Great Eastern Travel Insurance—MoneySmart Review (2026)

You booked Hokkaido months ago, paid the deposit, and started counting down. Then a big work deadline lands on the same week. Standard travel insurance only pays for cancellations with specific reasons, like illness, a family emergency, or a typhoon, and a clash at work isn't one of them.

Great Eastern travel insurance can still soften the blow. Its GREAT TravelCare Gold and Platinum tiers refund half your non-refundable costs (up to $3,000 and $6,000 respectively) when you cancel for any reason, as long as you bought the policy within 30 days of your first payment. Add free adventure sports cover on those same tiers and prices from $40 for a week in ASEAN, and you've got a plan worth a closer look. We compared it with over 60 travel insurance plans from 21 providers in Singapore to see how it stacks up.

Learn more about our travel insurance rating system.

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1. GREAT TravelCare plans: Basic, Gold, and Platinum at a glance

GREAT TravelCare comes in three tiers: Basic, Gold, and Platinum. Whichever you choose, you can buy it for a single trip, a whole year of travel, or a one-way trip, and for just yourself or the whole family.

A single trip can last up to 182 days, while each trip on an annual plan is capped at 90 days. You'll pick from three areas of travel: Asia Pacific (including Australia, Japan, and New Zealand), worldwide excluding the US and Canada, or worldwide.

If you're buying family cover for a single trip, everyone needs to travel together. On an annual plan, family members can travel separately, though kids under 10 must always have a parent or adult guardian with them.

Here's what changes as you move up the tiers.

• Basic sticks to the essentials: overseas medical bills, evacuation, trip cancellation, delays, and baggage. There's no adventure sports cover, no any-reason cancellation, and no option to add pre-existing conditions cover.
• Gold is where things get interesting. It adds adventure sports, any-reason cancellation, hospital cash, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), emergency dental, pet care, rental car excess, and the option to cover pre-existing conditions.
• Platinum raises most limits, pays out on travel and baggage delays after 4 hours instead of 6, and is the only tier that covers your sports equipment (up to $1,000).

Basic works for a quick, low-key getaway where medical cover is all you're after. Gold is the sweet spot for most travellers, and Platinum makes sense for long-haul trips with pricey bookings, or if you're packing skis or dive gear.

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2. How much does Great Eastern travel insurance cost and what does it cover?

Here's how the three tiers compare for one adult under 70 on a 7-day ASEAN trip.

The median plan in Singapore costs $70 for this trip, so Basic ($40) and Gold ($65) both come in under it. Platinum is $18 above the median at $88, but still a long way from the market's priciest plan at $135. The cheapest plan out there costs $25.

Here's how the key benefits stack up against the rest of the market:

• Overseas medical: Basic's $100,000 matches the lowest limit in Singapore. Gold matches the $500,000 median, and Platinum doubles it.
• Evacuation: this jumps from $200,000 on Basic to $1,000,000 on Gold and Platinum.
• Trip cancellation: Gold sits right at the $10,000 median, while Platinum's $15,000 is $5,000 shy of the market's best.
• Travel delay: both Gold and Platinum clear the $1,000 median, and Platinum starts paying sooner.
• Baggage loss: this is GREAT TravelCare's strongest suit. Platinum's $8,000 matches the highest limit in Singapore.
• Baggage delay: Gold lands on the $1,000 median, and Basic's $400 is still well above the $150 floor.

Is the cover worth the price? For Gold, yes. You pay slightly less than the median plan and get median-or-better cover on every benefit we benchmark, plus any-reason cancellation and adventure sports thrown in. That makes it the value pick.

Basic is harder to love. It's $15 more than the cheapest plan in Singapore, yet its medical limit matches the lowest on the market. For $25 more, Gold gives you five times the medical cover.

Platinum's extra $23 over Gold buys double the medical cover, the market's highest baggage loss limit, and faster delay payouts. That's good value for a long-haul trip or an expensive holiday, but more than you need for a weekend in Kuala Lumpur.

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3. Does Great Eastern travel insurance cover COVID-19?

Yes, at no extra cost. COVID-19 is included in your medical cover overseas and back in Singapore, and it's treated like any other illness, up to your tier's usual limit. If you or your travel companion falls seriously ill or gets quarantined, you can also claim for cancelling, postponing, or cutting short your trip.

The one catch applies to any infectious disease that's officially declared an epidemic or pandemic, whether by Singapore's authorities, the World Health Organization, or another recognised body. Once the declaration is made, medical claims for that disease aren't covered, unless you were diagnosed before it. Cancellation and disruption claims are still covered if your policy started before the declaration, which is one more reason to buy early.

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4. Does Great Eastern travel insurance cover adventure sports?

Yes, on Gold and Platinum, at no extra cost. Basic doesn't cover adventure sports at all. The cover applies to death or injury from the activities below, as long as you're doing them for fun rather than in competition.

There are a few rules to follow for your claim to count.

