great eastern travel insurance area 2

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Explorer Travel Insurance

Get up to s$58 in cashback + up to 40% off your travel insurance.

• Why you will love this
• Who can apply

Built-in with COVID-19 coverage

Extensive coverage such as trip cancellations, travel delay, baggage loss, and more

Up to $700,000 overseas medical coverage and 24-hour emergency overseas assistance hotline

Adult above 18 years old

Child between 3 months and 18 years old or full-time student below 24 years old can apply for child coverage

Singaporean, Singapore PR or foreigner with a valid pass/work permit

Get up to S$58 in cashback + up to 40% off your travel insurance Find out more

Be it for work, leisure, or to visit loved ones overseas, travel worry-free with our newly added COVID-19 coverage.

With effect from 5 November 2021, the COVID-19 coverage under our Ultimate and Essential plans will automatically extend to countries under the latest permitted travel arrangements as per the Singapore Government travel advisory at the point of your purchase. Kindly note that some countries may require COVID-19 insurance coverage as a condition of entry. Please ensure you select a plan that meets the requirement of your intended destination(s). For full details of our COVID-19 coverage and exclusions, please refer to the Eligibility and Policy Wording .

Simply make your purchase of Explorer Travel Insurance Essential or Ultimate plans via the OCBC Digital app to qualify.

Cashback rewards are awarded with a minimum spend of S$100 (after discounts).

Terms and Conditions governing Explorer 40% and 15% Discount apply .

Terms and Conditions governing the Explorer cashback campaign apply .

Plans and coverage for

• Other benefits

Enjoy an enhanced COVID-19 coverage Our Essential and Ultimate plans now include COVID-19 coverage under the Singapore Government travel advisory.

To be eligible, the following conditions must be met:

• You have not served stay home notice, been quarantined due to COVID-19 or travelled to any countries other than the list of countries permitted as per Singapore Government travel advisory within 14 days before the commencement date of your trip.
• If required by the authorities, you must take a COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test or any COVID-19 equivalent test approved by Singapore authorities within 72 hours prior to the scheduled departure time of your trip and must be tested negative. Otherwise, there will be no coverage for overseas medical expenses and repatriation of mortal remains.
• You have not been diagnosed with COVID-19 at the point of purchase.
• You are purchasing a single trip two-way and annual multi-trip policies.

The following sub-limits apply for these coverages:

• Benefits / Sum Insured
• Essential Plan Enhanced coverage
• Ultimate Plan Most comprehensive coverage

Medical expenses incurred overseas Covers the medical expenses incurred overseas if the insured is diagnosed with COVID-19 whilst overseas.

Emergency medical evacuation Covers cost required for emergency medical evacuation expenses while overseas if insured person is diagnosed with COVID-19 overseas.

Repatriation and compassionate expenses Covers the cost of transporting Insured Person's body and ashes back to Singapore if he/she dies overseas due to COVID-19.

Travel inconveniences

(If you or a travel companion is diagnosed with COVID-19 while overseas)

(If you, a relative, or a travel companion is diagnosed with COVID-19 before your trip commences)

(If you are placed under mandatory quarantine by the local authorities as a result of you being diagnosed with COVID-19 while you are overseas)

$50/day (Up to $700)

$100/day (Up to $1,400)

If you are hospitalized as a result of you being diagnosed with COVID-19 while you are overseas

If you are hospitalized or quarantined overseas as a result of you being diagnosed with COVID-19 while you are overseas

Up to 30 days

Overall limit per policy

(applicable to group purchases)

Choose from 3 travel insurance plans

Explorer offers you coverage with reimbursement for inconveniences, disruptions and medical expenses incurred while travelling.

Please refer to the table below for the Individual Cover limits. The limits under Family Cover are subject to the Individual Cover limits under the same plan for each Insured Person.

• Coverage ($)
• Starter Plan Basic coverage

Accidental Death and Permanent Disablement

Accidental Death on Public Transport

Medical reimbursement

(a)  Medical expenses incurred overseas

(b)  Medical expenses incurred in Singapore

(c)  Traditional Chinese Medical (TCM) treatment

Maximum Aggregate Limit for (a), (b) and (c)

Hospital cash

(a)  Hospital confinement

$200 per day

Maximum $20,000

$200 per day Maximum $30,000

Maximum $40,000

$100 per day

Maximum $7,000

Maximum $1,000

Maximum $1,500

(b)  Hospital visitation/compassionate visit

(c) Child companion

Emergency medical evacuation

Repatriation of mortal remains

Emergency telephone charges

Maximum aggregate limit

Trip cancellation

Trip postponement, trip interruption.

Trip curtailment

Overbooked flight

Travel missed connection

Travel delay

$100 Every 6 Hours

Maximum $2,000

Maximum $3,000

Maximum $500

Delay due to hijack

$250 Every 6 Hours

Maximum $7,500

Maximum Aggregate limit for Trip Interruption, Trip Curtailment, Overbooked Flight, Travel Missed Connection, Travel Delay and Delay due to Hijack

Personal liability

Baggage loss

Personal money

Travel documents

Baggage delay

$200 Every 6 Hours

Maximum $200

Kidnap and Hostage

Maximum $5,000

Terrorism extension

Automatic extension of cover

Leisure adventurous activities

Not covered

The limits under Family Cover are subject to limits under the same plan for each Insured Person.

Boost your coverage with optional add-ons Sometimes, your basic travel coverage isn’t enough. That’s why we have 4 add-on options to cater to your travel needs.

• Optional add-ons

Sports equipment cover

Top-up cover for laptop computer, netbook and tablet under baggage loss

Rental vehicle excess

Home contents

Call our 24-hour emergency assistance hotline at +65 6708 7453 for travel and medical assistance. This includes translation assistance, medical advice, arrangement of hospital admission, emergency medical evacuation and more.

Get instant savings

Quick and seamless process

Fuss-free payments

Easy access to your policy

Log in to OCBC Digital app and tap on “Insure and stay protected”.

Tap on “Travel Insurance”. Navigate to the bottom and tap on “Get a quote”.

Input your travel details (promo code will be automatically applied). Then, tap on “View plans” to choose your preferred plan.

Main Applicant’s details will be pre-filled. Input traveller details. Then, tap on “View summary”.

Review your policy and slide to complete the purchase. You’re all set for your trip!

By Online Submission : Submit your  claim online .

Download and print the claims form . Complete the relevant sections. 

Attach all original receipts and relevant supporting documents.

Mail it to the claims department .

Eligibility requirements

Minimum age

18 years old

Nationality

Singaporeans, Singapore PRs and foreigners with a valid pass/work permit

Child coverage

Children aged between 3 months and 18 years old and full-time students below 24 years old can apply for child coverage

More information

Important notes.

Policy wording

Policy owner's protection scheme

Terms and conditions

Terms and Conditions governing Explorer 40% and 15% Discount

Terms and Conditions governing the Explorer cashback campaign

Common questions about Explorer Travel Insurance

Yes, you are able to purchase the plan as long as you have fully recovered and are diagnosed as negative for COVID-19.

We will follow all vaccination, pre-departure tests and post-arrival tests requirements imposed by the authorities.

For some countries, self-administered ART, PCR or other self-test kit will not be accepted for pre-departure COVID-19 test to fly out of Singapore.

You must make an appointment from the list of MOH-approved COVID-19 test providers found on MOH website ( https://www.moh.gov.sg/licensing-and-regulation/regulations-guidelines-and-circulars/details/list-of-COVID-19-swab-providers ).

The COVID-19 Trip Cancellation coverage is claimable if you are forced to cancel your trip within the 30 days that it was due to start as a result of you, a relative, or a travel companion being diagnosed with COVID-19 by a medical practitioner in Singapore.

No. COVID-19 is only applicable should the trip is permitted under the latest permitted travel arrangement as per Singapore Government travel advisory.

You may refer to https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/ for more information on the latest travel advisories issued by the Singapore government.

A medical practitioner has to diagnose that you are positive with COVID-19 while overseas. You are required to provide us with supporting documents such as Inpatient Discharge Summary Report (IPDS), doctor’s memo or diagnosis indicated on the Medical Certificate.

A Medical practitioner is a person who is registered and legally qualified as a doctor, has a medical degree in Western medicine, and is authorized by the medical licensing authority of the relevant country to provide the medical or surgical services their licence and training relate to.

The medical practitioner cannot be the insured or an insured person, or:

• their husband, wife or unmarried partner;
• their business partner, employer, employee or agent;
• their travel companion; or
• any person who is related to an insured person or the insured in any way, including by marriage or adoption.

The policy is designed to protect you during your overseas journey. If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 upon arriving in Singapore, after your journey, you will not be covered by the policy.

Terms and conditions governing Explorer Promotion

• Discounts shall apply on plans purchased online. Offer ends 31 March 2020.
• No other promotion shall be applied together with the above discount on Single Trip and Annual Plans.
• OCBC Bank reserves the right at its sole and absolute discretion to terminate the promotion or make changes to the promotion or any of these terms and conditions at any time without notice.
• The decision of OCBC Bank on all matters relating to this promotion shall be final and binding.

