Yahoo Finance Guide to the Best Family Travel Insurance in Singapore: Cost, Coverage, Age Limits and More
Feeding one extra mouth at home is one thing, but travelling with another little human is a whole different ball game. From missed flights to lost belongings, a lot can go wrong when you’re travelling with kids. But the first mistake you could make? Failing to buy life-saving travel insurance that will protect your family against the mishaps that are bound to happen.
Doubling your insurance coverage from just you and your partner to cover a family of 4 might seem like an expensive endeavour—especially since kids seem to be natural magnets for trouble. But here’s the good news: family travel insurance is cheaper than you think.
I’ve scoured dozens of travel insurance policies and compared their premiums, coverage, and other benefits. Here’s my breakdown of the best family travel insurance plans in Singapore that will give you the most bang for your buck.
Guide to Family Travel Insurance in Singapore (2024)
Comparison of costs vs coverage for different family travel insurance plans
Are my parents, siblings and relatives covered in family travel insurance?
What’s the difference between family travel insurance and group travel insurance?
1. TL;DR
The most affordable family travel insurance plans are:
Family travel insurance | Premium | Is COVID-19 coverage included? |
$75.19 – $130.01 (MoneySmart promo: $56.39 – $97.51) | Add on $23.79 for COVID-19 coverage | |
$84.24 (MoneySmart promo: $75.82) | Included | |
$89.70 – $165.60 (MoneySmart promo: $49.34 –$91.08) | Add on $72 – $160 for COVID-19 coverage | |
OCBC | $99 – $225 | Included |
Amex | $100 – $157 | Included |
$103.36 – $219.29 | Included | |
$106.08 – $165.36 (MoneySmart promo: $53.04 –$82.68) | Included | |
$148 – $258 (MoneySmart promo: $88.80 – $154.80) | Included |
Total Premium
S$48.58
40% OffTotal PremiumS$80.96
MoneySmart Exclusive
ROLEX GRAND DRAW | Trip Cancellation Add-on
FWD Premium
MoneySmart Exclusive:
[Score a Rolex, Apple iPhone, MVST Luggage & More! | MoneySmart Exclusive]
• For a limited time only, enjoy up to 40% off your policy premium. Valid till 4 June 2024.
• Get S$20 iShopChangi e-voucher and Eskimo Global 1GB eSIM with every policy purchased. T&Cs apply.
BONUS: For a limited time only, there are over S$19,600 worth of gifts to be given away:
• 1x Rolex Oyster Perpetual - 124200 34mm Silver (worth S$9,000)
• 1x Apple iPhone 15 Pro 128GB (worth S$1,664.25)
• 5x MVST TREK Aluminium Large Suitcase (worth S$790)
• 1x Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones (worth S$589) and many more!
Increase your chances of winning when you refer friends today. T&Cs apply
PLUS, score S$100 iShopChangi vouchers in our giveaway on top of existing rewards. T&Cs apply.
Valid until 30 Jun 2024
More Details
Key Features
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!
Total Premium
S$93.69
10% OffTotal PremiumS$104.10
MoneySmart Exclusive
Most fuss-free plan
Bubblegum Travel Insurance
MoneySmart Exclusive:
[GIVEAWAY | Receive your cash as fast as 30 days*]
• Enjoy 10% off your policy premium.
• Get an Eskimo Global 1GB eSIM with every policy purchased.
• Additionally, receive up to S$25 via PayNow and up to S$20 iShopChangi e-vouchers with eligible premiums spent. T&Cs apply.
PLUS, score S$100 iShopChangi vouchers in our giveaway on top of existing rewards. T&Cs apply.
Valid until 30 Jun 2024
Apply NowApply directly on MoneySmart
More Details
Key Features
Bubblegum offers just 1 affordable plan to suit all your travel needs to maximise your savings
Overseas medical expenses up to $150,000 SGD (Covid-19 sub-limit of $65,000 included)
24-Hour global Emergency Assistance services including Emergency Medical Evacuation and Repatriation
Covid-19 trip related cancellation/curtailment up to $600 SGD included
Adventurous activities like scuba diving and hot air ballooning are covered with no limit on depth or height.
These family travel insurance plans allow you to include other family members in their family travel insurance plans; they need not strictly be you, your spouse and your child(ren).
