Is having travel insurance for Indonesia mandatory?
A few years ago, during the coronavirus pandemic, travel insurance was mandatory for entering Indonesia. However, this requirement has since been lifted, and medical insurance is no longer necessary for travel to the country.
That said, I strongly recommend traveling with insurance, as it is an investment in your health, safety, and finances. If you ever need to use it, you’ll be glad you did.
If you’re unsure which company to choose, I highly recommend Heymondo, a travel insurance provider I’ve personally used for years and always suggest to fellow travelers.
As a reader of this blog, you can get 5% off your travel insurance with Heymondo.
In this article, I’ll explain why Heymondo is my top choice and introduce you to other travel insurance options for Indonesia.
Tips when purchasing travel insurance
- Purchasing travel insurance when visiting a country where you do not have medical coverage is essential. In order for you to choose the best travel insurance for, in this case, Indonesia, there are certain things to keep in mind:
- Indonesia’s public hospitals are generally basic, with limited resources outside major cities. The private ones are of better quality, especially in Jakarta and Bali, but they can be expensive. For very serious cases, it is common for patients to be transferred to Singapore or Australia, as advanced treatments may not be available in Indonesia.
- Travel insurance usually covers a limited range of activities and sports. Therefore, you should consider what activities you are going to do during your trip and take out insurance with coverage for adventure sports. In Indonesia, is it common to do snorkeling, diving, trekking, or surfing?
- For Indonesia, as for any other destination, it is interesting that you do not have to advance money when receiving medical assistance. Thus, the insurance company will pay without you having to put your money in and then claim it. To do this, you will have to call the company before going to a center.
- It is very likely that during your trip you will be using motor vehicles. Read the policy conditions carefully and make sure that, for example, motorcycle accidents are covered.
- According to the CDC, there are no mandatory vaccinations to travel to Indonesia, unless you come from a country where yellow fever exists. In this case, the yellow fever vaccine is mandatory. As for recommended vaccines, they recommend getting the tetanus vaccine, the triple viral vaccine (measles, rubella, and mumps), the hepatitis A vaccine, and the typhoid vaccine. They also recommend other vaccines depending on the characteristics of the trip or traveler.
- My recommendation is that your travel insurance to Indonesia should cover a minimum of 250,000€. In principle, it seems a very high amount, but if you suffer a serious accident and need to spend several nights in the ICU, undergo many tests, undergo several operations, etc., you will need it.
The best travel insurance for Indonesia
In the table below, I will compare the best travel insurance options on the market for Indonesia: Heymondo, Iati, World Nomads, and SafetyWing. This comparison will help you determine which one offers the best coverage for your trip.
To ensure a fair comparison, I will use a 15-day trip to Indonesia as an example and focus on policies that provide a minimum of $250,000 in medical coverage, as each company offers different plans with varying benefits.
| Heymondo | Iati | World Nomads | Safetywing | |
| Policy | Heymondo Top | IATI Standard | Epic | Nomad |
| Price | $72.54 | $72.12 | $387.84 | $30.12 |
| Medical assistance | $250,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| Dental expenses | $750 | $350 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Luggage Coverage | $2,500 | $1,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Trip delay | $3,000 | $180 | $5,000 | $200 |
| Adventure sports | Included | – | Included | Optional Add-on |
| Book with 5% discount | Book with 5% discount | Book here | Book here |
As you can see in the table, Heymondo offers the best product in terms of value for money. Although it is not the cheapest in this case, for a small difference in money, you will be able to have much better coverage.
Besides, beyond the price, Heymondo is positioned as the best option due to the conditions and services provided. This insurer has the most useful mobile app on the market, provides a 24-hour medical chat, and offers special discounts for families and groups.
To get the best travel insurance to Indonesia even cheaper, remember to book it by clicking on the following button:
How much does a travel insurance for Indonesia cost?
We now come to one of the most important points: the cost of international travel insurance for Indonesia with Heymondo. All the prices below already include my 5% discount.
| Heymondo Top | Heymondo Premium | Heymondo Medical | |
| 10 days | €51,84 | €58,30 | €47,41 |
| 15 days | €67,83 | €83,05 | €62,00 |
| 21 days | €72,46 | €83,05 | €62,64 |
| 30 days | €101,45 | €121,73 | €92,74 |
The price of your policy varies according to its coverage since the company offers three types of plans: Heymondo Topl, Heymondo Premium, and Heymondo Medical. You will be able to review the complete coverage of each policy before purchasing it by clicking on “general conditions.”
My recommendation is to purchase a “Heymondo Premium” insurance policy or, if you are going to engage in adventure activities, the “Heymondo Top” plan. The latter has coverage for adventure sports, something that will come in handy if you are going to do activities such as diving (at a depth of less than 20 meters) or hikes above 3,000 meters.
Safety tips for visiting Indonesia
Is Indonesia a safe country to travel to? Yes. Does this mean that you should not take any precautions? No. Here are my health and safety tips for traveling to Indonesia:
Water in Indonesia:
Let’s start with the water. I guess you already know that tap water is not safe to drink in Indonesia. Make sure you always drink bottled water. Also be careful, when brushing your teeth, not to swallow too much water.
On the other hand, many people choose to avoid consuming ice during their trip in the country as somewhere you might get ice cubes of undrinkable water. I prefer to ask or risk it. This way it happens to me. Twice I have been in Bali (Indonesia), and twice I have fallen sick due to the water.
Theft in Indonesia:
I’ve never been a victim of any kind of theft during my stays in Bali, but I know people who haven’t been as lucky. One of the most common types of theft in Bali happens while riding a motorcycle. Thieves often ride past on a motorcycle and attempt to snatch purses, fanny packs, backpacks, or other bags.
Another common tactic is stealing a mobile phone from the hands of a passenger who is using it for navigation. While this doesn’t happen every day (I always carry my phone openly and have never experienced theft), it is a risk, so be aware.
It’s also important to be extra cautious in bars and nightclubs.
Respect the local culture:
Indonesia (excluding Bali, whose religion is Balinese Hinduism) is a Muslim country. It is important that you respect the local customs and not disrespect the citizens of the country.
For example, in Bali you will have to put on a sarong when visiting the temples, be very careful not to step on the offerings (you will find them on the ground everywhere), etc.
Currency exchange:
If you need to exchange money, always do it at a bank. Unofficial exchange places often try to scam customers. They may appear to give you the correct amount, but at the last moment, they take advantage of any distraction or mistake to keep a few bills. This hasn’t happened to me personally, but I’ve seen videos showing how they do it. Stay cautious and stick to reputable exchange points.
Natural disasters in Indonesia:
Indonesia is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area with significant seismic activity. Because of this, there is a risk of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis. You should also know that travel insurance does not usually cover medical care in case of natural disasters.
Traffic accidents in Indonesia:
Traffic in Indonesia, as in many Southeast Asian countries, is quite chaotic. Extreme caution should be taken when driving in the country, especially if you are going to do it by motorcycle. By the way, always remember to wear a helmet.
I hope this article about the best travel insurance for Indonesia has been very useful for you to organize your trip. If you have any other questions, I encourage you to leave a comment or contact me by email. See you next time!