Sub-limits are part of the original limit for each coverage. They do not provide extra coverage, but set a maximum to cover a specific loss. For non-COVID-19 coverage, the coverage amount will be as per existing coverage plan .

Covers non-refundable travelling and accommodation expenses, as well as any change in entertainment tickets paid in advance because you or your travel companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 by a medical practitioner, and as a direct result you are forced to change any part of your trip.

Covers the irrecoverable travel (on economy class), accommodation expenses and/or cost of entertainment tickets that were paid in advance if the trip is cancelled due to you, a relative or a travel companion being diagnosed with COVID-19 in Singapore within 30 days prior to the trip commencement.

Covers the irrecoverable administrative charges of travel, accommodation expenses and/or cost of entertainment tickets that were paid in advance if you are forced to postpone your trip within the 30 days before it was due to start as a direct result of you, a relative, or a travel companion being diagnosed with COVID-19 by a medical practitioner in Singapore.

Attention: Claims Department Great Eastern General Insurance Limited 1 Pickering Street, #01-01 Great Eastern Centre, Singapore 048659

Family plan

• Single Trip Policy : shall mean an Adult and/or his/her spouse and unlimited number of biological or legally adopted children, OR any one or two adults who are not related by marriage and a maximum of four children who must be least Family related (i.e. biological or legally adopted Child or ward, sibling, grandchild, niece, nephew or cousin) to any one of the Adults.
• Annual Trip Cover : shall mean an Adult and/or his/her spouse and unlimited number of biological or legally adopted Children.

We will only reimburse the overseas medical expenses incurred up to 90 consecutive days from the date you are diagnosed with COVID-19 by a medical practitioner.

If you pass away overseas within 30 days from the date you are diagnosed with COVID-19 by a medical practitioner.

The above is for general information only. It is not a contract of insurance. It does not constitute an offer to buy an insurance product or service. It is also not intended to provide any insurance or financial advice. The precise terms and conditions of the plans are specified in the insurance policy contract. Explorer is underwritten by Great Eastern General Insurance Limited, a   wholly-owned   subsidiary of Great Eastern Holdings Limited and member of the OCBC Group. Explorer is not a bank deposit or obligation of, or guaranteed by OCBC Bank.

No representation or warranty whatsoever (including without limitation any representation or warranty as to accuracy, usefulness, adequacy, timeliness or completeness) in respect of any information (including without limitation any statement, figures, opinion, view or estimate) provided herein is given by OCBC Bank and it should not be relied upon as such. OCBC Bank does not undertake an obligation to update the information or to correct any inaccuracy that may become apparent at a later time. All information presented is subject to change without notice. OCBC Bank shall not be responsible or liable for any loss or damage whatsoever arising directly or indirectly howsoever in connection with or as a result of any person acting on any information provided herein.

Claims arising from events that have already occurred or made known to public via authorities or media before your application will not be covered.

Information presented as at 1 January 2024.

Policy Owner's Protection Scheme

This policy is protected under the Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme which is administered by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation (SDIC). Coverage for your policy is automatic and no further action is required from you. For more information on the types of benefits that are covered under the scheme as well as the limits of coverage, where applicable, please contact us or visit the General Insurance Association (GIA) or SDIC websites ( www.gia.org.sg or www.sdic.org.sg ).

Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme

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Via Great Eastern

More convenience with prepopulated personal details when you buy insurance via OCBC Online Banking. Choose to pay with your OCBC Savings/Current Account or OCBC Credit/Debit Card.

By clicking on "Apply now", you will be leaving the OCBC Bank website to Great Eastern's website. OCBC Bank has no control over this website and is not responsible for its contents.

You are leaving the OCBC Bank's website to access Great Eastern's website.

By clicking on "Proceed", you acknowledge the following:

• You have chosen not to seek advice on the suitability of this product. You should consider if this product is suitable for your financial circumstances or needs.

Clinics offering PCR swab tests

OneCare Medical

• 4 Woodlands Street 12, #02-57, Singapore 738623, Tel: +65 6363 2919
• 1 Raffles Place, #05-15/16, Singapore 048616, Tel: +65 6532 2692
• 315 Upper Changi Road, #01-01, Singapore 467347, Tel: +65 6970 0813
• Blk 449 Clementi Avenue 3, #01-241 Lot C, Singapore 120449, Tel: +65 6970 9300
• 15 Petir Road, #01-66 Bukit Panjang Integrated Transport Hub, Singapore 678270, Tel: +65 6518 4055

Scan to start application:

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Compare and Find the Best Great Eastern Travel Insurance in Singapore 2024

Let’s find the most affordable travel insurance for your trip, great eastern travelsmart premier classic, cancellation coverage, medical coverage (overseas), bags & belongings coverage.

• 4 miles per S$1 spend on your premium. Valid till 7 May 2024 8:59 am. Travel Miles Campaign and Additional 2 Miles Travel Giveaway T&Cs apply.
• Complimentary lounge access during flight delays. Valid till 1 July 8:59 am 2024. T&Cs apply.

Apply via SingSaver to get the best deal, guaranteed. Read more about our Best Deal Guarantee here.

Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier Elite

Review of great eastern travel insurance.

Great Eastern Travel Insurance is a comprehensive travel insurance plan that offers protection to individuals who travel for business or leisure. The insurance plan is designed to cover unexpected events that may occur during travel, such as trip cancellations, loss of baggage and personal effects, medical emergencies,   pre-existing conditions , personal accidents, even ensuring coverage against COVID-19 .

Great Eastern offers both Single Trip and Annual Travel Insurance, with varying levels of coverage to suit different travel needs. In addition to the insurance coverage, Great Eastern also provides 24-hour emergency assistance services for policyholders, including medical evacuation and repatriation services."

Types of Coverage Provided by Great Eastern Travel Insurance

Travel cancellations, inconveniences, disruptions, and delay.

Great Eastern Travel Insurance protects you from unexpected situations that could disrupt your travel plans. This type of coverage includes coverage for trip cancellations, missed connections, flight delays, and other travel inconveniences that could result in additional expenses.

For example, if a flight is cancelled due to natural disaster, this coverage could provide reimbursement for non-refundable expenses such as airfare, accommodations, and tours.

Loss or Damage of Personal Baggage

Great Eastern Travel Insurance provides protection for your belongings while in transit. This type of coverage includes reimbursement for the cost of lost or stolen baggage. It's important to note that coverage limits may vary depending on the policy.

Overseas Medical Expenses Benefits

Medical expenses benefits coverage is designed to protect you in the event of a medical emergency while travelling. This coverage includes reimbursement for expenses related to medical treatment, hospitalisation, and prescriptions.

If you becomes ill while on vacation and require medical attention, this coverage could provide reimbursement for the cost of hospitalisation, surgery, and medications.

Hospital Cash Benefits

Great Eastern Travel Insurance provides a daily cash benefit to help cover incidentals during the hospital stay. This coverage could provide a sum of allowance if the insured is hospitalised overseas for at least 24 hours."

Personal Accident Benefits

Great Eastern Travel Insurance's personal accident coverage is designed to provide financial support to travellers and their families in the event of an accident resulting in death or permanent disability. This type of coverage includes a lump sum payment to help cover for medical expenses and lost income.

Terrorism Cover

Terrorism cover protects you in the event of a terrorist attack while travelling. This coverage includes compensation for injury, disability, or death resulting from acts of terrorism. Additionally, this coverage also provides reimbursement for expenses related to trip disruption or medical evacuation.

Adventurous Activity Cover

Adventurous activity cover is designed to provide protection for you if you participate in high-risk activities such as skydiving, bungee jumping, or skiing. This coverage includes reimbursement for medical expenses incurred due to an injury sustained while participating in an insured adventurous activity.

Additionally, this coverage extends to provide a lump sum payment in the event the adventurous activity covered resulted in the demise of or total and permanent disability to the insured person.

Highlights of Great Eastern Travel Insurance Plan

Comprehensive covid-19 coverage, overseas medical expenses.

This coverage can help alleviate the financial burden that comes with unexpected medical expenses while abroad. It covers medical expenses such as hospitalisation fees, surgical fees, and other related costs.

Additionally, this coverage can also cover the costs of emergency medical treatments, consultations, and other necessary medical services required during your trip.

Emergency Medical Evacuation and Repatriation

This coverage is particularly essential if you experience a serious medical emergency while travelling and must be transported to another medical facility or return home for medical treatment.

This coverage will cover the cost of medical transportation by air ambulance, helicopter or other necessary means and can also cover the costs of a medically equipped escort if needed.

Trip Cancellation, Postponement, or Disruption Due to COVID-19

Great Eastern Travel Insurance will protect you financially if you need to cancel, postpone or disrupt your trip due to the diagnosis of COVID-19, which requires a change of plans. This includes if your travel companion, or yourself, test positive for COVID-19 before your trip or while travelling.

This coverage ensures that you will be reimbursed for unused non-refundable expenses such as flight tickets, accommodation, and tour bookings.

Allowance for Overseas Quarantine Due to COVID-19

If you are required to quarantine due to the diagnosis of COVID-19 while travelling, Great Eastern Travel Insurance offers an overseas quarantine allowance for up to 14 days. This coverage will provide you with a cash benefit to cover incidentals during the quarantine period of at least 24 hours.