• Hiking needs a guide. Mountaineering, hiking, and trekking are only covered below 4,000 metres and with qualified guides or instructors.
• Use licensed operators. Activities like bungee jumping, skydiving, rafting, jet-skiing, and zip-lining must be run by a licensed operator, and many also need instructor supervision or an officially approved area.
• Dive within your limits. You'll need a PADI certificate (or equivalent), must stay within 30 metres, and must dive with a qualified buddy or instructor.
• Stay on-piste. Skiing and snowboarding are only covered on recognised pistes or groomed, patrolled areas of a resort.

Anything outside these limits falls back on the general exclusions. That includes extreme sports like big-wave surfing and cliff jumping, off-piste skiing, and racing.

Getting adventure cover for free is a nice bonus on Gold and Platinum, and the 4,000-metre trekking limit is more generous than FWD's 3,000 metres (see section 8).

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5. Adding pre-existing conditions cover

If you have a condition like asthma, diabetes, or high blood pressure, you can add pre-existing conditions cover to Gold or Platinum for an extra premium. It isn't available on Basic.

A pre-existing condition is anything you've been diagnosed with, treated for, or taken medication for in the 12 months before your trip. The add-on is meant for stable, well-managed conditions. It won't cover one that gets worse in the 30 days before you fly and needs a specialist, tests, or surgery, except for trip cancellation claims. It also only lasts for the first 45 days of each trip.

Even if you skip the add-on, Gold and Platinum still cover emergency evacuation and repatriation for pre-existing conditions, up to $150,000 and $200,000 respectively.

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6. The catches hiding in GREAT TravelCare's policy wording

Most of GREAT TravelCare's terms are what you'd expect from a travel policy, but a few details could catch you out. Here are the ones to know before you buy.

1. "Any reason" cover comes with rules. You must buy your policy within 30 days of your first payment or deposit for the trip, and you'll only get back 50% of what you lost. You can make up to two claims a year. On Gold, any-reason cancellation is capped at $3,000, well below the regular $10,000 cancellation limit.
2. Bookings paid with points don't count. Trip cancellation, postponement, and disruption won't refund flights or hotels you paid for with miles or reward points. Gold and Platinum do pay back lost frequent flyer points (up to $500 and $1,000), but only if you cancel or postpone.
3. Travel delay pays out once per trip, not per flight. Your trip runs from the moment you leave home to when you get back, so you can make one claim for a delay overseas and one for a delay in Singapore, however many flights are held up along the way. Delays you were told about more than 3 days in advance aren't covered.
4. Buy before you leave. You must take out the policy before departing Singapore. Single-trip and annual plans only cover trips that start and end here.

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7. How to make a Great Eastern travel insurance claim

Great Eastern handles travel claims online, and the process is fairly painless as long as you keep your paperwork in order. Here's what to do if something goes wrong on your trip.

1. Report it within 24 hours. For lost or stolen items, file a police report where it happened, or get a property irregularity report from your airline or transport operator.
2. Let Great Eastern know within 30 days of anything that could lead to a claim.
3. Gather your documents. Ask hospitals and clinics for itemised bills, and hang on to every original receipt.
4. Submit your claim online through Great Eastern's travel claims page. Files must be JPG, PNG, or PDF, no larger than 2MB each.
5. Send proof of your loss within 60 days. If that isn't possible, send it as soon as you can, and no later than a year after the loss.

The documents you'll need depend on what you're claiming for. A medical claim needs your itinerary, itemised medical bills, and a doctor's report. A trip cancellation claim needs a letter from your airline or travel agent confirming what's non-refundable. Lost baggage needs a police or property irregularity report and receipts for what you lost. You'll find the full checklist for each claim type on Great Eastern's travel claims page.

If you need help while you're overseas, call Great Eastern's 24-hour emergency line at +65 6708 7453, or WhatsApp +1 888 831 7667. For questions about a claim, call 6248 2638.

If you're on an annual plan, bear in mind that any condition you claim for counts as pre-existing on your later trips. Once you've made a claim, you also can't get a refund if you cancel the policy.

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8. Great Eastern vs FWD travel insurance

FWD makes a good comparison because it takes the opposite approach. It sells COVID-19 cover and any-reason cancellation as paid add-ons, while GREAT TravelCare builds both in. Both insurers have three tiers, so the figures below run from GREAT TravelCare Basic to Platinum, and from FWD Premium to First.

FWD is cheaper at every level. Premium costs $2.92 less than Basic, Business is $14.19 less than Gold, and First is $21.92 less than Platinum. FWD's entry tier is also the stronger one. Premium doubles Basic's medical cover, offers more than three times its trip cancellation limit, and includes adventure sports, which Basic doesn't cover. And every FWD tier comes with unlimited emergency evacuation.

