Top Travel Insurance Plans for the Philippines with Medical Coverage

The best travel insurance for the Philippines includes strong emergency medical coverage, evacuation benefits, and protection for trip disruptions like cancellations or lost luggage. Plans from providers such as April International, VUMI, and GeoBlue offer comprehensive coverage tailored to both short visits and longer stays. 

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Whether you’re heading to Manila, Cebu, or one of the country’s remote islands, having a policy that covers medical emergencies, repatriation, and high-risk activities is essential. Credit card benefits may offer limited coverage, but combining those with a standalone travel insurance plan gives you better peace of mind during your trip.

Keep reading to find the best recommendations for the most essential travel insurance coverage. Pacific Prime offers help and support for insurance selections in the Philippines.

In this article, we will point out what types of travel coverage you should consider when traveling to the Philippines and offer hints about which coverage types may already be included benefits with your credit card. We’ll also compare the best medical travel insurance companies for your adventure in the Philippines.

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How to Choose the Right Travel Insurance for the Philippines

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The best travel insurance for the Philippines can be a budget-friendly mix of available card member benefits and purchasing the right policies to fill the gaps and provide protection. You’ll need to find a travel insurance policy that covers emergency medical expenses.

Let’s take a closer look at popular travel insurance coverage items you’ll want for your trip to the Philippines, including:

  • Trip Cancellation Coverage
  • Lost Luggage and Personal Belongings Coverage
  • Liability Insurance
  • Rental Car Insurance
  • Lost Travel Documents Coverage
  • Trip Delay Coverage
  • Emergency Medical Expenses Coverage
  • High-Risk Activity/ Extreme Sports Riders

Coverage for Trip Cancellations in the Philippines

Trip cancellation coverage helps reimburse you for non-refundable travel expenses when your trip is canceled due to unforeseeable circumstances. Each policy has a benefit limit for how much coverage is available. Travel insurance companies also have exclusions, so check the policy.

Most popular travel credit cards and medical travel insurance policies provide coverage for canceled trips. Consult your insurance policy and cardmember benefits for benefit limits.

Insurance for Lost Baggage and Personal Items

Travel insurance policies typically cover lost luggage and personal belongings. This coverage has exclusions and benefit limits, but having this coverage can save you money if you need to replace missing items in the Philippines. 

Many popular travel credit cards will cover lost luggage up to the card member benefit limit. This coverage is also easy to add to a medical travel insurance policy if it’s not already included.

Travel Liability Insurance Explained

Travel insurance policies include liability insurance for accidental damage to a third party’s property or bodily injury to a third party while you’re traveling. Intentional damage or injury is excluded. 

Some liability insurance automatically covers rental cars, and others may cover liability when driving rental cars with an additional rider.

Rental Car Coverage for Travelers in the Philippines

Rental Car insurance covers a stolen or damaged rental car. The rental car itself is not always covered in a liability insurance policy, and your domestic car insurance is very unlikely to cover damage to a car rented in the Philippines. 

Collision Damage Waivers are often available through major credit cards like many VISA credit cards or Mastercards. The Philippines, as a destination, is most likely covered in an international rental car collision damage waiver. 

To use a rental car collision damage waiver in the Philippines, the driver must pay for the rental car using their credit card with the benefit. You must also waive the rental car company’s coverage to be able to use your card member benefit.

Be aware that there is typically a USD $50,000- $75,000 benefit limit and more valuable rental cars will be excluded. Collision damage waivers are also only intended for passenger vehicles, not motorcycles, recreational vehicles, or cargo vans.

Insurance for Lost Travel Documents Abroad

The best international travel insurance policies provide coverage in case you lose travel documents. Replacing travel documents while you’re vacationing in the Philippines can be expensive and difficult. Lost Travel Documents coverage will offset those costs.

Travel Delay Insurance for Unexpected Costs

Trip delay coverage offsets the costs incurred when your transportation is delayed. If delayed flights cause you extra hotel stays or other expenses, you may be able to get coverage through the trip delay portion of your travel insurance policy.

There may be trip delay coverage available as a card member benefits from some major credit cards. Consult your card member benefits for the amount of coverage provided. Ensure that it’s adequate for your needs.