Overseas Hospitalisation Allowance

This coverage will provide a daily allowance, up to 14 days, to cover incidentals. This coverage is beneficial if you require hospitalisation while travelling and can help ease the financial burden associated with unexpected medical emergencies abroad.

Automatic Extension of Coverage

Great Eastern Travel Insurance's automatic extension of coverage provides you with peace of mind, should you need to delay your trip due to no fault of your own, including COVID-19.

If you or your travel companions are diagnosed with COVID-19 and need to be quarantined or hospitalised overseas, your travel insurance coverage will automatically be extended for up to 30 days at no additional cost. The automatic extension of coverage is available for both Classic and Elite plans.

Complimentary Benefits Without Extra Premium

Great Eastern Travel Insurance offers a range of complimentary benefits without extra premiums that provide additional protection and peace of mind to travellers.

One complimentary benefit is the cover for adventurous leisure activities. This provides financial protection for various action-packed adventures like bungee jumping, white water rafting, mountaineering, skydiving, and skiing.

Other complimentary benefits include coverage for home contents, fraudulent use of a lost card, rental vehicle excess and even for your pet's extended stay at the kennel or cattery.

24-hour Internal Emergency Assistance Services

Great Eastern Travel Insurance offers 24-hour international emergency assistance services to its policyholders. These services are provided by a team of experienced and knowledgeable travel assistance specialists who can assist in emergencies and other travel-related issues.

In case of medical emergencies or travel-related issues such as arranging for emergency medical evacuation, locating local medical facilities, coordinating medical care, lost passports, flight cancellations, or stolen luggage, Great Eastern 24-hour emergency assistance services can provide advice and assistance to support you during these unforeseen circumstances.

Types of Travel Plans: Single vs Annual Plans

Single trip.

Great Eastern's Single Trip Travel Insurance is suitable for individuals or families planning a one-time trip. This plan provides coverage for a single trip, up to 182 days, and covers a range of events such as trip cancellations, trip curtailment, medical expenses, loss of baggage and personal effects, personal accidents, and more.

Individuals or families taking a one-time trip for leisure or business, or travellers who are only travelling once or twice a year, are recommended to purchase the single-trip plan since it is more valuable for money.

Annual Trip

If you are a frequent traveller who takes several trips throughout the year, a business traveller who frequently travels for work, or simply want to save time by purchasing your travel insurance once a year – Great Eastern's Annual Travel Insurance is ideal for you.

This plan provides coverage for an unlimited number of trips, up to 90 days per trip, and covers a range of events such as trip cancellations, trip curtailment, medical expenses, loss of baggage and personal effects, personal accidents, and more.

Making a Claim

Prepared the necessary documents to validate your claim.

You will need to gather all the necessary documents to validate your claim. These documents may include your travel itinerary, medical reports, police reports, receipts, and other relevant documents. Ensure that you have all the required documents to avoid any delays.

Complete and Submit Claims Form

Go to the claims section on their website, download the claim form, fill in the necessary details, and upload the required documents to support your claim. Submit the completed claim form together with your supporting documents via online submission.

Alternatively, you may submit your hardcopy documents and claim form via mail to:

Great Eastern General Insurance Limited

1 Pickering Street, #01-01

Great Eastern Centre, Singapore 048659

Attention: General Insurance Claims Department

Will the policy cover my losses if I need to cancel my trip due to being diagnosed with COVID-19?

Yes, Great Eastern's Travel Insurance policies cover trip cancellation due to COVID-19 if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 in Singapore within 30 days before the trip and is forced to cancel the trip. However, you must provide proof of diagnosis, such as a medical certificate.

If I contracted COVID-19 while travelling overseas, can I claim for medical expenses incurred?

Yes, you will be able to claim to cover medical expenses incurred due to COVID-19 if you contract the virus while travelling overseas.

However, Great Eastern will only reimburse you for overseas medical expenses incurred for up to 90 consecutive days from the date you are diagnosed with COVID-19.

Can I make changes to my travel insurance policy after purchasing it?

You may request for amendments to your policy after purchasing it, subject to Great Eastern's approval. However, this may be subject to certain terms and conditions and may incur additional fees since the changes made could impact your risk before or during your travel.

What is the maximum period of coverage for an overseas trip?

The maximum period of coverage for an overseas trip may vary depending on the type of plan you purchase.

Great Eastern offers coverage for trips up to 182 days for their Single Trip Classic/Elite Travel and 90 consecutive days per trips for Annual Multi-Trip plan. For basic plans, the maximum coverage is 30 consecutive days for both Single Trip and Annual Multi-Trip Plans.

How long does it take to process a claim with Great Eastern Travel Insurance?

The processing time will vary depending on the complexity of the case. Upon approval of claims, the default settlement option is through PayNow, providing convenience for the policyholders.

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Great Eastern travel insurance review: Covid-19, promo, premiums

Great Eastern's travel insurance plans were once upon a time one of the most popular options in the market, but that was way back when everyone wore huge-a** shoulder pads. Now that the field has been disrupted by so many young upstarts, can the Red Lion still play the game?

Here's how Great Eastern's Covid-19 travel insurance coverage measures up against popular competitors such as AIG, FWD, AXA, and NTUC's travel insurance plans in 2022:

1. Great Eastern Covid Travel Insurance: Premiums

In the past, Great Eastern travel insurance was sold under 2 brands: Great Eastern Travel E@sy and Great Eastern TravelSmart - both have since been taken off the market.

Great Eastern TravelSmart was still available for purchase as recent as March 2022, when Covid-19 travel were just about easing and "cruise to nowhere" was all the rage. Back then, you may have bought a Great Eastern TravelSmart Basic which was the cheapest travel insurance variant covering you for cruises, Bintan, Batam etc. However, thanks to the rapidly changing global travel restrictions, these travel insurance plans come and go so quickly. Great Eastern TravelSmart is no longer available.

Instead, it's been replaced by Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier, which comes in three plan tiers:

Here is a summary table of the Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier travel insurance's premiums, benefits, and key coverage:

Note: Premiums are based on single-trip to South Korea (Asia), and Switzerland (Worldwide) for seven days during the September school holidays 2022.

Travel insurance plans' premiums are usually priced according to the country you're travelling to. While these countries are usually presented neatly in a table so you can figure out your premiums, Great Eastern does not state any of the countries nor their premiums transparently - which is a turn-off.

Instead, you have to key your country of destination into their website to check the premiums one by one. Here, we've checked a list of three to seven day single-trip premiums for all us Singaporeans' favourite holidaying spots:

• Malaysia: $19 Basic, $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Bintan: $19 Basic, $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Indonesia: $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Thailand: $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Vietnam: $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Cambodia: $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Hong Kong: $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• South Korea: $65 Classic, $75 Elite
• Japan: $65 Classic, $75 Elite
• India: $65 Classic, $75 Elite
• Australia: $65 Classic, $75 Elite
• Bhutan: $99 Classic, $118 Elite
• Maldives: $99 Classic, $118 Elite
• Germany: $99 Classic, $118 Elite
• London/ UK: $99 Classic, $118 Elite
• Paris/ France: $99 Classic, $118 Elite
• USA:$99 Classic, $118 Elite

2. Great Eastern Travel Insurance's Covid-19 Coverage

Although Great Eastern's TravelSmart Premier travel insurance comes in three-tier plans - Basic, Classic, and Elite - Covid-19 coverage is not offered in the Basic plan. Only the Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier Classic and Elite plans give you Covid-19 coverage.

Here's a summary of Great Eastern travel insurance's Covid-19 coverage:

Some other things to note about Great Eastern's travel insurance:

• Pre-Trip Covid-19 Coverage: If you test Covid-19 positive 30 days before your departure date and need to cancel or postpone your trip, Great Eastern's Covid-19 travel insurance will cover your travel fares, hotel accommodation, entertainment tickets.
• During Trip Covid-19 Coverage: From the day you test Covid-19 positive overseas, you'll be covered for 90 days. Your travel insurance plan will also be automatically be extended for 30 days for free.
• Post-Trip Covid-19 Coverage: If you get Covid-19 only after you land in Singapore, you will not be covered.

Honestly, Great Eastern travel insurance's Covid-19 coverage pales in comparison to competitors' such as Sompo's Covid-19 travel insurance which offers a higher $100,000 to $200,000 in Covid-19 medical expenses coverage and emergency medical evacuation, and $2,000 to $4,000 in trip postponement claims.

All these are important – higher Covid-19 medical expense coverage means you can be assured that even if you’re sent to an expensive private hospital for Covid-19. Likewise, do not overlook the emergency medical evacuation coverage. If you came down with a really bad case of Covid-19, the doctors deemed you unfit for normal flight, and you need to be medically flown back to Singapore, the bill could easily come up to $200,000 or $300,000.

Not shitting you, it’s real. I’ve had a friend who was stuck in the US ’cause she was unfit to fly. Google “fundraiser for Singapore medical evacuation” to see more real-life examples.