GREAT TravelCare pulls ahead on extras. Its delay payouts are higher at every tier. Any-reason cancellation is built into Gold and Platinum, and you get 30 days from your first payment to buy the policy. FWD sells it as an add-on for single trips only, which you must buy within 7 days of your deposit. If you have a pre-existing condition, Great Eastern's add-on on Gold and Platinum also pays more for overseas medical bills than FWD's Business and First, and lasts up to 45 days per trip, compared with 30 days on FWD's single-trip plans.

If you want a solid, cheaper entry-level plan or unlimited evacuation, FWD is hard to beat. If you're managing a health condition or tend to book trips months ahead, GREAT TravelCare Gold or Platinum is the better fit. Just remember that FWD charges extra for COVID-19, any-reason, and pre-existing conditions cover, so compare the final price with the add-ons you need.

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9. GREAT TravelCare promotion

Great Eastern is offering 30% off single-trip plans via MoneySmart till 31 October 2026. On top of that, you get these rewards with eligible premiums spent:

There's also a daily giveaway running till 31 October 2026. Be the first to submit the MoneySmart claim form at 8 pm, and you'll get a $100 GrabGift voucher or a $100 Shell petrol voucher (1,400 SmartPoints).

*The $30 Revolut cash reward requires signing up as a new Revolut customer via MoneySmart's unique link, topping up your account, and making a card transaction of at least $30 within the qualifying period.

Promotion valid till 31 October 2026, and the MoneySmart claim form must be submitted by the same date. T&Cs apply.

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10. Is Great Eastern travel insurance worth it?

For most travellers, GREAT TravelCare is worth it if you go for Gold or Platinum. That's where you get median-or-better cover at a fair price, plus extras like any-reason cancellation and free adventure sports. Basic is the weak link, so if you're on a tight budget, it's worth comparing other entry-level plans first.

Pros

• Any-reason cancellation, postponement, and curtailment are included on Gold and Platinum, with a generous 30-day window to buy.
• Adventure sports are covered at no extra cost on Gold and Platinum, and treks are covered up to 4,000 metres.
• You can add pre-existing conditions cover to the same policy, with overseas medical limits of up to $200,000.
• Platinum's $8,000 baggage loss limit matches the highest in Singapore, and its delay payouts kick in after just 4 hours.

Cons

• Basic's overseas medical limit matches the lowest in Singapore, and it has none of the plan's standout features.
• Emergency evacuation tops out at $1,000,000, while some rivals offer unlimited cover.
• Overseas medical cover drops steeply for travellers aged 70 and above, to between $20,000 and $200,000 depending on the tier.
• Any-reason and pre-existing condition trip claims only pay back 50% of your loss.

GREAT TravelCare is a great match for planners who book months in advance and want a safety net if life gets in the way. It also suits travellers with stable, well-managed conditions on trips of up to 45 days, and active travellers who'd rather not pay extra to cover a guided trek, a dive trip, or a ski holiday. Families get plenty of room too, with Platinum's family trip cancellation limit reaching $40,000.

It's less of a fit if you're heading somewhere with high medical costs on a tight budget, since Basic's medical cover is thin. Travellers over 70 who want high medical limits may also find better options elsewhere. And if you like to trek or climb without a guide, those activities won't be covered.

Ready to book your next trip? Apply for Great Eastern travel insurance via MoneySmart to get this month's rewards.

About our scale and rating system

• We compiled the prices and coverage limits for 60 travel insurance plans from 21 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.
• Finally, we plotted where each travel insurance plan stands on those scales and assigned a star rating for the provider based on the results.
• To arrive at an overall score reflecting price versus coverage, we take the average of the 5 coverage components, then average that figure with the price. The final score is rounded to the nearest whole number.

Notes:

• The star ratings are flipped for the Price component—for this, the lower the better.
• For all components, we will also award bonus or penalty stars to recognise special features of plans that may be non-quantifiable, as well as the best and poorest performing plans in Singapore:
  • Add a bonus star if one of the plans is the best in Singapore.
  • Deduct a penalty star if one of the plans is the worst in Singapore.
• For travel delay, most insurers offer $100 for every 6 hours.
  • ADD a star if the compensation rate for all plans under an insurer is higher. For example: a shorter time interval ($50 for every 3 hours) or larger compensation amount ($200 for every 6 hours)
  • DEDUCT a star if the compensation rate for all plans under an insurer is lower. For example: a longer time interval ($100 for every 8 hours) or smaller compensation amount ($50 for every 6 hours)
• For baggage delay, most insurers offer $200 for every 6 hours.
  • ADD a star if the compensation rate for all plans under an insurer is higher. For example: a shorter time interval ($100 for every 3 hours) or larger compensation amount ($250 for every 6 hours)
  • DEDUCT a star if the compensation rate for all plans under an insurer is lower. For example: a longer time interval ($200 for every 8 hours) or smaller compensation amount ($150 for every 6 hours)

Still undecided? Use our travel insurance comparison tool to browse and compare travel insurance plans in Singapore.