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Credit cards with travel insurance
Free travel insurance is a popular feature, but cover varies a lot between credit cards. Here’s how to find the best one for you.
Credit cards with complimentary travel insurance can save you hundreds of dollars on cover when you're travelling overseas. Some even offer cover for travel in Australia.
Compare credit cards with complimentary travel insurance
I took out the Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard (which won the 2023 Finder Award for Best Travel Credit Card) when I went to Japan with my partner. It comes with the option to upgrade, which includes a higher cancellation cover benefit.
What is complimentary credit card travel insurance?
Complimentary travel insurance is a credit card benefit that gives you access to cover for overseas trips, domestic trips or a mix of both. In most cases, you'll get cover for yourself, your partner and dependent children that are travelling with you.
You don't have to pay for this travel insurance, because it's included with your credit card. But you typically need to book your return travel using the credit card or activate the policy online before you get cover.
Types of credit card travel insurance
There are 4 main types of complimentary credit card travel insurance, with cover for different situations.
International travel insurance Typically gives you comprehensive cover for overseas trips, including for emergency medical and dental costs, travel delays and lost or stolen luggage.
Transit accident insurance A type of cover for injuries or accidents that happen on planes, trains, buses or other eligible vehicles. It usually only applies when you're overseas.
Rental vehicle excess insurance Helps cover the cost of any excess you need to pay a car hire company if there's an accident. Depending on the card's insurance policy, you could get cover on rental vehicles overseas, in Australia or both.
Domestic interstate flight inconvenience insurance The most common type of credit card travel insurance for domestic trips. Offers cover for issues such as cancelled flights, flight delays of 4 hours or more, delayed or lost luggage and funeral expenses when you're flying to a different state or territory in Australia.
What does credit card international travel insurance cover?
If you get a credit card with comprehensive overseas travel insurance, it will typically include cover for:
Emergency medical issues
Cancellation (for specific situations)
Major flight delays
Lost and stolen baggage, travel documents and valuables
Hijacking, kidnap and ransom
Personal liability
Accidental death
Funeral expenses
Does credit card travel insurance cover COVID-19?
A lot of major banks and brands offer credit card travel insurance with some COVID-19 cover in 2023, including Amex, ANZ, CommBank, NAB and Westpac.
In fact, Finder has analysed the complimentary credit card insurance policies for 14 providers and found at least 58 cards offered some cover for claims related to COVID-19. In most cases, this includes overseas emergency medical assistance and some cancellation cover.
Similar to buying travel insurance, there are specific situations when you can and can't claim. These details are included in the insurance policy documents (or PDS).
Finder's analysis found these providers all offer credit cards with travel insurance that includes some cover for COVID-related claims in 2023:
Remember: You'll need an eligible credit card and will have to make sure you meet its travel insurance requirements before you can make a claim.
Pros and cons of credit card travel insurance
Pros
Save money on buying insurance. Credit card travel insurance can save you hundreds of dollars on paying for cover when you're going overseas.
Includes immediate family members. Your partner and children can also get cover through your credit card travel insurance when they're travelling with you and meet the eligibility requirements.
Cover is provided by major insurance brands. Most complimentary credit card travel insurance is underwritten by Allianz, Chubb or Cover-More, which are all large, global insurance brands.
Simple activation process. Usually, you just need to use your credit card to book a return travel ticket or activate the insurance through internet banking. Some policies also let you make claims online.
Cons
Only covers trips up to a certain length. Overseas credit card travel insurance policies typically cover trips of up to 3 or 6 months. Interstate or domestic cover could be for as little as 7–14 days. So it won't be suitable if you're planning a longer journey or a one-way trip.
Limited customisation. Only a few credit card travel insurance policies give you the option of adding or upgrading cover for things like extreme activities or sports.
Credit card costs. Most credit cards with comprehensive overseas travel insurance have higher annual fees than other cards. There could also be interest charges if you book your travel and don't pay it off straight away.
Most credit card travel insurance is automatically "activated" when you meet the eligibility requirements, including for eligible ANZ, NAB and Westpac cards.