Like Sompo travel insurance, Great Eastern travel insurance does not offer post-trip Covid-19 coverage. So if you’re back in Singapore and test positive for Covid-19, that’s on you.

3. Great Eastern Travel Insurance: Disadvantages

There are some caveats to Great Eastern's travel insurance and Covid-19 coverage that you need to take note of. For example, don't make the mistake of buying your travel insurance only at the airport's boarding area, just before your flight. Most travel insurance plans have waiting periods as well:

• Short Trips Only: Your trip cannot be longer than 90 days
• Covid-19 Coverage: Only included in Classic and Elite plans
• No Air Miles, Hotel Reward Points: If you're planning to use air miles, or reward points to redeem your flight and hotel tickets, these tickets won't be covered by your Great Eastern (GE) travel insurance
• Buy Early: There's a seven-day waiting period before your GE travel insurance plan kicks in
• First and Business Class: Your travel tickets will only be covered up to economy class ticket's price bracket
• Flight Delay caused by the airline or government (due to Covid-19 regulations) is not claimable
• No post-trip Covid-19 coverage
• No coverage for pre-existing conditions

As with all travel insurance, you need to prove that you have tried to call your hotel and airlines to get a flight ticket exchange or refund to no avail. Only then will your travel insurance be able to cover your additional expenses.

4. Travel Insurance For Extreme Sports & Outdoor Activities

A great advantage of the Great Eastern travel insurance is its comprehensive coverage of extreme sports and outdoor activities adventure. You'll need to get the Classic or Elite plan, and you must be engaging in these outdoor adventure activities in a leisure or recreational way with licensed guides and instructors. That means you cannot be a professional bungee jumper trying to win a competition.

Here are the outdoor adventurous activities that are covered by Great Eastern travel insurance:

5. Travel Insurance Claim Great Eastern

Dealing with travel insurance claims is not the easiest thing. You're back in Singapore, just ended a wonderful holiday with great memories, got lots of clothes to wash, and a million MS Teams messages from your boss - absolutely not in the mood to sort paperwork for travel insurance claims.

Before you depart for your trip, make sure you have all your flight bookings, tour agency receipts, and hotel and Airbnb receipts printed in a file that you can use for any claims. If you're bringing any high-value laptops, expensive cameras, or expensive Rimowa luggages along, dig out those receipts and leave it in the file, too. Just do it and leave it on your dining table.

• Fall sick, get into an accident, get Covid-19: Call Great Eastern's hotline at +65 6339 2155 (24-hour Emergency Assistance). Document the entire accident process (your wounds), your hospitalisation, and DEMAND for all documents detailing your diagnosis, your medicine, hospitalisation stay, and the bills. Go over the top. You need all sorts of evidence to prove to the old geezers sitting in the Claims Department that your leg indeed broke while you were sightseeing in Jeju Island and not Bukit Timah Hill.
• Lost item or Theft: Report loss of item and theft to local police within 24 hours, get a copy of the printed report
• Lost item or Theft in airplane, hotel, DisneyLand, etc.: Also make a report to your airline, tour bus company, hotel, amusement park etc… wherever you lost it, get a copy of the report in print
• Original Receipts: Go home, dig out all the original documents and receipts for your loss or stolen items
• Download and Print Claims Form: For Great Eastern, all their forms need to be downloaded, printed, filled in, and mailed to their GE office in Singapore. Here is the Great Eastern travel insurance claim form.
• Submit Claims: Submit all your travel-related documents, flight tickets, hotel bookings, PLUS your claims documents to Great Eastern via snail mail. Afterwards, call their general hotline 1800-248-2888 to check on the status of your claims. The address is:

(Attention: General Insurance Claims Department)

Great Eastern General Insurance Limited,

1 Pickering Street,

#01-01 Great Eastern Centre, Singapore 048659

6. Great Eastern Travel Insurance Promo

At the moment, there is no ongoing travel insurance promotion for Great Eastern.

There is, however, a $100 gift credit that you can make use of to get 10 per cent off your travel insurance premium. You'll have to download the Great Eastern Rewards mobile app, and sign in. Then, you'll get $100 credits in your wallet.

But Great Eastern is a little sneaky… you can only offset a maximum of 10 per cent of your premium at any point in time. So, if your GE travel insurance premium cost you $65, that's $6.50 in discount. Yes, Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier is eligible for this promotion.

7. Great Eastern Travel Insurance Review

Should you buy Great Eastern travel insurance? If you're planning a trip to Niseko to skii, Bungee jumping in Seminyak Bali, or scuba diving in the Philippines, you'll be glad to know that Great Eastern's travel insurance is great for recreational extreme sports and adventures such as hiking and trekking.

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The basic coverage for GE's Travel Smart Classic and Elite plans aren't terrible, but they're not really that high. It covers all your needs sufficiently, e.g. medical expenses in overseas hospitals, medical evacuation back to Singapore, baggage delay, and loss.

Great Eastern travel insurance's Covid-19 coverage is, again, the bare minimum with $50,000 Classic and $150,000 Elite medical expense coverage for you when you get hospitalised overseas for Covid-19. The daily $50 or $100 Covid quarantine or hospitalisation allowance is great, but it is capped at 14 days.

However, the trip cancellation, postponement, and disruption coverage is pretty low at $1,000, $3,000, and $5,000 - and may be insufficient to cover the now-exorbitant airfares.

But perhaps the biggest deal breaker is the terribly outdated claims process. Hey Great Eastern, 1995 called. They want your insurance claims procedure back.

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• Great Eastern Travel Insurance: Is It a Good Deal?

• TravelSmart Premier Basic is competitively priced for single trips
• Offers adventurous leisure activities and golf coverage
• Basic plan is only available for Malaysia
• Elite plan is expensive for ASEAN travellers but offers below average medical coverage

Great Eastern’s TravelSmart Premier stands out for offering affordable basic-tier travel insurance plans, both single and annual, to Malaysia. At just S$26 for a 1-week trip and S$261 for an annual insurance plan, the cost for the TravelSmart Premier Basic plan is below the industry average.

However, the basic-tier plan is a no-frills plan which does not have COVID-19 and Adventurous Leisure Activities coverage, and customers looking for more coverage would have to go for higher-end plans.

Table of Contents

• Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier Basic Plan

Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier Classic & Elite Plans

• Golfer Coverage

Claims Information

• Summary of Coverage

Great Eastern Travel Insurance: What You Need to Know

Great Eastern's travel insurance may disappoint those who are looking for cheap or high-value plans due to its mostly uncompetitive premiums and limited COVID-19 coverage. Depending on the destination and level of coverage you need, you can choose from the TravelSmart Premier Basic, Classic or Elite plan.

The TravelSmart Premier Basic plan offers basic medical, terrorism, trip inconvenience and golf coverage. However, the basic-tier plan can be purchased for Malaysia only and does not include COVID-19 coverage. Those looking to purchase travel insurance to other countries must select either the Classic or Elite plans, both of which cost considerably above average.

Additionally, though Great Eastern offers adventure leisure activities cover, they are only available for the Classic or Elite plan.

Even with these additional benefits, it is difficult to recommend Great Eastern's travel insurance to the average consumer who wants to maximise value.

Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier Basic

The Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier Basic plan has the potential of standing out by being the only Malaysia/Batam/Bintan plan that is available for annual coverage.

However, in exchange for the low premium, there is no COVID-19 coverage or Adventurous Leisure Activities coverage.

In addition, the Great Eastern Travel Premier Basic plan is only available for Malaysia and users have to select between Classic and Elite plans for other destinations.

Great Eastern's TravelSmart Premier Classic plan is quite expensive for the coverage it provides, giving consumers a low value plan and leaving those who either want top coverage or great prices unimpressed.

Although it includes adventurous leisure activities coverage—which may seem like a great deal at first because most other plans charge extra for these benefits—other mid-tier plans still end up being cheaper even with the extra cost to add on these sports coverages.

The Classic Plan's medical and personal accident coverage is also below average and its cancellation, trip delays, baggage loss and baggage delay coverage hover around the mid-tier average.

Great Eastern's Elite plan is similar to the Classic plan in terms of who it would—or wouldn't—attract.

For ASEAN travellers, it is one the most expensive options costing 15% above average. For trips to Asia and Global destinations, its prices are around average. However, the Elite Plan's medical coverage is around half of what most top-tier plans offer. Additionally, just like the classic plan, it also includes adventurous leisure activities and golf cover, terrorism cover and home contents cover.

If you are looking for a top-tier plan because you want the best coverage possible for your trip, then we would recommend Allianz, as they have extremely high medical and travel inconvenience coverage, and include all of the extra benefits Great Eastern includes such as sports, golf, jewellery and home contents coverage.

Notable Exclusions

Great Eastern has the standard exclusions for TravelSmart Premier plans, including no cover for events relating to pre-existing conditions, war, mental disorders and pregnancy.

Great Eastern offers fairly comprehensive golfer's coverage that includes equipment, unused green fees and hole-in-one. You will additionally be covered for medical and accident expenses occurring from leisure adventurous activity if you buy either the Classic or Elite plans. The sports covered include helicopter rides, jet skiing, mountaineering (below 3,000 metres), paragliding, parasailing, skiing/snowboarding, skydiving and underwater activities up to a depth of 30 metres.

