Philippines: what are the best travel cancellation insurance policies in 2025?
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- Strict cancellation terms, 3-day purchase rule
- Limited baggage cover per item
- COVID-19 coverage and repatriation benefit included
- Provides coverage for adventure sports activities.
- Limited coverage for high-value items in baggage loss.
- Trip cancellation coverage excludes pre-existing conditions.
- Provides coverage for adventure sports activities.
- Includes 24/7 worldwide emergency assistance services.
- Limited coverage for high-value items in baggage loss.
- Trip cancellation only covers specific unforeseen events.
- Includes 24/7 worldwide emergency assistance services.
- What is trip cancellation insurance?
- What reasons are covered by trip cancellation insurance?
- How to choose the best trip cancellation insurance in 2025?
- How much does trip cancellation insurance cost?
- Can you get cancellation insurance after booking your flight?
- Does your credit card cover trip cancellation?
- On the same topic
You’ve booked a trip and want to protect yourself from unexpected events that might prevent you from leaving? Trip cancellation insurance is a valuable solution to get reimbursed for your expenses in case something goes wrong before departure. In 2025, the number of available options in the Philippines is increasing, but not all policies offer the same level of protection.
Price, coverage, exclusions—after comparing dozens of cancellation insurance plans in the Philippines, here’s everything you need to know to choose the best policy.
Trip Cancellation Insurance: Key Facts
- Reimburses travel expenses (tickets, accommodation, etc.) if you need to cancel your trip due to an unforeseen reason.
- Should generally be purchased within 7 days of booking your travel arrangements to ensure full coverage.
- Commonly accepted reasons include: illness or accident, death of a family member, job loss, theft of essential travel documents, natural disasters.
- Frequent exclusions include: undeclared pre-existing conditions, cancellations without valid proof, pregnancy complications after 28 weeks.
- The average cost ranges from 3% to 7% of the total trip price (for a PHP 100,000 trip, expect to pay around PHP 3,000 to PHP 7,000).
- Credit cards sometimes include cancellation coverage, but it is often limited and may not be sufficient.
What is trip cancellation insurance?
Trip cancellation insurance is a coverage that allows you to be reimbursed, fully or partially, for expenses paid for a trip (flights, accommodation, activities, etc.) if you are forced to cancel for a compelling and unforeseen reason. It can be purchased on its own or as part of a comprehensive travel insurance policy.
Example: you have to cancel a trip to Bali because you break your leg 5 days before departure. If you have cancellation insurance, you may be reimbursed for your flight tickets, hotel bookings, and prepaid activities.
Good to know
- Unlike transportation and accommodation, reimbursement for activities is generally capped (often up to PHP 30,000 per activity).
- If the service providers you cancel with (such as the airline) already refund part of your expenses, the cancellation insurance will only reimburse the difference between the purchase price and the refunded amount.
What reasons are covered by trip cancellation insurance?
You can't cancel a trip under just any condition.
✅ Commonly covered reasons:
- Serious illness or accident affecting the traveller or a close relative (with medical certificate)
- Death of a family member
- Job loss or professional relocation
- First-time employment
- Visa refusal by authorities
- Theft of essential travel documents
- Significant damage to the home
- Serious pregnancy complications (according to policy terms)
- Natural disaster or terrorist attack at the travel destination
💡 Good to know: Some policies cover cancellation without a specific reason (usually as an add-on), with a deductible or partial reimbursement (e.g. 70% of costs).
❌ Common exclusions:
- Cancellation due to a simple change of mind
- Reasons known before purchasing the policy
- Delay in obtaining or forgetting your passport
- Destinations under war or travel alerts
- Discovery of a pregnancy (unless with severe complications)
- Non-acute or undocumented psychological conditions
- Extreme sports or injuries from activities excluded by the contract
⚠️ Not recommended: Basic plans from PGA Sompo, which exclude many common causes of cancellation such as visa refusal or non-severe illnesses, and impose strict proof requirements.
To avoid unpleasant surprises, always read your policy's general terms and conditions carefully!
Good to know
To justify a trip cancellation, you must submit several documents to your insurance provider. These documents will vary depending on the reason for cancellation.
Example: in case of illness or accident, a detailed medical certificate is usually required. For a job transfer, you will need to provide a letter from your employer confirming the relocation.
