Travel Insurance vs International Health Insurance with selected Covid-19 Coverage

Are you unsure about the difference between travel insurance with selected Covid-19 cover and international health insurance? Here we look at the key differences between the two types of cover.

In short, travel insurance with Covid-19 cover is designed for holidaymakers and those on short business trips to cover things like emergency medical treatment (including covered events related to Covid-19), cancellations and personal belongings. International health insurance provides multi-country cover and is designed for those living and working overseas who need cover for in-patient medical check-ups, medical emergencies and ongoing treatment of chronic conditions.

Below is a general comparison of travel Insurance with selected Covid-19 cover and international health insurance. Exact coverage will depend on the chosen policy.

What about lockdowns and other kinds of general travel disruption?

It’s important to remember that travel insurance doesn’t cover you for everything*. For instance, it does not generally cover against lockdowns, border closures and other kinds of general travel disruption.

*It’s important to remember that travel insurance doesn’t cover everything. Your policy will be subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions, and benefits limits of the policy wording

Travel insurance (with selected Covid-19 cover*) – in more detail

Travel insurance with selected Covid-19 cover is travel insurance that covers you for things like trip cancellations / trip interruptions / trip delay , loss/theft of personal belongings and emergency medical treatment, and includes selected coverage for Covid-19, pandemics and epidemics before or during your trip (in line with the Policy Wording of your chosen policy).

For example:

  • If you or a travelling companion/family member are diagnosed with Covid-19 before your trip and need to cancel, you can make a claim for things like travel and accommodation costs.
  • If you or a travelling companion/family member are diagnosed with Covid-19 during your trip, you can make a claim for things like medical care and quarantine costs.

In terms of medical coverage, travel insurance is intended to provide short-term emergency medical treatment within your specified area or period of cover. The aim of this is to get you well enough to return home. Travel insurance rarely covers long term medical treatment.

Selected Covid-19 coverage* with Allianz Travel

Travel insurance from Allianz Travel Singapore includes selected Covid-19 coverage*, plus cover for epidemics and pandemics in general (when diagnosed with a disease). The Medical and Dental cover limit is S$1,000,000 (Comprehensive Bronze and Silver) and unlimited for Comprehensive Platinum.

Travel insurance in general is designed to cover you for trips of limited duration. It is intended for holidaymakers and short term trips abroad, and also offers protection against other travel related issues.

For example, Allianz Travel insurance benefits include:

  • Selected Covid-19, pandemic and epidemic cover*
  • Medical/dental cover of up to $1,000,000
  • 24/7 Medical Assistance
  • Cancellation, Delay, Curtailment
  • Loss/theft/damage of valuables
  • Rental Excess cover (Silver & Platinum Plans only)

If further treatment is required, you will be expected to return to your home country. Cover ceases once you are back in your country of residence.

*It’s important to remember that travel insurance doesn’t cover everything. Your policy will be subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions, and benefits limits of the policy wording. For more information please click on the Allianz Travel Policy Wording

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International health insurance – in more detail

International health insurance is designed for individuals and families living and working overseas for prolonged periods. It is designed to cover things like in-patient care, out-patient GP visits, emergency treatment, specialist consultations, maternity and dental. International health insurance is multi-country and provides members with flexibility in terms of choice of doctor and treatment facility, and with the ability to receive treatment anywhere within their region of cover.

For individuals or families who are unfamiliar with a country’s health system and/or language, international health insurance can make it easier and simpler to obtain medical care. Depending on which country you are moving to, it may also save you significant sums of money compared to ad hoc care if you are not entitled to local free or subsidised medical care.

International health insurance plans vary, but often include:

  • Hospital stay
  • Routine check-ups
  • Cover for pre-existing conditions
  • Cover for chronic conditions
  • Choice of medical providers

Some international health insurers make it possible to build a plan that suits specific needs. For example, Allianz offers a standard Core plan to which modules can be added, including:

  • Out-patient treatment
  • Maternity care
  • Dental care
  • Repatriation

If you choose international health insurance from Allianz, benefits include:

  • A range of treatments, inclusive of specialist fees and diagnostic tests, plus generous cover for alternative treatments and physiotherapy
  • Health and wellbeing benefits, including digital health apps
  • Cover for emergency treatment overseas, medical evacuation and nursing-at-home
  • Choice of supplemental cover including Maternity, Dental and Repatriation Plans
  • A growing network of over 900,000 quality medical providers
  • Cover for Covid-19, pandemics and epidemics

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Singapore Airlines offers VTL flight promo deals from S$288; enjoy complimentary rebooking for all tickets issued up to 31 March 2022

Enjoy Quarantine-free travel with Singapore Airlines

If you’re fully vaccinated, you can travel to several exciting destinations without having to quarantine upon entry and on your return to Singapore.