To submit a claim with Great Eastern, you can either contact their emergency services number (in case of an emergency while on your trip), contact your insurance adviser or mail a claim form along with the appropriate documents.

Great Eastern Travel Insurance Details

When you get a great deal on your travel insurance, you'll end up maximising your peace of mind while not breaking the bank. Below, you'll find a summary of Great Eastern's coverage and premiums, as well as how they compare to the industry averages. If you'd like to see how Great Eastern's plans compare to other plans on the market, you can read our guide to the best travel insurance plans in Singapore.

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Great Eastern Travel Insurance

When you travel onboard, they provide full safety for you, your family, and even your house, enabling you to focus on enjoying the experience. One of their most popular travel insurance plans is the “Great Voyager”.

What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance is a type of coverage that protects you and your family from various risks while traveling in Malaysia or overseas. It usually covers medical expenses, lost luggage, flight cancellations, and other losses that a traveler may incur while on the road. Travel insurance will be available for one-way, round-trip, and annual trips, both domestic and overseas.

About Great Eastern

Great Eastern began its operations in 1908 as a branch office of The Great Eastern Life Assurance Company Limited. Under the Scheme of Transfer of Business, the Malaysian operations were transferred to GELM, a locally constituted public corporation. In 1998, The Malaysia Book of Records acknowledged the company as “Malaysia’s Oldest and Largest Life Insurer”.

Why should I choose Great Voyager travel insurance

Always longed to travel but worried about unforeseen circumstances such as trip cancellations, aircraft delays, or even baggage loss? Let the journey begin with Great Voyager’s wide selection of benefits, including comprehensive travel personal accident protection and substantial medical coverage.

How do I contact Great Eastern for further information?

If you have any questions about Great Eastern travel insurance, please contact Great Eastern by phone at +603 4259 8888 or e-mail at [email protected].

I am not a Malaysian. Is it possible for me to purchase the plan?

If you are a non-Malaysian, you should be a permanent resident or a work permit holder who is legally employed in Malaysia to be able to purchase the plan.

Eligible age for the plan?

You and your spouse must be Malaysians, permanent residents, or work permit holders who are lawfully working in Malaysia, and must be between the ages of eighteen (18) and eighty (80). Your children must be between the ages of one (1) month and eighteen (18) years old (or twenty-three (23) if they are in tertiary education).

When is the period of the coverage?

In the case of a Two-Way Journey (Return Trip) Policy, the policy begins when the insured person leaves his home for a journey and ends when the insured person returns to his home or when the policy expires, whichever comes first. A new journey that begins after the insured person has arrived at the ultimate destination of a previous journey or returned to his home following that earlier journey is not covered.

However, in the case of an Annual Policy, a period of twelve (12) months beginning on the policy’s effective date during which the insured person leaves his home for any number of journeys.

What is the procedure for cancelling my coverage and receiving a refund of the premium paid?

If the Policy is issued as an Annual Policy, you may cancel the policy at any time before the start of cover or after the start of cover but before the departure for any of your journeys during the Period of Insurance by notifying them in writing and returning the policy to them, and provided no claim has arisen. They may also revoke this policy at any time by sending a fourteen (14)-day written notice to your last known address by Registered Letter. They shall repay you a proportionate portion of the premium corresponding to the remaining duration of insurance if the policy is cancelled.

What does Great Voyager travel insurance cover?

• Travel Personal Accident
• Medical Expenses
• Travel Inconvenience
• Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation (by Asia Assistance Network)

What countries does your policy covers?

There is three (3) area coverage under the TripCare 360 Insurance & Takaful under Great Eastern travel insurance

Great Eastern Travel Online (Overseas)

What are some of the policy’s general exclusions.

This policy does not cover death or injury caused by the following events:

• War, radiation or contamination by radioactivity, nuclear weapons material.
• Suicide or insanity.
• HIV and/or HIV related illness including AIDS.
• Childbirth, pregnancy, miscarriage or any complications thereof.
• Pre-existing physical or medical conditions, physical or mental defects or infirmity.
• Self-inflicted injury and provoke murder or assault.
• Engaging in Dangerous Activities.
• Criminal or illegal activities.
• Nuclear, chemical or biological terrorism.

How do I make a claim for Great Eastern travel insurance?

• All claims must be brought through you and your legal personal representatives in the event that you die.
• You must also notify them in writing within thirty (30) days of any accident, loss, or damage that may give rise to a claim. They will not deny a claim because you or the insured person failed to notify them within the necessary time if it can be demonstrated to their satisfaction that giving such notification within the prescribed period sum insured was not reasonably achievable.
• Upon receipt of such notice, they will provide you with their standard claim form, which you must complete and return to them at your own expense, along with any documentary evidence, such as a police report, medical report, original bills, repair estimates, ticket counterfoils, luggage tabs, and other reports, that they may reasonably require to assess the claim, such as a police report, medical report, original bills, estimates for repair, ticket counterfoils, luggage tabs, and other reports.
• As soon as you receive any letter, claim, writ or summons, or other communication relating to a claim, you must deliver it to them, unanswered.
• Except with their written approval, you or the insured person may not acknowledge, deny, negotiate, or settle a claim.
• You should preserve the damaged articles as long as feasible so that we can inspect them; if they pay for or replace the damaged object, the article will then become your property.
• In the event of an unintentional death, they must be given fair notice before interment or cremation, and they shall be allowed to conduct any post-mortem examination at their expense if it is not prohibited by law.

I think I’m ready to buy it. What’s the best way to purchase my travel insurance?

Our user-friendly website is the best place to buy your travel insurance. You can compare and select the best travel insurance policy for your needs and budget.

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6 Best Travel Insurance with COVID-19 Coverage in Singapore (Apr 2024)

COVID-19 might be the last thing on your mind…but it could be the first thing to ruin your next trip. Whether you end up quarantined overseas or have to cancel the holiday entirely, there are plenty of ways COVID-19 could make a vacation go awry. And that’s before you consider things like lost luggage, flight delays , getting pickpocketed, and more.

Good news—there’s an easy way out. Before you jet off to your  dream travel destination , don’t forget to buy travel insurance . Covering you for your potential travel disruptions, travel insurance is the next most important thing besides your flight ticket!

Most insurance providers have added COVID-19 coverage to their travel insurance plans, but to varying extents. Some have COVID-19 as an optional add-0n that you have to purchase. Coverage wise, some providers offer far better COVID-19 protection than others.

Find out how to choose, what to look out for, and the cheapest travel insurance you can buy with our comparison of the best travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage  in Singapore and their ongoing promotions. Promotions are generous this Apr 2024— you could even win a Rolex Oyster Perpetual , 124200 34mm Silver (worth S$9,000), all-expenses paid trip, or a 2D1N staycation!

Best Travel Insurance in Singapore with COVID-19 Coverage (2024)

• Best travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage

Bubblegum Travel Insurance

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1. Best travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage

With the sheer number of travel insurance providers out there, it can be overwhelming to compare everything against everything else. We know that pain, because that’s exactly what we’ve just done.  Wipe away those tears of exasperation— we’ve done the legwork for you and picked out the top 6 travel insurance plans in Singapore:

Why are these the top 6? We’ve compared them based on affordability, COVID-19 cover inclusion, emergency medical coverage, and trip cancellation coverage. (If you’re an adventure seeker, that’s more niche—refer to this article for all the best travel insurance for extreme sports and outdoor adventure instead.)

Ready to dive into the deets? We compared the coverage and prices of most popular  travel insurance plans with COVID-19 coverage in Singapore. So if you’re looking for a specific type of coverage for your travel needs, e.g. high trip cancellation coverage, this is a better summary table for you to work with:

Note: All travel insurance options above are before promotional discounts are applied. Unless otherwise stated, all include COVID-19 coverage.

Back to top

2. Bubblegum Travel Insurance

Bubblegum Travel Insurance  is a great option if you’re looking for fuss-free, essential coverage at affordable rates. Bubblegum’s travel insurance model is simple, offering just 1 travel insurance plan. Here are its pricing and coverage benefits:

If fuss-free, essential travel insurance is your top priority, we think Bubblegum is a good option for you. Their travel insurance is all-inclusive with coverage for travel inconveniences like cancellations and delays, and also gives you coverage for COVID-19 related expenses at no additional cost.

If you’re a thrill-seeker looking at adventurous activities, Bubblegum Travel Insurance will also cover you for hot air ballooning, scuba diving and skiing, with no restriction on height or depth.

Bubblegum travel insurance promotion

Total Premium

[Receive your cash as fast as 30 days*]   •  Enjoy 10% off  your policy premium and 2,400 My Millennium Points (worth S$16) with every policy purchased. •  Additionally, receive up to S$25 via PayNow with eligible premiums spent.  T&Cs apply.

Key Features

Bubblegum offers just 1 affordable plan to suit all your travel needs to maximise your savings

Overseas medical expenses up to $150,000 SGD (Covid-19 sub-limit of $65,000 included)

24-Hour global Emergency Assistance services including Emergency Medical Evacuation and Repatriation

Covid-19 trip related cancellation/curtailment up to $600 SGD included

Adventurous activities like scuba diving and hot air ballooning are covered with no limit on depth or height.

