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NTUC Income adds Covid-19 insurance coverage for overseas travel

(THE BUSINESS TIMES) - NTUC Income customers who buy its travel insurance will now receive Covid-19 coverage as well, for medical-related expenses while overseas.

Outbound travellers, departing Singapore, who are covered by Income's single-trip insurance will be protected for the first 90 days of each trip for Covid-19 related hospitalisation expenses of up to US$100,000 (S$133,900) while abroad.

They will also be covered for costs incurred for medical evacuation or repatriation of up to US$100,000, if necessary.

These Covid-19 benefits are automatically included in single-trip insurance plans purchased from Thursday (Nov 26) - including plans covering pre-existing conditions - and also for travel dates starting Thursday.

However, the Covid-19 benefits will be excluded from travel insurance for trips to countries that the World Health Organization deems as high risk for Covid-19 at the point of purchase.

Policyholders with existing annual travel insurance plans from Income can contact the insurer to find out about getting covered by these benefits for upcoming travel.

Fabian Ng, Income's general manager for consumer business, said that there are some individuals who will need to travel for necessary business-related and other essential matters, even as overseas travel is still restricted in general.

"Nevertheless, we urge everyone to take all necessary precautions when planning your travels as there are countries that are seeing a resurgence in Covid-19 cases or are still experiencing a high number of infections," Mr Ng added.

The Business Times (BT) reported last month that most travel insurance products do not cover Covid-19 related claims, although market leaders including Income had been reviewing some of their offerings.

Income told BT at the time that it may develop a product to cover inbound travellers to Singapore. On Thursday, an Income spokesperson said in response to BT's queries that the insurer is, at the moment, focusing on providing suitable Covid-19 cover for Singapore-based residents so that they can travel overseas with a greater peace of mind.

AXA Insurance currently offers Covid-19 travel cover for Scoot passengers on flights departing Singapore, and will soon be making such coverage available to all travellers regardless of the airline they fly, Julien Callard, its managing director, retail & health, told The Straits Times on Thursday.

Last week, Changi Airport Group and the Singapore Tourism Board announced that three insurance companies had each developed Covid-19 travel insurance plans for foreign visitors entering Singapore.

The three - AIG Asia Pacific Insurance, Chubb Insurance Singapore and HL Assurance - are providing at least S$30,000 in coverage for Covid-19 related medical treatment and hospitalisation costs for inbound travellers to the city-state.

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• Customer Services

Make a travel claim

For a smoother experience, ensure you have the relevant supporting documents ready beforehand:

• Flight/travel itinerary, boarding pass, or air ticket showing the dates of departure and arrival to and from Singapore.
• Original medical bills and receipts . Do request for a detailed breakdown of the expenses incurred, such as medical consultation, medication prescribed etc.
• Referral letter from a general or medical practitioner if specialist consultation and treatment were sought.
• Medical report or inpatient discharge summary from your attending doctor.
• Copy of death certificate, autopsy report, and coroner's findings, police report for death claims (if applicable).
• Letter of administration/probate (for death claim above SGD150,000).
• Proof of relationship between the deceased and yourself (for death claim).

If you are claiming for trip postponement, cancellation, curtailment, interruption, or disruption, refer to the list of documents here for the ones relevant to your claim:

• Letter from the travel agency or airline confirming the cost of non-refundable prepaid travelling expenses (including the cancellation fees).
• Written confirmation from a medical practitioner certifying you are unfit to travel or to continue with your trip (for cases of serious injury or illness).
• Original invoice or receipt, and a copy of the itinerary of the tour booking.
• Copy of death certificate (if a deceased who caused the cancellation).
• Proof of relationship between the deceased/injured/sick person and yourself.

If you are claiming for loss or damage of baggage, personal belongings, or money, refer to the list of documents here for the ones relevant to your claim:

• Copy of police report lodged at the place of loss within 24 hours.
• Property irregularity report obtained from the airline/cruise/train/bus operator in the event of baggage loss or damage.
• Photographs of damaged items.
• Letter of confirmation of loss baggage stating compensation amount.
• Copy of diagnostic report from repairer stating the cause and extent of damage.
• Repair bill or quotation of repair for damaged items.
• Original purchase receipt or credit card statement and warranty card of lost or damaged items.
• Invoice/receipt for the transport and accommodation expenses incurred to replace the lost passport or travel documents.
• Original receipt of the replacement passport .
• Property irregularity report on the delay and baggage acknowledgement form.
• Scheduled and revised travel itinerary and boarding pass for every flight.
• Letter from airline/cruise operator or their handling agent stating the reason and duration of delay.
• Police report filed at place of loss within 24 hours.
• Accident report .
• Rental agreement and/or receipt showing the vehicle excess amount.

Did you know?

You can submit your claims via your Financial Representative, and they can also help follow up on your specific needs.

How to make a travel claim

• Email and post

a. Prepare the relevant supporting documents.

• Ensure your files are no larger than 2MB per file.
• Maximum total upload size of all files together is 20MB per online submission.
• Only the following file formats are accepted: JPG, PNG, and PDF.
• Each document upload must have a different file name.

b. Submit your claims online via our travel claims portal .

1. Download claim form

To submit your travel claim, we'll require you to complete and submit the following form:

• Travel claim form

2. Include supporting documents

Ensure you include the documents listed above that are relevant to your claim.

3. Submission

Submit the completed form and supporting documents to us via email.

Attention to: General Insurance Claims Department Email: [email protected] Subject: Travel claim

By walk-in or post

You can also visit us at our customer service centre, or send all forms and documents and supporting documents to us by post.

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

Bad Experience with NTUC Income Travel Insurance

• Thread starter cut3han
• Start date Apr 30, 2020

More options

Senior member.

• Apr 30, 2020

Hi, I went for a cruise trip some time ago and bought NTUC travel insurance. My Nintendo Switch console was damaged as a result of mishandling of luggage. Cruise lines do not provide coverage for such matters, but I thought fortunately I have travel insurance I am able to claim for it. So the cruise line get me an incident report to file for a claim. Back in SG, I filed for the claim, its stated in NTUC travel insurance plan that the payout was up to $500 for damaged items in travel. So I thought this will be just a simple process. Boy was I wrong. Never did I expect NTUC income to be a bunch of jerks. Despite having a clear written report what are the faults, a quotation of repairs, plus original receipt given, NTUC income was insistent that I provide a damage diagnostic report, before they will process the claim. Harlow, the quotation of repairs already states very clearly what are the damages, what needs to be replaced, and what are the cost of repairs. What other info is needed on top of that? You don't know how to read or you got zero intelligence, NTUC? Most game shops, or even large retailers do not have your rocket scientist engineers to write up your detailed schematics or diagnostics, how the hell do you expect me to procure such a report for this? Even if there was such a service available, you'll be sure that kind of report aint gonna come cheap. The policy does not cover the costs of getting such a report. I could jolly well be spending a couple hundred bucks on getting this report, only for NTUC to tell me they can only allow me to claim 100 bucks. Does it even make sense? This is merely a $500 claimable item !! That just defeats the purpose of even buying the insurance, is it not? So, obviously NTUC rejected my claim, by alleging that i did not furnish "enough" documents for them. Yah, i'm sure i'm gonna get those, "you should know before buying NTUC", or the "NTUC is a business, insurers will definitely make it hard for you to claim" comments. But if you are in my shoes, are you not gonna feel the least bit frustrated? What is the point then of buying insurance when you are not at all insured, where you cannot even claim in the first place? Fine, if it is a fake claim, reject it and make it difficult by all means. But mine is a legitimate claim, my documents are already sufficient to prove the damages and cost to repair, why do you have to be such a dick and get anal over it? Of course, $500 is not too big a sum, I can move on from here. But if NTUC can be that much of a prick over a small claim like mine, you can imagine how they treat those medical and disability cases. Needless to say, I will be boycotting all NTUC income stuff and products in the future. You should too.  

battledome64

Master member.

Sorry to hijack, I also have an issue for travel cancellation due to Coronavirus. Now all policies specifically exclude it. I bought before the exclusion  

Arch-Supremacy Member

• May 1, 2020

Have you looked into working with CASE or FIDReC?  

Income is rubbish when it comes to claims, had a bad experience myself many years back. If u search the forum you will easily find handful of others with bad experiences of their own. I have told myself never to sign anything from Income no matter how cheap or attractive the offer. We have to spread the word. Insurance is useless if not claimable.  

Is this claim experience a norm for insurers who market themselves as “competitive” pricing? Something have to give when things are priced Low. But does it always have to be at the experience of consumers’ Claim experience?  

Tp101s said: Is this claim experience a norm for insurers who market themselves as “competitive” pricing? Something have to give when things are priced Low. But does it always have to be at the experience of consumers’ Claim experience? Click to expand...

