Trip Policy – A protection plan meant for traveller(s) on an overseas trip that does not exceed over 182 consecutive days.
Annual Multi-Trip Policy – A protection plan meant for a traveller(s) on an unlimited number of overseas trips across a 1-year period, whereby each trip does not exceed 90 consecutive days.
Pre-existing Medical Cover – An enhanced plan that covers pre-existing medical conditions for travellers during their overseas trip, which is not covered under common travel insurance plans.
Family Plan – A protection plan meant for family members that are travelling together for the entire overseas trip. The definition for ‘family’ differs across different insurers, so you should check prior to your purchase. Is it cheaper to get a family plan? Yes, such plans are generally great for savings and booking convenience.
Did you know that Tiq Travel Insurance now supports 3-generation travel? Our family plan can accommodate up to 10 people (up to 6 adults, up to eight children)! The adults need not be related but the child(ren) must be the legal child or grandchild to either of the insured adult. 🙂
Group Plan – A protection plan meant for a group of people that are travelling together for the entire overseas trip, which is not issued under a family plan. Is it cheaper to get a group plan? Yes, it works the same way as a family plan where travellers will enjoy savings and booking convenience for the group purchase.
What is the best travel insurance in Singapore?
#TiqOurWord The best travel insurance is a travel protection plan that best fits your needs and preferences. Tiq Travel Insurance by Etiqa provides a long list of add-ons, including:
- Child education cover
- Rental car excess cover
- Pet hotel cover
- Sports equipment protector
- COVID-19
Before you determine the best travel insurance for you, here’s an easy 3-step guide to help make your choice:
Choosing the right travel insurance for you
1. Identify your travel profile
Are you a frequent traveller? Do you partake in high risk activities (e.g. sky diving, bungee jumping) when you are overseas? Your destination and travel style can also give an indication of the required protection, which will help you to narrow down your search for the right insurance.
For example, a female solo traveller backpacking in Asia may be more concerned with budget, and protection for personal well-being and belongings, whereas an avid skier will likely need extra coverage for his sports equipment. A frequent traveller can enjoy savings with an annual travel insurance plan, and those travelling as a family or group can enjoy discounts and convenience when they get their travel insurance together.
2. Know your priorities
Next, ask yourself this question: “Why are you buying travel insurance?” Delve deep and identify the aspects that you’d like to protect. Is it for personal well-being, or is it to safeguard against inconvenience and potential wealth loss? As the saying goes, “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure”. Benefits that appeal to others might not be of top priority for you.
A leisure traveller may choose a basic protection plan just to get a peace of mind whereas those with greater family commitments may require further considerations. For instance, parents with young children might want greater assurance with a child education cover in case of unforeseen events, and might want to ensure that their family has sufficient overseas medical coverage.
#TiqOurWord Understanding your purpose and priorities for getting a travel insurance shall set you in the direction of getting a right travel insurance.
For the truly blessed who have never encountered travel inconveniences, the extensive travel benefits table may seem overwhelming and cause you to choose a travel insurance based on ease of booking or price. Well, to help you better identify potential components that you’d like to protect, here are some common concerns of travellers that you may wish to consider:
Emergency advice/assistance
Who do you call or where can you get help when you encounter unexpected problems while being overseas? A reliable provider who offers 24-hour emergency assistance can make a difference when it comes to matters of life and death.
Medical coverage
Medical expenses is one of the most common and expensive costs to be incurred overseas, especially when it involves hospitalisation and repatriation. However, it is important to note that travellers with pre-existing medical conditions are required to get extra coverage, which few insurers offer.
In 2017, a Singaporean family was stranded in Tokyo with escalating medical bills after the insurance company informed them that their insurance claims were unlikely to be successful, as the cause of the accident was due to a pre-existing heart condition. [Source]
Did you know the newly launched Tiq Travel Insurance offers pre-existing medical cover? Find out more here.
Travel delay
Time equates money, and unfortunately, travel delay is a common occurrence, especially when it comes to budget carriers and long-haul travel. A delay might cause you no-show penalty charges for a connecting flight or even one night accommodation’s cost. A travel insurance will come in handy at this time!
Delayed bags
In the event of lost or delayed bags (which is not uncommon on long-haul flights), you can get reimbursement for incurred costs on necessities.
Equipment coverage
Are you travelling with costly sports equipment? From golf clubs, diving gear to fishing equipment, adequate coverage for your precious tools can help you to mitigate costs in unexpected events. Tiq Travel Insurance now offers optional add-on coverage for sports equipment! Find out more here.
Trip cancellation
Life’s full of unexpected events, and if you are unable to make the trip due to valid condition, you will be covered for irrecoverable travel and accommodation expenses paid in advance.
Ease of claims
When buying a travel insurance, most would cross their fingers that they need not make any claims but let’s be practical. In the event something does happen (touch wood!) and you need to make a claim, the process is important! Is the claim process quick, easy and efficient? Find out by scourging travel insurance reviews from forums, like-minded travellers, travel blogs, etc.
#TiqOurWord Did you know that Tiq Travel Insurance by Etiqa offers automated flight delay benefit claims with instant payout (with just 3 hours of consecutive delay)?
3. Do your homework
If you are a free and independent traveller, the onus is on you to ensure that you are adequately covered. Before you can make a choice, you need to know what your choices are. Take note that the cheapest travel insurance plan may not always be the best for you. Do seek advice from travel agents or people around you who purchased travel insurance before. Their experiences can be a supplement to online checks at aggregators’ sites, apps, forums, blogs, and even directly at insurers’ website.
Try to match your priorities to each benefit table so as to narrow down your choices. Upon making your choice, be sure to read through the policy wording, and check for on-going promotions prior to making your purchase. Voilà!
Tiq Travel Insurance
Things you should know about Tiq Travel Insurance
o Automated flight delay claims
o Pre-existing medical conditions cover
o Optional coverage for sports equipment, child education, rental car excess and pet hotel!
o Enhanced family/group travel benefits
Etiqa Insurance has been named as the NATAS Official Travel Insurance Partner by the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) since 2020.
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Information is accurate as at 27 June 2022. This policy is underwritten by Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd. (Company Reg. No. 201331905K). Protected up to specified limits by SDIC.
Tiq by Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd.
A digital insurance channel that embraces changes to provide simple and convenient protection, Tiq’s mission is to make insurance transparent and accessible, inspiring you today to be prepared for life’s surprises and inevitabilities, while empowering you to “Live Unlimited” and take control of your tomorrow.
With a shared vision to change the paradigm of insurance and reshape customer experience, Etiqa created the strong foundation for Tiq. Because life never stops changing, Etiqa never stops progressing. A licensed life and general insurance company registered in the Republic of Singapore and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Etiqa is governed by the Insurance Act and has been providing insurance solutions since 1961. It is 69% owned by Maybank, Southeast Asia’s fourth largest banking group, with more than 22 million customers in 20 countries; and 31% owned by Ageas, an international insurance group with 33 million customers across 16 countries.
Discover the full range of Tiq online insurance plans here.