Bubblegum is currently offering a 10% discount on all their travel insurance plans. That means you can cover a 7-day trip to ASEAN with just $38—about $5+ a day !

Truth is, the discount is even greater when you consider the fact that Bubblegum will also give you My Millennium Points and cashback when you purchase Bubblegum travel insurance:

• Get  2,400 My Millennium Points (worth $16) with every policy purchased.
• Plus, get  $15 Cash via PayNow when you buy a Bubblegum Travel Insurance plan with a premium of $80 to $119.99 OR  $25 Cash via PayNow with a premium of $120 and above.

Promotion valid till 30 Apr 2024.

3. FWD Travel Insurance 

FWD travel insurance offers some of the cheapest travel insurance plans in Singapore, so this is a budget-friendly option which still offers you great value for every dollar. I like that coverage for emergency medical evacuation is unlimited for all tiers, and overseas medical expenses go up to a generous $1,000,000 (which is about as high as it gets).

Here’s a quick run-through of the price and benefits offered by FWD travel insurance plans:

When you’re purchasing FWD travel insurance, the COVID-19 benefits are an add-on. The price of the COVID-19 add-on costs between $11 to $22  depending on the part of the world you’re travelling to. If you choose to add it on, it’ll give you comprehensive coverage of the following:

• Trip disruption
• Trip cancellation
• Overseas hospital cash
• Hospital cash while in Singapore
• Medical expenses
• Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation

The plan reimburses your travel-related expenses if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 no more than 30 days before your scheduled departure date, or if you have to change your itinerary because of a COVID-19 diagnosis while overseas. You also get to claim medical expenses and a hospital cash benefit if you get hospitalised overseas or for up to 14 days in Singapore upon your return.

On top of that, there’s also an automatic policy extension of up to 21 days should you be prevented from travel as per foreign government regulations due to:

• You contracting COVID-19; or
• You or your travel companion needing to be self-isolated due to being in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19

Read the full T&Cs of FWD’s COVID-19 coverage .

FWD travel insurance promotion

[ Win a Rolex, Dream Vacation & More!   | MoneySmart Exclusive]   • Enjoy 25% off your policy premium and 2,400 My Millennium Points (worth S$16) with every policy purchased.  T&Cs apply.    BONUS:  For a limited time only, stand a chance to score over S$10,000 worth of prizes in our Grand Draw . • Rolex Oyster Perpetual - 124200 34mm Silver (worth S$9,000) • All Expenses Paid Trip • 2D1N Staycation at any Millennium Hotels and Resorts and 15,000 My Millennium Points (worth up to S$550)    Increase your chances of winning when you refer friends  today. T&Cs apply.

Enjoy cashless medical outpatient treatment in Singapore, access to emergency assistance and your travel policy documents through the FWD SG app!

Add on coverage for COVID-19 available for both Single & Annual Trips for travel period of 90 days or less.

Optional add on coverage available when your trip is cancelled for any reason for Single Trips. (To be purchased within 7 days of your initial trip deposit for your trip).

Plan Highlights

Covid-19 protection, leisure activities.

Currently, you can take 25% off the prices for all FWD travel insurance tiers. That brings the rate for a 7-day ASEAN trip down to $25 to $42, or just $3+ to $6 a day !

We haven’t gotten to the really good part yet. Purchase FWD Premium , FWD Business , or FWD First travel insurance and stand a chance to win over $10,000 worth of prizes in our Grand Draw ! Prizes include:

• Rolex Oyster Perpetual – 124200 34mm Silver (worth S$9,000)
• All Expenses Paid Trip
• 2D1N Staycation at any Millennium Hotels and Resorts and 15,000 My Millennium Points (worth up to S$550)

Promotions valid till 7 Apr 2024 (Prizes 2 and 3) / 30 Apr 2024 (Prize 1).

4. Starr Travel Insurance

Starr’s travel insurance   Starr TraveLead Comprehensive is a leader in terms of how customisable their insurance is. When signing up, medical coverage (including COVID-19 coverage) is automatically included in all plans, but you can choose whether or not you want to add trip coverage (e.g. document loss, travel delay) and baggage coverage (e.g. baggage delay). Then, you can also easily add riders for Golf Protection, Cruise Vacation, Scuba Diving, and Snow Sports.

Starr TraveLead Comprehensive comes in 3 tiers: Gold , Silver and Bronze . While all are pretty comprehensive (as the name suggests), we advise you go for at least Silver . This affords you $500,000 overseas medical coverage, as well as $30,000 medical coverage for COVID-19 and $250 coverage for COVID-19 related trip curtailments and cancellations. You won’t get the COVID-19 trip curtailment/cancellation coverage in the Bronze plan, which only offers $15,000 for COVID-19 medical coverage. Better be safe and  go for Silver or Gold.

Here are the prices and coverage amounts for each tier. Prices are given with trip coverage included in the plan.

Note: Starr also has a travel insurance called Starr TraveLead Essential, which also comes in Bronze , Silver and Gold tiers. They look very attractive because of their low prices—for example, Starr TraveLead Essential Bronze costs just $20 for a 7-day trip to an ASEAN destination.

However, unless you’re on a really tight budget, I wouldn’t recommend these plans because of their more limited coverage. For example, while the Starr TraveLead Essential Bronze plan does cover you for $200,000 worth of overseas medical expenses (which is already the bare minimum), it doesn’t cover you at all for trip cancellation and loss/damage of baggage. Neither do the Silver or Gold tier plans.

Starr Travel Insurance promotion

Starr TraveLead Comprehensive Silver

[ Win a Rolex, Dream Vacation & More!   | MoneySmart Exclusive]   • Enjoy 50% off your policy premium and 2,400 My Millennium Points (worth S$16) with every policy purchased. • Additionally, receive up to S$45 via PayNow OR 1 x Apple AirTag (worth S$45.40) with eligible premiums spent.  T&Cs apply.   BONUS:  For a limited time only, stand a chance to score over S$10,000 worth of prizes in our Grand Draw . • Rolex Oyster Perpetual - 124200 34mm Silver (worth S$9,000) • All Expenses Paid Trip • 2D1N Staycation at any Millennium Hotels and Resorts and 15,000 My Millennium Points (worth up to S$550)   Increase your chances of winning when you refer friends  today. T&Cs apply.

For Cruise to nowhere insurance: Find out more here

Flexible coverage allows you to create a travel insurance plan with different types of coverage and add-ons that can adapt to your needs

Overseas Covid-19 related medical expenses of up to $30,000 SGD included (Excluding China).

Covid 19 Trip related cancellation/curtailment up to $250 SGD included (Excluding China).

Covers Travel Expenses for return of Child(ren) during the hospitalisation of the insured person.

No sublimit or restriction on outpatient expenses and number of visits

24 hours Global Emergency Assistance Services help you when you need it most, connecting you with medical treatment and transportation

Seamless and Cashless claims via PayNow

Please note that travelling to Russia and Ukraine is not covered in Starr’s insurance with immediate effect.

With the ongoing 42% discount promotion on Starr travel insurance, prices are very affordable. Coverage for a week-long ASEAN trip is just $24+ ($3+ a day), while a trip of the same duration to countries like USA costs $30+ ($4+ a day).

The best part? Purchase Starr TraveLead travel insurance of any tier and stand a chance to win over $10,000 worth of prizes in our Grand Draw ! Prizes include:

5. MSIG Travel Insurance

MSIG travel insurance is categorised into 3 plans— Standard , Elite , and Premier . The cheapest, basic plan still offers pretty adequate coverage in medical emergencies and trip cancellations or delays.

Here’s a quick run-down of the plan’s key benefits:

One more unusual area of coverage that MSIG includes is emergency dental expenses. You get $5,000 to $15,000 in coverage, depending on the travel insurance tier you select.

MSIG’s Areas A and B refer, roughly speaking, to ASEAN and Asia respectively. Here’s a more comprehensive list of the countries in each category:

• Area A : Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam
• Area B : Australia, China (excluding Inner Mongolia and Tibet), Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Macau, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and including countries in Area A
• Area C : Worldwide

MSIG Travel Insurance’s COVID-19 coverage is an automatic inclusion to its travel insurance plans and offers the following coverage:

• Trip cancellation, postponement, shortening, disruption
• Replacement of traveller
• Overseas medical expenses
• Emergency medical evacuation
• Overseas quarantine daily cash allowance

This is quite a decent list of benefits, but do note that daily hospital cash allowance is missing from the list.

MSIG travel insurance promotion

MSIG TravelEasy Standard

[ Win a Rolex, Dream Vacation & More!   | MoneySmart Exclusive]    • Enjoy up to   40% off your policy premium and 2,400 My Millennium Points (worth S$16) with every policy purchased. • Additionally, receive up to S$45 via PayNow OR 1 x Apple AirTag (worth S$45.40) with eligible premiums spent.  T&Cs apply.   BONUS:  For a limited time only, stand a chance to score over S$10,000 worth of prizes in our Grand Draw . • Rolex Oyster Perpetual - 124200 34mm Silver (worth S$9,000) • All Expenses Paid Trip • 2D1N Staycation at any Millennium Hotels and Resorts and 15,000 My Millennium Points (worth up to S$550)    Increase your chances of winning when you refer friends  today. T&Cs apply.

