Travel insurance for Malaysia
Do I need travel insurance for Malaysia?
All travellers planning on international travel should consider buying travel insurance. The level of cover, however, depends on your individual circumstances, needs and budget. According to Smartraveller, Malaysia experiences wet and wild weather and petty crime, like pickpocketing and credit card fraud.1
That’s why a travel insurance policy is a great thing to pack in your suitcase – even before your favourite holiday outfit.
The best way to enjoy Malaysia is with the peace of mind that travel insurance affords you. That can include cover for loss of belongings and cash from theft, cancellations, delays, medical treatment and other potentially expensive travel inconveniences.
Whether you’re visiting Malaysia or venturing further afield, a travel insurance policy can be a financial safety net. So, if you’re interested in visiting any neighbouring countries such as Thailand, Singapore or Indonesia, check out travel insurance for Asia.
Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to understand the specifics of your cover, and the Target Market Determination (TMD) to ascertain your eligibility. When you compare with us, you can read through the PDS of your policy before you buy.
Expert tips for choosing the right travel insurance for Malaysia
Our Executive General Manager of General Insurance, Adrian Taylor, has some top tips for helping you decide on which travel insurance policies best suits your trip.
Adrian Taylor
Executive General Manager – General Insurance
Get suitable medical cover
Consider what level of cover you may need for potential medical treatment, hospitalisation, repatriation or medical evacuation. You should also declare any pre-existing medical conditions you may have as part of your travel insurance application. While some pre-existing conditions are automatically covered, many depend on your individual circumstances and the nature of your illness.
Consider what type of travel insurance you need
There’s more to travel insurance than just deciding whether you want a basic or a comprehensive travel insurance policy. If you’re travelling with your partner and children, you may want to consider a family policy over a single one. If you travel frequently to Malaysia, or other destinations throughout the year, you may also consider an annual multi-trip policy.
Adjust your excess for a cheaper premium
You may want to consider a higher excess to reduce your premium. But remember that when you make a claim, your excess is what you pay out of pocket, so always choose a manageable excess amount that you’re comfortable paying.
What should you include in your travel insurance policy for Malaysia?
Most travel insurance policies come with, at minimum, some medical cover and 24/7 emergency assistance, although other financial protection is available depending on your level of cover. For a trip to Malaysia, it might be a good idea to consider whether your policy includes cover for some of the following:
Medical expenses
Unfortunately, Malaysia doesn’t have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia. This means if you get ill or injured while you’re over there, you’ll have to pay for medical treatment yourself.
However, you can avoid a great deal of hefty out-of-pocket medical bills through travel insurance with medical expenses cover. Your travel insurance plan can also cover costs for hospital and medical care, as well as emergency medical evacuation and repatriation back to Australia in case of accidental death or serious injury, such as permanent disablement. When comparing, choose a policy with a limit you’re comfortable with, your limit being the maximum amount your insurer will pay in the event you need to claim.
Loss of personal belongings
Do you plan on taking expensive items with you to Malaysia? If so, think about getting these things insured. As mentioned, petty crime is common in Malaysia, including bag snatching,1 but you may be reimbursed for the cost of any valuables or travel documents, such as your ID or passport. Your policy could also cover you for the loss or damage of your belongings, rather than just theft.
To increase your safety, only carry necessary valuables and stay alert in public areas.
Cancellations and travel delays
Travel insurance can cover unexpected trip cancellations and delays. Depending on your level of travel protection, this may include flights, accommodation and other travel-related bookings like tours and experiences.
It’s a good idea to take out travel insurance as soon as you book your trip, so you may be covered if your hotel is shut down, one of your flights is cancelled or you fall ill before you depart Australia.
Natural disasters and pandemics
Malaysia is prone to inclement weather conditions, including earthquakes, flooding and landslides. So, if you’re in Malaysia and a natural disaster occurs, your travel plans could fall apart, leading to lost money from cancelled bookings.
Fortunately, travel insurance for overseas travel can cover many things resulting from a natural disaster, including medical expenses, loss of belongings, cancellations or curtailment, flight delays and other travel-related bookings.
Some travel insurance companies now offer COVID-19 coverage for your trip, but not for other pandemics. Some insurers will offer reimbursement for your trip if you have to cancel before departure due to being diagnosed with COVID-19. Or, if you contract it overseas, your policy can protect you against missed flights, unexpected accommodation costs and COVID-related medical care.
*Please note, not all policies will cover all related costs from a natural disaster and COVID-19 cover is not available with every policy.
Additional extras
If you’re a more adventurous traveller, you may need to add on some coverage that’s not usually considered standard.
Many insurers offer an adventure sports add-on. This could include activities like snorkelling, scuba diving or surfing the Malaysian coast. Compare insurers to see who covers what sports and activities. For instance, some may cover snorkelling but not scuba diving – while some won’t cover any type of adventure sport.
Or, if you’re planning to hire a rental car, make sure you’ve added rental car excess cover to your policy.
What doesn’t travel insurance for Malaysia cover?
Even if you take out travel insurance, it won’t save the day in every situation; every policy has exclusions – events or incidences insurers won’t cover. For example, it won’t cover instances where you:
- Were intoxicated by alcohol or drugs
- Acted in a reckless or dangerous manner
- Broke Malaysian law
- Had a pre-existing medical condition that isn’t covered by your policy
- Left your luggage and belongings unattended
- Drove without an Australian license and an International Driving Permit (to drive in Malaysia, you need both).
Keep a close eye on Smartraveller for travel advisory warnings for any destinations you plan on visiting as this could affect your cover.
Meet our travel insurance expert, Adrian Taylor
As a General Insurance expert with over 13 years’ experience in financial services, Adrian Taylor believes in educating customers about the importance of travel insurance so that anyone can kick back and make the most of their time away from home. While no one wants a disrupted holiday, a suitable travel insurance policy can provide a financial safety net for yourself, your belongings and your trip in case things go wrong.
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1 Smartraveller. Malaysia. Updated December 2023. Accessed January 2024.