While it’s true that basic healthcare can be cheap, the emphasis should be on the word basic—not cheap. Thailand, Singapore and to a lesser extent Malaysia have a higher standard of care, than say Cambodia or Burma, but this is often in private hospitals, not public. Anything more than a night or two in hospital gets expensive, fast, and the medical bills associated with longer stays can easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars—and higher. Who do we use for travel insurance when we travel in Southeast Asia? We use SafetyWing.
Picking the right insurance was complicated enough, and then Covid-19 came along to well and truly mix things up. After an initial period where insurers stop offering policies altogether, most have returned, albeit with more varied offerings. Restrictions and new rules remain commonplace and more than ever reading the small print matters.
Ever since Travelfish was established, we used and recommended an Australian travel insurance company, but after they got in touch and asked us to remove all mention of them from this website we, well, stopped using—or recommending—them! In the past when using them we made a few claims and we always found their assistance to be top-notch—but, more to the point, after paying one of our clains for in excess of A$20,000, they opened our eyes to just how expensive medical issues can become. So, when we stopped using the above company, we switched to SafetyWing.
The table below outlines the broad strokes policy benefits, but please check their website for the finer details—particularly with regard to warnings from your home country which may negate portions of your coverage. The following is also based on the cheapest version of their package. Choosing additional coverage will bring with it additional costs. One more time for the dummies—read the small print.
 |
|
|---|---|
| Provider | SafetyWing |
| Age | Under 70 |
| Nationality | Any |
| Deductible | US$250 |
| Covid-19 coverage | Yes |
| Overseas medical expenses | US$250,000 |
| Emergency dental | US$1,000 |
| Repatriation of remains | US$20,000 |
| Cancellation costs | No |
| Trip interuption | US$5,000 |
| Trip resumption | No |
| Damage or theft of baggage and personal items |
USS$3,000 (max of $500 per item) |
| Baggage delay | No |
| Travel alerts FAQs |
FAQ |
| Guiding national advisory | US State Dept |
| Policy details | Terms |
| 28-day Thailand trip aged 35 | US$45 |
| Find out more | SafetyWing |
Aside from medical care, travel insurance can protect you in the case of lost or stolen luggage and personal effects, trip cancellation, personal liability, funeral expenses (without wanting to sound morbid, dying overseas can be very, very expensive), emergency dental treatment and evacuation back to your country of residence.
All manner of add-ons will cover items like expensive cameras, laptops and iPads and more adventuresome pursuits, but for many travellers, a general travel insurance policy should provide a good starting point.
While you’re battling your way through the small print, keep in mind the following potential pitfalls.
Dangerous activities
Many insurers consider motorcycling, diving, parachuting, hot-air ballooning and many other largely safe activities as hugely dangerous pursuits. Falling off your motorbike, breaking your arm and spending a few days in hospital will only be more painful if your insurer tells you the bill is all yours.
Country exclusions
There’s no point in having travel insurance for your trip to Burma if it doesn’t cover Burma.
Working exclusions
Will you be working during your trip? If so, check that pouring those drinks in a bar on Ko Phi Phi won’t void your travel insurance.
Maximum amount per item
You don’t want your $1,500 camera stolen only to find out your insurer has a maximum payout per item of $250.
Excessive excess
The excess is the amount you have to pay to lodge a travel insurance claim. If the stolen goods part of your policy has an excess of $100 and you have a camera worth $120 stolen, you must pay the first $100. Some travel policies have excesses so high it is hardly ever worth claiming.
Got a ticket home?
Some travel insurers work on the assumption that you have a ticket home. If you don’t have one, be sure to read the small print carefully.
We use SafetyWing travel insurance ourselves when we travel. If you purchase a policy from SafetyWing through a link on Travelfish, we may be paid a commission on that sale.
Planning well is an integral part of getting the most out of your trip. Be it picking the right backpack, the right vaccinations or the right country, the simple decisions are often the most important.