qbe travel insurance policy wording singapore

• Travel and Accommodation

Hiking / Trekking Travel Insurance

• Thread starter Din0saurus
• Start date Oct 24, 2018

More options

Great Supremacy Member

• Oct 24, 2018

Decided to compile this out of curiosity. The initial plan was to do it on google sheets, but I decided to share it instead since this question comes up every now and then. Feel free to suggest companies I’ve missed and post your ‘thank yous’ to prevent this from being purged. AIA - Policy Contract 1) Exclusions : outdoor rock climbing, abseiling or trekking (including mountain trekking) above 3,000 meters. This exclusion shall not apply to organised harnessed outdoor rock climbing, harnessed abseiling or harnessed trekking (including mountain trekking) provided: - it is available to general public without restriction (other than general health and fitness warnings); - it is provided by a recognised commercial local tour operator or activity provider; - the Insured is acting under the guidance and supervision of qualified guides and/or instructors of the tour operator or activity provider and the Insured wears the recommended safety equipment and follows all the safety procedures, rules and regulations of the qualified guide and/or instructor; and - the activity takes place below 6,000meters AIG - Policy Wording 1) available to the general public without restriction, other than general health and fitness warnings; 2) provided by a recognised commercial local tour operator or activity provider; 3) provided under the guidance and supervision of qualified guides and/or instructors of the tour operator or activity provider and always subject to you following their advice and/or instruction; and 4) undertaken below six thousand (6,000) meters. Allied World (No Limit - confirmed by Boiboi321) - Policy Wording 1) Exclusions : hiking/trekking in remote areas, mountaineering requiring the use of ropes or guides, cliff or rock climbing 2) On the definition of "remote", CSO clarified it in the following manner: "non-remote" means areas where there are paths. In other words, if there are no paths, then it is likely to be considered "remote". World Nomads - Activities 1) Trekking up to 6,000 meters in all countries except Antarctica, within the Arctic Circle and Greenland QBE? - Can’t find anything on their actual site - thanks to belgarathc k) Mountaineering; l) Outdoor rock-climbing or abseiling or m) Trekking (including mountain trekking) above 3,000 meters. However exclusions (l) and (m) shall not apply to organized harnessed outdoor rock climbing, harnessed abseiling and trekking (including mountain trekking) that are : - Available to the general public without restriction (other than general health and fi tness warnings); and - Provided by a recognized commercial local tour operator or activity provider and - Provided that You are acting under the guidance and supervision of qualifi ed guides and/or instructors of the tour operator or activity provider and You wear the recommended safety equipment and follow the safety procedures, rules and regulations of the qualifi ed guides and/or instructors, and - The activity takes place below 6,000 meters. 5,895m - Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania 5,364m - Everest Base Camp, Nepal Tokio Marine - Policy Wording 1) Hiking or Trekking up to 4500 meters above sea level; 2) Mountaineering that does not necessitate the use of specific climbing equipments or ropes; 3) Rock climbing; - undertaken on a non competitive, leisure basis with a licensed local operator &/or licensed qualified guides or instructors. 4,130m - Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal 4,095m - Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia  

4,000m and below Chubb - Policy Wording 1) Trekking/mountain trekking up to four thousand (4000) 2) Exclusions : Mountaineering - means the ascent or descent of a mountain ordinarily necessitating the use of specified equipment including but not limited to crampons, pickaxes, anchors, bolts, carabineers and lead-rope or top-rope anchoring equipment. Direct Asia - Policy Wording 1) hiking or trekking up to 4,000m in altitude without ropes or specialist equipment; 2) trekking, hiking or mountain biking in extreme or hazardous areas, rock climbing, caving, pot holing or mountaineering or any similar activities that require the use of ropes; - providing you have a licensed guide and are using a registered operator NTUC - Policy Conditions 1) Exclusions : Trekking, unless it is done for leisure purposes and you are trekking below 4,000 metres, and as long as the trekking you are taking part in is: - in a place which is open to the general public without restriction; - organised by a recognised commercial local tour operator or activity provider; or - under the guidance and supervision of licensed guides or instructors of the tour operator or activity provider and you wear the recommended safety equipment and follow the safety procedures, rules and regulations of the licensed guides or instructors. 3,952m - Yushan, Taiwan 3,886m - Xueshan, Taiwan 3,776m - Mount Fuji 3,726m - Mount Rinjani, Indonesia AXA - Policy Wording 1) Hiking or trekking up to 3500 meters above sea level; 2) Mountaineering that ordinarily does not require the use of specific climbing equipment and ropes; 3) Rock climbing; 3,210m - Poon Hill, Nepal 3,143m - Fansipan, Vietnam  