Emergency Medical Insurance for Travel in the Philippines

Emergency medical coverage in the Philippines is essential for an effective travel insurance policy. There are many areas in the Philippines with limited medical facilities. A good travel insurance policy covers emergency medical evacuation and repatriation with a high benefit limit.

You will have to purchase a travel insurance policy with adequate coverage for emergency medical expenses, including medical evacuation and repatriation. Medical benefits available as a credit cardholder perk are insufficient due to very low benefit limits compared to actual medical expenses.

Also note that emergency medical expenses as the result of an accident during an extreme sport or activity, such as scuba diving, skiing, or riding ATVs, are not covered without the appropriate add-on.

Insurance Add-Ons for High-Risk Activities

To have emergency medical expenses covered for high-risk activities, you will need to purchase an add-on to your travel insurance policy in the Philippines. Consult the policy’s rider information to ensure that all of the high-risk activities will be included with your insurance rider.

Top Travel Insurance Providers for the Philippines

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The best travel insurance companies for your trip to the Philippines focus on providing medical coverage. The most important travel insurance coverage that’s often insufficient or excluded in credit cardholder benefits or other memberships is emergency medical expense coverage. 

The following travel insurance companies specialize in emergency medical expenses. Many of these companies also include or offer add-ons for popular coverage items like trip cancellation and lost baggage coverage.

April International Insurance Overview

April International’s short-term insurance options for travelers to the Philippines are available for policy terms of one month to twelve. There’s no deductible for medical expenses, and April International offers two levels of coverage to fit your budget needs.

Medical travel insurance policy benefits through April International include the following.

  • Coverage for accident and illness, including COVID-19 infection
  • Prescribed medications
  • Second medical opinion coverage
  • Optional add-on for pre-existing conditions for policies of three months or longer
  • Medical evacuations and repatriation

Non-medical benefits on April International short-term/travel insurance policies include the following.

  • Assistance for lost or stolen personal belongings
  • Emergency accommodations
  • Personal liability
  • Legal assistance
  • Return of mortal remains
  • Return home for the death or hospitalization of a family member

Want to know how much an April International insurance policy costs? Get a free quote from April International for the most accurate results based on your age, destination, circumstances, and travel dates.

VUMI Travel VIP Coverage for the Philippines

VUMI Travel VIP plans are available for single-trip coverage to the Philippines or multi-trip coverage through an annual policy for all of your traveling abroad. You can get outstanding coverage for up to 90 consecutive days on the same trip.

Medical benefits on VUMI’s VIP plans include the following:

  • Free coverage for children under two years old
  • Coverage for travelers up to 79 years of age
  • 24/7 medical emergency coverage
  • Emergency dental coverage
  • Your choice of doctors and hospitals worldwide
  • Annual trip plan members can get a second medical opinion
  • Minor illness and accident coverage
  • Repatriation coverage
  • Compassionate emergency visit to the insured
  • Return ticket home if you miss your original flight due to illness

VUMI VIP Plans have two riders available for travelers who want non-medical travel benefits.

Non-Medical Rider through VUMI VIP:

  • Lost, damaged, delayed, or stolen baggage
  • Coverage for passport and/or cash theft
  • Liability insurance for bodily injury or property damage
  • Daily hospital benefit
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage
  • Legal assistance
  • Delayed flight or missed connection coverage

Trip Cancellation Rider through VUMI VIP:

Provides coverage if you cannot travel due to acute illness, injury, or death.

You can easily get a free quote for VUMI VIP travel insurance plans online. Getting a personalized quote is the best way to verify pricing for your age, demographics, destination, and other circumstances.

IMG Globehopper Travel Insurance Review

IMG Globehopper’s travel insurance plans are available for travelers to the Philippines. Policies must be for a minimum of 30 days. You can add personal liability insurance and adventure sports coverage. Basic sports coverage is included.

IMG Globehopper plans are customizable so that you can choose the best benefit limit and deductibles for your needs and budget. This is one way that IMG Globehopper is able to offer competitive rates for travel insurance.

You can select the following benefit limit amounts: 

  • USD $100,000
  • USD $250,000
  • USD $500,000
  • USD $1,000,000

Medical benefits of IMG Globehopper policies include coverage up to your selected maximum benefit for the following medical expenses:

  • Intensive Care
  • Semi-private hospital room and board
  • Other inpatient medical expenses
  • Out-patient medical expenses
  • Prescription drugs
  • Local ambulance 
  • Emergency room for illnesses with or without inpatient admission
  • Emergency room for accidents
  • Dental injury or sudden dental pain
  • Sudden and unexpected recurrence of a pre-existing condition

Non-medical benefits of IMG Globehopper policies include the following.

