Best Travel Insurance for Taiwan 2024
Taiwan is one of the popular travel destinations in Asia, where many of us visit the famous Taipei 101, indulge in their famous bubble teas, fried chicken cutlets and many other street eats at the numerous night markets.
If you're planning a trip there soon, make sure to purchase travel insurance before your flight, just to ensure ensure preparedness for unexpected events such as earthquakes, tsunamis, or flight incidents. If you’re still comparing travel insurance plans and are unsure of which to pick, we’re here to help.
Travel Requirements To Enter Taiwan
Pre-departure PCR tests, vaccination requirements and any quarantine related to COVID-19 measures are no longer required, plus Singaporeans can now enter Taiwan visa-free for durations of stay that are up to 30 days, according to the latest update from Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website.
Travel insurance coverage
Travel insurance is not mandatory to travel to Taiwan as a tourist, but it is still strongly recommended as you never know when you may get sick or meet with an accident. Getting travel insurance helps you to be insured against any possibilities and you may save on costly medical fees overseas, whether associated with COVID-19 treatments or not in Taiwan.
VISA application
There are more than 40 countries on a visa waiver agreement with Taiwan, and unless you’re from one of these countries, you’ll have to apply for a visa via the online application website of Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (ROC) to travel to Taiwan as a tourist. There are several types of visa you can apply for, but if you’re just going there for leisure or business, here are the 3 common visas to consider.
- Single entry visitor visa: If your country is not on the “Visa Exemption Entry” list, you may apply for the single entry tourist visa to enter Taiwan, and it is valid for a maximum of 30-90 days (depending on which country you’re from as maximum duration of stay differs from country to country, refer to this list). The fee payable for a single entry visitor visa is S$65.
- Multiple entries visitor visa: Whether you’re visiting Taiwan for tourism, short term employment or executing a service contract, this form of visa allows you to enter Taiwan more than once and for an intended stay of more than 30 days but less than 6 months. The fee payable for a multiple-entries visitor visa is S$129.
- Business visitor visa: This business entry visa is valid for a longer staying period of more than 30 days but less than 6 months and it costs about S$65 - S$129, depending on whether it is a single entry or multiple-entries visa. An additional 50% is payable on and above the standard visa application fee levied if urgent processing is required.
Top 10 Things To Do In Taiwan
Sample iconic street food like stinky tofu, crispy chicken cutlet, oyster omelets, bubble tea, fried squid, sweet potato dumplings and more, while you immerse yourself in Taiwanese culture at popular night markets like Shilin Night Market in Taipei.
Hike, bike, or drive through the breathtaking Taroko Gorge National Park, known for its marble cliffs and pristine natural beauty.
Take a relaxing boat ride, rent a bike, or hike around Sun Moon Lake, one of Taiwan's most picturesque lakes.
Explore a vast collection of Chinese art and artifacts, including the famous Jadeite Cabbage, in this renowned museum in Taipei.
Take a scenic train ride through the lush Alishan forest, famous for its giant cypress trees and sunrise views.
Discover the rich spiritual heritage of Taiwan by visiting temples like Longshan Temple in Taipei and exploring their architecture and rituals.
Enjoy Taiwan's tropical side by visiting Kenting National Park, known for its beautiful beaches, coral reefs, and diverse marine life.
Experience the vibrant nightlife in Taipei by visiting trendy bars, nightclubs, and live music venues in districts like Ximending and the East District.
Wulai Hot Springs with its rustic outdoor hot springs, Silks Place Tainan featuring a luxurious retreat with a spa overlooking Tainan's historical sights and Guanziling Hot Springs in Tainan that is famous for its mud hot springs and therapeutic properties are some notable ones to try.
Surfing in Kenting, windsurfing in Penghu, snorkeling and diving in Green Island, and kayaking in Sun Moon Lake. The island's extensive coastline and beautiful waters make it a watersports enthusiast's paradise.
We asked Singaporeans about flight disruptions, and they answered.
Find out the worst airlines with delays and cancellations according to Singaporean travellers.
Best Taiwan Travel Insurance Benefits Coverage
| Best for 🏆 | Travel insurance plan 🛫 | Estimated premium rate 💸 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall good value | Bubblegum travel Insurance plans | From $36 |
| Budget travel | FWD Premium plan | From $28 |
| Flight diversion/cancellation/postponement | Singlife Travel Plus and Prestige plans | From $64 |
| Overseas medical coverage | Allianz travel insurance plans | From $44 |
| Pre-existing conditions | MSIG TravelEasy Pre-Ex plans | From $53 |
| Family | DirectAsia travel insurance plans | From $37 |
| Elderly | Tiq by Etiqa travel insurance plans | From $34 |
| Travelling while pregnant | MSIG TravelEasy Pre-Ex plans | From $53 |
| Extreme sports | Starr TraveLead Comprehensive plans | From $33 |
| Annual multi-trip | The Wise Traveller Secure and Premium plans | From $196 |
How does travel insurance provide protection in case of natural disasters or unexpected occurrences?
