With more borders easing their COVID-19 requirements for entry to welcome back ardent tourists, many people are eager to hop on the next flight to visit their favourite cities.
If you’re one of those who are raring to go, please be reminded to obtain Travel Insurance in Singapore before embarking on your trip because lesser countries now have mandatory travel insurance requirements.
Regardless of whether you’re COVID-19 vaccinated or not, this mandate is meant to give you enhanced protection in case of unexpected medical emergencies and travel problems abroad – This includes contracting COVID-19 before, during and after the trip.
With the COVID-19 virus still looming large, equipping yourself with one of the best travel insurance in Singapore may just be the extra ticket you’ll need for a dream vacation.
Mandatory Travel Insurance: Which Countries Require It and Which Doesn’t Need It Anymore
Even if you’re fully vaccinated, make sure to sign up for travel insurance package from a trusted insurer like Allianz Travel Insurance before boarding your flight to the following countries:
- Anguilla
- Antarctica
- Argentina
- Bahamas
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Cambodia
- Chile
- Cuba
- Curacao
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Estonia
- Fiji
- French Polynesia
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Israel
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Laos
- Nepal
- Oman
- Panama
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Sint Maarten
- Saudi Arabia
- Schengen Countries
- Seychelles
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- Vietnam
- Anguilla
- Antarctica
- Argentina
- Bahamas
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Cambodia
- Chile
- Cuba
- Curacao
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Estonia
- Fiji
- French Polynesia
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Israel
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Laos
- Nepal
- Oman
- Panama
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Sint Maarten
- Saudi Arabia
- Schengen Countries
- Seychelles
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- Vietnam
If you’re travelling to Malaysia, as of April, travel insurance is no longer required for fully vaccinated visitors crossing the Singapore-Malaysia land border.
Similarly, Singapore has also waived the need for travel insurance for incoming visitors who are vaccinated and non-fully vaccinated children aged 12 and below.
Is Travel Insurance Still Essential?
Regulatory COVID-19 requirements aside, travel insurance is more important than ever to protect travellers from mishaps that may arise from the virus’ interference. First and foremost, a country opening its border to welcome tourists doesn’t necessarily mean the destination is COVID-free and certainly doesn’t reduce the risk of things taking a sudden turn for the worse.
Reportedly, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a spike in the number of complaints related to trip cancellations. These problems arise when travellers were diagnosed with the virus before their trips or are unable to return to Singapore due to sudden lockdowns or quarantine requirements.
Many of these travellers ended up forfeiting their travel deposits or incurring unexpected costs while they were overseas. Sadly, for those who didn’t have travel insurance, there was no recourse. They had to bear the full costs.
While some may debate that the travel scene is more stable now with less disruptive measures and more vaccinated travellers, there is still a lingering risk of infection when you’re abroad. A sudden surge of infection in the destination to cause travel problems is also highly possible.
Just look at the sudden rise in infection rate in China, Hong Kong and South Korea in recent months and it’s not hard to imagine that anyone can still get trapped in another lockdown without prior notice.
This is why arming yourself with the best travel insurance in Singapore is still an essential mix in any overseas travel during these uncertain times. Travel insurance not only protects you against financial losses while travelling but also offers peace of mind when you encounter inconveniences in a foreign environment.
However, do note that you will need to check the sanction country list as travel insurance typically do not cover sanctioned countries.
How Travel Insurance Can Help When You Encounter Travel Problems
It is well and good if you are enjoying a smooth journey. But when things get turbulent, travel insurance often serves as a lifesaver that helps travellers turn things around with minimum financial losses.
Here are some scenarios in which travel insurance will come in handy:
If You Have To Cancel Your Trip
Whether you have to cancel a trip because you’re tested positive for COVID-19 before departure or due to natural calamities, you’ll be entitled to claim forfeiture of deposits or charges such as flights and hotels that are unrecoverable.
If You Get Sick or Injured Abroad
This is one of the key reasons that many travellers purchase travel insurance. It ensures high-quality medical care and reimburses medical costs so that you don’t have to pay out of your pocket. Depending on the coverage, you can also arrange for a medical evacuation if needed.
If You Experience Travel Delays
Travel delays can leave you stranded and cause all sorts of inconveniences along your journey. If you are protected by travel insurance, you will be reimbursed for any necessary and eligible expenses such as meals, accommodation and transportation during a covered delay.
If You Face an Unexpected Crisis
If you’re caught in a crisis abroad but not sure how to handle it, travel insurance will usually provide 24-Hour hotline assistance. This makes sure that you’ll not be stranded in a compromising position without any help.
Safer travel starts with travel protection. If you’re planning to take an overseas trip soon, this is not a time to go without travel insurance. If you’re travelling, you can seek the advice of trusted insurers like Allianz Travel Insurance for a suitable travel insurance in Singapore to protect against potential travel problems.
At Allianz Travel Insurance you’ll find comprehensive travel insurance packages ranging from single trip, multi-trip, annual protection and even rental car protector. In addition, Allianz Travel Insurance’s COVID-19 coverage is the same as their general coverage, and they provide medical and emergency transportation on top of their 24/7 medical assistance.
| Single Trip Comprehensive Bronze | Single Trip Comprehensive Silver | Single Trip Comprehensive Platinum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trip Cancellation Coverage | S$5,000 | S$10,000 | S$15,000 |
| Trip Interruption Coverage | N.A. | S$10,000 | S$25,000 |
| Travel Delay Coverage | N.A. | S$1,500 | S$2,000 |
| Emergency Medical Coverage | S$200,000 (69 years old and below)
S$50,000 (70 years old and above) |
S$500,000 (69 years old and below)
S$100,000 (70 years old and above) |
S$1,000,000 (69 years old and below)
S$250,000 (70 years old and above) |
| Emergency Transportation Coverage | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Cruise Coverage – Missed Port of Call | N/A | N/A | S$10,000 |
| Cruise Coverage – Cabin Confinement | N/A | N/A | S$1,500 |
You can check out Allianz Travel Insurance in full here . Ready to book your travel insurance with Allianz? You can do so here .
This article was written in collaboration with Allianz Travel. While we are sponsored by them, we still review products and services with an objective lens and stay true to our mission — providing you with the best recommendations and advice to make smarter financial decisions.
The article Why You Need Travel Insurance To Travel Even if Some Countries Don’t Require One if You’re Fully Vaccinated originally appeared on ValueChampion.
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