6 Times You Wish You Had Bought Travel Insurance

For as little as a few bucks a day, a suitable travel insurance plan goes a long way in protecting yourself against unpleasant situations when you’re on holiday.

Buying travel insurance may seem like a wasted and unnecessary expense to many before a trip, until you face a travel disruption that could cost you hundreds or even thousands.

In case you belong to that school of thought, this is your sign to always purchase one in case your trip goes south.

Hear it from one of our writers who skipped travel insurance during the pandemic.

If you’re purchasing a plan, be sure to avoid these common mistakes, and beware of red flags when you buy from your travel agency!

While there are certain mishaps you can anticipate – theft, missed or cancelled flights, and accidents – there are also are those that you will never saw coming. Here are 6 examples.

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#1: Your travel agency goes bankrupt and closes down

Holidays are usually big-ticket items, and travel plans can sometimes be made months in advance. Many Singaporeans choose to book tours and tickets through travel agencies because they often offer better package deals and more convenience.

But there is always a small risk that before you get a chance to go on that holiday, the tour agency may have run into financial problems or even ceased operating completely. Just look at the recent case of Zuji closing its doors.

While the more reputable agencies may hand out refunds to affected customers, there's also a very real possibility that your bookings will not be honoured by the airlines or hotels, or that the agency had been fraudulent with your monies. Either way, it's always a good idea to buy your own travel insurance policy to cover emergencies like these, such as unexpected trip cancellations or instances where a travel service provider becomes insolvent.

#2: You pop an eardrum while scuba diving…

… Or maybe you trip over a rock and sprain your ankle while hiking. These injuries may not sound major but they do require immediate attention and they happen more often than you know it. Would you know where the nearest medical facility is, and whether it offers 24/7 medical assistance?

It’s easy to underestimate relatively minor ailments – broken wrist, food poisoning, chipped tooth — but even these can cost up to thousands to treat when you’re abroad. This is where you’d be glad you have the foresight to get insured.

#3: Your costly camera gear or device is damaged during your trip

Pictures, or it didn’t happen. In this Instagram era, it’s all about the photos. Whether you’re going to the Grand Canyon or the St Regis Bali, whether you’re a sometime-photographer or a pro, a good camera is non-negotiable.

But here’s thing: Good cameras are not cheap. It also means one more big responsibility on your shoulder. What if it got damaged? What if you lose it? That is not a picture we like to paint. But hey, better safe than sorry.

Maybe this is not such a common thing, but did you know you can actually insure your gadgets? Look for a travel insurance policy that covers photography equipment. Do note that most insurance companies only have a small limit as part of their standard coverage. Find out from your insurance provider exactly what your policy covers and the extent of coverage. You don’t want to leave your new Leica and that spanking new wide-angle lens to chance.

#4: You're on a road trip in Australia and you hit a kangaroo

Road trips are one of the best ways to explore a country you’ve never been to. Driving in unfamiliar territory can definitely be exciting, but it can also dangerous because you're not familiar with the roads or environment.

Sometimes, it’s not even about the other drivers. In Australia, for example, it’s the kangaroos. You’ve probably heard stories of friends (or friends of friends) who have hit a roo! What would you do if it happened to you? Would you be able to pay for damages if it was a rental car? What about if you sustained an injury in the process and needed medical attention?

Moral of the story: Always be prepared.

#5: Your return flight is delayed, and your pet has to stay another night at the pet hotel

Even the best-laid plans can go awry. No matter how meticulous and foolproof you think your plan is, you just can’t control everything. Think delayed flights. Cancelled flights. You can’t come home for another day or two. The obvious problem is then you will need to fork out extra for accommodation and daily expenses.

But what if you also had pets back home that you’ve put up at a pet hotel, or hired a pet sitter for? If you had bought insurance, you will be able to claim these extra costs. The amount of coverage will, of course, be subjected to the type of plan.

#6: Civil unrest breaks out in a country and affects your travel plans

It's a sad reality that civil unrest can break out almost anywhere at any time. Even if you're not travelling to the country or countries affected, you may still be affected by any closure of their airspace.

Conflict between India and Pakistan and even the Hong Kong protests are some examples of how your travel plans might be affected and flights had to be delayed, rerouted, or cancelled.

Travel insurance plans sometimes have exclusions related to war and civil unrest, but these refer to injury or death resulting from such crises. Travel delays and flight cancellations (even if caused by civil unrest) will still be covered! In fact, some plans have really high coverage for flight delays and loss or damage to belongings.

Bottom line

As they say, hindsight is 20/20 – but that means that foresight isn't always as clear. No one can ever fully anticipate what will and won't go wrong on a trip.

So don't leave things to chance. Always cover your overseas holidays with travel insurance, no matter how long or short your trip may be. With SingSaver, you can now browse through affordable insurance plans to shortlist the one that is suitable for your trip. Monthly travel insurance promos and discounts are also regularly offered by insurers, and it really doesn't cost much to protect your holiday and ensure you have peace of mind if something does go wrong.

Disclaimer: Some of the scenarios above are purely hypothetical. Benefits will vary depending on the travel insurance policy you should decide to purchase. Please check the terms and conditions of your policy.

Find More About Travel Insurance Providers

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By Alexa Fang
Alexa is a pop-culture vulture. She lives to read, write and travel, and decided long ago that life is stranger than fiction. When she's having a croissant, she thinks in French. "31 Rue Cambon" is her favourite address, and she believes that money one enjoyed spending is never money wasted.