Amex: Adults need not be related for single trip policies but must be partners for annual multi-trip policies.
Chubb: Child can be your child or grandchild. Adults need not be related for single trip policies but must be partners for annual multi-trip policies.
DBS TravellerShield Plus: Child can be you and/or your partner’s child, grandchild, niece, nephew or cousin.
Great Eastern: Child can be a sibling, grandchild, niece, nephew or cousin.
OCBC: Child can be a sibling, grandchild, niece, nephew or cousin. Must be related by blood, marriage or legal adoption to at least 1 adult.
Tiq by Etiqa: Adults can be parents or grandparents of the dependent child(ren).
Total Premium
S$78.43
45% OffTotal PremiumS$142.60
MoneySmart Exclusive
Most efficient claims for flight delay
Tiq Savvy
MoneySmart Exclusive:
[GIVEAWAY | MoneySmart Exclusive | FLASH SALE]
• Enjoy 45% off your Single Trip policy premium and 80% off Covid-19 add-on for Annual Plans. T&Cs apply
• Get S$10 iShopChangi e-vouchers with every policy purchased. T&Cs apply.
PLUS, score S$100 iShopChangi vouchers in our giveaway on top of existing rewards. T&Cs apply.
New to Tiq? Get FREE Travel Insurance (worth S$30) from Tiq. T&Cs apply.
[Etiqa's 10th Year 2024 Grand Draw]
Stand a chance to win S$10,000 cash or a Singapore Mint Lunar Dragon 1 gram 999.9 fine gold medallion (worth S$173) with eligible Etiqa/Tiq by Etiqa plans purchased. T&Cs apply.
Valid until 30 Jun 2024
More Details
Key Features
Comprehensive COVID-19 add-on, protecting you before, during and after your trip
Covers Cruise to Nowhere
Get paid upon a 3-hour flight delay, even without submitting a claim
Instant claims encashment via PayNow
24-hour worldwide emergency travel support
Tokio Marine: The adults need not be related, but the child(ren) must be the legal child or ward in the case of a legal guardian, grandchild, siblings, nephew, niece or cousin of either one of the adults.
2. What is family travel insurance?
Family travel insurance refers to a travel insurance plan that covers you and your family. Unlike the family packages you get at amusement parks and movie tickets, a “family” doesn’t necessarily mean 2 adults and 2 kids when it comes to family travel insurance. Minimally, it refers to you and 1 child. Maximally, across all the insurers I surveyed, it can cover you, your spouse, and up to 18 children. The common denominator is there being at least 1 child.
Not every travel insurer offers a specific family travel insurance plan that is branded as such. Sometimes it’s marketed to you as a “family cover” (Income Insurance is an example), while some insurers simply ask you how many children you’re travelling with when you’re requesting a quotation.
Whether they throw in the word “family” or not, I think 99% of insurance providers that offer adult travel insurance will also be able to provide you with a travel insurance policy that includes your spouse and child(ren)—I’ve never come across any that are exclusive to adults only. So if you don’t see the word “family” in a travel insurance plan, don’t write it off.
Note: In this article, I compare both travel insurance policies marketed for families as well as travel insurance policies that I just got a “family” (I assumed 2 adults + 2 kids) quotation for.
ALSO READ: Travel Insurance Singapore Guide (2024): Must-Knows for Choosing the Best Travel Insurance
3. How much does family travel insurance cost per child?
This might be the only time in your life that you see these words: having more children might make it more affordable.
When it comes to family travel insurance, the majority of travel insurers don’t care whether you’re travelling with 1 child or 18—they’ll quote you the same insurance premium as long as you have at least 1 dependent child travelling with you. Some even cover your child(ren) for free! Children aren’t that expensive after all, eh?
Since you pay the same amount no matter how many children you’re travelling with, the cost per child is lower the more children you have. However, do take note of overall family limits that cap the total coverage benefits a family can have.
4. Comparison of costs vs coverage for different family travel insurance plans
For comparison, I’m assuming a family comprises 2 adults and 2 children for the premiums below. Here’s a summary of the costs and coverage details across various insurance providers in Singapore for a 7-day trip to an ASEAN country.