Guys, thank you for your comments and suggestions. IMO, the business model NTUC Income practises is not so different from a scam. They make these fancy pitches of their policies yet they do not live up to their end of the bargain after they collected the premiums. If i just allow this issue to slip by, this is in fact emboldening them to continue to do this to other consumers as well. I don't want them to just get away with this. So I do intend to file a complaint on this matter to CASE / FIDREC or any other possible agencies. I have a legit claim. As long as I am able to demonstrate that I did indeed suffer losses as a result of my travel, and indicate clearly the damages and cost of repair, there is no valid reason why NTUC should reject paying simply by alleging there is the lack of this forensic pathologist "AUTOPSY" report that they constantly harp on. Of course $500 is not a big deal, but I feel this is a matter of principle. Also, I feel that this rejection NTUC is giving is a common pathetic excuse they employ often against their customers. They are out to make it as difficult and as troublesome as possible to deny claims whatsoever. Its relatively inexpensive to file a complaint, so I will do so and see how. I may not succeed, cos there might be some asinine fine print in the policy somewhere that NTUC will bring out to cover their arse later. So I am mentally prepared for this. There wont be a big loss to me even if this fails. But in a way I wanna see the extent how much of a twerp this organization can be, so I can do some effort to shame them. Just that now is the circuit breaker period, so that adds a layer of complication to go about doing this.  

oceanicmanta

Supremacy member.

Squaredot said: INCOME insurance travel insurance not cheapest in the market, I pay premium based on coverage details. So far I only made a claim for one trip cancellation. With hospital report, my claim was fast and easy. Now TS case shows us some claims are very difficult to be successful Click to expand...

oceanicmanta said: agree, I don't consider ntuc travel insurance pricing "competitive". never bought from them before regardless of insurer, i think it depends on what is being claimed ... i find "accidental damaged item" can get more scrutiny insurers also look at repair cost vs replacement cost vs depreciation etc $500 for such claim is large since it is the max claim under NTUC plan The $100 offer is probably for a "fully depreciated" item in NTUC's depreciation schedule ?? Click to expand...

cut3han said: Just to emphasize, $500 is the claim cap NTUC has for accidental damage during travel in the insurance package I bought. The quotation given to me by the retail shop is definitely within this $500 range. I am perfectly fine for NTUC to tell me that considering depreciation, they can just honour maybe $200 of the claim. That is perfectly reasonable. But to tell me that, oh because you don't have so & so report, then outright deny the claim, this is just a downright lowblow dickish move. Will you pay 200 bucks or more to get a report, only to get compensated back the same amount, or even lesser than that? Does that make sense to you? Then what is the point of buying insurance in the first place? How many times has NTUC gotten away from paying their customers with this cheapskate tactic? Click to expand...

• Nov 15, 2022

Anyone tried to claim air tickets cost from INCOME travel insurance due to tested positive 2 days before departure flight? Our airline is Scoot, air tix cost: ~$800 and we bought the top tier of the travel insurance plan. INCOME insisted on the letter of confirmation from the Airline stating that no refund is allowed for our flight, even though it was stated clearly on the Air Tickets receipt & Itinerary under the airfare rule "Cancellations, refunds and credits are not permitted" which we submitted during the claim application. It has been 1.5months and no response from Scoot when I requested for such letter. Anyone having the same issue?  

reddevil0728

Great supremacy member.

Merkava said: Anyone tried to claim air tickets cost from INCOME travel insurance due to tested positive 2 days before departure flight? Our airline is Scoot, air tix cost: ~$800 and we bought the top tier of the travel insurance plan. INCOME insisted on the letter of confirmation from the Airline stating that no refund is allowed for our flight, even though it was stated clearly on the Air Tickets receipt & Itinerary under the airfare rule "Cancellations, refunds and credits are not permitted" which we submitted during the claim application. It has been 1.5months and no response from Scoot when I requested for such letter. Anyone having the same issue? Click to expand...

reddevil0728 said: you got post on their social media? Click to expand...

Merkava said: Nope, I dun really post on social media. Does that helps? Btw u meant Scoot's social media right? Click to expand...

• Nov 16, 2022

Are insurance disputes eligible for Small Claims Court?  

BBCWatcher said: Are insurance disputes eligible for Small Claims Court? Click to expand...

Junior Member

• May 19, 2023

Merkava said: Anyone tried to claim air tickets cost from INCOME travel insurance due to tested positive 2 days before departure flight? Our airline is Scoot, air tix cost: ~$800 and we bought the top tier of the travel insurance plan. INCOME insisted on the letter of confirmation from the Airline stating that no refund is allowed for our flight, even though it was stated clearly on the Air Tickets receipt & Itinerary under the airfare rule "Cancellations, refunds and credits are not permitted" which we submitted during the claim application. It has been 1.5months and no response from Scoo Merkava said: Some may find it too much of a hassle, not sure if anyone has managed to? Click to expand...

Victoria56 said: Basically I find ntuc incomeshield staffs including sq not reasonable and come from a place they think bad of any large sum of claims submitted The incomeshield company are pioneer in shield and so many of us buy from them and now they are not reasonable.they impose a condition in my shield policy though I do not have that illness.they ask me to prove them wrong by paying specialist to complete their questionnaire though my regular physician told them I do not have such a Condition in a memo but the ntuc staff claim I have for past 12 years when I have never been admitted or treated for this condition in past 12 years .the ntuc incomeshield staffs not happy with that memo and said only a special can say that and forced me to pay 400 for the questionnaire.i did scan and xray that came up perfect to substantiate I do not have that condition but they send me a brief email saying review of questionnaire rejected and they cannot remove clause which makes no sense and very bizzare.Despite asking them for specific explaining why they rejected specialist questionnaire after making me pay so much to specialist the ntuc incomeshield staffs don't give proper reply.the ntuc incomeshield staffs appear vindictive by nature and their unreasonable conduct even when provided with all the documents they require make no sense.a lawyer I know in his 50s oftenv heart attack n heart diseases and he said income staffs pay his bills very fast within days though he admit in private hospital so I think the ntuc incomeshield pick the customer they can be difficult with as he is a lawyer Click to expand...

Income’s Travel Insurance Review: COVID-19 Coverage, Pre-existing Conditions, Promotions, Premiums

When you come across the acronym “NTUC,” the FairPrice supermarket probably comes to mind, as every self-respecting auntie would attest. However, frequent travellers may also associate it with the renowned travel insurance plans offered by NTUC Income. Now rebranded as Income Insurance , how does its Travel Insurance plans fare in the current market?

There is a prevailing notion that Income’s Travel Insurance plans come with a hefty price tag. Additionally, certain internet users have voiced grievances about the perceived challenge in filing claims.

Are these rumours accurate? Let’s delve into the truth once and for all.

Income’s Travel Insurance Review 2023

• Income’s Travel Insurance: Summary
• Income’s Travel Insurance Coverage
• Does Income’s Travel Insurance Cover Pre-Existing Conditions?
• What About COVID-19 Coverage?
• The Moment of Truth…How About Extreme Sports?
• Comparing Income vs MSIG vs Etiqa
• Comparing Income vs FWD
• Income Travel Insurance vs Other Travel Insurers
• Ongoing Promotions
• What Do Netizens Think About Income’s Travel Insurance?
• The Verdict: Should I buy Income’s Travel Insurance?

1. Income’s Travel Insurance: Summary

Income has 2 travel insurance plans:

• Travel Insurance Standard
• Income Enhanced PreX (covers pre-existing medical conditions)

Each travel insurance plan is then further sub-divided into 3 plan tiers which provide different amounts of coverage:

• Classic/ Basic PreX
• Deluxe/ Superior PreX
• Preferred/ Prestige PreX (most expensive)

The premiums you will pay for your travel insurance plan largely depend on the country you’re travelling to. Usually, the further your country of destination, the more expensive your travel insurance plan will be. Here are the countries that are covered by Income Travel Insurance:

• ASEAN : Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam
• Asia : Australia, China (no Mongolia, Tibet), Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Macau, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, ASEAN
• Worldwide : All countries
• Countries not covered : Afghanistan, Iraq, Liberia, Sudan, Syria

Back to top

2. Income’s Travel Insurance Coverage

Here’s a quick look at the premiums and coverage for the Income’s Travel Insurance Standard  plans:

At $250,000 to $1,000,000, Income’s Travel Insurance overseas medical coverage is generous compared to some of its competitors such as Sompo Travel Insurance’s $200,000 to $400,000 overseas medical limit.

However, do note that emergency medical evacuation shares the same overseas medical expense claim limit for adults aged 70 and over–which may not be sufficient if you are in that age range. If medical coverage is important to you, FWD Travel Insurance offers unlimited medical evacuation and repatriation coverage.

Total Premium

FWD Premium

[ Win a Rolex, FREE Travel Insurance & 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$11,000 worth of prizes in our Grand Draw . • Rolex Oyster Perpetual - 124200 34mm Silver (worth S$9,000). • 2D1N Staycation at any Millennium Hotels and Resorts and 15,000 My Millennium Points (worth up to S$550).    What's more? We are giving away FREE Travel Insurance to 8 lucky winners daily when you purchase your Travel Insurance, and submit the Claim Form between 12pm to 8pm .     Increase your chances of winning when you refer friends  today. T&Cs apply.

Key Features

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).

One great advantage of Income’s travel insurance is the high trip cancellation coverage ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. Other travel insurance providers might not be so generous. For instance, Great Eastern is offering $2,000 to $15,000, while  AIG offers $2,500 to $15,000.

Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier Classic

[MoneySmart Exclusive]    Enjoy up to   30% off  your policy premium and 2,400 My Millennium Points (worth S$16) with every policy purchased.  T&Cs apply.

