Insurance

Travel Insurance 2023: Do I Still Need Covid Coverage?

It’s 2023, do I still need covid coverage for my Travel Insurance?

  • Phuan Wei Ning
  • |
  • Published on 21 Jun 2023

With Covid no longer considered a global health emergency, is travel insurance with Covid coverage still needed? In this article, we share what having such coverage means for you and our thoughts on whether this is needed.


Travel insurance – What does Covid coverage include?

For travel insurance, Covid coverage can be broken down into three categories: pre-trip, during trip, and post-trip.

  • Pre-trip: The covered events in this category includes trip cancellation or postponement. This means that with covid coverage in your travel insurance, you will be able to cancel or make changes to your trip should you or your travel companion be diagnosed with Covid-19 and are forced to make changes to your upcoming trip. Note that a medical practitioner must diagnose you to have Covid in order for you to make a claim from your policy. There may also be a waiting period for such pre-trip benefits.
  • During trip: The covered events under this category includes trip disruption, overseas medical coverage, quarantine allowance, and emergency medical evacuation.
  • Post-trip: Post-trip covid coverage would include coverage for Covid-related medical expenses upon returning to Singapore. Under this benefit, diagnosis from a medical practitioner, and medically necessary treatment would have to be received within a specified number of days upon your return to Singapore
  • Do note that claims must arise from a covered event. Trip cancellation due to a fear of travelling will not be covered. As insurers may have different definitions of a claimable event, please refer to your policy wording for your list of covered events.



    Are there additional costs involved?

    In today's context, travel insurance mostly come inclusive of Covid coverage. There are no "additional costs" for such plans as the costs have already been factored into your policies.

    There are however, some travel insurance plans that may offer Covid coverage as an optional add-on. One example of this is FWD Insurance which requires the addition of the Covid-19 enhanced travel benefit in order to receive Covid coverage.


    Should I still get travel insurance with Covid cover?

    With covid a "known event", travel insurance will not cover if you are travelling against a travel advisory, or for are issued for Covid-related events, or if a country closes their borders as a result of Covid. As such, the intention of travel insurance with Covid coverage should be to cover any additional costs incurred should you need to change your trip, or visit a medical practitioner overseas for Covid.


    Yes, you need travel insurance with Covid cover if…

  • Check your destination country for any Covid-related entry requirements. If your country of arrival requires you to have travel insurance with Covid coverage then yes, you will need to purchase one.
  • If you are going on a long, and/or expensive holiday with bookings that are mostly non-refundable, we recommend that you go for travel insurance with covid coverage. Although Covid is no longer a health emergency, you may still not feel well enough to travel should you be down with Covid. Having this coverage will then allow you to reschedule your trip, or make the necessary changes to your holiday plans.
  • (See: Best Travel Insurance with Covid-19 cover)


    Covid cover may be optional for you if...

  • If your destination country no longer requires you to have travel insurance with Covid coverage.
  • Are the bookings for your upcoming holiday flexible? If your bookings can be rescheduled at no additional costs, then you may not need a travel insurance with Covid cover as you will be able to make changes to your plans should you be down with Covid.
  • Do note that opting for travel insurance without covid coverage would also mean that medical expenses incurred for Covid will not be claimable from your insurance.


    How much will my travel insurance cost?

    Sample prices for a 5-day trip to Bangkok (before discounts)

    FWD Travel Insurance
    MSIG Travel Easy
    NTUC Income Travel
    AIG Travel Guard
    Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier
    Sompo Travel (COVID-19) Insurance
    Covid coverage is optional
    Covid coverage is automatically included
    Covid coverage is automatically included
    Covid coverage is automatically included
    Covid coverage is automatically included
    Covid coverage is automatically included
    Premium: $25.2 (without Covid cover) or $35.20 (with Covid cover)

    Use "IFAST" for preferential rates on your FWD travel plan.

    Standard: $50
    Classic: $49
    $49
    Classic: $65
    Essential: $49
    Information is accurate as of 12 June 2023 with changes subjected to insurer's discretion.


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