3,000m and below Aviva - Travel Insurance Policy 1) Exclusions: Trekking (including mountain trekking) above 3000 Etiqa - Policy Wording 1) Exclusions: Hiking or trekking above 3,000 meters from sea level; 2) Mountaineering or rock climbing that entails the use of specific climbing equipment and ropes; FWD - Policy Wording 1) Exclusions : Hiking or trekking above 3,000m sea level; MSIG - Policy Wording 1) up to 3,000m above sea level for hiking, trekking or mountaineering; OCBC - Policy Wording 1) Mountaineering at mountains below the height of three thousand (3,000) metres above sea level; - Provided always that the above activities are done for leisure purposes only under the guidance and supervision of qualified guides and/or instructors of the local licensed tour operator when carrying out such tourist activities. All other Terms, Conditions, Exclusions, provisions and limitations of this Policy continue to apply. 2,799m - Ijen 2,329m - Mount Bromo 1,950m - Hallasan 1,276m - Mount Ophir  

Others Allianz - Policy Wording 1) Exclusions : Your claim arises due to participation by you or any Travelling Companion in trekking trips, skiing trips or expeditions (unless otherwise agreed by us.) Sompo - Policy Wording 1) Exclusions : participation by You or any Travelling Companion in hunting, caving, potholing, mountaineering or rock climbing necessitating the use of guides or ropes, underwater activities involving the use of underwater breathing apparatus (other than undertaken for leisure purposes), sky diving, hang-gliding, paragliding or parachuting, trekking trips or expeditions (unless otherwise agreed by us) , motor rallies or any kind of racing other than on foot or any sports in a professional capacity; Mountaineering - as an add on. NOT travel insurance. Austria Alpine Club (UK) French Alpine Club  

Thoughts I was really impressed with Direct Asia for the mountaineering coverage. There’s nothing notable to climb below 3000m but between 3-4000m, there’s enough classics to last more than a lifetime. But then I realized accidental death is covered but I didn’t read up on rescues and injury. That’s the important thing for me, so I guess there’s more homework to be done. Please suggest companies that I’ve missed out. Target is to cover everything  

Senior Member

• Oct 27, 2018

Useful compilation. Thought I will share from a QBE policy I had. No idea if it is the latest. 4. GENERAL EXCLUSIONS (APPLYING TO ALL SECTIONS) k) Mountaineering; l) Outdoor rock-climbing or abseiling or m) Trekking (including mountain trekking) above 3,000 meters. However exclusions (l) and (m) shall not apply to organized harnessed outdoor rock climbing, harnessed abseiling and trekking (including mountain trekking) that are : - Available to the general public without restriction (other than general health and fi tness warnings); and - Provided by a recognized commercial local tour operator or activity provider and - Provided that You are acting under the guidance and supervision of qualifi ed guides and/or instructors of the tour operator or activity provider and You wear the recommended safety equipment and follow the safety procedures, rules and regulations of the qualifi ed guides and/or instructors, and - The activity takes place below 6,000 meters. For Chubb, please note that they also have the Travel Pro Enhanced Product. (f ) Mountaineering; (g) trekking (including mounting trekking) above 3000 meters; Remember if you buy from the insurance companies' partners like Silkair, the policy might be different from what you get from buying direct. Please check before purchase.  

