Great Eastern Travel Insurance: Is It a Good Deal?
Great Eastern Travel Insurance: Is It a Good Deal?
ValueChampion Rating 
Pros
- TravelSmart Premier Basic is competitively priced for single trips
- Offers adventurous leisure activities and golf coverage
Cons
- Basic plan is only available for Malaysia
- Elite plan is expensive for ASEAN travellers but offers below average medical coverage
Great Eastern’s TravelSmart Premier stands out for offering affordable basic-tier travel insurance plans, both single and annual, to Malaysia. At just S$26 for a 1-week trip and S$261 for an annual insurance plan, the cost for the TravelSmart Premier Basic plan is below the industry average.
However, the basic-tier plan is a no-frills plan which does not have COVID-19 and Adventurous Leisure Activities coverage, and customers looking for more coverage would have to go for higher-end plans.
Table of Contents
- Great Eastern Travel Insurance: What You Need to Know
- Golfer Coverage
- Claims Information
- Summary of Coverage
| Great Eastern Insurance Quick Facts |
|---|
| Current Credit Rating (S&P): AA- |
Great Eastern Travel Insurance: What You Need to Know
Great Eastern's travel insurance may disappoint those who are looking for cheap or high-value plans due to its mostly uncompetitive premiums and limited COVID-19 coverage. Depending on the destination and level of coverage you need, you can choose from the TravelSmart Premier Basic, Classic or Elite plan.
The TravelSmart Premier Basic plan offers basic medical, terrorism, trip inconvenience and golf coverage. However, the basic-tier plan can be purchased for Malaysia only and does not include COVID-19 coverage. Those looking to purchase travel insurance to other countries must select either the Classic or Elite plans, both of which cost considerably above average.
Additionally, though Great Eastern offers adventure leisure activities cover, they are only available for the Classic or Elite plan.
Even with these additional benefits, it is difficult to recommend Great Eastern's travel insurance to the average consumer who wants to maximise value.
Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier Basic
The Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier Basic plan has the potential of standing out by being the only Malaysia/Batam/Bintan plan that is available for annual coverage.
However, in exchange for the low premium, there is no COVID-19 coverage or Adventurous Leisure Activities coverage.
In addition, the Great Eastern Travel Premier Basic plan is only available for Malaysia and users have to select between Classic and Elite plans for other destinations.
Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier Classic & Elite Plans
Great Eastern's TravelSmart Premier Classic plan is quite expensive for the coverage it provides, giving consumers a low value plan and leaving those who either want top coverage or great prices unimpressed.
Although it includes adventurous leisure activities coverage—which may seem like a great deal at first because most other plans charge extra for these benefits—other mid-tier plans still end up being cheaper even with the extra cost to add on these sports coverages.
The Classic Plan's medical and personal accident coverage is also below average and its cancellation, trip delays, baggage loss and baggage delay coverage hover around the mid-tier average.
Great Eastern's Elite plan is similar to the Classic plan in terms of who it would—or wouldn't—attract.
For ASEAN travellers, it is one the most expensive options costing 15% above average. For trips to Asia and Global destinations, its prices are around average. However, the Elite Plan's medical coverage is around half of what most top-tier plans offer. Additionally, just like the classic plan, it also includes adventurous leisure activities and golf cover, terrorism cover and home contents cover.
If you are looking for a top-tier plan because you want the best coverage possible for your trip, then we would recommend Allianz, as they have extremely high medical and travel inconvenience coverage, and include all of the extra benefits Great Eastern includes such as sports, golf, jewellery and home contents coverage.
Notable Exclusions
Great Eastern has the standard exclusions for TravelSmart Premier plans, including no cover for events relating to pre-existing conditions, war, mental disorders and pregnancy.
| Medical Exclusions | Trip Inconvenience Exclusions |
|---|---|
| Medical Expenses for pre-existing conditions | Engaging in sport for compensation |
| Pregnancy-related events | Items taken by customs officials |
| Suicide and mental illness | Baggage sent separately or items left unattended |
| Cosmetic or elective surgery (unless necessitated by injury) | Fragile articles |
| Travelling when you are medically unfit | Inability to travel due to business or contractual obligations |
| Travelling for medical purposes | War, riots, rebellions |
Golfer
Great Eastern offers fairly comprehensive golfer's coverage that includes equipment, unused green fees and hole-in-one. You will additionally be covered for medical and accident expenses occurring from leisure adventurous activity if you buy either the Classic or Elite plans. The sports covered include helicopter rides, jet skiing, mountaineering (below 3,000 metres), paragliding, parasailing, skiing/snowboarding, skydiving and underwater activities up to a depth of 30 metres.
| Golf Cover | Classic | Elite |
|---|---|---|
| Damage of Equipment | S$500 | S$500 |
| Unused Green Fees | S$250 | S$250 |
| Hole-in-One | S$250 | S$250 |
Claims Information
To submit a claim with Great Eastern, you can either contact their emergency services number (in case of an emergency while on your trip), contact your insurance adviser or mail a claim form along with the appropriate documents.
| Contact Information | |
|---|---|
| Customer Service | (65) 6248 2211 |
| 24-Hour Emergency Assistance | (65) 6339 2155 |
| Address | Great Eastern General Insurance Limited, 1 Pickering Street, #01-01, Great Eastern Centre, Singapore 048659 Attn: General Insurance Claims Department |
| Claims | Online |
Great Eastern Travel Insurance Details
When you get a great deal on your travel insurance, you'll end up maximising your peace of mind while not breaking the bank. Below, you'll find a summary of Great Eastern's coverage and premiums, as well as how they compare to the industry averages. If you'd like to see how Great Eastern's plans compare to other plans on the market, you can read our guide to the best travel insurance plans in Singapore.
| Basic | Classic | Elite | Industry Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Week ASEAN | S$26 (Malaysia only) | S$65 | S$75 | S$46.00 |
| Annual ASEAN | $261 (Malaysia only) | S$369 | S$442 | S$248.00 |
| 1-Week Asia | - | S$65 | S$75 | S$56.00 |
| Annual Asia | - | S$369 | S$442 | S$264.38 |
| 1-Week Global | - | S$99 | S$118 | S$78.00 |
| Annual Global | - | S$480 | S$576 | S$355.00 |
| Coverage Benefits | Basic | Classic | Elite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Accident & Death | S$150,000 | S$200,000 | S$500,000 |
| Medical(while overseas) | S$100,000 | S$300,000 | S$500,000 |
| Medical (while in Singapore) | S$5,00 | S$15,000 | S$25,000 |
| Emergency Medical Evacuation | S$100,000 | S$1,000,000 | |
| Repatriation | S$10,000 | S$50,000 | S$100,000 |
| Trip Cancellation | S$2,000 | S$10,000 | S$15,000 |
| Travel Postponement | S$500 | S$1,000 | S$2,000 |
| Travel Delay (while overseas) | Up to S$1,000 | Up to S$1,200 | |
| Travel Delay (while in Singapore) | Up to S$500 | ||
| Baggage Loss Damage | S$2,500 | S$5,000 | |
| Baggage Delay (overseas) | Up to S$200 | Up to S$1,000 | Up to S$1,200 |
| Baggage Delay (Singapore) | Up to S$200 | ||