Comprehensive worldwide protection with extensive medical coverage

Extended to coverage for travel inconveniences and medical expense due to COVID-19

One way coverage is available to your destination

Adventurous activities benefit - Complimentary benefits at no extra cost

Coverage for Emergency Dental Treatment, Traditional Chinese Medical (TCM) and Chiropractor treatments

Protect against pregnancy-related conditions while you are overseas

AIG Travel Guard® Direct - Basic

[Receive your cash as fast as 30 days*]   • Receive 2,400 My Millennium Points (worth S$16) with every policy purchased. • Additionally, receive up to S$50 via PayNow with eligible premiums spent. T&Cs apply.

Voted TripZilla's Best Travel Insurance (Single Trip).

Up to S$250,000 in overseas COVID-19 related medical coverage if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 overseas.

Overseas quarantine allowance of up to S$100 per day per person for up to 14 days if you test positive for COVID-19 overseas and are unexpectedly placed into mandatory quarantine.

Up to S$1,500 if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 and have to postpone your trip.

Up to S$7,500 in curtailment costs if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 while travelling and need to return to Singapore earlier than planned.

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 AIG Asia Pacific Insurance Pte. Ltd. or visit the AIG, GIA or SDIC websites (www.AIG.sg or www.gia.org.sg or www.sdic.org.sg).

Purchase your travel insurance with confidence and enjoy unlimited flexibility with AIG's Travel Guard® Direct.

3. Does Income’s Travel Insurance Cover Pre-Existing Conditions?

Income is one of the few insurers in Singapore providing comprehensive  travel insurance plans that cover pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma, eczema, diabetes, high blood pressure and even heart disease. The other 2 that cover pre-existing conditions are MSIG travel insurance and Etiqa travel insurance.

The most obvious difference between Income’s Enhanced PreX Travel Insurance plan and its regular Travel Insurance plan is, of course, price. The cheapest Income Enhanced PreX plan  costs over twice the price  of a regular Income Travel Insurance plan.

For those who have major health problems, you don’t have much of a choice. There’s no point in buying a cheap normal insurance plan with no coverage for you because you definitely will not be able to claim medical expenses, evacuation costs or travel delays linked to a flare-up of your condition.

It is especially worth the money if your condition is either life-threatening or very expensive to treat overseas.

However, if you have a condition that’s pure suffering but not immediately life-threatening, such as eczema, then it is your choice whether you want to spend more on Pre-Ex travel insurance for better coverage.

It’s important to look at the coverage limits if you’re seriously considering pre-existing travel insurance. Why? If you’re travelling somewhere with really expensive healthcare, like Europe or the US, you might want to upgrade to the Enhanced PreX Prestige plan.

Income’s Enhanced PreX Travel Insurance Premiums and Coverage

Is Income’s Travel Insurance for pre-existing medical conditions any good? For one,  Income PreX Travel Insurance covers COVID-19  while  MSIG TravelEasy Pre-Ex and  Tiq Travel Insurance Pre-Ex don’t cover you for COVID-19. So, if you want both pre-existing medical conditions and COVID-19 coverage in your travel insurance, Income Enhanced PreX is your only choice.

Even though Income Pre-Ex Travel Insurance offers you COVID-19 coverage, the downside is that they’ve lowered the medical benefits you get if you’re aged 70 and above. For example, for those aged 70 and above Income Enhanced PreX’s overseas medical and emergency medical evacuation coverage share a total claim limit of $500,000 for its basic plan tier (as opposed to up to $250,000 in overseas medical expenses and $500,000 in medical evacuation coverage for under 70s). 

By comparison, MSIG TravelEasy Pre-Ex basic offers $250,000 / $50,000 medical (below 70 / above 70) and $1,000,000 evacuation regardless of age, while Tiq Travel Insurance’s basic plan offers $200,000 medical and $1,000,000 evacuation and repatriation of mortal remains.

Otherwise, Income Enhanced PreX’s miscellaneous trip cancellation and baggage delay benefits are pretty good.

4. What About COVID-19 Coverage?

Whether you buy an Income Travel Insurance Standard or an Income Enhanced PreX Travel Insurance plan, you’ll be relieved to know that all Income Travel Insurance plans automatically come with COVID-19 coverage.

You won’t find the COVID-19 coverage table in the usual Income Travel Insurance policy wording. Instead, there’s a separate  Income Travel Insurance COVID-19 policy wording  document that you should refer to.

Most of us will not scrutinise the individual coverage limits on our travel insurance. We place a whole lot of trust in insurance companies to cover the bare essentials.

The good news is that Income’s Travel Insurance COVID-19 extension is simple and adequate. Take COVID-19 overseas medical coverage, for example. Income offers $150,000 while MSIG TravelEasy’s basic plan offers $75,000. Then, there’s overseas COVID-19 quarantine cash allowance, for which Income offers $100 per day, up to $1,400. By contrast, Etiqa’s basic plan offers $100 per day, up to $500 only.

5. The Moment of Truth…Does Income’s Travel Insurance Cover Extreme Sports?

Income’s Travel Insurance covers common vacation activities like scuba diving and skiing. It’s also adequate if you’re just looking to snorkel or participate in an easy trek with a guide or tour group with a licensed outdoor adventure operator.

However, extreme thrill seekers may want to go for a more lenient insurance provider such as  Direct Asia travel insurance , which properly covers extreme sports and martial arts.

6. Comparing Income vs MSIG vs Etiqa

If you’re considering Income’s Travel Insurance, you should be comparing it against established household insurance providers such as MSIG and Etiqa.

All 3 insurers, Income, MSIG, and Etiqa offer COVID-19 coverage in their travel insurance plans automatically. Other plans that include automatic COVID-19 coverage include Starr TraveLead Comprehensive, Bubblegum Travel Insurance, Singlife Travel Insurance and DBS Chubb Travel Insurance.

In terms of overseas medical expenses, MSIG offers comparable coverage to Income’s travel insurance. When it comes to other travel and logistics-related coverage such as trip cancellation and baggage loss, Income and MSIG travel insurance plans’ coverage are also pretty much on par. 

All things considered, Income and MSIG travel insurance plans are shockingly similar and competitive. The one key difference is emergency medical evacuation coverage for people aged 70 and over—Income’s Travel Insurance parks that under the overseas medical expense limit.

7. Comparing Income vs FWD

When you pit Income Travel Insurance against one of the most popular “budget” travel insurance providers, FWD, you’ll realise that the travel insurance offerings are very similar and competitive.

Between Income Travel Insurance and FWD travel insurance, coverage is largely on par if you’re considering a basic travel insurance plan with COVID-19 coverage. However, FWD’s prices are lower even if you purchase the COVID-19 add-on.

8. Income Travel Insurance vs Other Travel Insurers

At a glance, here’s how Income’s travel insurance stacks up compared to the other major travel insurers in Singapore.

9. Ongoing Promotions

Even though many Singaporeans probably don’t mind paying more for Income Travel Insurance just because it’s a household brand name, their travel insurance plans are actually pretty expensive.

However, with ongoing promotions like the current 45% discount promo, it can be value for money. All standard per-trip plans qualify for the promo.  For example, if you wanted to go temple-hopping for a week in Myanmar, the cheapest Classic plan would cost just $33.55 after the discount. Here are the premiums you’ll be paying with the current 45% discount promo:

In addition, Income is offering an additional 15% off Enhanced PreX per-trip plans with complimentary personal accident coverage for 6 months.

10. What Do Netizens Think About Income’s Travel Insurance?

If you follow insurance threads on forums or even talk to your friends about insurance claims over  kopi , you might have gotten wind of Income’s bad claims reputation . 

Unfortunately, online forums such as Hardwarezone and Reddit are full of similar stories from users claiming that their Income insurance claims were slow, long-drawn-out and plagued with difficulties. According to the users’ Income claim experiences, there was a lot of emphasis on the need for original invoices to be submitted.

To be fair, between these nasty stories, you’ll also find users who managed to claim from Income smoothly and received their cheques in the mail.

So, how do you make a claim? Your first port of call should be to get in touch with Income ASAP.

Income Travel Insurance Emergency hotline:  Call the Income emergency assistance hotline at +65 6788 6616

Here’s where it gets confusing. You have to identify the type of claim that you’re making and the “correct” way to submit it. Super important: all claims must be made within 30 days of the event or incident.

Income Travel insurance online claims:  Submit Income Travel Insurance claims online with supporting documents such as invoices, flight itineraries, police reports, etc. through their website. You can do so for the following benefits:

• Trip cancellation
• Trip shortening
• Travel delay
• Baggage delay
• Loss and damage of baggage or personal belongings

Income Hard copy claims:  For medical expenses, you need to fill in the Income Travel Insurance claim form and drop off the hard copy form with the supporting documents such as hospital bill, medical report, boarding pass, etc. at an Income branch.

Income Email claims:  For claims that do not involve travel inconveniences (see above) and medical expenses (see above), you’ll need to fill in Income’s Travel Insurance claim form digitally, and email it together with your supporting documents to [email protected] . Include your travel policy number in the subject line.

Income Claims settlement time:  If there is no dispute, Income will settle your claims within 10 working days or longer during high-volume travel periods like school holidays.