Each policy is different, but common requirements include:
Book a return ticket. Most credit card travel insurance policies require you to book and pay for your return ticket to Australia before your trip starts.
Use your credit card to book your travel. Usually, you need to pay for some or all of your overseas trip with your credit card. A really simple way to do this is to use it for flights, accommodation or other major costs. If you have a rewards credit card, you may be able to activate the policy by redeeming points for some or all of your travel booking.
Make sure the length of your trip meets the policy requirements. For example, if the insurance covers trips of up to 3 consecutive months, you wouldn't be covered for a trip that's 6 months long.
Activate the policy. Sometimes you'll need to activate your credit card travel insurance online to be eligible for full cover. For example, if you have a CommBank card with international travel insurance, you need to activate it through NetBank or by calling Cover-More to get comprehensive cover.
Remember to check the insurance policy booklet that came with your credit card for the exact requirements of your cover. You can also call the insurance provider if you have any questions (or need more proof of cover).
Who is covered by credit card travel insurance?
As well as cover for yourself, most policies offer cover for your spouse and dependent children when they meet the eligibility requirements. Some common conditions are:
They must be travelling with you for most or all of the trip
Some or all of their travel must be paid for using your credit card
They must have a return ticket to Australia before the start of the trip
Most credit card travel insurance policies cover people up to the age of 79. But different age limits may apply if you have a pre-existing condition.
For example, if you're over 50 years of age and have diabetes or glucose intolerance, you wouldn't get cover for those conditions with a Bankwest credit card. Finder's guide on credit card insurance and age limits has more details on different age requirements.
Pre-existing medical conditions
All travel insurance policies have specific requirements around when you will and won't be covered for a pre-existing condition.
In basic terms, a pre-existing condition is anything you have been professionally diagnosed with and/or are currently being treated for before the start of your trip. For example:
Pregnancy
Diabetes
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Asthma
Psychological and psychiatric conditions
Some pre-existing conditions can be automatically covered by an insurance policy and others may require you to apply for cover. Depending on the policy, some conditions may not be covered at all. So, you should always check the insurance policy document for full details.
🔥 Hot tip: The easiest way to find details in the insurance policy booklet is to open your digital copy and use the find tool (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) to search for the terms. E.g. "Pre-existing medical conditions".
How to make a claim
This process depends on the insurance provider. But as a general guide, the steps you'll need to take are:
Contact the insurance provider. As soon as you think you'll need to make a claim, call or email the insurance provider using the contact details in the insurance policy booklet.
Fill in the claim form. This is usually an online form or one that you can download and send back to the insurer.
Include supporting documents. It's important to provide supporting documents and evidence with your claim. These details help the insurer assess your eligibility for a payout. Some examples of what to include are:
Your credit card statement showing the relevant purchase/s required to activate the policy (e.g. a travel ticket)
A copy of a police report, if you're claiming for lost or stolen items
Medical certificates
Photo evidence
Proof of ownership for lost, stolen or damaged items
Flight itineraries and letters from carriers detailing delayed flights or unexpected events
Submit your application. You should receive written confirmation from the insurer once you have submitted all the details online, over the phone or by mail.
How can I find the best credit card for travel insurance? 3 questions to ask
There's no single best credit card for travel insurance because everyone wants different features from a card. So here are the key questions you can ask to choose a card.
How much cover can I get for my trips?
Credit card overseas travel insurance typically offers comprehensive cover for trips of up to 3–6 months.
But there are different claim limits for specific types of cover, which are in the insurance policy document. For example, a policy might offer unlimited cover for emergency medical claims and up to $2,000 for emergency dental.
What are the costs?
Credit cards with overseas travel insurance typically have annual fees that range from $49 to over $450, although some cards do offer $0 annual fees in the first year or ongoing.
You should also check if you need to pay for some of your trip with the card to get cover and consider potential interest charges as rates can be high. And if you want to use the card overseas, check the foreign transaction fee (usually around 3%).
What other features are on the card?
Most credit cards that offer overseas travel insurance are platinum or higher-level accounts. So you could get benefits like frequent flyer or reward points, airport lounge passes or travel credit.