Under the Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL), fully vaccinated travellers can enjoy round-trip quarantine-free access between Singapore and the following countries: Australia, Cambodia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Malaysia, the Maldives, the Netherlands, Philippines (from 4 March 2022), South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand (Phuket from 4 March 2022), Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (from 24 February 2022), the United Kingdom and the United States.

Testing requirements have also been made easier and more affordable! If you are returning to Singapore on a VTL flight or with a 7-day travel history to only Category 1 countries/regions, you will no longer be required to take an on-arrival Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test. Instead, only a supervised self-swab Antigen Rapid Test (SSS ART) at one of the test centres located across Singapore is to be taken within 24 hours upon arrival. The self-administered ARTs, which previously had to be done on Days 2 to 7 after arrival, have also been removed for travellers on VTL flights entering Singapore. The full travel advisory can be found here.

Customers with tickets issued on or before 31 March 2022 can also enjoy complimentary rebooking, regardless of fare type. With the ability to adjust your plans along the way to best suit your travel needs, you can set your mind at ease when you choose to fly with us.

Book your flight now and enjoy great fares as well as special offers from our participating partners.

Last updated 22 February 2022, 17:20 hrs (GMT +8)

Promotional Fares For Quarantine-Free Travel

Sale period: From now to 21 March 2022
Travel period: Selected periods from 1 March to 10 June 2022

Fares to Australia

Destinations Business Class fares from Premium Economy Class fare from Economy Class fares from
Adelaide SGD3378 - SGD788
Brisbane SGD3378 - SGD788
Melbourne SGD3378 - SGD788
Perth SGD2378 - SGD638
Sydney SGD3378 SGD1678 SGD788

Fares to Canada & The United States of America

Destinations Business Class fares from Premium Economy Class fare from Economy Class fares from
Houston SGD6598 - -
Los Angeles SGD6598 SGD1978 SGD1148
New York SGD5598 SGD1898 SGD1278
San Francisco SGD5598 SGD1678 SGD1148
Seattle SGD5598 SGD1678 SGD1148
Vancouver SGD5598 SGD1678 SGD948

Fares to Southeast Asia & South Korea

Destinations Business Class fares from Economy Class fares from
Bangkok SGD918 SGD288
Manila SGD1888 -
Phnom Penh - SGD338
Phuket SGD1058 SGD178
Seoul SGD2328 SGD708
Siem Reap SGD1608 SGD318

Fares to West Asia

Destinations Business Class fares from Economy Class fares from
Colombo SGD2008 SGD628
Dubai SGD2598 SGD428
Maldives - SGD578

Fares to Europe

Destinations Business Class fares from Premium Economy Class fares from Economy Class fares from
Amsterdam SGD3698 SGD1998 SGD988
Barcelona SGD3698 SGD1998 SGD988
Copenhagen SGD3698 SGD1998 SGD988
Frankfurt SGD3698 SGD1998 SGD988
Istanbul SGD3698 - SGD878
London SGD5938 SGD2478 SGD1198
Munich SGD3698 SGD1998 SGD988
Paris SGD3698 SGD1998 SGD988
Zurich SGD3698 SGD1998 SGD988

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13 “Oraegage” to visit the next time you hit the streets of Seoul

Myeongga Tteokjip

Taking advantage of the vaccinated travel lane (VTL) scheme that started on 15 November to travel to South Korea soon? You must be researching what to do in Seoul.

If you don’t already know, Seoul is a metropolis that is always evolving. In the pursuit of urbanization, low-rise buildings and old infrastructures have been bulldozed, skyscrapers have sprung up everywhere, and historic lanes have been substituted with straighter routes. The Seoul you’ve seen a few years back could have been very different by now.

But still, some businesses have existed for a long time in the fresher, wealthier districts south of the Han River, which are more renowned for high-end restaurants and upscale shops with designer items. These are the spots filled with years of meaningful memories right around the corner of Seoul’s flashy complexes.

That is why before you urgently book a train to Busan or a flight out to Jeju, you will want to visit these newly added “Oraegage” or “Historical Stores” in Seoul’s southeastern areas.

Worthy of its title
Oraegage logo

Image Credits: Seoul Metropolitan Government

Stores with a heritage of over 30 years in the Seoul area, have been passed down for two or more generations, and where experts and craftsmen practice their specialty are accorded the status by the city government. Since 2017, about 100 over spots have received the worthy label.