11. The Verdict: Should I buy Income’s Travel Insurance?

Income Travel Insurance isn’t the absolute cheapest around, but their regular travel insurance plans are very  affordable and value for money  when there’s a 45% promotion going on.

However, just because it’s a brand name doesn’t mean that its coverage is the highest in town, especially when you compare it with newcomers like FWD. That’s not a problem for most travellers though, unless you’re going to a super expensive country or encounter some unusual scenario.

For most Singaporeans who just want to eat, chill and relax on holiday, Income’s Travel Insurance is more than adequate especially as it also provides COVID-19 coverage. However, daredevils should take note that it does not cover more thrilling activities like mountaineering and other extreme sports.

If you have a  pre-existing medical condition , Income Enhanced PreX is one of the very few travel insurance options suitable for you. It is pricey for sure, but probably worth the money if you have a life-threatening condition like asthma or heart disease. Make sure that the plan is sufficient to cover your overseas expenses and/or evacuation.

Still looking for travel insurance? Compare the  best travel insurance  in Singapore here .

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How to File a Travel Insurance Claim

W hen it comes to travel, there are generally two types of people: people who cannot travel as it is too expensive and those who budget $4,000 per year for vacations, according to Forbes. Travel is costly, so people often purchase travel insurance to safeguard their financial investment from unforeseen events like illnesses, luggage delays, personal emergencies, and more.

When policyholders pay honest money for an insurance policy to offer protection, they want to be able to reap the benefits of the travel insurance claim. If your travel insurance company has denied payment, our tips on how to properly file a travel insurance claim may be helpful.

Why Buy Travelers Insurance?

Travel is generally less stressful with vacation insurance — it is packaged as a wise investment that can protect you against financial losses due to unexpected events. For instance, the U.S. State Department highly recommends international travel trip insurance as Medicare and Medicaid often do not cover overseas medical costs.

The travel insurance premium is relatively small compared to the non-refundable trip costs you could lose in a bad situation. It is particularly worth it if your trip involves non-refundable costs, international travel, or travel to a remote area with limited healthcare facilities or regions prone to natural disasters.

Some of the primary reasons people buy trip insurance are to help offset:

• Emergency medical services and treatment
• Cancellations due to a sudden illness or serious health condition
• Emergency evacuation
• Loss of a friend or family member
• Compromised destinations
• Delayed or lost luggage
• Trip interruption or cancellation

What Is Not Covered By Travel Insurance?

The best insurance policies cover basic and common travel risks and bundle different coverage types related to trip cancellation, medical issues, luggage or trip delays, and more. Travel insurance is not meant to cover all foreseeable events, and every policy will address exclusions differently. Examples of potential limitations are:

• Tropical storms, hurricanes, and other dangerous weather conditions
• Certain medical issues
• Acts of war
• High-risk behavior involving drugs, unlawful acts, or riots
• Government-imposed restrictions

Travel insurance claims submitted without proper documentation or cancellation for reasons not covered by your travel policy are surefire ways to prevent coverage and reimbursement. This is why it is helpful to understand travel insurance coverage properly and take appropriate actions before assuming foul play.

Can You Cancel Travel Insurance and Get a Refund?

Most travel insurance carriers allow refunds, depending on when a policy is canceled and if there is a money-back guarantee. Most insurers ask that the policy be revoked during the review period outlined in the contract terms to qualify for a complete travel insurance refund. If the review period has passed, then policyholders might be eligible for a partial refund or not qualify for one at all.

What To Do if a Travel Insurance Claim Is Denied

If your travel insurance claim submitted for medical reasons, delays, cancellations, or any other reason was denied by your insurer, then remember that you have options. Both denials and rejections may happen for valid as well as unethical reasons. An insurance claim denial is not the end of the road; you can dig deeper to figure out whether you can still be reimbursed under your insurance.

Travel insurance claims are routinely denied when policyholders make common mistakes in their claim forms, or they mistakenly assume their policy covers their specific situation. Good faith denials happen when policyholders do not fill out their travel insurance claim form correctly, do not submit the right documents, or do not include info like contact details for follow-up questions.

In some cases, travel insurance companies may wrongly deny claims and stall the claims process. For instance, they might fail to investigate the claim or conduct proper due diligence. In such scenarios, it is advisable that policyholders adjust and resubmit their insurance claim, appeal the denial, or pursue legal action if insurers continue to illegally hold their payout.

How To Appeal a Travel Insurance Claim: 4 Steps

The travel insurance claim appeal process allows policyholders to ask the insurer to reconsider its decision. When appealing their travel insurance claim, policyholders must:

• Carefully Review the Denial Letter: Review the specific reasons for the denial to determine your next steps. Cross-check the reasons stated with your policy documents, additional emails, and other papers.
• Review Your Policy: Review the terms of your travel insurance policy and pay attention to disclaimers, damage limits, filing time limits, and submission requirements.
• Reach Out for Assistance: After carefully reviewing your policy, if you find the denial letter and policy terms do not line up, contact an insurance legal expert with experience in handling travel insurance claims for help.
• Gather Documentation and Keep Careful Records: Maintain communication records with your insurer, copies of denial letters, and other documentation regarding your claim.

How To Write a Travel Insurance Claim Letter

Sometimes, travelers have to file a trip insurance claim when their vacation does not go according to the plan. A travel insurance claim letter is a formal piece of communication between you and your insurance agency. Its purpose is to ask for reimbursement for covered damages or losses under the travel insurance policy. Therefore, it is important to craft a professional and detailed claim letter to increase your chances of a favorable resolution.

A claim letter should include the following information:

• Introduce Yourself. Include all relevant information of the person appealing (such as the policy number and contact information).
• Address the Denial. Summarize the date you received the letter and why the denial was made. Do not leave out any important details.
• Point Out the Error. Explain why you do not agree with the claims denial, based on your policy and pertinent information.
• Attach Extra Documents. Include all other documents supporting your trip insurance claim, such as photos, additional correspondence, transcripts of phone calls, etc.

How Long Does It Take To Get Reimbursed From Insurance?

Travel insurance companies generally process most claims within a few weeks. Sometimes, the insurance claims process office might have follow-up questions, thereby increasing the time you can expect to hear back. However, if you feel that your insurance claim is taking months to resolve without a proper reason, you should speak to an experienced insurance dispute lawyer. While every situation is different, policyholders should always keep careful and consistent notes as it will help them take informed legal action if necessary.

Travel Insurance Claims Advice on Documentation

You must be thorough with your documentation to enhance your chance of successful recovery. When you file a trip claim, your insurer will more likely refund travel insurance when you include the following information in your claim submission:

• Lost Luggage: Make a list of what was lost, along with the details and cost of each lost item.
• Job Loss: Request that your previous employer send you a notarized letter on company letterhead in the case of a trip cancellation due to job loss.
• Medical Emergency: Include detailed medical records in your claim if a health emergency kept you from traveling.
• Canceled/Delayed Flight: If you could not attend your trip because the flight was canceled or delayed, provide proof such as an email that relays the reasons (mechanical issues, weather, etc.).
• Receipts for Delayed Flights: You might want to keep receipts for necessary expenses incurred due to delays, like hotel stays, transportation costs, meals, and personal necessities.
• Police Reports: These reports can help substantiate claims made for stolen items or car troubles.
• Other Reports: You may include tickets for unused flights or excursions in your insurance claim.

Has a Formal Complaint Been Filed Against the Travel Supplier?

Formal complaints against travel suppliers are helpful in legal cases dealing with similar situations. The Van Rossem v. Penney Travel Service (April 15, 1985) case exemplifies travel insurance gone wrong.

In this case, a newlywed couple arranged a honeymoon trip with travel agent Penney Travel. The agent used a wholesaler, Lotus Tours, to book the reservation without the couple's knowledge. Lotus Tours abruptly went bankrupt before booking the client's reservation with SANDLES, which remained unpaid. When the case came before the court, the judge noted that "an agent who makes the contract in his own name for an undisclosed principal is liable as a principal." Here, the defendant had failed to disclose the identity of Lotus Tours, and so, it was responsible as the principal. The couple had paid $2,059 in advance. The judge awarded them reimbursement of $1,312, plus costs and disbursements.

In another lawsuit, Touhey v. Trans National Travel , a travel agent did not check to see if the hotel a client had booked was duly constructed. The plaintiff-client was awarded $25,000 in special damages because of the mistake.

What Are Bad Faith Insurance Practices?

Bad faith insurance refers to unethical insurance practices used by an insurer to delay, deny, or lowball policyholders. Examples of bad faith insurance practices include:

• Misrepresenting contract language to prevent a payout
• Failing to disclose policy limitations and exclusions to policyholders
• Making unreasonable demands, like excessive paperwork requests to prove a covered loss

Sometimes, only a seasoned insurance dispute lawyer who regularly deals with contract breaches and bad faith claims can identify honest errors from serious red flags and help a policyholder get paid their due.

How to File a Travel Insurance Claim: A Summary

Travelers usually plan their vacations down to the last detail. Travel insurance is a buffer for unplanned curveballs that can derail even the most meticulous plans, such as medical emergencies or misplaced luggage.