• Oct 28, 2018

Din0saurus said: AIA - Policy Contract 1) Exclusions : outdoor rock climbing, abseiling or trekking (including mountain trekking) above 3,000 meters. This exclusion shall not apply to organised harnessed outdoor rock climbing, harnessed abseiling or harnessed trekking (including mountain trekking) provided: - it is available to general public without restriction (other than general health and fitness warnings); - it is provided by a recognised commercial local tour operator or activity provider; - the Insured is acting under the guidance and supervision of qualified guides and/or instructors of the tour operator or activity provider and the Insured wears the recommended safety equipment and follows all the safety procedures, rules and regulations of the qualified guide and/or instructor; and - the activity takes place below 6,000meters Click to expand...

belgarathc said: Useful compilation. Thought I will share from a QBE policy I had. No idea if it is the latest. 4. GENERAL EXCLUSIONS (APPLYING TO ALL SECTIONS) k) Mountaineering; l) Outdoor rock-climbing or abseiling or m) Trekking (including mountain trekking) above 3,000 meters. However exclusions (l) and (m) shall not apply to organized harnessed outdoor rock climbing, harnessed abseiling and trekking (including mountain trekking) that are : - Available to the general public without restriction (other than general health and fi tness warnings); and - Provided by a recognized commercial local tour operator or activity provider and - Provided that You are acting under the guidance and supervision of qualifi ed guides and/or instructors of the tour operator or activity provider and You wear the recommended safety equipment and follow the safety procedures, rules and regulations of the qualifi ed guides and/or instructors, and - The activity takes place below 6,000 meters. For Chubb, please note that they also have the Travel Pro Enhanced Product. (f ) Mountaineering; (g) trekking (including mounting trekking) above 3000 meters; Remember if you buy from the insurance companies' partners like Silkair, the policy might be different from what you get from buying direct. Please check before purchase. Click to expand...

artemov said: What is "harnessed trekking"? Click to expand...

Junior Member

• Oct 31, 2018

Thanks for this thread, very useful!  

Posting what i posted on Allied World travel insurance from the other thread here: I called Allied World - CSO confirmed that there is no height restriction on trekking. On the definition of "remote", CSO clarified it in the following manner: "non-remote" means areas where there are paths. In other words, if there are no paths, then it is likely to be considered "remote".  

royalgoldkid

• Nov 14, 2018

..........  

• May 7, 2019

royalgoldkid said: .......... Click to expand...

Arch-Supremacy Member

Another option is to join Austrian Alpine Club which provides all its members complimentary global rescue insurance up to 6000m. Note this is not travel insurance as it covers only rescue, medical and repatriation costs. Only need to pay annual membership fee. The advantage of this insurance is it has no age limit, unlike the ones listed in the table above. Link : https://aacuk.org.uk/p-mountain-rescue-search-insurance  

• May 22, 2019

Supremacy Member

• May 30, 2019

Bookmark this thread for future reference  

busia_kenia

• Jun 8, 2019

Hello.. Going to Central Asia for 6 weeks. Doing some some solo trekking in Tien Shan mountains. And also some hikes with the people whom I'm sharing a ride with along the Pamir highway. Elevation ranging from 3k to 5k+. For SG-based insurers, it seems only QBE covers up to 6k? But one of the stipulations is that the trek must be in the presence of a licensed guide. So seems like this is pretty useless after all?? Are Allied World and World Nomads my only options then? Thanks!!  

• Jun 11, 2019

I found this Policy Wording from Hong Leong. w ww. hlas.com.sg/Portals/0/PolicyWording/HL-Assurance-Travel-Insurance-Policy-Wording.pdf (remove the spaces) Emailed them to ask about any altitude- or location-based exclusions for trekking. They said "we have no restriction on the altitude or location for hiking or trekking activity. However if the activity involves any mountaineering or rock climbing which requires the use of ropes or guides or special equipment (e.g. crampons, breathing apparatus etc.) then this activity will be under the exclusion clause point 9 on page 14."  

