You can almost smell the anticipation in the air: holiday season is fast approaching, and it’s a wonderful thing. Many of us are busy planning trips to visit family and friends, or plotting an escape to a tropical beach or Christmassy wonderland. (Admit it: sometimes the escape option is the easier one!) Regardless of where you’re headed, it’s important to pack the right things. If you forget the toothbrushes or your daughter’s favourite tutu, you can usually find a replacement at your destination. But the one thing you should organise ahead of time (that could be just as important as your passports) is travel insurance.
Do you really need it?
While we all hope for a fantastic, incident-free holiday, there’s always a chance something can go wrong. Maybe you get to your destination and discover your bag has gone on a trip of its own. Or one of the kids has an allergic reaction to the food. Or, dad takes a tumble while hiking and breaks an ankle.
These things happen, and if they do, a fun-filled holiday can rapidly turn into a costly nightmare. This is especially true if you need to be medically evacuated from your holiday spot, either back to Singapore or another major city. For example, the cost of a medical evacuation flight from Bangkok to Singapore from this service is THB 595,000, or just under SGD 23,500. Bear in mind you’ll also need to pay for any medical care before and after the flight, and for family members or partners to change their plans as well. This can easily add another SGD 5-10k.
The main idea of travel insurance is that it helps to offset the risk and costs associated with plans going awry. If you feel comfortable with the risk of something going wrong and you can cover the costs, then you may not need travel insurance. If you’d rather avoid the risk and ensure you have the coverage to help offset potential costs, then travel insurance should definitely be on your pre-holiday to-do list.
What exactly does travel insurance cover?
So, you get it: travel insurance is a good idea for most travellers. The question now is, what exactly does it cover?
Most plans sold in Singapore cover the following:
- Medical expenses during an emergency
- Evacuation that is deemed medically necessary during an emergency
- Accidental death and dismemberment
- Repatriation of remains
- Cancellation of trips or flights
- Delays during travel
- Lost luggage
How do you find a plan that fits your needs?
We talked to the team at Pacific Prime Singapore to get their top tips on securing a travel insurance plan that fits your needs:
- Know where to buy travel insurance – first and foremost, you should know where you can get it! In Singapore you can purchase insurance from banks, ATMs, AXS machines, online, directly from the insurer, and from brokers.
- Look at the region covered – some travel insurance plans will offer premiums that are split into regions. For example, the same plan will be offered worldwide, but there will be a different premium for those travelling to North America and Europe than for those who will only travel within Asia. Be sure to check! If the location you’re visiting is not on the list, then look for another plan.
- Consider how long you’ll be away – plans often have a limit to how long coverage will last. It’s usually 30 days per trip so be sure to secure adequate coverage based on how long you’ll be away. You may need to secure multiple plans if you’re travelling for a longer period.
- Compare prices before buying plans via the airlines – many airlines in Asia, especially low-cost carriers, also offer travel insurance when you buy your flights. Sometimes the coverage is great, but other times it’s really not. Plus, the cost can be higher than other plans available. In this case, shop around before securing insurance with your ticket.
If you’re looking for the best travel insurance plans on the market, check out Pacific Prime’s Travel Insurance. They can help you find a plan that meets your needs, so you can get on with the important business of having fun!
This post is sponsored by Pacific Prime Singapore.