Insurance companies are explicit about what travel mishaps or unexpected events they will or will not cover, which is why it is crucial to understand policy limitations and how to properly file a travel insurance claim.

As a final snapshot, the key steps to filing a travel insurance claim include:

• Reviewing policy terms and exclusions.
• Gathering necessary documentation based on submission requirements.
• Submitting your claim according to the insurer's timing and filing guidelines.
• Filing an appeal if an insurance claim is wrongly denied.
• Consulting an experienced insurance dispute lawyer to assist with an intentionally stalled, denied, or undervalued claim.

Travel insurance claims can become challenging, depending on the situation and response from your insurer. When small bumps in the road become permanent roadblocks, it is helpful to know that qualified travel insurance claims attorneys are available to help frustrated policyholders recover their losses. 

• Travel Insurance

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To the extent any recommendations or statements of opinion or fact made in a story may constitute financial advice, they constitute general information and not personal financial advice in any form. As such, any recommendations or statements do not take into account the financial circumstances, investment objectives, tax implications, or any specific requirements of readers.

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Travel Insurance For Singapore: The Complete Guide

Updated: Apr 4, 2024, 12:29pm

Table of Contents

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Singapore Travel Insurance

What does travel insurance for singapore cover, can i tailor my travel insurance for singapore, what does travel insurance for singapore exclude, how much does travel insurance for singapore cost, how can i compare travel insurance for singapore, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Singapore has long been a holiday favourite for Australians, either as a stop-over city on the way to Europe or the Middle East or as base for exploring Asia. According to the latest figures from data portal, Statista, 566,000 Australians visited the country in 2022.

If you’re also planning to visit, travel insurance for Singapore can safeguard your trip against a number of potential mishaps, such as falling ill while away, losing your luggage and belongings or even needing to cancel the trip before it’s even begun. Singapore is a safe country, but the cost of medical care is high.  Find out more about how travel insurance for Singapore works below.

Fast Cover Travel Insurance

On Fast Cover’s Secure Website

Cancellations

Unlimited, (Trip Disruption $50,000)

Rental Vehicle Excess

Key Features

25-Day Cooling Off Period, Australian Based Call Centre, 4.6 Star Product Review Rating

Cover-More Travel Insurance

On Cover-more’s secure website

Medical cover

Unlimited, with a $2000 limit to dental

Yes, amount chosen by customer

Southern Cross Travel Insurance (Comprehensive)

Option of Cruise Cover

Unlimited medical

Yes (some sub limits apply)

There are three main types of travel insurance policy for Singapore. These are:

• Single trip: for a one-off trip in the space of 12 months to Singapore
• Annual multi-trip : for more than one trip in the space of 12 months to Singapore or various destinations. This type of cover can work out more cost-effective than buying multiple single trip policies but not always so it’s best to compare both types of cover.
• Long-stay/backpacker : for an extended stay in Singapore, of typically 60 or 90 days, or 12 or 18 months. Cover for 24 months may be available, from certain providers.

When applying for travel insurance online, you’ll first be asked to enter your holiday destination. Depending on the insurer, you’ll need to click on Singapore, Asia or Worldwide travel excluding the US and nearby destinations such as Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada and Greenland. The latter option excludes a part of the world where medical costs are the highest, which in turn, bumps up the cost of cover. If you’re also planning to travel to the US, for example, there are separate worldwide policies that include it as a destination.

Insurers usually offer at least two or more types of travel insurance policy from basic or comprehensive cover and anything in between. Comprehensive policies offer the highest cover levels and widest range of benefits.

A key component of all travel insurance policies is emergency medical cover. You’ll find a comprehensive policy for Singapore will often offer an unlimited amount.

The standard of medical facilities and care in Singapore is similar to, or higher than in Australia, and the cost often much higher, so medical cover can prove a vital resource should you fall ill, or get injured, while away.

Note that in the case of an emergency, you’ll likely need to pay up-front first, and then reclaim the costs from your insurer, or confirm payment from your insurer with a hospital before it will provide treatment.

As standard, travel insurance for Singapore can also cover repatriation and emergency rescue, in severe medical cases, the loss or theft of your baggage and belongings and trip cancellation if you can no longer travel for reasons such as falling ill, suffering a bereavement or losing your job.

They will also likely include an array of other forms of protection, providing the most at comprehensive level. This includes cover for lost or stolen money, passports and documentation, missed departures, online fraud, and travel delay. The types of cover on offer, and cover limits, will vary between providers. You can find exactly what a policy includes in its product disclosure statement (PDS), which is usually found on an insurer’s website.

There are a number of ways you can ensure your policy fits your needs. Many insurers offer optional add-ons that you can purchase if you need specialised cover. These include insurance for gadgets (such as a smartphone or laptop), a cruise and playing golf.

If you’re thinking of participating in more high-octane activities, check your policy’s PDS. Many cover around 100 or so sports automatically. Cover for what an insurer classes as high-risk activities, such as skydiving, bungee jumping, outdoor rock climbing, and activities requiring a set of wheels, such as quad biking, may require purchasing an additional ‘sports pack’ for your policy.

While reading through a policy’s PDS, it’s crucial to also take note of any limitations of cover. These can differ between policies, but generally you can expect most insures to refuse claims relating to a pre-existing condition. This is a medical condition you had before taking out the policy. The insurer may not cover such conditions, or may refuse your claim if you did not declare your condition on applying for the policy.

An insurer is also unlikely to accept claims for an injury caused by taking part in a sport or activity where you did not wear the appropriate safety gear, such as a helmet, knee pads or a harness. Claims resulting from disorderly behaviour or being under the influence of drink or drugs will also likely be rejected.

It’s best to regularly check government advice for your destination, which it publishes on its Smartraveller website. This includes warnings about natural disasters, terrorism threats and pandemics. Visiting Singapore, or a part of the country, if the government puts it on its “do not travel” list, could invalidate your policy.

The amount you’ll need to pay for your travel insurance policy will depend on a range of factors. An insurer will consider your holiday destination, associated costs when travelling there and the length of time you’ll be travelling.

The price of a policy can rise for mature travellers and those with pre-existing conditions, as insurers view these travellers as more likely to claim on their policy.

To provide an idea of how much travel insurance for Singapore can cost, we ran quotes on the sites of the insurers we’ve rated the top five for travel insurance.

We used the profile of a family of four, aged 42, 40, 14 and 12, spending 13 to 26 May in the country, and assumed they have no pre-existing conditions, (although these providers do offer cover for pre-existing conditions should you need it).

We found basic cover ranged from around $106 to $202, while comprehensive cover started at around $241, with the most expensive policy costing just under $304.

Before choosing a policy, it’s important to shop around. An easy way to do this is to run quotes on the websites of various insurers and compare factors such as the type of cover a policy includes and cover levels against price.

To help you with your search, we’ve conducted some research and found our pick of the best comprehensive travel insurance policies .

Is travel insurance for Singapore worth it?

While travel insurance for Singapore isn’t mandatory, it can be considered a travel essential if you have no other means of covering emergency costs while away.

Emergency medical fees can easily stack up to thousands of dollars alone, and without travel insurance in place, you would have to cover them out of pocket. Travel insurance also can cover a number of eventualities that we often fail to consider, such as an airline, transport company, or accommodation provider going bust.

What is ‘excess’ in insurance?

An excess is a set amount you’ll be expected to pay on each approved claim. It’s usually levied per person on the policy, per event, per claim, but you can check the PDS for the specifics concerning your insurer. You usually can pick from a range of excess amounts, from $50 to $250 on average, when taking out a policy.

The more you choose to pay in excess, the lower your policy premium—the cost of your policy—typically will be, while paying less in excess will raise the cost. An excess is usually deducted from a claim amount, so you won’t need to pay for it out of pocket. However, it’s still crucial that you make sure it’s affordable.

Can I buy a policy while I’m in Singapore?

Some providers won’t cover a holiday if it’s already started. Others may cover you, but apply a waiting period of around 72 hours before you can claim.

The best time to take out travel insurance is as soon as you’ve booked your holiday, as you’ll be immediately covered for trip cancellation. Insurers are highly unlikely to consider claims resulting from something that happened before you took out the policy.

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Key benefits of travel medical insurance

• Travel medical insurance coverage
• Who needs medical travel insurance?

Choosing the right travel medical insurance

How to use travel medical insurance, is travel medical insurance right for your next trip, travel medical insurance: essential coverage for health and safety abroad.

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

• Travel medical insurance covers unexpected emergency medical expenses while traveling.
• Travelers off to foreign countries or remote areas should strongly consider travel medical insurance.
• If you have to use your travel medical insurance, keep all documents related to your treatment.

Of all the delights associated with travel to far-flung locales, getting sick or injured while away from home is low on the savvy traveler's list. Beyond gut-wrenching anxiety, seeking medical treatment in a foreign country can be exceedingly inconvenient and expensive.

The peace of mind that comes with travel insurance for the many things that could ail you while abroad is priceless. As options for travel-related insurance abound, it's essential to research, read the fine print, and act according to the specifics of your itinerary, pocketbook, and other needs.

Travel insurance reimburses you for any unexpected medical expenses incurred while traveling. On domestic trips, travel medical insurance usually take a backseat to your health insurance. However, when traveling to a foreign country, where your primary health insurance can't cover you, travel medical insurance takes the wheel. This can be especially helpful in countries with high medical care costs, such as Scandinavian countries.