Coverage for baggage & personal belongings
While many travel insurance policies exclude claims related to natural disasters, Acts of God, or adverse weather conditions such as earthquakes that disrupt travel plans, certain providers like Etiqa and DirectAsia offer plans that reimburse expenses for lost or damaged personal baggage, belongings, and even cover travel delays or cancellations resulting from such events.
These coverage benefits account for the loss of personal belongings due to circumstances beyond the insured individual's control at the intended destination. It's important to note that there are reimbursement limits per item, group of items, or specific types of personal effects, and these limits vary among insurers.
Coverage for trip curtailment, cancellation, or travel delay
In the event of trip curtailment or cancellation due to a travel delay, reimbursements typically cover irrecoverable prepaid transportation and accommodation expenses (excluding administrative charges or fees), provided the cancellations occur within 30 days before the scheduled start of the insured trip.
Medical costs coverage
If you sustain an injury resulting from an accident indirectly or directly caused by a natural disaster, certain travel insurance plans, like those offered by Etiqa and DirectAsia, may cover overseas medical expenses or medical costs incurred upon returning to Singapore.
Compensation is usually disbursed to the overseas or Singaporean medical facility where treatment was received or to designated beneficiaries. Treatment must commence within a specified timeframe from the date of return to Singapore and is subject to the predefined limits of your travel insurance plan, which should be thoroughly reviewed with your insurance provider.
What Is The Average Cost Of A Travel Insurance For Your Taiwan Trip?
With a wide range of travel insurance plans out there that offer varying coverage benefits, it can get challenging trying to do a comparison all by yourself. So we’re here to give you a hand at this. To get things started, you’ll need to choose one that suits you best by comparing the best travel insurance on MoneySmart.
Here’s an example to illustrate (with our round-up of the 5 best travel insurance plans with COVID-19 coverage for Taiwan). Assuming that you’re going for a 4D3N Taipei vacation with your friends, and you’re getting a single trip insurance plan for yourself.
Average Cost Comparison Of Travel Insurance For A Taiwan Trip
| Travel insurance provider | Overseas medical expenses | Post-trip medical expenses | Loss/damage of personal baggage | Trip cancellation | Total premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum | Up to $150,000 | Up to $10,000 | Up to $3,000 | Up to $5,000 | $36 |
| Singlife | Up to $250,000 | Up to $10,000 | Up to $3,000 | Up to $5,000 | $38 |
| Allianz | Up to $250,000 | N.A. | Up to $1,500 | Up to $5,000 | $44 |
| Starr | Up to $200,000 | Up to $15,000 | Up to $3,000 | Up to $5,000 | $33 |
| DirectAsia | Up to $150,000 | Up to $5,000 | Up to $1,000 | Up to $3,000 | $37 |
| FWD | Up to $200,000 | Up to $6,000 | Up to $3,000 | Up to $7,500 | $28 |
| *Estimated premium rates are based on a 4D3N single-trip plan to Taipei, data last updated on 18 October 2023. |
Looking at the 6 travel insurers, the differences and similarities in terms of certain benefits are pretty obvious. The average cost of a travel insurance plan with COVID-19 coverage for a 4D3N single-trip plan to Taipei is about $36, assuming that we take the most basic plan offered by each travel insurance provider.
Estimated average cost of a travel insurance plan:
$36 + $38 + $44 + $33 + $37 + $28 = $216
$216 ÷ 6 = $36
More wallet-friendly options would be Bubblegum, FWD and Starr as they offer more affordable premiums. Despite offering lower premiums than Starr and Allianz, the medical expenses coverage by FWD is quite comprehensive with a maximum limit of $200,000 for its most basic plan. FWD also provides higher coverage of up to $7,500 for trip cancellation compared to the other 5 plans.
For those with a preference for very extensive overseas medical coverage in the situation that anyone gets diagnosed with an unexpected severe illness or injury during the trip, Singlife and Allianz will give you the highest coverage for their basic plans (when comparing among these 6 providers), with up to $250,000 of coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is travel insurance necessary for my Taiwan trip?
- Travel insurance acts as a safeguard against any flight delays, injury, death, sickness, loss of personal belongings when you are travelling. You should get travel insurance whenever you travel, but especially if you are flying on a budget airline or going to areas which are prone to earthquakes, floods or other natural disasters in Taiwan.
How do I buy travel insurance?
- There are several ways to get coverage for your travel insurance. It can either be purchased through your preferred travel insurance mobile app, website or insurance agent. Some travel insurance companies offer COVID-19 coverage as an add-on benefit to an existing plan, while others include COVID-19 coverage benefits in their range of travel insurance plans.