COVID-19 coverage of up to $150,000 medical cover and up to $1,500 travel inconvenience benefit for your trip protection.

Packaged tour coverage for insolvency of licensed travel agencies registered with the Singapore Tourism Board (includes NATAS registered travel agencies).

Get covered across all TravelEasy Plan types with a high limit of S$1,000,000 for emergency medical evacuation & repatriation

MSIG provides cover for insolvency of licensed travel agencies registered with the Singapore Tourism Board (includes NATAS registered travel agencies)

Currently, you can take 40% off all MSIG travel insurance plans with their ongoing promotion. That means your 7-day ASEAN trip now costs just $37 to $70 to cover compared to $62 to $116.

On top of the 40% discount, you’ll receive lots of goodies with your MSIG travel insurance purchase:

• Receive  2,400 My Millennium Points (worth $16) with every policy purchased.
• $15 cash via PayNow with a premium of $65 to $119.99
• $25 cash via PayNow with a premium of $120 to $239.99
• $45 cash via PayNow or an Apple AirTag (worth $45.40) with a premium of $240 and above .

Promotion valid till 12 Apr 2024.

6. Singlife Travel Insurance

Singlife travel insurance comes in 3 tiers— Lite , Plus , and Prestige . The price you pay and the coverage you’ll get increase with each plan.

Here are Singlife travel insurance’s key prices and benefits:

On top of the coverage above, Singlife also covers you for chiropractor and/or chinese physician treatment : $250 ($50 per visit) for Lite, $500 ($75 per visit) for Plus, and $1000 ($100 per visit) for Prestige.

As far as COVID-19 coverage goes, here’s a quick run-down:

• Emergency medical evacuation, repatriation
• Overseas quarantine allowance
• Trip cancellation, postponement, interruption

While Singlife travel insurance’s coverage for non-COVID medical expenses, travel delay and trip cancellation is comprehensive, we have to dock some points for the lack of overseas hospital cash allowance and pretty low COVID-19 trip cancellation coverage.

Also, do note that the lowest tier, Lite, doesn’t come with certain coverage, such as trip cancellation or postponement for any reason and COVID-19 overseas quarantine allowance.

Singlife travel insurance promotion

Singlife Travel Plus

[Receive your cash as fast as 30 days*]   •  Enjoy 25% off  your policy premium and 2,400 My Millennium Points (worth S$16) with every policy purchased. •  Additionally, receive up to S$30  via PayNow with eligible premiums spent.  T&Cs apply.

Covers trip cancellation for any reason, T&Cs apply.

Covers trip interruptions or cancellations due to COVID-19 and cover your medical treatment should you contract COVID-19 whilst overseas.

Payout of up to S$150** should your trip be affected by excessive rainfall.

**For single trips (minimum 3 days) where more than 50% of trip duration is affected by rainfall levels of >6.4mm in a 24-hour period.

Seamless claims experience with PayNow

It’s a win-win situation—get 28% off your Singlife travel insurance premiums these goodies thrown in:

• $10 cash via PayNow with a premium of $65 to $129.99
• $20 cash via PayNow with a premium of $130 to $329.99
• $30 cash via PayNow or an Apple AirTag (worth $45.40) with a premium of $330 and above .

Promotion valid till 29 Feb 2024.

7. Etiqa Travel Insurance

Do you hate making travel insurance claims? I do. That’s why when a friend of mine told me that you don’t need to make any claim on Etiqa to receive compensation for your flight delay, I was very intrigued.

I’ve been fortunate—all my recent flights have left on time. But from what I’ve heard from friends who weren’t as lucky on their recent travels, it’s true that Etiqa has the most seamless claim process for flight delays . All you need to do is enter your flight details when purchasing your insurance. Etiqa will monitor your flight and know if your flight is delayed (to count as a delay, it needs to be pushed back at least 3 consecutive hours). If that happens, they’ll transfer money into your Etiqa TiqConnect eWallet—even if you don’t submit a claim! You can then encash that sum via PayNow.

On top of this travel delay claim benefit, Etiqa also provides flight check-in reminders and baggage belt collection details via SMS when you land. I’ve experienced this myself when I bought Etiqa’s travel insurance for my trip to the UK this year. Now that’s what I call service.

Etiqa’s travel insurance is called Tiq Travel Insurance  and comes in 3 tiers: Tiq Entry , Tiq Savvy , and Tiq Luxury . Here are their costs and coverage components:

Tiq Entry is sufficient to give you essential coverage for travel disruptions. But if you’ve just a little more to spend, go for Tiq Savvy . This will more than double your coverage limit for overseas medical expenses from $200,000 to $500,000 for just an additional $5 a week—that’s less than $1 a day.

[MoneySmart Exclusive]    • Enjoy 40% off your Single Trip policy premium and 60% off Covid-19 add-on for Annual Plans. T&Cs apply • Additionally, receive 2,400 My Millennium Points (worth S$16) with every policy purchased. T&Cs apply.    [Etiqa's 10th Year 2024 Grand Draw] Stand a chance to win S$10,000 cash or a Singapore Mint Lunar Dragon 1 gram 999.9 fine gold medallion (worth S$173) with eligible Etiqa/Tiq by Etiqa plans purchased. T&Cs apply.

Comprehensive COVID-19 add-on, protecting you before, during and after your trip

Covers Cruise to Nowhere

Get paid upon a 3-hour flight delay, even without submitting a claim

Instant claims encashment via PayNow

24-hour worldwide emergency travel support

The only disadvantage to Tiq travel insurance is that COVID-19 coverage is not included in the base price and you’ll have to pay for their optional  COVID-19 Add-On to be covered. Some people might say this is an advantage—it gives you a greater degree of flexibility to decide if you want to have COVID-19 coverage or not, especially as COVID-19 becomes less and less prevalent. However, the fact remains that you need to pay extra for it compared to travel insurance plans where COVID-19 coverage is already included.

Here’s how much the COVID-19 Add-On will cost for a 7-day trip:

To be covered for travel disruptions and medical expenses related to COVID-19, you’ll need to add the costs above to the base Tiq travel insurance prices.

Etiqa travel insurance promotion

Comprehensive Covid-19 add-on, protecting you before, during and after your trip

Enjoy  40% off Tiq Single Trip Travel Insurance plans —that means your week-long ASEAN trip now costs just $23 instead of $39 under Tiq Entry.

Getting annual travel insurance instead? Get  60% off COVID-19 add-on for Annual Plans!

From now till 15 Aug 2024, purchase Tiq travel insurance to enter  Etiqa’s 10th Year 2024 Grand Draw . 5 lucky winners will walk away with  $10,000 cash , and 150 will receive a S ingapore Mint Lunar Dragon 1 gram 999.9 fine gold medallion (worth $173)!

8. Cheapest travel insurance in Singapore

When I buy travel insurance, I don’t really care whether the insurer has 900 years of experience or if the plan comes with extra coverage for Chanel bags. Just give me the cheapest travel insurance plan can  l iao !

If that sounds like you too, you’ll be glad to know we’ve done the legwork for you. After assessing the most popular travel insurers in Singapore, the honour of cheapest travel insurance in Singapore goes to… FWD travel insurance .

FWD Premium

But as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. Will you regret being a cheapskate and lose out on important coverage if the only number you look at is the price?

In a way, yes. Because FWD travel insurance is only the cheapest option with 2 caveats.

Firstly, travel insurers have limited-time discounts all the time. This is no secret. It does, however, make it difficult to compare prices when an expensive plan is on 40% off but a cheaper one is on 10% off. That’s why for the table above, we compared base prices without discounts .

But when you take into account promotional prices, which plan is the cheapest? There’s no need to open a million tabs to compare every travel insurance plan out there. Just use our travel insurance comparison tool with the “Lowest Price” filter  on. You’re welcome!

The second caveat is this: FWD came out the cheapest when we looked at its price  without its COVID-19 add-on. If you’re looking for a travel insurance plan that includes coverage for disruptions due to COVID-19 (which you should!), the real winners are  Amex travel insurance and  Starr travel insurance .

Starr TraveLead Comprehensive Bronze

Personalise your travel insurance-Flexible coverage allows you to create a travel insurance plan with different types of coverage and addon that can adapt to your needs

Overseas Covid-19 related medical expenses of up to $15,000 SGD included (Excluding China).

Covers travel expenses for sending back an unattended child during the hospitalisation of the insured person

At the end of the day, ask yourself what specific travel insurance coverage you want to have, and assess the travel insurance options to find one that suits your needs.

Need some help? Read our travel insurance guide to understand all you need to know about choosing the best travel insurance. Don’t forget to use our travel insurance comparison tool to seamlessly compare plans across different providers in Singapore.

9. Does travel insurance cover COVID-19?

When the COVID-19 pandemic started, most insurers did not extend their coverage to COVID-19-related mishaps. (Read more here .) The pandemic was quickly considered a “known event”, which insurers usually do not offer compensation for. So, if your flight got cancelled because of COVID-19, you’d be out of luck trying to get your insurance claims approved.

