Can my Integrated Shield Plan and travel insurance cover the same medical expenses while traveling?

Understanding Integrated Shield plan and travel insurance

While both Integrated Shield Plan and travel insurance offer medical coverage, the purpose and intended use of these two plans are not the same.

Offered as an option to supplement existing MediShield Life (MSHL) coverage, Integrated Shield (IP) Plans are intended to enhance your MSHL coverage, allowing you to seek hospitalisation treatment at higher ward classes (i.e. Class B1 or A at public hospitals, or at private hospitals) in Singapore.

On the other hand, while travel insurance offers some form of medical coverage, this is limited to your specific trip’s duration and destination. You will not be able to make a claim for expenses incurred outside of the trip.

I have both Integrated Shield Plan and travel insurance. Which one should I use to file a medical claim?

1. Scenario 1: I fell sick after my trip and received outpatient medical treatment after returning to Singapore.

For this scenario, you may claim from your travel insurance if outpatient medical treatment in Singapore was sought within a specified period upon your return. While conditions for claiming may differ between insurers, travel insurance plans usually cover if first treatment was sought within 48 to 72 hours of your return to Singapore. For avoidance of doubt, please refer to your respective policy for the most accurate term and conditions.

If you only received outpatient medical treatment in Singapore (for example, visiting a General Practitioner for the flu), this will not be claimable from your Integrated Shield Plan.

Claim from: Travel insurance plan

2. Scenario 2: I fell sick or suffered an injury while overseas. After returning to Singapore, I continue to seek outpatient medical treatment over the next two weeks.

If treatment was first sought while overseas and you continue to receive treatment upon your return to Singapore, you may claim from your travel insurance up to the limits of the plan, or for a specified number of days.

Table of benefits for Overseas and in Singapore medical expense benefit

_{Information retrieved on 25 October 2024 and is for illustration purposes only. For avoidance of doubt, please refer to your respective policy wording.}

You may not claim for outpatient medical treatment from your Integrated Shield Plan.

Claim from: Travel insurance plan

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3. Scenario 3: I fell sick after my trip and was subsequently hospitalised in Singapore for treatment.

If treatment was first sought within the specified timeframe, hospitalisation expenses may be claimable under your travel insurance or Integrated Shield Plan. However, do note that you will only be able to make a claim from one policy (i.e. either your travel insurance or Integrated Shield Plan).

If no treatment was received overseas, and you are only hospitalised in Singapore after the eligible claim period has lapsed, your travel insurance will not cover this expense. In this scenario, you may only claim the hospital expenses under your Integrated Shield Plan.

Claim from: Travel insurance plan if treatment was first sought within the specified claim period, or Integrated Shield Plan if treatment was received after the eligible claim period has lapsed.

4. Scenario 4: I require emergency medical treatment when I am overseas

Did you know that emergency overseas treatment expenses may be covered under your Integrated Shield Plan? This benefit is only given if inpatient hospital treatment is required due to an emergency while overseas. Treatment benefit will be pegged to the cost of equivalent treatment in a Singapore hospital.

Alternatively, this emergency treatment is also likely to be covered under the “medical expenses overseas” benefit of your travel insurance.

Claim from: Either your Integrated Shield Plan or travel insurance.

5. Scenario 5: I caught the flu two weeks after returning from my trip and visited my General Practitioner for treatment.

Neither plan will provide coverage if no treatment was received during your trip or within the specified period after your trip.

Claim from: None.

Have a question? Speak to us here:

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^{Information obtained from:}

^{https://www.fwd.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/FWD-Travel-Policy-wording.pdf}

^{https://e-insure2.msig.sg/cp/product/broker/TRAVEL/TRNamedTravelEasyV1?producerRef=IFAAF}

^{https://www.income.com.sg/kcassets/2c2b1641-4b23-432d-82a2-3565b7b8fb6b/GPT%20GTA%20GTX_Travel_Policy%20Conditions%20%28w%20SDIC%29_202406_cleaned.pdf}

^{https://www.sompo.com.sg/docs/default-source/product-pdf's/travel/travel-policy-wording-(single-trip).pdf}

^{Information retrieved on 25 October 2024.}

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