  • Terrorism
  • Trip interruptions up to USD $5,000
  • Accidental Death & Dismemberment
  • Lost Luggage

Find and compare IMG Globehopper premiums online for free. You’ll be able to see the cost based on selected add-ons and maximum benefit limits for your travel dates in the Philippines when you enter your demographic information.

GeoBlue Insurance Plans for US Travelers to the Philippines

Americans traveling to the Philippines will love GeoBlue’s travel insurance plans, which are available for US residents only. Single-trip and multi-trip plans are available. GeoBlue’s plans offer unlimited telemedicine and the largest worldwide direct billing network. 

GeoBlue offers single-trip coverage through Voyager Choice plans and multi-trip Coverage through Trekker Choice plans.

Here are some other reasons you may be interested in GeoBlue’s travel insurance policies.

  • Geoblue’s travel medical insurance plans also offer pre-existing condition coverage under certain conditions.
  • High maximum benefit amount of USD $1,000,000
  • Medical evacuation included
  • Accidental death and dismemberment included
  • In-network Western medicine doctors are well-vetted 
  • Get support and assistance through GeoBlue’s Global Service Center and app

The downside to GeoBlue’s travel insurance is that it lacks some of the non-medical benefits of other travel insurance policies. For an American who already has robust non-medical coverage options through a credit card or other membership, you’ll still want to consider GeoBlue plans.

To get your free quote on a Voyager Choice or Trekker Choice plan through Geoblue, click here.

MSH International Coverage Options for the Philippines

MSH International travel insurance to the Philippines is available in policies as short in duration as one month. MSH International’s non-medical rider coverage is some of the most inclusive. Medical coverage has a maximum benefit limit of €250,000, or roughly USD $270,000.

Travel medical benefits through MSH International include the following.

  • Inpatient and outpatient coverage
  • Up to €3,000 in prescription drug coverage
  • Medical evacuation and repatriation
  • Costs of an extended stay of the insured member
  • There is no deductible for coverage
  • Choose between worldwide coverage or worldwide excluding the United States

The benefits of the non-medical travel insurance rider available through MSH International include the following.

  • Death and disability due to personal accident
  • Loss, theft, delay, or damage of luggage
  • Theft of passport
  • Personal liability for bodily injury and property damage
  • Travel delay and missed flight connection coverage
  • Legal and security assistance
  • Search and rescue in sea, mountain, or desert

Click here to find your personalized quote from MSH International. You’ll need to enter your personal information to get the most accurate quote for coverage in the Philippines.

Expats can find out more about dental insurance in the Philippines in this Pacific Prime blog post, and retirees can find more information on insurance for moving to the Philippines here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best travel insurance?

The best travel insurance adequately covers emergency medical expenses, including transportation to the nearest medical facility that can meet your needs. Other popular benefits include trip cancellation and lost baggage. 

What does travel insurance exclude?

Travel insurance excludes any situations that arise from foreseeable or intentional circumstances. Travel insurance also commonly excludes medical emergencies due to pre-existing conditions. Liability for damages and medical needs while intoxicated are also excluded.

Does US health insurance cover me when I travel to the Philippines?

Domestic US health insurance policies do not cover medical expenses in other countries. For medical insurance coverage when you travel, you will need to purchase travel insurance with medical coverage. 

Conclusion

Don’t forget to make sure you have emergency medical insurance when you travel to the Philippines! Make sure your policy has adequate coverage for medical evacuation and repatriation. Additional non-medical benefits may offset other costs of unforeseeable travel issues.

To compare travel insurance policies and get free quotes, check out Pacific Prime’s travel insurance quote page for easy reference.

Head of Content at Pacific Prime
Serena Fung is the Head of Content at Pacific Prime, a global insurance brokerage and employee specialist serving over 1.5 million clients in 15 offices across the world. With 6+ years of experience writing about the subject, she aims to demystify the world of insurance for readers with the latest updates, guides and articles on the blog.

Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).

Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.
Serena Fung
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