• Jun 12, 2019

busia_kenia said: I found this Policy Wording from Hong Leong. w ww. hlas.com.sg/Portals/0/PolicyWording/HL-Assurance-Travel-Insurance-Policy-Wording.pdf (remove the spaces) Emailed them to ask about any altitude- or location-based exclusions for trekking. They said "we have no restriction on the altitude or location for hiking or trekking activity. However if the activity involves any mountaineering or rock climbing which requires the use of ropes or guides or special equipment (e.g. crampons, breathing apparatus etc.) then this activity will be under the exclusion clause point 9 on page 14." Click to expand...

"Rafting or canoeing involving white water rapids, bungee jumping, jet skiing, underwater activities involving artificial breathing apparatus, ski racing, backcountry skiing or off-piste skiing, ski jumping, hanggliding, parasailing, the use of bobsleigh orskeleton, hunting, pot-holing, mountaineering or rock climbing that ordinarily requires the use of ropes or guides." I wonder if tandem paragliding and walking on foot in a national park where there are animals that can kill humans are covered.  

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UOB Travel Insurance—MoneySmart Review 2024

Typically, when we talk about travel insurance, names like NTUC , MSIG , and FWD dominate the conversation. But here’s another one that you might not expect: UOB travel insurance.

Admittedly, I’ve never been particularly enthusiastic about UOB, especially regarding their insurance products, because local banks often don’t prioritise this area. But UOB has genuinely impressed me with its comprehensive travel coverage options.

Read further and explore the details of UOB travel insurance. Let’s find out if it matches the travel protection you expect on your next trip.

Learn more about our  rating system  for travel insurance.

UOB Travel Insurance Review (2024)

• What is UOB travel insurance?
• UOB travel insurance—What plan tiers do they offer?
• Is the coverage worth the price you pay?
• COVID-19 coverage
• Extreme sports and outdoor adventure coverage
• What to look out for in their terms and conditions 
• Claims process
• UOB vs FWD vs Tiq by Etiqa travel insurance
• UOB travel insurance promotion
• UOB travel insurance review—Final thoughts

1. What is UOB travel insurance?

UOB travel insurance is marketed under the brand UOB InsureTravel and provided by United Overseas Insurance (UOI), UOB’s insurance subsidiary. You shouldn’t confuse this with the complimentary travel insurance offered to UOB’s commercial cardholders. That’s a different offer.

UOB’s InsureTravel works like any other travel insurance provider, offering insurance travel plans that you can purchase anytime. Plus, you don’t need to be an existing UOB customer to buy UOB’s InsureTravel plans—they are available to everyone. Although its coverage isn’t the most extensive across the board, it does include COVID-19 protection as a standard feature—something many others only offer as an add-on. This thoughtful inclusion makes it a great choice if you happen to travel to regions with the highest cases.

Back to top

2. UOB travel insurance—What plan tiers do they offer?

UOB InsureTravel is available in 3 tiers :

• Basic Plan (cheapest, lowest coverage)
• Essential Plan
• Preferred Plan (most expensive, highest coverage)

The plans are categorised into 3 areas for its single-trip plans as summarised in this table.

3. UOB travel insurance—Is the coverage worth the price you pay?

UOB InsureTravel’s coverage, claim limits, and key benefits are as follows. Let’s see if they are worth the price you pay on your next trip. 

What caught my eyeballs was the special clause for “Cancel for any reason.” If your trip gets cancelled for any reason not covered under Trip Cancellation, you can be reimbursed for 50% of all accommodation and transportation costs. However, this is only claimable if you buy the travel insurance plan within 7 days of making your initial trip payment or deposit. 

This offer is definitely your extra safety net . We all know that uncertainties are present when making travel arrangements, but knowing that you can still recover half of your accommodation and transportation costs provides you peace of mind. 