Family travel insurance | Total cost | Coverage | ||
Overseas medical expenses | Trip cancellation | Loss of personal baggage | ||
AIA | Enquire with an AIA representative | Adult: $200,000 – $300,000 | $5,000 – $15,000 | $3,000 – $8,000 |
$117 – $314 | Adult: $100,000 – $2,500,000 | $5,000 – $15,000 | $3,000 – $10,000 | |
$130 – $276 (MoneySmart promo: $55.90 – $118.68) | Adult and child: $200,000 – $1,000,000 | $1,500 – $10,000 | $1,000 – $5,000 | |
Amex | $100 – $157 | Adult: $500,000 – $2,000,000 | $5,000 – $20,000 | $3,500 – $8,000 |
$84.24 (MoneySmart promo: $75.82) | Adult and child: $150,000 | $5,000 | $3,000 | |
Chubb | $165.50 – $377.50 (promo: $132.40 – $302) | Adult: $250,000 – $2,000,000 | $3,000 – $20,000 | $3,500 – $8,000 |
DBS TravellerShield Plus | $207 – $334 (promo: $72.45 – $116.90) | Adult: $300,000 – $1,000,000 | $5,000 – $15,000 (overall limit for Family Plan: $15,000 – $45,000) | $3,000 – $8,000 |
$75.19 – $130.01 (MoneySmart promo: $56.39 – $97.51) | Adult: $200,000 – $1,000,000 | $7,500 – $15,000 (overall limit for family plan: $18,750 – $37,500) | $3,000 – $7,500 | |
$167 – $212 (MoneySmart promo: $100.20 – $127.20) | Adult: $300,000 – $500,000 | $25,000 – $50,000 (overall limit) | $7,500 – $10,000 (overall limit) | |
$162.18 – $260.36 (Promo: $72.98 – $117.16) | Adult: $250,000 – $1,000,000 | $5,000 – $15,000 (overall family limit: $15,000 – $45,000) | $3,000 – $8,000 (overall family limit: $7,500 – $20,000) | |
$148 – $258 (MoneySmart promo: $88.80 – $154.80) | Adult: $250,000 – $1,000,000 | $5,000 – $15,000 (overall limit for family plan: $12,500 – $37,500) | $3,000 – $7,500 (overall family limit: $6,000 – $15,000) | |
OCBC | $99 – $225 | Adult: $300,000 – $700,000 | $15,000 – $40,000 (overall limit) | $3,000 – $7,500 for all items |
$103.36 – $219.29 | Adult and child: $250,000 – unlimited | $5,000 – $20,000 | $3,000 – $8,000 | |
$168 – $213 | Adult: $200,000 – $400,000 | $5,000 – $10,000 (overall family limit: $15,000 – $30,000) | $1,000 (overall family limit: $2,500) | |
Starr (TraveLead Comprehensive) | $106.08 – $165.36 (MoneySmart promo: $53.04 –$82.68) | Adult: $200,000 – $1,000,000 | $5,000 – $15,000 | $3,000 – $7,500 |
$89.70 – $165.60 (MoneySmart promo: $49.34 –$91.08) | Adult: $200,000 – $1,000,000 | $5,000 – $10,000 | $2,000 – $3,000 | |
Tokio Marine | $143 – $174 | Adult: $300,000 – $500,000 | $5,000 – $10,000 (overall family limit: $10,000 – $20,000) | $5,000 – $7,500 (overall family limit: $10,000 – $15,000) |
UOB | $131 – $215 (Promo $72.05 – $18.25) | Adult: $200,000 – $750,000 | $1,500 – $5,000 (overall family limit: $3,750 – $12,500) | $2,000 – $7,500 (overall family limit: $5,000 – $20,000) |
5. Are my parents, siblings and relatives covered by family travel insurance?
Unfortunately, your parents, siblings, cousins, aunties, uncles, and any other relatives are usually excluded from family travel insurance. You’ll know it when you’re keying in information for a family travel insurance quotation on an insurer’s website and see that the number of adults can be either 1 or 2 with no option for higher numbers. Case in point:
Aside from you and your spouse, other adults will have to purchase their own individual or group travel insurance instead. This can make getting quotations difficult because you’ll essentially need to get 2 quotations if you’re travelling with both your children and your parents.
