Indonesian travellers delay insurance until two days before trips

Medical protection ranks first for 92% of customers whilst COVID-19 sits last at 23%.

Indonesian travellers are typically buying travel insurance just two days before departure.

Raunak Mehta, co-founder and chief executive of Igloo, said last-minute purchases showed that customers buy travel insurance when reminded, often in the evening and on the day of travel, which has shaped the company’s approach to designing a purchase journey that can be completed quickly on a mobile device.

The report, based on a year of transactions across 2025 on Igloo’s direct-to-consumer platform igloo.co.id, found that 30% of purchases are completed on the day of travel itself. 

Medical cover is by far the biggest concern for buyers, cited by 92% of customers, ahead of accidental death protection at 62%, travel delay at 61%, loss of personal items at 60% and baggage delay at 54%. 

COVID-19 cover, once a headline feature of travel insurance products, now ranks last at 23%.

Sales peak in November and December around year-end travel, with November more than double the monthly average. 

Demand dips in April and May as post-Eid travel stays closer to home. Across the year, 55% of quotes convert into purchased policies, with the rate shifting alongside seasonal and campaign activity.

International trips account for 65% of policies sold, strongest in the first and fourth quarters, whilst domestic travel rises around the festival calendar. 

Japan is the top international destination, making up 26% of international policies at an average premium of $32, followed by China and Malaysia at 11% each, Singapore at 10% and Thailand at 9%. 

Domestically, Malang leads with 31% of policies, ahead of Bandung and Denpasar at 15% each.

Long-haul trips carry higher premiums, averaging $50 for Europe and $44 for Australia and the Pacific, reflecting longer trip lengths of eight days on average for international travel against three days for domestic trips.

The median gap between getting a quote and departing is two days, with 67% of policies bought within a week of travel. Domestic travellers buy a median of one day before departure, whilst international travellers plan six days ahead. 

The report identifies five traveller profiles. Domestic travellers pay an average premium of $10 and buy three days out. Regional travellers pay $19 on average, buying 11 days ahead. 

Group travellers carry the highest average premium at $45, buying 17 days out. Loyal repeat buyers pay $28 on average and buy 18 days ahead. Long-haul travellers plan furthest in advance at 31 days, pay $44 on average, and prioritise medical evacuation and cancellation cover.

Some 41% of customers have bought insurance at least twice, averaging four policies each and paying 31% more per policy than first-time buyers. 

They also take longer trips, plan further ahead at an average of 18 days compared with 12 days for first-time buyers, and tend to buy per trip rather than through an annual plan. 

Repeat buyers tend to stay within the travel category they started in, with domestic buyers remaining domestic and international buyers remaining international.