In terms of coverage, UOB travel insurance seems pretty legit. Medical coverage is excellent for its price, travel inconvenience benefits are pretty decent, and additional benefits like pet hotel cover and ‘Cancel for any reason’ were implemented in July 2024. Even with a Basic plan, the claim limits are pretty high. 

UOB complimentary travel insurance—what’s included

Starting from 1 January 2024, UOB offers free travel insurance for the cardholder’s spouse and children. Of course, terms and conditions apply. This free travel insurance will also cover COVID-19.

The complimentary insurance offers limited coverage, including: 

• Personal accident coverage up to S$500,000. 
• Emergency medical assistance, evacuation, and repatriation coverage up to S$50,000, including COVID-19-related incidents

How do you get this complimentary travel insurance?

• UOB One Credit Card
• UOB EVOL Card
• UOB Absolute Cashback American Express Card
• UOB Visa Signature
• UOB PRVI Miles American Express
• UOB PRVI Miles World Mastercard
• UOB PRVI Miles Visa

KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card

• KrisFlyer UOB Debit Card

UOB One Card

[UPSIZED REWARDS] Get up to S$669 worth of rewards* (Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones + S$80 Trip.com Coupon) when you apply and meet the relevant criteria !  T&Cs apply .   [MONEYSMART LUCKY DRAW] Stand a chance to win a  Cartier Santos-Dumont Watch - Large Model, Blue  (worth S$6,000) or an  Apple 11-inch iPad Air WiFi, 128GB  (worth S$899) or a  Sony PlayStation 5 SLIM Digital Edition  (worth S$669) when you apply and meet the Lucky Draw criteria. 

Key Features

Up to 10% cashback on McDonald's (including McDelivery®)

Up to 10% cashback at Shopee Singapore (excludes ShopeePay)

Up to 10% cashback at DFI Retail Group (Cold Storage, CS Fresh, Giant, Guardian, 7-Eleven & more)

Up to 10% cashback at Grab (including GrabFood, excludes Grab mobile wallet top-ups)

Up to 10% cashback (bus and train rides)

Up to 10% cashback on UOB Travel

Up to 4.33% cashback on Singapore Power utilities bill.

Up to 3.33% cashback on all retail spend (based on S$500, S$1,000 or S$2,000)

Fuel savings of up to 22.66% at Shell and SPC

Exclusions and T&Cs at uob.com.sg/onetncs

At MoneySmart, we strive to keep our information accurate and up to date. This information may be different from what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider, or specific product site. MoneySmart shall not be liable to compensate the Customer should the information is not as updated as our Partner.

Annual Interest Rate and Fees

Minimum income requirements, wireless payment, card association.

UOB PRVI MASTERCARD Miles Card

[UOB ONLINE PROMOTION] Get  up to 50,000 miles from UOB  when you spend a min. of S$1,000 on your new UOB PRVI credit card for 2 consecutive months from your card approval date, payable first-year annual fee and SMS registration required.  T&Cs apply .   [MONEYSMART LUCKY DRAW] Stand a chance to win  54,000 Air Miles  (worth a Round-Trip to Tokyo for 1) OR an  Apple 11-inch iPad Pro WiFi, 256GB  (worth S$1,499) OR an  Apple Watch Series 9 GPS, 41mm  (worth S$604.50) when you apply and meet the relevant spend criteria.  T&Cs apply .

Earn 1.4 miles per S$1 local spend (UNI$3.5 per S$5 spend)

Earn 2.4 miles per S$1 overseas spend (UNI$6 per S$5 spend) including online shopping on overseas websites

Earn 6 miles per $1 spend (UNI$15 per S$5 spend) on major airlines and hotels booked through Expedia and Agoda via UOB PRVI Miles website

Earn 1.4 miles per S$1 spend (UNI$3.5 per S$5 spend) on bus and train rides

No minimum spend and no cap on earned miles

Complimentary Public Conveyance Personal Accident cover of S$500,000 and up to S$50,000 Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation including illness due to COVID-19. T&Cs apply.