The easiest way to handle this is to use MoneySmart’s travel insurance comparison tool for a full quotation for all adult and children travellers in one click.
6. So how do different travel insurers define a family?
It’s important to know who’s covered in a family travel insurance policy because this varies from insurer to insurer. It’s even more important to take note of if your child is between the ages of 18 and 25—these are the ages at which insurers often start counting your offspring as an adult instead of a child.
Generally, to be considered a child in a family travel insurance plan, they should also be unemployed and unmarried. If they’re working and/or married, they’ll be considered as adults.
If you’re travelling with your parents or relatives too, things get even more complicated. Very few travel insurers count parents + child(ren) + grandparents and more as a family unit—see the last column in the table below.
Family travel insurance | Maximum number of children | Age limit for a child | Number of adults covered | Other family members that can be included |
AIA | Not specified | Under 19 years (24 years for full-time students) | 1 – 2 | – |
Not specified | Under 19 years (23 years for full-time students) | 1 – 2 | – | |
18 | Under 18 years (23 years for full-time students) | 1 – 2 | – | |
Amex | 7 | Under 18 years (23 years for full-time students) | 1 – 2 | Adults need not be related for single trip policies but must be partners for annual multi-trip policies. |
12 – 13 (maximum of 14 insured travellers per policy persons) | Under 18 years (24 years for full-time students) | 2 | – | |
Chubb | 4 – 5 (maximum of 6 insured persons) | Under 18 years (23 years for full-time students) | 1 – 2 | Child can be your child or grandchild. Adults need not be related for single trip policies but must be partners for annual multi-trip policies. |
DBS TravellerShield Plus | 5 | Under 18 years (23 years for full-time students) | 1 – 2 | Child can be you and/or your partner’s child, grandchild, niece, nephew or cousin. |
5 | 21 years or younger (25 years for full-time students) | 1 – 2 | – | |
4 | Under 18 years (24 years for full-time students) | 1 – 2 | Child can be a sibling, grandchild, niece, nephew or cousin. | |
18 (as seen on their website when you’re getting a quotation. The policy wording states “any number” of children.) | Under 21 years | 1 – 2 | – | |
5 | Under 18 years (23 years for full-time students) | 2 (If it’s just you and your child(ren), get their Adult & Child(ren) Cover instead.) | – | |
OCBC | 8 | Under 18 years (24 years for full-time students) | 1 – 2 (adults can be married or unmarried) | Child can be a sibling, grandchild, niece, nephew or cousin. Must be related by blood, marriage or legal adoption to at least 1 adult. |
10 | Under 21 years (23 years for full-time students) | 1 – 2 | – | |
5 | Under 21 years (25 years for full-time students) | 1 – 2 | – | |
Starr (TraveLead Comprehensive) | Free child coverage, unspecified maximum number | Under 18 years | 1 – 2 | – |
9 (maximum of 10 persons in total under family plan) | Under 18 years (25 years for full-time students) | 1 – 6 (maximum of 10 persons in total under family plan) | Child must be a legal child or grandchild to an insured adult. Adult can be the parents or grandparents. | |
Tokio Marine | Not specified | Under 21 years (25 years for full-time students) | 1 – 2 | The two adults need not be related, but the child(ren) must be the legal child or ward in the case of a legal guardian, grandchild, siblings, nephew, niece or cousin of either one of the adults. |
UOB | 7 | Under 18 years (23 years for full-time students) | 1 – 2 | – |
7. What’s the difference between family travel insurance and group travel insurance?
Family travel insurance usually includes you, your spouse, and your children who are below 18 (e.g. MSIG, Starr, Bubblegum) or 21 years old (e.g. FWD, Income, Singlife). Some insurers like FWD travel insurance and Tiq by Etiqa extend the child’s age limit to up to 25 years if they’re still studying in an institute of higher learning on the date the policy coverage begins.
Total Premium
S$48.58
40% OffTotal PremiumS$80.96
MoneySmart Exclusive
ROLEX GRAND DRAW | Trip Cancellation Add-on
FWD Premium
MoneySmart Exclusive:
[Score a Rolex, Apple iPhone, MVST Luggage & More! | MoneySmart Exclusive]
• For a limited time only, enjoy up to 40% off your policy premium. Valid till 4 June 2024.