Now that practically all travel restrictions are lifted, insurance companies are rushing for a slice of the pie. Since the virus looks like it’s here to stay, most insurers are offering coverage that includes specific benefits for COVID-19. Where COVID-19 benefits aren’t already included in the policy, insurers offer an optional COVID-19 rider you can pay for to add on to the existing regular coverage.

Read your policy documents carefully to see if COVID-19 is covered, and add it on if you need to.

10. How do I choose the best travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage?

COVID-19 coverage  can vary quite a bit from insurer to insurer . When you’re shopping for the best insurance policy,  there are 4 things you want to look out for when it comes to choosing the best travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage:

• Medical expenses coverage

Do note that the plans still exclude travelling against a travel advisory put in place by the Singapore government or by the local authority at your trip destination. Meaning, if your destination country goes on red alert for COVID-19, visitors are highly likely to come into contact with the virus and your insurance is highly likely to reject any COVID-19 claims. So be sure to check announcements on both ends before you depart.

Another common exclusion is failing to take precautions against COVID-19. This is worded kinda vaguely in those lengthy insurance policies, but could include not following any COVID-19 regulations at your destination or on the plane. So make sure you wear your mask whenever it’s required (or even when it’s not, if you want to play extra safe) and don’t attend any illegal raves.

11. What do I do if I get COVID-19 during or after my travels?

First of all, when booking your trip, you should retain all receipts, tickets and itineraries in case your trip has to be cancelled or altered.

At the first sign of a COVID-19 infection or related travel disruption, you should call your insurer and ask for guidance. Many insurers maintain a 24-hour hotline for travel claims. Save that number before you depart Singapore so that you aren’t stuck somewhere without wi-fi or 4G to Google the hotline.

To make a claim , you will usually have to submit your insurer’s form with supporting documents by the deadline mentioned in your contract (usually 30 days). Don’t wait until you’re back in Singapore to check which documents you need.

If you catch COVID-19 while you’re in Singapore , you will likely have to submit the results of a PCR Swab Test or Antigen Rapid Test conducted at a clinic or hospital.

It gets a bit more complicated if you’re overseas . The insurer will likely require documentation from the hospital as well as a doctor’s letter stating that you are unfit to travel and/or recommending treatment.

If you need to be quarantined overseas , you should make sure you have a quarantine order from the government, otherwise you may not be able to claim for quarantine allowance. Remember to ask for this as not all countries automatically issue such documentation.

ALSO READ: COVID-19 Travel Insurance Claim Guide

Planning to get travel insurance for your next trip? Learn how to claim for COVID-19 here!

About the author

Vanessa Nah  is a personal finance content writer who pens articles on the ins and outs of travel insurance, the T&Cs of credit cards, and the ups and downs of alternative investments. She’s a researcher at heart and leaves no stone unturned when it comes to breaking down complex finance concepts and making them easy to understand for the everyday Singaporean. When Vanessa’s not debunking finance myths, you’ll find her attending dance classes, fingerpicking a guitar, or (most im paw tently) fulfilling her life mission to make her one-eyed cat the most spoiled and loved kitty in the world.

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Great Eastern Travel Insurance Singapore Review 2022

MoneySmart.Sg · 2022-03-02 15:01

Great Eastern travel insurance was once upon a time one of the most popular options in the market, but that was way back when everyone wore huge-ass shoulder pads. Now that the field has been disrupted by so many young upstarts, can the Red Lion still play the game? Here’s what Great Eastern travel insurance plans looks like now:

Great Eastern travel insurance at a glance

In the past, the Great Eastern travel insurance was sold under 2 brands: Great Eastern Travel [email protected] and Great Eastern TravelSmart. The former has now been taken off the market. The latter is the last one standing and has the usual 3 tiers.

However, the cheapest version of TravelSmart is only for Malaysia, Bintan, Batam and Singapore cruises. So we will not compare it for now.

Travel insurance plan Great Eastern TravelSmart Classic Great Eastern TravelSmart Elite

Price for 1 week (Asia) $83 $102

Price for 1 week (Worldwide) $119 $143

Promotion No current promotions

Medical expenses (overseas) $300,000 $500,000

Emergency medical evacuation $1,000,000 $1,000,000

Personal accident (death & TPD) $250,000 $500,000

Travel delay ($100 every 6 hours) $1,200 $1,200

Trip cancellation $10,000 $15,000

Baggage delay ($200 every 6 hours) $1,000 $1,200

Baggage loss/damage $5,000 $5,000

Adventure activities covered? Yes Yes

Great Eastern COVID-19 extension at a glance

COVID-19 benefits Great Eastern TravelSmart Classic Great Eastern TravelSmart Elite

Medical expenses (overseas) $25,000 $150,000

Emergency medical evacuation $25,000 $150,000

Trip disruption $3,000 $5,000

Trip postponement $1,000 $2,000

Trip cancellation $3,000 $5,000

Great Eastern travel insurance promotions

For their insurance plans, Great Eastern doesn’t split the nearby regions into ASEAN and Asia, which means you pay the same premiums for countries like Indonesia, Thailand and Hong Kong as you would for more “atas” places like Australia, Korea and Japan.

So, if you’re travelling to the ASEAN region, you can most probably find a cheaper deal.

If you’re going to Malaysia, Bintan, Batam or going on a Singapore cruise, consider buying the Travel Smart Basic travel insurance plan. It’s $39 for 1 week (individual single trip), and $19 if your trip is under 5 days. I wouldn’t call it super cheap, but it’s still relatively affordable since not every insurer has Malaysia-only plans.

At the moment, there is no current promotion for the Travel Smart travel insurance plans.

Overall, Great Eastern travel insurance plans generally offer relatively poor value as they are more expensive than average across the board.

What does Great Eastern travel insurance cover?

TravelSmart Basic is the absolute cheapest option, but it’s only for Malaysia, Bintan, Batam and Singapore cruises. Travel Smart Classic and Elite are the 2nd- and 3rd-tier ones.

If you’re planning to do outdoor activities and adventure sports, you have to upgrade to the TravelSmart Classic or just find another insurance provider as TravelSmart Basic does not offer any coverage .

Here’s what Travel Smart Classic and Elite plans cover:

Outdoor activity Covered by Great Eastern Travel Smart travel insurance?

Hot air balloon Yes

Scuba diving Yes (up to 30m)

Skiing and other ice/snow sports Yes

Hiking or trekking Yes (up to 3,000m)

Mountaineering or outdoor rock climbing Yes (up to 3,000m)

Marathons and other competitions Not stated

Jet skiing Yes

White water rafting Yes (under Grade 4)

Skydiving Not stated

Paragliding, hang gliding or parachuting Yes

Bungee jumping Yes

That said, the TravelSmart Classic and Elite plans are even less impressive for 2nd- and 3rd-tier plans. In particular, the limits for travel delays, baggage delays and loss are really quite low. While the plan does offer COVID-19 extension, the amount claimable is shockingly low especially for the Classic plan.

If you’re willing to spend this much on travel insurance premiums, there are definitely better value-for-money plans out there.

Great Eastern travel insurance claims

Emergency hotline: +65 

Other claims: Print out the travel claim form and mail it with supporting documents to Great Eastern General Insurance Limited, 1 Pickering Street, #01-01 Great Eastern Centre, Singapore 048659 (Attention: General Insurance Claims Department)

The required documents are indicated on the form (depending on what your claims are for). You can find more information on the procedure on Great Eastern’s travel insurance claim page .

And… that’s it. You read that right – Great Eastern travel insurance claims can only be made by snail mail.

Conclusion: should you buy Great Eastern travel insurance?

If you’re just escaping to neighbouring destinations for the long weekend, Great Eastern’s cheap Basic TravelSmart plan for Malaysia, Batam and Bintan is not too bad. However, that’s about the only good thing worth mentioning.

The coverage for Travel Smart Classic and Elite is… meh. The limits aren’t terrible, but they’re not really that high. I wouldn’t feel confident buying Great Eastern travel insurance to go on an epic Shinkansen tour of Japan, but perhaps it’s fine for some other nearby countries… Except they don’t have a cheaper ASEAN category.

If adventure sports are in your itinerary, you can scratch TravelSmart Basic off your list – it’s strictly for landlubbers. If you’re NOT interested in being underwater and looking at all the weird life forms down there, and the thought of dangling in mid-air makes you go “hell no”, then it’s fine. But if you wanna do those things, there are other basic plans that will cover you.

But perhaps the biggest deal breaker is the terribly outdated claims process. Hey Great Eastern, 1995 called. They want your insurance claims procedure back.

Looking to buy Great Eastern travel insurance? Compare all Singapore travel insurance policies by price and coverage first .

Travel Insurance Finance International Singapore

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Great Eastern General Insurance protects your lifestyle and the things you value, both personal and business

Why buying general insurance is the best thing you can do to safeguard your lifestyle

Let us take care of your company and employees while you focus on growing a successful business

Easily compare and identify the cover that’s right for you. Whatever stage of life you’re at

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