[UOB ONLINE PROMOTION] Get  up to 31,000 miles plus first year annual fee waived  when you are the first 100 new-to-UOB credit card customers who successfully apply for an eligible KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card and spend a min. of S$2,000 within 60 days of the card approval date on their card.  T&Cs apply .   [MONEYSMART LUCKY DRAW] Stand  a chance to win  54,000 Air Miles  (worth a Round-Trip to Tokyo for 1) OR an  Apple 11-inch iPad Pro WiFi, 256GB  (worth S$1,499) OR an  Apple Watch Series 9 GPS, 41mm  (worth S$604.50) when you apply and meet the relevant spend criteria.  T&Cs apply .

Enjoy 3 KrisFlyer miles per S$1 spend on Singapore Airlines, Scoot, KrisShop and Kris+ purchases

Enjoy 3 KrisFlyer miles per S$1 spend on dining, food delivery, online shopping, online travel and transport spend with min. S$800 annual spend on Singapore Airlines, Scoot and KrisShop

Enjoy 1.2 KrisFlyer miles per S$1 spend on all other spend

5,000 KrisFlyer miles with first eligible spend (min. S$5)

10,000 KrisFlyer miles with payment of annual renewal fee

Up to additional 6 KrisFlyer miles per S$1 spend when you open a KrisFlyer UOB Account

No miles conversion fee

Exclusive privileges on Scoot, KrisShop, Grab rides and more!

You must complete and  submit the form to get the free insurance. This involves additional steps, which can be cumbersome for some, as other banks actually provide automatic coverage when you use your credit card to buy airline tickets . 

UOB’s free travel insurance doesn’t cover much. Even if you’re a UOB cardholder, you’ll still need to buy your own travel insurance for better protection. Plus, you must go through the hassle of signing up online for free coverage.

4. UOB travel insurance—COVID-19 coverage

Given that what you pay for UOB InsureTravel’s travel insurance plans and includes COVID-19 coverage, that’s a value for your money. 

When it comes to COVID-19 coverage, UOB InsureTravel truly shines. Even with the basic plan, you get a substantial overseas medical expenses coverage limit of S$200,000. Compare this to FWD, where you’d have to shell out an extra fee just to get $200,000 as an add-on coverage.

Total Premium

FWD Premium

[GIVEAWAY | FLASH SALE | MoneySmart Exclusive]        • For 2 days only , enjoy up to 35% off your policy premium.   Get over S$65 worth of rewards: • Includes  S$30 Revolut cash reward, S$30   Trip.com Hotel Coupon and Eskimo Global 1GB eSIM (worth S$9.50) with every policy purchased . T&Cs apply.    Over S$5,900 worth of Apple Gadgets and gifts to be scored on top of existing rewards: • Apple Macbook Pro 13-inch, 256GB (worth S$1,899) and more! T&Cs apply. • S$100 Revolut cash reward  when you are the  8th and 88th person  to sign up for a Revolut Account each week.  T&Cs apply .

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

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

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

Optional add on coverage available for pre-existing Medical Conditions for Single Trips plans (up to 30 days) with S$50,000 coverage for medical expenses incurred overseas and 50% co-payment for trip cancellation, postponement and more!

Plan Highlights

Covid-19 protection, leisure activities.

Given how affordable UOB InsureTravel plans are, it’s still a smart move to upgrade to the Preferred plan. It’s cost-competitive with other providers, that charge extra for COVID-19 coverage.

5. UOB travel insurance—Extreme sports and outdoor adventure coverage

UOB travel insurance offers coverage for extreme sports , but you need to avail the optional Adventure Sports cover. This additional coverage is designed for high-risk activities like skiing, scuba diving, and trekking up to 4,000 meters in altitude, among others. 

Regular sports like tennis, basketball, and swimming are covered under the basic plan without needing this extra cover. After all, UOB is still running a business, not a charity, so it isn’t the most lenient insurer for extreme thrill-seekers who really want to test fate.

Here’s a list of covered outdoor activities taken from the straightforward and specified UOI policy wording document.