Just keep in mind that these features are only worth it if you use them and can justify the card's annual fee.
Other credit card travel insurance costs to look for:
Excess payments. This is what you pay when you make an insurance claim. It's typically between $0 and $250 per claim with complimentary credit card travel insurance, which is similar to the excess for paid travel insurance. But it does vary and (can be higher).
Out-of-pocket costs. You need to cover any essential costs (e.g. medical bills) while a claim is being processed. And if your expenses are more than the claim limit, you'll be out of pocket.
Other policy fees. If you need to request cover for a pre-existing medical condition or if you're over the maximum age for standard cover, there may be an additional premium. Some credit cards also offer upgraded travel insurance with more coverage, which also attracts a fee.
What is interstate flight inconvenience insurance?
This type of complimentary insurance typically offers cover for trips of up to 14 days when you're flying to other states and territories in Australia. What you can claim depends on the card and the insurance policy, but some of the most common options include:
Flight delays. If your flight is delayed for a set amount of time (e.g. 4 hours or more) and no alternative transport is provided, you could claim compensation for food and refreshments.
Baggage delays. If your baggage is delayed (usually by more than 12 hours) you can claim compensation for essentials.
Lost or damaged items. If your items are accidentally lost, damaged or stolen during the trip, this insurance could help cover the cost of repairs or replacement items.
Funeral costs. In the event of accidental death during the trip, you could be able to submit a claim for costs related to the transportation of remains or cremation or burial.
Cancellations. Usually, you'll only get cover for very specific reasons if you need to cancel a trip. For example, if the travel is non-refundable and you or a close family member becomes seriously injured before the trip.
To get cover, you usually need to pay for the return flight with your credit card before the start of your trip. There are also exclusions, claim limits and sometimes excess costs. So check the credit card insurance policy booklet for full details of the cover.
Other types of credit card complimentary insurance
Some credit cards offer complimentary insurances that relate to purchases or specific items, including:
Purchase protection insurance. Cover for theft, accidental damage or loss of items purchased with an eligible card, typically for up to 90 days from the purchase date.
Best-price guarantee. This cover offers a refund on the difference in price if you buy an item in-store and then find it at a lower price a few weeks later.
Mobile phone insurance. A few credit cards offer insurance for mobile phones, including some Citi and Amex cards. Depending on the policy, you could get cover for accidental damage to your smartphone screen, theft or other types of accidental damage.
Is credit card travel insurance worth it?
The government's SmartTraveller website says travel insurance is "as important as your passport". So if you're going overseas, getting travel insurance through a credit card means you'll save money on paying for a policy. But it's important to check what's covered – especially if there's something specific you want to cover.
Credit card travel insurance is convenient but there are some situations where it falls short. Many don't automatically cover pre-existing medical conditions and lots come with a $500 excess. This can make smaller claims pointless. For example, my luggage was delayed on a recent trip. ​​I could have claimed to buy essentials. Instead, I made do with what I had. There's no way my expenses would have exceeded $500. In these situations, standalone travel insurance may be better.
Credit card travel insurance cover for pre-existing medical conditions varies depending on the policy. So here's what to do before you travel:
Check the credit card insurance policy document to find out if your pre-existing condition is covered.
Contact the insurance provider (not the credit card company) and ask if there is a way for you to get coverage for the pre-existing condition.
Ask the insurer for confirmation that your pre-existing condition will be covered and/or that you'll be eligible for cover unrelated to the condition.
Find out if there's an additional fee for getting the pre-existing condition covered (e.g. for a medical assessment). If there is a cost, you can compare it to buying insurance to help decide what will suit your trip.
Tip: Document any conversation you have with the insurance provider so you can refer to it later if you need to make a claim.
A lot of credit cards offer interstate flight inconvenience insurance, which typically covers trips of up to 14 days when you book return flights to another state or territory in Australia. Some cards also offer rental vehicle excess in Australia insurance.
If your international travel includes a domestic leg as part of the booking, it may also be eligible for a limited amount of cover through a credit card's international travel insurance policy. But only a few credit cards offer comprehensive domestic travel insurance, including the American Express Explorer, Qantas American Express Ultimate and American Express Velocity Platinum.
