Travelling is full of excitement, exhilaration and… uncertainties. That’s why savvy travellers always make sure to cover their bases with comprehensive travel insurance, especially when travelling post-pandemic.
Enjoy your trips and travels more when you are insured against potential mishaps – get reimbursements from cancelled flights, lost baggage to accidents overseas.
Read the top 6 reasons why you need travel insurance:
1. Travel stress-free in the new normal.
Travelling should be fun, but even the best-planned trips can go wrong- especially when there are so many new rules and uncertainties travelling post-pandemic, as we navigate in the new normal.
If you get infected with Covid-19, your regular insurance may not help you cover for hospitalisation or medical charges. Worse, you won’t be able to return to Singapore until you fully recover. So make sure you’re protected with travel insurance with Covid-19 coverage or even other pandemic illnesses.
On top of Covid-19 covers, you can also get travel insurance that’s tailored for you and your trip. For instance, if you are going on a trip to conquer the mountain peaks, you should get Tokio Marine’s TM Xplora Insurance that covers trekking to the highest altitude of 4,500m above sea level, with good medical coverage.
Or if you are pregnant, you may want to be protected by NTUC’s Travel Bliss, which is the only insurance policy that covers pregnant women in their second trimester.
2. Your existing insurance policy might not be accepted overseas.
While your insurance company is internationally recognised, your policy might not be. If you or your family gets seriously ill or hurt overseas, your Singapore medical card might not be accepted in hospitals overseas. This means that you will have to fork up incredibly large amounts of cash, to pay for your hospital bills.
This is why having travel insurance is important for your protection, financially and physically. When you are covered, you can focus on getting better and receiving the best treatments, and let your insurer take care of your hospital bills.
3. You might need expensive medical evacuations.
Imagine when you are halfway across the globe, having the time of your life, skiing down the French Alps, when suddenly, you lose control and tumble down the slope. By the time you land, you can’t move your leg without excruciating pain. But you’re stuck in the middle of the mountains- paramedics can’t just come over to pick you up and drive you to the hospital.
You will need a helicopter to locate and transport you to a nearby healthcare facility, which will cost approximately USD 15,000 to USD 200,000. And this is not even including the cost of your treatment.
But if you purchased AXA’s Smart Traveller policy that covers emergency medical transportation, you won’t have to worry about this hefty “taxi” bill, and will also be covered if specialised transportation is required to send you home, once your condition stabilises.
4. No refunds if you have to cancel your trip due to an emergency.
The borders are reopening and you can finally enjoy the honeymoon of your dreams, travelling from the UK to France to Germany. But a few days before your flight, your father suddenly fell ill and was admitted to the hospital. While the tour operators and airlines were sympathetic, they could not offer much refunds because of their policies.
If this happens, not only you’ll miss the trip, you’ll lose your hard-earned money, too. This is why travel insurance is important – it can cover trip cancellations and you will be reimbursed for your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses, as long as you have a covered reason. Then, you can rebook your vacation when you’re able to travel again.
5. Don’t let minor mishaps ruin your trip.
According to SITA, there were as many as 21.6 million bags temporarily misplaced or lost globally in 2016. While airlines are getting better at handling baggage, you will surely be affected and inconvenienced if your suitcase is damaged or goes missing.
If you lose your favourite bag containing your facial or grooming products, getting reimbursed for the cash value of your suitcase and its contents is the next best thing. That’s only if you have travel insurance that covers baggage loss or damage.
A global study conducted by Cirium found that 35% of travellers worldwide experienced a cancelled or delayed flight, with 40% of travellers being forced to pay more to make alternative plans. Travel insurance like MSIG’s Travel Easy can help make this better by reimbursing you for travel delay benefits and additional expenses caused by this delay.
6. You’re going to an unfamiliar, foreign and faraway place.
You may be a seasoned traveller who have visited different continents and experienced different climates, but sometimes, even avid globe-trotters need some help when travelling overseas.
One of the most popular reasons to get travel insurance is to have a backup team to help you in your moments of crisis, in a foreign land. With travel insurance, you can call the hotline of your insurance company to get help anytime, whether it is a medical emergency, a lost passport, or natural disasters.
Travel insurance is the life jacket you need for your vacation. You hope to never have to use it, but you’re glad it’s there when you need it. It is essential to purchase travel insurance for all your overseas trips, because with so many uncertainties travelling now, you never know what might go wrong.
Check out our wide range of travel insurance for you and your family. Whether you’re visiting your friends or hiking mountains, there’s a plan for you. Or Whatsapp us for more details (Mon to Fri: 9am – 5pm).
This is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.