UOB’s travel insurance offers a compelling option if you want to explore life’s adventurous side. But make sure you understand the nuances of their Adventure Sports cover. 

The optional nature of this coverage means that you must actively choose to add it when you buy a plan. Plus, UOB’s requirement for licensed operators and guides means they also want you to be responsible for participating in adventure sports and still have fun. If you need additional benefits when travelling with sports equipment and are into adventure sports, here are the options.

You can extend your coverage to include high-risk activities by opting for our Adventure Sports cover.

One of the things that also made me look into the UOB further is that aside from the practical value of cancelling plans and keeping your furry friends safe and taken care of, the optional benefits for sports and adventure activities are definitely attracting eyeballs like me, who love sports and adventure.  

As a golf hobbyist and enthusiast, if I avail myself of the optional benefit under the Essential Plan, I can receive a claim for up to S$2,000 provided that I have all the documents required for filing, like the original receipt of the equipment I own. 

Plus, this accidental loss, theft, or damage is subject to allowance for wear and tear and the age of the items. For example, if, based on the assessment, my lost golf items are less than 2 years old, then the value of the item reduction is 25%.

6. UOB travel insurance—What to look out for in their terms and conditions

When reviewing the terms and conditions of the UOB travel insurance, here’s what you need to know:

• Reimbursements and compensation. If you need to cancel your trip due to unexpected events within 30 days of departure, UOB offers this coverage. This includes the reimbursement for non-refundable prepaid transport and accommodation costs plus the compensation for lost Frequent Flyer Points or similar travel points that can’t be recovered.
• Medical expenses. If you need medical care in Singapore due to an accident or illness during your insured trip, UOB will reimburse necessary expenses. Seek treatment within 3 days of returning to be covered for follow-ups, which you can continue for up to 31 days from the from time you return to Singapore.
• Emergency evacuation and repatriation. If you need to be moved for medical treatment or to return to Singapore, UOB travel insurance covers the costs up to the maximum limit. They will also  decide the best evacuation location and handle all the arrangements. 
• Excess and policy schedules. Applicable excess amounts are shown on your certificate of insurance and policy schedules. This is the amount you will need to pay out-of-pocket before the insurance coverage kicks in.
• Emergency assistance. The policy includes a Travel Emergency Assistance Service, which is arranged through an appointed service provider. You must identify yourself with your full name and policy number during emergencies.
• Pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing medical conditions are not covered under the policy, so it’s important to be aware of this limitation.
• Accidental death and permanent total disablement. The insurer won’t pay you out if your death or injury comes from a pre-existing condition, sickness, disease, infection, or any physical defect.  

These points should help you understand further the coverage and what’s included or not.

7. UOB travel insurance—Claims process

The claims process for UOB travel insurance is quite straightforward for InsureTravel but antiquated for credit cardholders claiming the complimentary one.

Here’s what you need to do via UOB InsureTravel coverage .

• Download the claim form from the UOB travel insurance page .
• Email the completed form along with supporting documents and receipts.
• Successful claims will be credited to your account or sent to you via cheque.

For travel claims via complimentary travel insurance , you need to sign up and fill out the form to opt in for the coverage.

Despite the inconvenience of the claims process, UOB offers a 24-hour emergency hotline for any queries. Emergency assistance hotline: +65 6222 7737.

8. UOB vs FWD vs Tiq by Etiqa travel insurance

Here’s a comparison of UOB travel insurance prices vs other travel insurance providers to help you have a better scope of which one you should get prior to your trip. 

Looking at the table above, UOB InsureTravel might not seem like the best in class travel insurance product . But the thing to note is of the two insurance providers listed, only UOB InsureTravel’s policies include COVID-19 coverage. 

Optional add on coverage available for pre-existing Medical Conditions for Single Trips plans (up to 30 days) with S$150,000 coverage for medical expenses incurred overseas and 50% co-payment for trip cancellation, postponement and more!