• Get S$20 iShopChangi e-voucher and Eskimo Global 1GB eSIM with every policy purchased. T&Cs apply.
BONUS: For a limited time only, there are over S$19,600 worth of gifts to be given away:
• 1x Rolex Oyster Perpetual - 124200 34mm Silver (worth S$9,000)
• 1x Apple iPhone 15 Pro 128GB (worth S$1,664.25)
• 5x MVST TREK Aluminium Large Suitcase (worth S$790)
• 1x Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones (worth S$589) and many more!
Increase your chances of winning when you refer friends today. T&Cs apply
PLUS, score S$100 iShopChangi vouchers in our giveaway on top of existing rewards. T&Cs apply.
Valid until 30 Jun 2024
More Details
Key Features
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!
Total Premium
S$78.43
45% OffTotal PremiumS$142.60
MoneySmart Exclusive
Most efficient claims for flight delay
Tiq Savvy
MoneySmart Exclusive:
[GIVEAWAY | MoneySmart Exclusive | FLASH SALE]
• Enjoy 45% off your Single Trip policy premium and 80% off Covid-19 add-on for Annual Plans. T&Cs apply
• Get S$10 iShopChangi e-vouchers with every policy purchased. T&Cs apply.
PLUS, score S$100 iShopChangi vouchers in our giveaway on top of existing rewards. T&Cs apply.
New to Tiq? Get FREE Travel Insurance (worth S$30) from Tiq. T&Cs apply.
[Etiqa's 10th Year 2024 Grand Draw]
Stand a chance to win S$10,000 cash or a Singapore Mint Lunar Dragon 1 gram 999.9 fine gold medallion (worth S$173) with eligible Etiqa/Tiq by Etiqa plans purchased. T&Cs apply.
Valid until 30 Jun 2024
More Details
Key Features
Comprehensive COVID-19 add-on, protecting you before, during and after your trip
Covers Cruise to Nowhere
Get paid upon a 3-hour flight delay, even without submitting a claim
Instant claims encashment via PayNow
24-hour worldwide emergency travel support
Additionally, you and your spouse usually need to be married, and your children should be your biological children, legal stepchildren, or have been legally adopted.
Group travel insurance covers several people travelling together in a group on the same trip. They need not be related. The maximum number of people varies depending on the insurance provider—for example, FWD’s limit is just 7 people, while Income Insurance and Singlife both have a limit of 20. Group travel insurance may or may not cover kids.
Total Premium
S$125.02
25% OffTotal PremiumS$166.70
MoneySmart Exclusive
Free Trip Cancellation
Singlife Travel Plus
MoneySmart Exclusive:
[GIVEAWAY | Receive your cash as fast as 30 days*]
• Enjoy 25% off your policy premium
• Get an Eskimo Global 1GB eSIM with every policy purchased.
• Additionally, receive up to S$30 via PayNow and up to S$20 iShopChangi e-vouchers with eligible premiums spent. T&Cs apply.
PLUS, score S$100 iShopChangi vouchers in our giveaway on top of existing rewards. T&Cs apply.
Valid until 12 Jun 2024
More Details
Key Features
Covers trip cancellation and trip curtailment for any reason, T&Cs apply.
Covers trip interruptions or cancellations due to COVID-19 and cover your medical treatment should you contract COVID-19 whilst overseas and in Singapore.
Coverage for loss of frequent flyers points, hotel points & credit card points.
Payout of S$100** should your trip be affected by excessive rainfall.
**For single trips (minimum 3 days) where more than 50% of trip duration is affected by rainfall levels of >6.4mm in a 24-hour period.
Seamless claims experience with PayNow
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About the author
Vanessa Nah is a personal finance content writer who pens articles on the ins and outs of travel insurance, the T&Cs of credit cards, and the ups and downs of alternative investments. She’s a researcher at heart and leaves no stone unturned when it comes to breaking down complex finance concepts and making them easy to understand for the everyday Singaporean. When Vanessa’s not debunking finance myths, you’ll find her attending dance classes, fingerpicking a guitar, or (most impawtently) fulfilling her life mission to make her one-eyed cat the most spoiled and loved kitty in the world.
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Original article: Guide to the Best Family Travel Insurance in Singapore: Cost, Coverage, Age Limits and More.
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