Here are the recent “Oraegage” or “Historical Stores” added this time:

  • Guro District: Jinsun Audio
  • Dongjak District: Apple House
  • Songpa District: Myungga Tteokjip
  • Gangnam District: Manna Dang, Manna Snack, Motungijip, Sangsindang, and Gembros
  • Seocho District: Doosung Paper, Seowoo Confectionery, Ewha Myeong Joo, Hill String, and Dongyang Korea Oriental Instruments

The metropolitan area has grouped the 13 locations into 4 themes and offers 4 itineraries in which travelers can visit the stores associated with each concept.

#1: Rediscovery of Market
Manna Snack

Image Credits: Seoul Metropolitan Government

This tour takes you to shops in a market and a mall in an old apartment block that has retained its attractiveness for decades.

You will be visiting Manna Snack, a snack bar at Eunma Shopping Center that has been selling noodles and spicy rice cakes since 1990. You will also stop by Myeongga Tteokjip, which started in 1980 and is famous for its fist-sized glutinous rice cakes with red bean paste at Saemaul Market in the Songpa District of Jamsil area.

#2: Rediscovery of Walking
Ewha Myeong Joo

Image Credits: Seoul Metropolitan Government

If you book this package, you will be in the compounds of Bangbaesai-gil and Naebang. Enter Ewha Myeong Joo, a hanbok store that has been retailing Korean traditional apparel since 1978 and has seen many foreigners as its customers. It is located in Seorae Village, which is recognized as a French enclave consisting of stylish restaurants and boutiques.

You will also make stops at Apple House, a snack shop that started in 1986 serving spicy fried dumplings, and Seowoo Confectionery, which has been operating since 1980, selling cookies consisting of overcooked rice crust with garlic.

#3: Rediscovery of Emotions
Jinsun Audio in Guro District

Image Credits: Seoul Metropolitan Government

Connect with your artistic side via this tour. Jinsun Audio in Guro District is recommendable for individuals who like the rich and detailed tone of vinyl recordings. You can also get your hands on some valuable handmade turntables from the store, which first opened in 1988.

Thereafter, head to Ationery, a stationery and office equipment business established by Doosung Paper in 1982 that sells high-quality paper products. Hill String, which has been selling Western instruments since 1967, and Dong Korea Oriental Instruments, which has been producing and retailing traditional Korean instruments since 1991, are among the stores you will see too.

#4: Rediscovery of Gangnam
Motungijib gimbap and ramen

Image Credits: mangoplate.com

On this journey, the locals will show you diverse views of Gangnam Station and Garosu-gil in Sinsa-dong. The journey begins at Motungijib, a little snack business just around the bend from Gangnam Station that has been serving spicy fish cake rice rolls wrapped in seaweed since 1988.

You will also get to witness for yourself Sangsindang, a business that has been creating stamps and seals since 1977; Gembros, a jewelry store that started in 1984; and Mannadang, a place that has been selling Korean traditional sweets since 1963.

We heard that there is more information on these rediscovery-themed travel packages at Tripadvisor so do an online search over there if you’re curious! Have a safe trip.

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Scoot offers VTL flights to Melbourne and Sydney from S$199 one-way. Book by 7 Nov 21

Travel to Australia with Scoot

Vaccinated Singaporeans can now travel to New South Wales and Victoria as Australia reopens borders in the new VTL arrangements with Singapore. The new measures means that vaxxed Singapore passport holders can enjoy quarantine-free travel from 21 November 2021.

Scoot will be offering special one-way sale fares to Melbourne and Sydney from S$199 all-inclusive when you book by 7 November, 2359h.

For more information on travelling into and out of Australia, please click here.

Click here to access the sale fares.

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Scoot to launch direct VTL flights to Berlin, Germany from 19 Oct, offers one-way promo fare from $200 all-in! Book by 17 Oct.

Can’t wait to travel? Scoot has got your back!

From 19 October 2021, Scoot will be operating thrice-weekly direct flights between Singapore and Berlin. This comes after Singapore announced the expansion of Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) arrangements to include seven European countries and the United States starting 19 October 2021, as well as South Korea starting 15 November 2021.

The flight schedules are outlined in the table below:

Screenshot via flyscoot.com

Scoot will be launching a special one-way fare to Berlin from S$200 if you make your bookings by 17 October 2021, 2359h unless sold out prior. The fare includes taxes with terms apply.

We tried to make a booking to see if we can find the S$200 fare:

The return fare costs about S$268.55 which still bring the total fares to less than $500 – still worth it for a trip to Europe.

Click here to make your booking on flyscoot.com now.

For more information on vaccination requirements, visit https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/sc-pr/vtl

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