[GIVEAWAY | MoneySmart Exclusive]     • Enjoy 40% off your Single Trip policy premium and 80% off Covid-19 add-on for Annual Plans. T&Cs apply • Get S$30 Revolut cash reward   with every policy purchased.  T&Cs apply .     PLUS, score S$100 Revolut cash reward in our giveaway on top of existing rewards when you are the 8th and 88th person to sign up for a Revolut Account each week. T&Cs apply.   New to Tiq? Get FREE Travel Insurance  (worth S$30) from Tiq. T&Cs apply.

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

Covers Cruise to Nowhere

Instant claims encashment via PayNow

24-hour worldwide emergency travel support

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

COVID-19 coverage has to be purchased as an add-on for FWD and Tiq by Etiqa travel insurance policies. For example, you’d have to shell out an extra S$10 on FWD as an optional add-on , while Tiq by Etiqa will charge you S$18 extra if you choose the Entry plan. This is based on 1-week trip in an ASEAN country, which may still vary depending on the number of days or weeks of your trip

9. UOB travel insurance promotion

When comparing UOB InsureTravel’s plans with others, the prices seem pretty steep compared to FWD and Tiq by Etiq if you pay in full. Of course, we all want more savings and discounts, and fortunately, UOB offers them.

When promotions are on, UOB travel insurance becomes incredibly budget-friendly, offering some of the best prices in Singapore. Right now, there’s a fantastic promotion where you can get 50% off single-trip plans.

Still, if we compare UOB travel insurance plans with FWD and Tiq by Etiqa—when slashed at 50% off—they certainly give you the best value for money, especially considering that they also include COVID-19 coverage. 

You can keep tabs on the latest promotions on the UOB travel insurance page.

10. UOB travel insurance review—Final thoughts

UOB InsureTravel’s travel insurance offers great value, especially the mid-tier Essential plan, which has excellent coverage. However, it’s usually not worth overpaying for travel insurance unless you plan a high-stakes trip, such as a thrill-seeking adventure. 

If your itinerary includes extreme sports or adventurous outdoor activities, you’ll need a more specialised add-on, as UOB InsureTravel’s coverage for such activities is limited. The Essential Plan is a practical and cost-effective choice for most other trips.

Overall, UOB travel insurance provides solid benefits, covering medical needs and travel inconveniences, including those related to COVID-19. Unlike many other insurers, UOB’s policies include COVID-19 coverage, which is a significant plus.

UOB InsureTravel stands out with unique benefits, such as coverage for compassionate visits by a friend or family member—so it’s a comprehensive option worth considering.

About our scale and rating system

• We compiled the prices and coverage limits for over 50 travel insurance plans from 18 different providers in Singapore in a massive spreadsheet.
• For each price/coverage category (e.g. trip cancellation, travel delay, etc.), we determined the minimum, median, and maximum values across all travel insurance plans. These values then form scales showing the lowest, highest, and average price/coverage amounts for different travel insurance plans in Singapore.
• 1 star: All plans under that provider perform average or lower than average, and 1 or more plans is the worst performing. / If there is only 1 plan, it is the worst performing.
• 2 stars: All plans under that provider perform average or lower than average, but none of their plans is the worst performing. / If there is only one plan, it performs below average.
• 3 stars: All plans under that provider perform between the minimum and maximum. / If there is only one plan, it performs average.
• 4 stars: All plans under that provider perform average or above average, but none of their plans is the best performing. / If there is only 1 plan, it performs above average.
• 5 stars: All plans under that provider perform average or above average, and 1 or more of their plans is the best performing. / If there is only 1 plan, it is the best performing.
• NOTE: These are flipped for the Price component—for this, the lower the better.

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

About the author

Maria Krisette Capati-Lim is a contributing writer at MoneySmart for over four years. With an extensive background in the intersections of digital marketing, technology, lifestyle and personal finance, she believes that learning is a lifetime pursuit to become better ever day. When she’s not writing, she’s either checking her income and expenses on a spreadsheet or tinkering with her personal websites.

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