Singapore offers Covid-19 insurance for short-term visitors

SHORT-TERM visitors to Singapore are now able to purchase Covid-19 insurance that offers up to S$100,000 of hospitalisation cover, in case they are infected with the novel coronavirus during their time in the city-state.

Dubbed ChangiAssure, the product is underwritten by local insurer HL Assurance and distributed by Changi Travel Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Changi Airport Group.

Its launch comes as Singapore relaxes restrictions to allow essential and business travel. At present, Singapore has bilateral green-lane arrangements with China, Brunei, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia to allow travelling for essential business and official purposes. General travel is also allowed for visitors from Australia (excluding the state of Victoria), Brunei, New Zealand and Vietnam who have applied for an Air Travel Pass.

Changi Travel Services' website, says, however, that ChangiAssurance is available only for travellers from China, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and South Korea.

The insurance, which can be bought on or before arrival in Singapore, is offered in two tiers. The Basic plan provides up to S$8,000 of coverage for hospitalisation or expenses at a quarantine facility, in the event the cover holder is infected with Covid-19 during his or her time in Singapore.

The Superior plan offers up to S$100,000 of coverage for the same purpose. On top of that, it also provides up to S$100,000 of coverage for accidental hospitalisation expenses unrelated to Covid-19, as well as up to S$200,000 for death and disability in Singapore.

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This plan also covers travel inconveniences in Singapore such as loss of baggage and personal effects, travel delays and trip curtailment.

Travellers above the age of 70 and below the age of three are ineligible.

Quotes provided by the website price a Basic plan for a three-week visit to Singapore at about S$75; a Superior plan costs about S$331.50.

Claims can be submitted online or at physical counters at Singapore's Changi Airport.

Other countries that have offered insurance for inbound travellers include Turkey, Thailand and the Caribbean island of Aruba in their efforts to boost visitors' confidence. In particular, both Thailand and Aruba have made it compulsory for foreign visitors to purchase cover.

In Thailand, the insurance is offered by a consortium of 12 local insurers and covers death due to Covid-19 for up to US$100,200 (S$136,110), and medical expenses related to the virus for the same amount.

Plans in Aruba, also offered by a syndicate of local insurers, cover a gamut of Covid-19 related expenses including hospitalisation, isolation, transportation, Covid-19 tests and medical consultations. The overall limit for all these benefits is capped at S$75,000 (S$101,879).

In Turkey, packages offer up to 7,000 euros (S$11,178) of coverage for health expenses related to Covid-19, and can be purchased online through contracted airlines, tour operators and various sales points at airports.