The worst places not to have travel insurance
Our analysis of the top 20 destinations for Australian travellers shows it's far cheaper to pay for travel insurance than to spend a night in hospital.
Our analysis of the top 20 destinations for Australian travellers shows it's far cheaper to pay for travel insurance than to spend a night in hospital.Important:
Travel insurance rules continue to change as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. We’re working hard to keep up and make sure our guides are up to date, however some information may not be accurate during the pandemic. It’s even more important to double-check all details that matter to you before taking out cover. Please know that some policies may not be available through Finder at this time. Here are some helpful tips:- If you're buying a policy today, it's unlikely that you'll be covered for border closures
- If your travel plans go against government advice, your policy will most likely be voided and you won't be covered
For full details of how we calculated these figures, plus information on the quality of hospitals and healthcare, check out our comprehensive analysis.
Where are the most expensive places to spend a night in a hospital bed?
The worst place to get caught out is Singapore, where a single night in a hospital bed will run you almost $900. That is over 12 times the cost of an average Singapore travel insurance policy.
Unsurprisingly, the good ol' US of A was also near the top of the list. A night in a hospital bed costs over $750, more than seven times the cost of the average policy for the US.
Here's what you'll pay in all 20 of those destinations:
| Destination | Cost of a hospital bed | Cost of travel insurance | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States of America | $751.06 | $102.57 | $648.49 |
| Indonesia | $39.64 | $68.55 | -$28.91 |
| United Kingdom | $564.34 | $79.42 | $484.92 |
| Thailand | $91.89 | $72.89 | $19.00 |
| New Zealand | $390.95 | $57.84 | $333.11 |
| Canada | $603.99 | $99.64 | $504.35 |
| Italy | $482.87 | $82.09 | $400.78 |
| Vietnam | $25.66 | $72.89 | -$47.23 |
| Singapore | $893.34 | $72.89 | $820.45 |
| France | $517.35 | $82.09 | $435.26 |
| Japan | $507.49 | $79.06 | $428.43 |
| Fiji | $47.15 | $59.34 | -$12.19 |
| China | $66.00 | $74.76 | -$8.76 |
| Germany | $561.44 | $82.09 | $479.35 |
| Spain | $486.55 | $82.09 | $404.46 |
| Malaysia | $179.81 | $72.44 | $107.37 |
| Philippines | $34.01 | $72.89 | -$38.88 |
| India | $27.30 | $73.83 | -$46.53 |
| *Hong Kong | $721.53 | $74.76 | $646.77 |
| Netherlands | $671.13 | $82.99 | $588.14 |
*Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China was not included in the WHO Department of Health Systems Financing (2011) estimates. Cost for hospital bed was sourced from the Hospital Authority (HA)
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More about international travel insurance
- ALSO READ: Full analysis of top 20 destinations for Australian travellers
- ALSO READ: Travel insurance for the USA
- ALSO READ: Travel insurance for Singapore
Compare international travel insurance quotes today
Finally, some good news! Domestic travel is picking up, so some insurers have started offering cover again 🦘 Just remember, you won't be covered for any pandemic related claims if you do take out domestic travel insurance.
International travel insurance is limited and sometimes unavailable at this point.
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