How to choose the best trip cancellation insurance in 2025?
To select the right insurance, it’s essential to compare coverage options, exclusions, and reimbursement limits. Here's a quick summary of the main points to consider:
Criteria to consider | Why it matters | Expert advice |
---|---|---|
Covered cancellation reasons | To avoid unpleasant surprises | Choose policies that cover the widest range of reasons. At HelloSafe, we’ve found plans that include cancellations due to home damage (fire, flooding…), trip companion cancellations, premature childbirth, illness or death of a pet, and many other cases. |
Accepted subscription deadlines | Policies may be void if purchased too late | Buy within 48 hours of booking your trip |
Maximum reimbursement limits | Some policies only refund part of your expenses | Check if the plan reimburses up to 100% of your prepaid costs |
Your uncertainty level and trip cost | Risk increases if you're unsure about travelling or your trip is expensive | In these cases, consider adding the “cancel for any reason” option |
Included assistance services | Helpful for handling refunds and admin procedures | Choose an insurer that offers 24/7 support and helps with documentation |
💡Expert tip: cancellation insurance is especially recommended if your trip is planned far in advance, is very expensive, or if your personal situation (illness, pregnancy…) is uncertain, as the risk of needing to cancel increases.
How much does trip cancellation insurance cost?
The factors that influence the price
- Total trip cost: the more expensive your trip is, the higher the insurance premium, as the risk to cover increases.
- Subscription timing: the later you buy the insurance, the higher the price may be.
- Age of travellers: some companies charge higher rates for senior travellers.
- Destination and trip duration: distant destinations and longer trips are more costly to insure.
- Type of coverage: a “standard” plan is cheaper than a “premium” plan with cancel-for-any-reason coverage.
Trip example | Average cancellation insurance cost * |
---|---|
Weekend in Asia worth PHP 25,000 | PHP 800 |
Trip to Europe worth PHP 100,000 | PHP 3,200 |
Family holiday worth PHP 200,000 | PHP 6,000 |
World tour worth PHP 500,000 | PHP 14,800 |
* Average price calculated based on multiple offers from different insurers
How to pay less for trip cancellation insurance?
Here are some useful tips to help you reduce the cost of insurance while keeping solid coverage.
Smart tip | Explanation |
---|---|
⏱ Buy early | The longer you wait, the more expensive it may become |
👨👩👧👧 Choose group insurance | Some companies offer family or group packages |
⚖️ Compare online offers | Comparison tools like HelloSafe.ph help you find the best price |
👍 Choose a basic plan | If you’re okay with coverage limited to serious cases |
✚ Add it to travel insurance | Often cheaper than buying cancellation coverage alone |
Can you get cancellation insurance after booking your flight?
Yes, you can purchase cancellation insurance even after buying your ticket.
However, most insurers in the Philippines require that you buy the policy within 7 days of booking your trip. After that period, your coverage might be reduced or denied, and premiums may increase significantly.
It’s best to purchase your cancellation insurance immediately after booking to ensure full protection under the best conditions.
Caution
- If your trip is scheduled to start within just a few days, many insurers won’t allow you to buy cancellation insurance after the flight has been booked.
- Some providers apply a waiting period before coverage begins (often around 7 to 14 days). If you leave within a week of purchasing the policy, you might not be covered for the early days of your trip.
Does your credit card cover trip cancellation?
Standard cards (such as Mastercard Classic or Visa Classic) do not include trip cancellation insurance.
However, some premium cards offered by major Philippine banks—like BDO Platinum Mastercard, BPI Gold Mastercard, or Metrobank World Mastercard—may include cancellation coverage. But this coverage is often limited to serious medical reasons, subject to strict conditions, and usually insufficient compared to dedicated policies.
Example: the cancellation insurance linked to a BDO Platinum Mastercard may cap reimbursements at around PHP 100,000, and only for serious illness or hospitalization; whereas a standalone cancellation insurance policy may cover over PHP 500,000 and offer protection for many more causes.
⚠️ Also, if you're relying on your credit card's cancellation coverage, keep in mind:
- You must have paid for the trip using the specific card for the cancellation insurance to be valid.
- Cancel-for-any-reason coverage is never included with credit card insurance.