Do You Need Travel Insurance for Indonesia?

Indonesia is one of the most beautiful countries in Southeast Asia and many find that it is a highlight of the region thanks to its stunning beaches, gorgeous wildlife and engaging history and culture. If you are traveling to Indonesia then you will probably want to think about getting traveller insurance or health insurance. The reason for this is that Indonesia is still part of the developing world, so you will definitely need some kind of travel insurance while you are here just to be on the safe side, even if you never use it.

Is travel insurance necessary for Indonesia?

The short answer is yes. Indonesia, and Southeast Asia in general, is part of the developing world and things can and do go wrong, even if you take good care and have the best of intentions coming in.

Indonesia has a high rate of traffic accidents, even by Southeast Asian standards, and this means that injuries on motorcycles or just crossing the road are common. There are also a number of tropical diseases present in Indonesia which are carried by mosquitoes such as dengue fever and malaria which can make you extremely unwell and you will need to be hospitalized if you catch either of these.

Where to buy travel insurance for Indonesia?

The best place to buy travel insurance these days is online, or you can also buy traveller or health insurance through a travel agent at the same time as you buy your ticket.

There are a huge number of travel insurance companies to choose from, but some that are popular include sites such as World Nomads who offer coverage to destinations all over the world. You may also be able to get travel insurance as an add on to your normal health insurance if you live in a country where you get private health insurance, but make sure you check that you are covered abroad if this is the case.

What should travel insurance to Indonesia cover?

Even though Indonesia is a wonderful and rewarding country to travel to, it does have its fair share of hazards that you need be aware of when you buy a policy.

For a start Indonesia sits on tectonic plates known as the Ring of Fire and has the most active volcanoes of anywhere in the world, so you need to check if your policy will cover you in the event of a volcanic eruption. Mount Agung for example, on the island of Bali erupted in 2017 causing flights to be cancelled and you need to make sure your policy will cover you for the extra stay in Indonesia and for the cost of a new ticket home (in case it is not covered by the airline). There are also other natural disasters in Indonesia such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods and landslides, so check that your policy also covers all natural disasters.

Extreme sports are also popular in Indonesia such as cliff jumping, water skiing, and water jet pack riding. If you plan to take part in any of these kinds of activities, including diving, then you need to make sure that your policy will cover you in case of an injury.

Another important thing to note in Indonesia is that many people choose to get around using a motorcycle and you need to make sure that you are clear on your insurance policy coverage if you are going to ride one. Even if you are just the passenger on a motorbike, you may not be covered if you have an accident and are not wearing a helmet. If you are driving the motorbike yourself then you may not be covered if you have an accident and you are intoxicated or do not have a valid international driver’s license. If you have an accident you may have to pay thousands of dollars in medical bills and you may also need to pay for the bike to be repair or eve replaced, so make sure that you buy insurance if you are planning to go anywhere near a motorbike in Indonesia.

What to do in the event of an insured accident?

Unfortunately simply having travel insurance is not enough. As the saying goes, ‘you only need it when you need it’, but often the time when you need it will be one where you are in a state of distress and so you need to plan ahead so that you know what to do if the time comes.

Make sure that you take a picture of your policy and keep it on your phone and also send a copy to your family or a travel partner. If you have an accident, then make sure that you call the number on your traveller insurance or health insurance policy as soon as possible to make sure that you are covered and so that they can liaise with the hospital on your behalf if you need to have treatment.

It is also very important in the event of an accident or theft of your personal possessions that you get a police report as your travel insurance company will almost always need to see this as proof of a claim. It may be time consuming to get such a report in Indonesia, but it should be free of charge and it could save you a lot of money if it means you are fully covered by your traveller insurance policy at the end of the day.

Level of healthcare in Indonesia

Outside of the main hubs like Bali and Jakarta it is fair to say that Indonesian health care can be basic as best. Many hospitals are not fully equipped to handle large scale injuries and may not be able to perform surgery on patients. In remote areas it is unlikely that there will even be a hospital close by and you will need to travel for treatment.

If you get seriously ill in Indonesia, then many doctors may recommend that you travel to a neighbouring country for treatment such as Singapore or Thailand, although you may be able to get adequate care at one of the large international hospitals in Bali or Jakarta depending on the type of injury. You should note however that these are usually very expensive and you will be charged for everything down to the cotton wool swabs that are used in your treatment, so the price can add up very quickly and is often in the region of thousands of dollars for just a short stay and treatment. As a general rule however, you should be able to have a consultation in an international hospital in Bali for under IDR 1,000,000 but this can increase dramatically for things such as x-rays, blood tests and medication.

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All in all, it is foolish to travel to Indonesia without good travel insurance as this is a country where many things can go wrong, even if you are relatively careful. This does not mean that Indonesian is unduly dangerous compared to other parts of Southeast Asia or the world, but simply that you need to take care and have a plan in place in case things do go wrong. For this reason, it is paramount that you take out good travel insurance before you plan a visit.