Costs of Travelling Without Travel Insurance

You’ve probably heard of Murphy’s Law: “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” It’s easy to dismiss when planning a trip. With everything booked, bags packed, and the weather forecast looking perfect, what could possibly derail your holiday?

Let’s follow Alex, a Singaporean traveller heading to France for a long-awaited getaway. Confident that nothing would go wrong, Alex decided to skip travel insurance and save a little extra for souvenirs.

But from unexpected issues before departure to medical emergencies and disruptions abroad, and even trouble after returning home, Alex’s journey quickly takes a turn.

The reality is, even well-planned trips can unravel in ways you never imagined. Illness, delays, cancellations or accidents don’t wait for convenient moments. And without travel insurance, what starts as a minor inconvenience can snowball into significant out-of-pocket costs and serious regret.

Alex's Journey Begins: Trouble Before Takeoff

To save on costs, Alex booked non-refundable flights to France and secured discounted hotel deals. Everything seemed perfectly in place — until just a few days before departure, when Alex began to feel unwell.

A visit to the doctor confirmed it was dengue fever. For health and safety reasons, Alex was certified unfit to travel.

With the trip no longer viable, Alex had to postpone everything. The hotels were flexible enough to allow rescheduling, but the budget airline tickets were non-refundable. On top of that, he had to pay change fees for the hotel bookings and manage the added hassle of rearranging the trip.

Without travel insurance, all of these costs came directly out of pocket, including the forfeited airfare.

With a plan like Liberty TourCare Plus, Alex could have been reimbursed for some of these expenses. The policy covers trip postponement due to Unforeseen Circumstances, such as falling seriously ill before departure. According to the policy, this applies when a doctor certifies in writing that the traveller is unfit to begin the trip. Under this benefit, travellers may claim up to S$500 (Standard Plan) or S$1,000 (Supreme Plan) for non-refundable costs and administrative charges, provided valid documentation is submitted.

Even before a trip begins, unexpected setbacks can unravel your plans. Without travel insurance, you're left to absorb the financial impact on your own.

In Transit: Delays and Lost Luggage Strike

After recovering and rescheduling, Alex finally embarks on his long-awaited trip to France. But the journey doesn’t go as smoothly as planned. The first leg of Alex’s journey — from Singapore to his transit city — is delayed by a severe storm, causing him to miss his connecting flight to France. The airline rebooks him on the next available flight, but it’s more than six hours later.

Stranded at the airport, Alex ends up paying for meals, snacks, and access to a rest area just to get some rest.

When he finally arrives in France, things go from bad to worse. His checked baggage doesn’t show up at the carousel. The airline later confirms that his luggage has been delayed. Without essentials like a change of clothes or toiletries, Alex is forced to purchase basic items out of pocket.

Without travel insurance, Alex has to bear all these costs himself. Meals, airport lounge or hotel access, and replacement essentials can add up quickly. There’s also no compensation for the time lost or inconvenience caused.

With a plan like Liberty TourCare Plus, Alex could have submitted a claim under the Travel Misconnection benefit. If the delay at a transit point exceeds six hours, travellers may claim up to S$200 per person, subject to policy terms and conditions.

Additionally, if the baggage delay exceeds six consecutive hours after arrival, he may be eligible to claim under the Baggage Delay benefit. To qualify, the airline must provide written confirmation of the delay, and Alex must keep itemised receipts for any essentials purchased. Coverage may apply for reasonable replacement of personal items like toiletries and clothing, up to the plan’s stated limits.

Delays and baggage issues are among the most common travel disruptions. Without insurance, you’re left to manage the costs — and the stress — entirely on your own.

At Destination: A Medical Emergency Abroad

After arriving in France, Alex finally gets to enjoy the sights, food, and culture he’s been looking forward to. But midway through the trip, he’s suddenly hit with severe abdominal pain.

He heads to the nearest hospital and is diagnosed with appendicitis. Emergency surgery is required, followed by several days of hospitalisation. The costs begin to pile up — diagnostic tests, surgical fees, medications, and the extended hospital stay quickly become overwhelming.

On top of that, language barriers make communication with the medical staff difficult. During the hospital visit, Alex’s passport is also misplaced, adding another layer of stress to an already difficult situation.

Without travel insurance, Alex has to pay for everything out of pocket. This includes the full cost of surgery, hospitalisation, and all related treatments. He also needs to cover the cost of replacing his passport on his own. Navigating a foreign healthcare system — from understanding procedures to managing hospital documents — becomes a major challenge without guidance or language support.

If his condition had worsened or if the local medical facilities were inadequate, an emergency evacuation might have been necessary. That alone could cost tens of thousands of dollars, fully borne by Alex.

With travel insurance, Alex would have been covered for his overseas medical expenses. For example, Liberty Insurance’s TourCare Plus Supreme offers coverage of up to S$500,000. He would also have access to the 24/7 Liberty Helpline for assistance in arranging hospital admission, referrals to medical facilities, and referral to the appropriate authorities if his passport is lost. While services are provided on a referral basis, having someone to point you in the right direction can make all the difference in a stressful situation.

A sudden medical crisis abroad is stressful enough. Without coverage, it can also be financially devastating.

Returning Home – Unexpected Setbacks on the Way Home

After recovering and completing his trip, Alex heads to the airport for his flight back to Singapore. But just when he thought the journey was over, another problem arose..