Emergency medical evacuation insurance

Another benefit that often comes with travel medical insurance, emergency medical evacuation insurance covers you for any costs to transport you to an adequately equipped medical center. Emergency medical evacuation insurance is often paired with repatriation insurance, which covers costs associated with returning your remains to your home country if the worst happens. 

These benefits are for worst-case scenarios, but they might be more necessary depending on the type of trips you take. Emergency medical evacuation insurance is helpful if you're planning on traveling to a remote location or if you're traveling on a cruise as sea to land evacuations can be costly. Some of the best travel insurance companies also offer non-medical evacuations as part of an adventure sports insurance package.

It's also worth mentioning that emergency medical evacuation insurance is required for international students studying in the US on a J Visa. 

Types of coverage offered by travel medical insurance

The exact terms of your coverage will vary depending on your insurer, but you can expect most travel medical insurance policies to offer the following coverages.

• Hospital room and board
• Inpatient/outpatient hospital services
• Prescription Drugs
• COVID-19 treatment
• Emergency room services
• Urgent care visits
• Local ambulance
• Acute onset of pre-existing conditions
• Dental coverage (accident/sudden relief of pain)
• Medical care due to terrorist attack
• Emergency medical evacuation 
• Repatriation of mortal remains
• Accidental death and dismemberment

Travel medical insurance and pre-existing conditions

Many travel insurance providers will cover pre-existing conditions as long as certain conditions are met. For one, travelers need to purchase their travel insurance within a certain time frame from when they placed a deposit on their trip, usually two to three weeks. 

Additionally, travel insurance companies usually only cover stable medical conditions, which are conditions that don't need additional medical treatment, diagnosis, or medications.

Who needs travel medical insurance?

Even the best-laid travel plans can go awry. As such, it pays to consider your potential healthcare needs before taking off, even if you are generally healthy. Even if well-managed, preexisting conditions like diabetes or asthma can make a medical backup plan even more vital.

Having what you need to refill prescriptions or get other care if you get stuck somewhere other than home could be essential to your health and well-being. That's without counting all the accidents and illnesses that can hit us when away from home.

Individuals traveling for extended periods (more than six months) or engaging in high-risk activities (think scuba diving or parasailing) should also consider a solid medical travel plan. Both scenarios increase the likelihood that medical attention, whether routine or emergency, could be needed.

In the case of travel via the friendly seas, it's also worth considering cruise trip medical travel insurance . Routine care will be available onboard. But anything beyond that will require transportation to the nearest land mass (and could quickly become extremely expensive, especially if you're in another country).

Like other types of insurance, medical travel insurance rates are calculated based on various factors. Failing to disclose a preexisting health condition could result in a lapse of coverage right when you need it, as insurers can cancel your policy if you withhold material information. So honesty is always the best policy.

Even the best-laid travel plans can go awry. As such, it pays to consider your potential healthcare needs before taking off, even if you are generally healthy. Making the right choice when shopping for travel medical insurance can mean the difference between a minor hiccup in your travels and a financial nightmare. 

When a travel insurance company comes up with a quote for your policy, they take a few factors into consideration, such as your age, your destination, and the duration of your trip. You should do the same when assessing a travel insurance company. 

For example, older travelers who are more susceptible to injury may benefit from travel medical insurance (though your premiums will be higher). If you're traveling for extended periods throughout one calendar year, you should look into an annual travel medical insurance plan . If you're engaging in high-risk activities (think scuba diving or parasailing), you should seek a plan that includes coverage for injuries sustained in adventure sports.

Travel medical insurance isn't just for peace of mind. If you travel often enough, there's a good chance you'll eventually experience an incident where medical treatment is necessary.

Before you submit your claim, you should take some time to understand your policy. Your travel medical insurance is either primary (you can submit claims directly to your travel medical insurance provider) or secondary (you must first submit claims to your primary insurance provider). In the case of secondary travel medical insurance, a refusal notice from your primary insurance provider, even if it does not cover medical claims outside the US, is often required as evidence of protocol.

On that note, you should be sure to document every step of your medical treatment. You should keep any receipts for filled prescriptions, hospital bills, and anything else documenting your medical emergency.

As many people have found out the hard way, reading the fine print is vital. Most travel insurance policies will reimburse your prepaid, nonrefundable expenses if you fall ill with a severe condition, including illnesses like COVID-19. 

Still on the fence about whether or not medical travel insurance is worth it ? It's worth noting that many travel insurance plans also include medical protections, so you can also protect against trip cancellations and other unexpected developments while obtaining travel medical insurance.

While short, domestic trips may not warrant travel medical insurance, it may be a good idea to insure longer, international trips. You should also consider travel medical insurance for trips to remote areas, where a medical evacuation may be expensive, and more physically tasking trips.

While shopping for travel medical insurance may not be fun, a little advance leg work can let you relax on your trip and give you peace of mind. After all, that is the point of a vacation. 

Medical travel insurance frequently asked questions

Trip insurance covers any unexpected financial losses while traveling, such as the cost of replacing lost luggage, trip interruptions, and unexpected medical expenses. Travel medical insurance just covers those medical expenses without the trip interruption or cancellation insurance.

Travel insurance companies usually offer adventure sports as add-on coverage or a separate plan entirely. You'll likely pay more for a policy with adventure sports coverage. 

Many travel medical insurance policies now include coverage for COVID-19 related medical expenses and treat it like any other illness. However, you should double-check your policy to ensure that is the case.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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NTUC Income Travel Insurance review: Covid-19 coverage, pre-existing conditions, premiums

Asia One · 2023-12-14 12:10

What do you think of when you hear the acronym "NTUC"? The FairPrice supermarket, of course, said every self-respecting auntie ever. But frequent travellers might also think of NTUC Income's popular travel insurance plan since they are one of Singapore's biggest travel insurance providers.

However, NTUC Income travel insurance plans also have a reputation for being expensive. Some internet users have also complained that it is difficult to make claims.

Are these rumours true? Let's find out once and for all.

1. NTUC travel insurance summary

NTUC Income has two travel insurance plans:

NTUC Travel Insurance Standard

NTUC Income Enhanced PreX (covers pre-existing medical conditions)

Each travel insurance plan is then further sub-divided into three plan tiers which provide different amounts of coverage:

Classic/ Basic PreX

Deluxe/ Superior PreX

Preferred/ Prestige PreX (most expensive)

The premiums you will pay for your travel insurance plan largely depend on the country you’re travelling to. Usually, the further your country of destination, the more expensive your travel insurance plan will be. Here are the countries that are covered by NTUC travel insurance:

Asean: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam

Asia: Australia, China (no Mongolia, Tibet), Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Macau, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, ASEAN

Worldwide: All countries

Countries not covered: Afghanistan, Iraq, Liberia, Sudan, Syria

2. NTUC travel insurance coverage

Here’s a quick look at the premiums and coverage for the NTUC Travel Insurance Standard plans:

NTUC Travel Insurance Classic Deluxe Preferred

Price  (Asean) $61/week $75/week $98/week

Price (Asia) $70/week $88/week $122/week

Price (Worldwide) $137/week $156/week $195/week

Overseas medical expenses $250,000 $500,000 $1,000,000

Emergency medical evacuation $500,000 Unlimited Unlimited

Personal accident (death, TPD) $150,000 $200,000 $500,000

Travel delay ($100/6 hours) $1,000 $1,500 $2,000

Trip cancellation $5,000 $10,000 $15,000

Baggage delay ($200/6 hours) $1,000 $1,200 $2,000

Baggage loss $3,000 $5,000 $8,000

Sports & Adventure Some (Scuba diving, hiking, skiing covered)

Covid-19 Yes

At $250,000 to $1,000,000, NTUC travel insurance's overseas medical coverage is generous compared to some of its competitors such as Sompo Travel Insurance's $200,000 to $400,000 overseas medical limit.

However, do note that emergency medical evacuation shares the same overseas medical expense claim limit for adults aged 70 and over — which may not be sufficient if you are in that age range, run into an adverse medical situation abroad, and require both immediate treatment and a medical flight home to Singapore. If medical coverage is important to you, FWD Travel Insurance offers unlimited medical evacuation and repatriation coverage.

One great advantage of NTUC Income's travel insurance is the high trip cancellation coverage ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. Other travel insurance providers might not be so generous. For instance, Great Eastern is offering $2,000 to $15,000, while AIG offers $2,500 to $15,000.

3. NTUC travel insurance pre-existing conditions

NTUC Income is one of the few insurers in Singapore that provide comprehensive travel insurance plans that cover pre-existing medical conditions, such as asthma, eczema, diabetes, high blood pressure, even heart disease. The other two that cover pre-existing conditions are MSIG travel insurance and Etiqa travel insurance.

The most obvious difference between a Pre-Ex travel insurance plan and a regular travel insurance plan is, of course, price. The cheapest NTUC PreX plan costs over twice the price of a regular NTUC travel insurance plan!

For those who have major health problems, you don't have much of a choice. There's no point buying a cheap normal insurance with no coverage for you at all because you definitely will not be able to claim medical expenses, evacuation costs or travel delays linked to a flare-up of your condition.

