Is Travel Insurance Necessary For Short Trips?
One of the dilemmas about getting a travel insurance for a one-day or two-day trip is whether the cost justify the benefits. After all, the main purpose of us going to destinations of close proximity such as Johor, Batam or Bintan is mainly to enjoy the slow-pace of life at a fraction of the cost, or to shop for cheaper alternatives to groceries in Singapore. How ironic would it be if we were to add in the cost of a travel insurance and increase the overall cost? Especially during the time where the Malaysia Customs increases the fare, and the increasing cost of travelling by ferry?
Having said that, we cannot deny the fact that we are still exposed to certain risks when travelling to these countries for a short/day trip. Here are 3 factors that you may take into consideration.
I’m just going for a day, nothing will happen to me.
Nowhere in this world is crime-free. Even in Singapore, where our crime rates are relatively low, there is still a certain risk to be held. It would be worse if we encounter them overseas where we are usually not familiar with the language, the people and their culture. How then can we be sure that nothing will happen to us? News of foreigners being targeted are prevalent, however, they only serve to sit in our minds for a short while, before another incident occur that keeps us on our toes.
Most hospital plans are not cross-boundary
Once we step our foot out of Singapore, we are not covered under the Medishield Life or the Integrated Shield Plan (Unless you’ve purchased the overseas extension from Great Eastern). This means that we are exposed to huge medical bills if we were to be admitted for illness or other medical issues. Travelling on a one-day trip doesn’t reduce this probability at all. If anything, it probably increases it. How then do you intend to set aside sufficient amounts of money for this if it happens?
Encountering an emergency? Emergency Medical Assistance is right there for you
I’m sure whenever you purchase a travel insurance, they will provide you with a small card or an emergency number. Do you save the number in your contact list? Do you know you can get help from them in cases of emergencies? Why is this important?
Regardless of whether you travel frequently to these countries or not, chances are you may not know the local medical facilities well. Travel insurance usually comes with a feature of connecting you to these facilities that are located near you, or specialists that can specifically look into your condition. If there is a need to hospitalise, they can also provide Letter Of Guarantees to the hospitals to facilitate the stay.
It doesn’t make sense for me to purchase travel insurance whenever I go to Malaysia. It is too expensive and probably erode the savings that I get when I shop/dine there.
Well, it doesn’t have to be expensive. An annual plan that covers Asia Pacific (not just ASEAN countries) will cost you only about $160/annum. If you happen to travel to other Asian countries (Including Australia, Korea, Japan, China), you do not have to purchase a separate plan. And if you go out of Asia once in a while, you can purchase single-trip plans specifically for them. In this way, you will not be wasting money purchasing an annual worldwide coverage, and at the same time, enjoy the coverage that this plan provides you when you travel to neighbouring countries.
Get a quote on your travel insurance and save up to 60% now
-> https://travel.adrianchen.sg
Adrian Chen specializes in engaging business owners and HR personnel on planning for medical plans as part of the overall staff package. Through his unique interview questions, he is able to pinpoint the issue directly, and recommend the best option, taking into account budgeting constraints and other crucial factors that may affect the business.