His return flight is overbooked. Despite having a confirmed ticket, Alex is denied boarding and has to wait several hours for the next available flight. With no choice but to remain at the airport, he ends up spending on meals and a quiet rest area to pass the time.

Originally, Alex had booked a Saturday night flight that would have him home by Sunday afternoon. His plan was to get a full night’s rest before returning to work on Monday. But due to the change, he’s rebooked on a Sunday morning flight, arriving in Singapore at 6:15 AM on Monday, just hours before he’s due at the office.

Exhausted from a long-haul flight and with no time to recover, Alex is forced to take an additional day off. This unplanned leave day throws off his schedule and uses up valuable time he hadn’t planned to spend.

Without travel insurance, Alex has no recourse. The cost of meals, rest, and any ground transport is his to bear. There’s no compensation for lost time or the disruption to his routine.

With a plan like Liberty TourCare Plus, Alex may have been eligible to claim up to S$150 (Standard Plan) or S$200 (Supreme Plan) to help cover expenses such as meals, airport accommodation, or ground transportation. To make a successful claim, airline-issued proof of overbooking and itemised receipts would be required.

Even at the final leg of the journey, travel hiccups can have real-world consequences, especially without coverage in place.

The Full Financial Picture: What You Could Lose Without Insurance

From a single illness to cascading travel delays, Alex’s story shows just how quickly travel costs can spiral when things go wrong. Here’s a closer look at what those costs might look like, with and without travel insurance.

Scenario	Without  Travel Insurance	With Travel Insurance
Trip postponement	Pay out of pocket for flight change fee and forfeited bookings	May claim up to S$500/S$1,000 (standard/supreme) for non-refundable costs if certified unfit to travel
Flight misconnection	Covers meals, rest area or airport hotel, and essentials himself during the long wait	May claim S$200 per person if the misconnection overseas exceeds 6 hours and is documented
Flight overbooking delay	Pays for meals and rest space while stranded; no compensation	May claim up to S$150/S$200 (Standard/Supreme) for meals, accommodation, and ground transport
Baggage delay	Buys essential items (e.g. toiletries, clothing) at his own expense	May claim for delayed baggage if it exceeds 6+ hours; covers essential items with proof
Medical emergency abroad	Covers full cost of surgery and hospitalisation out of pocket	Covered up to S$500,000, depending on plan; includes Liberty Helpline for emergency support
Lost passport/document	Pays for the replacement and arranges the embassy visit himself	May receive referral and assistance for document replacement through the Liberty Helpline
Emergency evaculation	Pays full cost if medically required; air evacuation can exceed US$12,000	Covered if deemed medically necessary and approved under policy

 

More Than Just Money: The Emotional Toll

Beyond the financial strain, handling emergencies alone in a foreign country can be emotionally overwhelming. Whether it's navigating a hospital system, replacing a lost passport, or getting stuck at an unfamiliar airport, these disruptions come with added stress and uncertainty, especially when there’s no support system in place.

While insurance can’t eliminate stress, a plan like Liberty TourCare Plus offers structure, support, and peace of mind. With 24/7 access to assistance, you’re not alone when things go wrong — and that makes all the difference.

Why Travel Insurance is the Most Affordable Safety Net

For most travellers, a trip abroad represents a significant financial commitment. Flights, hotels, meals, and activities — it all adds up quickly. Yet for a fraction of that cost, travel insurance offers a safety net that helps you recover when the unexpected strikes.

Take Liberty’s TourCare Plus, for example. A 7-day worldwide trip is covered at:

• S$124 under the Standard Plan
• S$197 under the Supreme Plan

In comparison:

• A round-trip flight to France typically costs S$1,200 to S$1,800
• Budget travellers spend around S$50 to S$100 per day on food, transport, and lodging
• Mid-range travellers may spend S$100 to S$200 or more per day, depending on the itinerary and comfort level

Even for a modest 7-day trip, total travel expenses can easily range from S$1,500 to over S$3,000. The cost of travel insurance is just a small percentage of that.

That small upfront premium could shield you from potentially thousands of dollars in unexpected costs, such as medical bills, evacuation, flight delays, and lost baggage. More importantly, insurance isn’t just about reimbursement. It also provides peace of mind and support when your plans go off course.

Comparing Coverage*: TourCare Essential vs TourCare Plus

Feature	TourCare Essential	TourCare Plus
Plan Variants	Lite / Savvy / Xtra	Standard / Supreme
Overseas Medical Expenses	Reimbursed up to the benefit limit or up to 45 days from the date of sustaining the Injury or Sickness, whichever occurs first	Reimbursed up to the benefit limit or up to 90 days from the date of sustaining the Injury or Sickness, whichever occurs first
Medical Expenses (Back in SG)	Medical treatment must be sought within 24 consecutive hours from return to Singapore (if initial treatment was not sought Overseas), and up to a maximum of 31 days from the date of first medical treatment in Singapore	Medical treatment must be sought within 3 days from return to Singapore (if initial treatment was not sought Overseas), and up to a maximum of 31 days from the date of first medical treatment in Singapore
Pre-Existing Conditions	Not covered	Covers Acute Onset (Single Trip only) under Overseas Medical Expenses, Emergency Medical Evacuation, and Repatriation of Mortal Remains
Flight Delay / Misconnection	Covered only if delay is caused by specific perils listed in the policy	Covered as long as the delay or diversion is due to reasons not caused by the Insured Person, Immediate Family Member, or Travelling Companion on the same Trip.