It is especially worth the money if your condition is either life-threatening or very expensive to treat overseas.

However, if you have a condition that's pure suffering not immediately life-threatening, such as eczema, then it is your choice whether you want to spend more on Pre-Ex travel insurance for better coverage.

It's important to look at the coverage limits if you're seriously considering pre-existing travel insurance. Why? If you're travelling to somewhere with really expensive healthcare, like Europe or the US, you might want to upgrade to the Enhanced PreX Prestige plan.

NTUC Enhanced PreX travel insurance premiums and coverage:

NTUC Enhanced PreX Travel Insurance Basic PreX Superior PreX Prestige PreX

Price (ASEAN) $102/week $128/week $149/week

Price (Asia) $121/week $156/week $183/week

Price (Worldwide) $194/week $240/week $277/week

Overseas medical expenses $500,000 $500,000 $1,000,000

Emergency medical evacuation Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited

Personal accident (death, TPD) $200,000 $200,000 $500,000

Travel delay ($100/6 hours) $1,500 $1,500 $2,000

Trip cancellation $10,000 $10,000 $15,000

Trip postponement $1,000 $1,000 $2,000

Baggage delay ($200/6 hours) $1,200 $1,200 $2,000

Baggage loss $5,000 $5,000 $8,000

Sports & Adventure Limited (scuba diving, hiking, skiing covered)

Is NTUC's travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions any good? For one, NTUC PreX travel insurance covers Covid-19 while MSIG Pre-Ex and Etiqa Pre-Ex don't cover you for Covid-19. So, if you want both pre-existing medical conditions and Covid-19 coverage in your travel insurance, NTUC Enhanced PreX is your only choice.

Even though NTUC Pre-Ex travel insurance offers you Covid-19 coverage, the downside is that they've lowered the medical benefits you get if you're aged 70 and above.

For example, for those aged 70 and above NTUC PreX's overseas medical and emergency medical evacuation coverage share a total claim limit of $500,000 for its basic plan tier (as opposed to up to $250,000 in overseas medical expenses and $500,000 in medical evacuation coverage for under 70s).

By comparison, MSIG Pre-Ex basic offers $250,000 / $50,000 medical (below 70 / above 70) and $1,000,000 evacuation regardless of age, while Etiqa Pre-Ex basic offers $200,000 medical and $1,000,000 evacuation and repatriation of mortal remains.

Otherwise, NTUC PreX's miscellaneous trip cancellation and baggage delay benefits are pretty good.

4. NTUC travel insurance Covid-19 coverage

Whether you buy an NTUC Travel Insurance Standard or an NTUC Enhanced PreX Travel Insurance plan, you'll be relieved to know that all NTUC travel insurance plans automatically come with Covid-19 coverage.

You won't find the Covid-19 coverage table in the usual NTUC travel insurance policy wording. Instead, there's a separate NTUC travel insurance Covid-19 policy wording document that you should refer to.

NTUC travel insurance's Covid-19 coverage and benefits:

NTUC Travel Insurance Covid Coverage (covers PreX)

Trip cancellation $2,000

Trip postponement $2,000

Trip shortening $2,000

Trip disruption $1,000

Medical expenses overseas $150,000

Emergency medical evacuation $150,000

Overseas quarantine allowance ($100/day)   $1,400

Few of us really scrutinise the individual coverage limits on our travel insurance, trusting that they do cover the bare essentials.

The good news is that NTUC travel insurance's Covid-19 extension is simple, and adequate. Take Covid-19 overseas medical coverage for example, NTUC offers $150,000 while MSIG' basic plan offers $75,000. Then, there's overseas Covid-19 quarantine cash allowance, which NTUC gives $100 per day, up to $1,400, but Etiqa's basic plan offers $100 per day, up to $500 only.

5. NTUC travel insurance: Extreme sports

Since our last review in July 2022, NTUC has updated its Travel Insurance policy to include more common vacation activities like scuba diving and skiing.

Nevertheless, extreme thrill seekers may want to go for a more lenient insurance provider such as Direct Asia travel insurance, which properly covers extreme sports and martial arts.

Extreme Sports & Outdoor Adventure NTUC Travel Insurance

Hot air balloon Not stated

Scuba diving Yes (up to 30m)

Skiing and other ice/snow sports Yes

Hiking or trekking Yes (up to 4,000m)

Mountaineering or outdoor rock climbing No (but man-made walls are ok)

Marathons and other competitions Yes

Jet skiing Not stated

White water rafting Yes

Skydiving Yes

Paragliding, hang gliding or parachuting Yes

Bungee jumping Yes

To be honest, NTUC Travel Insurance is adequate if you're looking to snorkel or join a guided tour group with a licensed outdoor adventure operator. But if you’re a hardcore adrenaline junkie… you might want to look around instead.

6. NTUC vs MSIG vs Etiqa travel insurance

If you’re considering NTUC travel insurance, you should be comparing it against established household insurance providers such as MSIG and Etiqa.

  NTUC Travel Insurance MSIG Travel Insurance Etiqa Travel Insurance

Price (per week) $61 – $195 $62 – $208.50 $58-280

Covid-19 (per week) Included Included Included (non pre-ex plans only)

Medical Expenses (Overseas) $250,000 – $1,000,000 $250,000 – $1,000,000 $200,000 – $2,500,000

Emergency Medical Evacuation $500,000 – unlimited $1,000,000 $500,000 – Unlimited

Trip Cancellation $5,000 – $15,000 $5,000 – $15,000 $5,000 – $15,000

Baggage Loss $3,000 – $8,000 $3,000 – $7,500 $3,000 – $10,000

All 3 insurers, NTUC, MSIG, and Etiqa offer Covid-19 coverage in their travel insurance plans automatically. Other plans that include automatic Covid-19 coverage include Starr TraveLead Comprehensive, Bubblegum Travel Insurance, Singlife Travel Insurance and DBS Chubb Travel Insurance.

In terms of overseas medical expenses, MSIG offers comparable coverage to NTUC's travel insurance. When it comes to other travel and logistics-related coverage such as trip cancellation and baggage loss, NTUC and MSIG travel insurance plans' coverage are also pretty much on par.

All things considered, NTUC and MSIG travel insurance plans are shockingly similar and competitive. A key difference is emergency medical evacuation coverage for people aged 70 and over-NTUC travel insurance parks that under the overseas medical expense limit.

7. NTUC vs FWD travel insurance

When you pit NTUC travel insurance against one of the most popular "budget" travel insurance providers, FWD, you'll realise that the travel insurance offerings are very similar and competitive.

  NTUC Travel Insurance FWD Travel Insurance

Price (per week) $61 – $195 $31.50 – $101.62

Covid-19 (per week) Included $11.39 – $20.04

Medical Expenses (Overseas) $250,000 – $1,000,000 $200,000 – $1,000,000

Emergency Medical Evacuation $500,000 – Unlimited Unlimited

Trip Cancellation $5,000 – $15,000 $7,500 – $15,000

Baggage Loss $3,000 – $8,000 $3,000 – $7,500

Between NTUC travel insurance and FWD travel insurance, coverage is actually largely on par if you're considering a basic travel insurance plan with Covid-19 coverage. However, FWD's prices are lower even if you purchase the Covid-19 add-on.

8. NTUC travel insurance vs other travel insurers

At a glance, here’s how NTUC Income's travel insurance stacks up compared to the other major travel insurers in Singapore.

NTUC Travel Insurance MSIG Travel Insurance Etiqa Travel Insurance FWD Travel Insurance Starr Travel Insurance Direct Asia Travel Insurance AIG Travel Insurance Allianz Travel Insurance Bubblegum Travel Insurance

Price (per week) $61 – $195 $62 – $208.50 $58-280 $31.50 – $101.62 $20.40-$48 $35-$98.08 $34-$187 $64-$237 $42.12-$52.65

Covid-19 (per week) Included Included Included $11.39 – $20.04 Included $13.73-$31.70 Included Included Included

Medical Expenses (Overseas) $250,000 – $1,000,000 $250,000 – $1,000,000 $200,000 – $2,500,000 $200,000 – $1,000,000 $200,000-$1,000,000 $150,000-$500,000 $100,000-$2,500,000 $250,000-$1,000,000 $150,000

Emergency Medical Evacuation $500,000 – unlimited $1,000,000 $500,000 – Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited $1,500,000 $50,000-Unlimited $1,000,000 Unlimited

Trip Cancellation $5,000 – $15,000 $5,000 – $15,000 $5,000 – $15,000 $7,500 – $15,000 Optional add-on $3,000-$15,000 $5,000-$15,000 $5,000-$10,000 $5,000

Baggage Loss $3,000 – $8,000 $3,000 – $7,500 $3,000 – $10,000 $3,000 – $7,500 Optional add-on $1,000-$5,000 $3,000-$10,000 $1,500-$5,000 $3,000

9. NTUC travel insurance promo

Even though many Singaporeans probably don't mind paying more for NTUC travel insurance just because it's a household brand name, their travel insurance plans are actually pretty expensive.