Credit card transit accident insurance offers cover for serious injuries or accidental death when you're travelling on a licensed plane, train, bus, ferry or other form of specified transportation. It also applies when you are boarding or leaving the transport. It's sometimes known as travel accident insurance and full details will be in each insurance policy booklet.
High blood pressure is typically considered a pre-existing medical condition, so cover varies between credit cards and insurance policies.
For example, ANZ complimentary international travel insurance provides cover for high blood pressure (hypertension) as long as it is stable and you're not waiting for treatment, on a hospital waiting list or awaiting the results of medical tests or investigations. If any of those situations apply, you'll need to contact Allianz for confirmation of cover.
In comparison, Suncorp credit cards with complimentary international travel insurance offers cover for hypertension if you have no known heart conditions and your current blood pressure reading is lower than 165/95.
You also need to meet the other eligibility requirements for the cover.
Credit card travel insurance policies don't typically require you to travel with any extra documentation beyond what's needed for the trip (such as your passport, flight or other travel tickets and any required international visas).
But it is useful to take a copy of the credit card travel insurance policy and proof you have activated the cover (e.g. a receipt showing pre-payment for the trip). You'll need these details for any claims, so having them in a travel wallet or online folder could make it easier if something unexpected happens.
You can check the credit card complimentary insurance policy booklet to see if there is a master or group policy number – this number is often used instead of an individual policy number. You could also call the insurance provider to get these details.
If you need the policy details for a travel company or cruise, you can also ask for a letter of eligibility.
There is typically some cancellation cover for bookings made through travel agents. For example, if you had to cancel a trip because you were seriously injured and the travel agent you booked with charged a cancellation fee.
But complimentary travel insurance won't cover travel agent errors and omissions. That's why you should always read the policy booklet for full details or call the insurance provider.
No, credit card travel insurance policies typically require your trip to start in Australia. Most policies also require you to have a return ticket to Australia before your trip.
Amy Bradney-George was the senior writer for credit cards at Finder, and editorial lead for Finder Green. She has over 16 years of editorial experience and has been featured in publications including ABC News, Money Magazine and The Sydney Morning Herald.
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I would like to know if Suncorp complimentary travel insurance includes cruises.
I only seem to see flight information.
Do I need to purchase seperate insurance when going on a cruise.
Hi Vicki,
Some cover for cruises may be available if it is an overseas cruise or a foreign-registered cruise vessel in Australian territorial waters, based on the definitions of “overseas” and “return overseas travel ticket” in the insurance policy information booklet for the Suncorp Clear Options Platinum Credit Card. But as this is a very specific question about the cover, you may want to call Allianz (the insurance provider) on 1800 072 791 to get specific details relating to cruises. Alternatively, you can compare cruise travel insurance on Finder. I hope this helps.
My parents are travelling to Greece in June for three months. They are 76 and 69 years old. They have various pre existing conditions including high blood pressure. They are pensioners. Are they able to get health insurance through a credit card?
Hi Cathy,
Most credit card travel insurance will typically cover people up to the age of 79 or 81. This includes eligible cards from American Express, ANZ, Bankwest, Westpac, St.George. All of them have different details about pre-existing conditions and most include information for hypertension (high blood pressure) and other common existing conditions.
If your parents already have a credit card, they can check the relevant policy document or call the insurance provider. If they don’t have a credit card already and their trip is already booked, it could be difficult to get cover as many cards require some of the travel to be paid for with the card. But you can compare options in this guide. Alternatively, Finder has a dedicated guide for seniors travel insurance where you can compare policies and prices. I hope that helps.
Hi Alan,
Yes, it’s possible to get credit card travel insurance that covers diabetes. Because it’s considered a pre-existing medical condition, the cover and requirements vary between credit card insurance policies.
Were diagnosed more than 12 consecutive months ago
Have not had any complications in the last 12 consecutive months
Have a blood sugar level reading between between 4 and 12 or a HbA1C score of 9% or less
Are not currently undergoing treatment for kidney, eye or nerve complications
But some other credit card insurance policies don’t offer cover for diabetes or other pre-existing conditions. If you’ve found a card you want, you can check whether diabetes is covered by looking at the credit card insurance policy booklet’s details on pre-existing conditions, or by calling the insurer listed in the booklet. I hope that helps.