However, with ongoing promotions like the current 45 per cent discount promo, it can be value for money. All standard per-trip plans qualify for the promo.  For example, if you wanted to go temple-hopping for a week in Myanmar, the cheapest Classic plan would cost just $33.55 after the discount. Here are the premiums you'll be paying with the current 45 per cent discount promo:

NTUC Travel Insurance (45per cent discount) Classic Deluxe Preferred

Price  (Asean) $33.55/week $41.25/week $53.90/week

Price (Asia) $38.50/week $48.40/week $67.10/week

Price (Worldwide) $75.35/week $85.80/week $107.25/week

In addition, Income is offering an additional 15per cent off Enhanced PreX per-trip plans with complimentary personal accident coverage for six months.

10. NTUC travel insurance claim

If you follow insurance threads on forums or even talk to your friends about insurance claims over kopi, you might have gotten wind of NTUC Income's bad claims reputation. 

Unfortunately, online forums such as Hardwarezone and Reddit are full of similar stories from users claiming that their NTUC insurance claims were slow, long-drawn-out and plagued with difficulties. According to the users' NTUC claim experiences, there was a lot of emphasis on the need for original invoices to be submitted.

To be fair, between these nasty stories, you'll also find users who managed to claim from NTUC insurance smoothly and received their cheques in the mail.

So, how do you make a claim? Your first port of call should be to get in touch with NTUC Income ASAP.

NTUC Travel Insurance Emergency hotline: Call the NTUC emergency assistance hotline at +65 6788 6616

Here's where it gets confusing. You have to identify the type of claim that you're making and the "correct" way to submit it. Super important: all claims must be made within 30 days of the event or incident.

NTUC Travel insurance online claims: Submit NTUC travel insurance claims online with supporting documents such as invoice, flight itinerary, police report, etc. through their website. You can do so for the following benefits:

Trip cancellation

Trip shortening

Travel delay

Baggage delay

Loss and damage of baggage or personal belongings

NTUC Hard copy claims: For medical expenses, you need to fill in the NTUC travel insurance claim form and drop off the hard copy form with the supporting documents such as hospital bill, medical report, boarding pass, etc. at an NTUC Income branch.

NTUC Email claims: For claims that do not involve travel inconveniences (see above) and medical expenses (see above), you’ll need to fill in the NTUC travel insurance claim form digitally, and email it together with your supporting documents to [email protected]. Include your travel policy number in the subject line.

NTUC Claims settlement time: If there is no dispute, NTUC Income will settle your claims within 10 working days or longer during high-volume travel periods like school holidays.

11. Conclusion: Should I buy NTUC travel insurance?

NTUC travel insurance isn't the absolute cheapest around, but their regular travel insurance plans are very affordable and value for money when there's a 45 per cent promotion going on.

However, just because it's a brand name doesn't mean that their coverage is the highest in town, especially when you compare it with newcomers like FWD. That's not a problem for most travellers though, unless you're going to a super expensive country or encounter some unusual scenario.

For most Singaporeans who just want to eat, chill and relax on holiday, NTUC travel insurance is more than adequate especially as it also provides Covid-19 coverage. However, daredevils should take note that it does not cover more thrilling activities like mountaineering and other extreme sports.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, NTUC Enhanced PreX is one of the very few travel insurance options suitable for you. It is pricey for sure, but probably worth the money if you have a life-threatening condition like asthma or heart disease. Make sure that the plan is sufficient to cover your overseas expenses and/or evacuation.

This article was first published in MoneySmart .

Travel Insurance NTUC

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How To Invest & Buy Insurance Without Sacrificing Your Starbucks Coffee Or Mala Hotpot

NTUC Income SNACK insurance is an easy way to start investing and protecting your financial future without need large funds.

by Priscilla Lee on Apr 8, 2024

You’re never too young to start building a nest egg for the future . This doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your current lifestyle or give up your daily dose of Starbucks. These days, there are many alternatives that offer affordable insurance coverage and investment products that don’t require a large amount of cash outlay. SNACK by Income is one such alternative.

SNACK is a financial lifestyle app by Income that lets you build investments and insurance a little at a time with your daily activities.

Sounds good? Read on to find out more.

What Is SNACK by Income?

Because SNACK by Income is for young income earners who are just starting out in their careers, the products are designed to look after your financial future without piling on the stress. Just imagine building your investment portfolio from just S$1 or getting insurance coverage with premiums as low as S$0.30!

The micro-investment and micro-insurance products are stackable, flexible and bite-sized. That means you can easily stack more products when you want or stop any time for financial flexibility.

The best part is, your daily lifestyle activities like taking the train, dining or shopping will go into purchasing a micro-insurance or micro-investment policy on SNACK too.

SNACK Insurance

When you think of SNACK, you will have to reimagine insurance. SNACK engages their users in a totally different way so that more can benefit from insurance protection and low-risk investments.

SNACK currently offers a selection of insurance coverage in Singapore comprising term life , critical illness and personal accident with premiums as low as S$0.30.

The coverage will stack up as you go about your daily life, allowing you to build protection without depriving you of the daily things in life.

SNACK Investment

The coolest part? SNACK has also applied the same methodology to their investment plan.

If you want to start investing, the very first Micro Investment-Linked Plan (ILP), which is similar to an endowment plan in Singapore , is also available for investment in bite-sized amounts starting from as little as S$1. Like all endowment plans, the Micro Investment-Linked Plan (ILP) also provides accidental death cover of up to S$200,000 (until 75 years old).

You can set a weekly cap amount that you’re comfortable investing via the SNACK app. The flexible model allows you to earn non-guaranteed bonuses/ dividends over time.

Even if you’re not happy with where your investment is heading, you can always stop or withdraw your investments at any time with no penalties or additional fees.

How SNACK by Income Works

SNACK allows you to conveniently purchase a micro policy whenever you perform a lifestyle activity, which is also known as a ‘lifestyle trigger’. There are currently eight types of lifestyle triggers:

• Food & Drinks
• Entertainment

When you link your Visa, EZ-Link, Fitbit or Burpple to SNACK, the app will receive triggers whenever an activity is performed. Each trigger will prompt a purchase of a micro policy to whichever SNACK product that you’ve pre-linked to that activity.

Once the activity is over, the micro policy will be issued, and the premium will be charged to your selected payment mode on SNACK. Because you may initiate several triggers in a day, your coverage will grow or ‘stack’ each time you complete a trigger.

As such, your total coverage amount is the sum of all the effective policies over a period of 360 days.

SNACK offers insurance coverage even for those who don’t have enough funds to buy a comprehensive insurance policy . Even though the micro-insurance is bite-size, it is still better than having no coverage at all.

And what about investing, you ask? SNACK has that covered too.

If you’ve got your insurance coverage down pat and wish to explore ways to grow your wealth, SNACK allows you to invest with as little as S$1 and set a weekly cap amount that you’re comfortable with. You can start, stop and withdraw your investments anytime you want, without any penalties or additional fees upon withdrawals. The fund might also periodically provide distributions (non-guaranteed) that will go into buying more units and adding to your investment, so your money keeps growing.

The beauty of this Micro Investment-Linked Plan (ILP) lies not just in the low barrier to entry (i.e. minimum amount), but also its coverage on accidental death before the age of 75. The payout is 105% of the net premium, up to S$200,000, or the cash-in value at the time of claim, whichever is higher. In other words, you enjoy additional coverage while investing.

SNACKUP — Free Coverage and Investment Credits

SNACK by Income partners with nearly 50 brands, also known collectively as SNACKUP, to offer a minimum of S$100 free insurance coverage and/or S$0.20 investment credits every time you spend with them. To get the freebies, you can simply link your Visa credit or debit card to the app and spend with any of the SNACKUP brands.

SNACKFIT — Get Rewarded To Keep Fit

Also available on SNACK is SNACKFIT , a fitness and lifestyle feature that offers bonus insurance coverage based on your biological age. Yes, the healthier you are, the more bonus coverage you’ll get. SNACKFIT is designed to calculate the biological age based on the fitness and activity data retrieved from linked fitness trackers like your Apple Watch, Garmin or Fitbit. From there, it will offer bonus insurance coverage when the tabulated biological age is younger than your actual age.

This is not just a fun way to keep you engaged with the app, but also a clever method to encourage you to maintain a healthy lifestyle!

Get your SNACK today!

To start enjoying the exclusive privileges on SNACK by Income, simply download the SNACK by Income app available in both Android and iOS and follow the steps below:

• Create a SNACK account
• Go to “PORTFOLIO” and tap “Start now” on Investment
• Set up your account and link your Visa card
• Complete the Customer Knowledge Assessment (CKA) and ensure you’ve boosted your Investment

Find out more here for a detailed step by step guide to start your SNACK Investment.

• What Are Singapore Treasury Bills and How Do They Work
• The Most Popular Types of Investment in Singapore (And How to Get the Most Out of Them)
• 4 Low-Risk Investment Alternatives to Fixed Deposits

Cover Image: Income

This content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Nothing contained on our Site constitutes a solicitation, recommendation or endorsement by AMTD PolicyPal Group in this or in any other jurisdiction in which such solicitation or offer would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Under AMTD Digital, AMTD PolicyPal Group consists of PolicyPal Pte. Ltd., Baoxianbaobao Pte. Ltd., PolicyPal Tech Pte. Ltd., and ValueChampion.