Why isn’t BankWest’s Zero Platinum credit card on here? It offers a credit card with no fees, gives complimentary travel insurance, and no international transaction fees (none of the credit cards above offer that). It’s arguably the best credit card for travelling in overseas if you’re after a credit card with no fees. ING One Platinum also offers complimentary travel insurance, no international transaction fees, but costs $149 per year.
Yes, Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard doesn’t incur fees when you use it overseas plus no annual fee on the card. Although we feature a wide range of products, providers, and services, we don’t cover every product, provider, or service available in the market so there may be other options available to you. You can check out more about Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard and ING Orange One Platinum.
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I would like to know if Suncorp complimentary travel insurance includes cruises.
I only seem to see flight information.
Do I need to purchase seperate insurance when going on a cruise.
Hi Vicki,
Some cover for cruises may be available if it is an overseas cruise or a foreign-registered cruise vessel in Australian territorial waters, based on the definitions of “overseas” and “return overseas travel ticket” in the insurance policy information booklet for the Suncorp Clear Options Platinum Credit Card. But as this is a very specific question about the cover, you may want to call Allianz (the insurance provider) on 1800 072 791 to get specific details relating to cruises. Alternatively, you can compare cruise travel insurance on Finder. I hope this helps.
My parents are travelling to Greece in June for three months. They are 76 and 69 years old. They have various pre existing conditions including high blood pressure. They are pensioners. Are they able to get health insurance through a credit card?
Hi Cathy,
Most credit card travel insurance will typically cover people up to the age of 79 or 81. This includes eligible cards from American Express, ANZ, Bankwest, Westpac, St.George. All of them have different details about pre-existing conditions and most include information for hypertension (high blood pressure) and other common existing conditions.
If your parents already have a credit card, they can check the relevant policy document or call the insurance provider. If they don’t have a credit card already and their trip is already booked, it could be difficult to get cover as many cards require some of the travel to be paid for with the card. But you can compare options in this guide. Alternatively, Finder has a dedicated guide for seniors travel insurance where you can compare policies and prices. I hope that helps.
Can I get card travel insurance if I am a type 1 diabetic
Hi Alan,
Yes, it’s possible to get credit card travel insurance that covers diabetes. Because it’s considered a pre-existing medical condition, the cover and requirements vary between credit card insurance policies.
For example, with both St.George credit card complimentary insurance and Suncorp credit card complimentary insurance offer cover for diabetes/glucose intolerance if you:
But some other credit card insurance policies don’t offer cover for diabetes or other pre-existing conditions. If you’ve found a card you want, you can check whether diabetes is covered by looking at the credit card insurance policy booklet’s details on pre-existing conditions, or by calling the insurer listed in the booklet. I hope that helps.
Why isn’t BankWest’s Zero Platinum credit card on here? It offers a credit card with no fees, gives complimentary travel insurance, and no international transaction fees (none of the credit cards above offer that). It’s arguably the best credit card for travelling in overseas if you’re after a credit card with no fees. ING One Platinum also offers complimentary travel insurance, no international transaction fees, but costs $149 per year.
Hi James,
Thanks for your comment.
Yes, Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard doesn’t incur fees when you use it overseas plus no annual fee on the card. Although we feature a wide range of products, providers, and services, we don’t cover every product, provider, or service available in the market so there may be other options available to you. You can check out more about Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard and ING Orange One Platinum.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
May
Am I covered for complimentere travel insurance with a Coles platinum credit card?
Hi Arthur,
Thank you for your comment.
Per checking, the platinum versions of the Coles Mastercard does not have a complimentary travel insurance. To check, kindly refer to the pages below:
– https://www.finder.com.au/coles-low-rate-mastercard
– https://www.finder.com.au/coles-rewards-credit-card
– https://www.finder.com.au/coles-no-annual-fee-mastercard
Regards,
Jhezelyn