American Express Membership Rewards - Travel Insurance - Centurion

I just got a shock. I recently upgraded to a Centurion International Dollar Card issued out of the UK. I'm a U.S. citizen residing in Denmark (long-term resident of Denmark).

One of the "benefits" of Centurion is the $6.5 million travel insurance coverage, including medical, dental, etc. if one becomes ill while traveling.

However, upon reading the fine print, I've just discovered this:

"The Beneficiary is covered during an unlimited number of trips commencing and ending in the COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE, with the exception of the COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE . . . . (Please note that coverage for Benefit 3 Medical Expenses and Benefit 4 Dental Treament is exclulded in the country of which the Cardmember is a national, substantiated by a passport and/or national identity card.)"

YIKES! I reside in Denmark so am covered by national health insurance while in Denmark only. I have no medical insurance in the U.S. So one of my main reasons for having an AmEx (previously Platinum, now Centurion) is to be covered in the case of medical emergency while traveling. I travel almost exclusively within the U.S.

What is the point of this travel insurance and the $1,000 fee I pay for my Centurion if emergency medical treatment is not covered when I travel in the country of which I'm a citizen?

Can any of the U.S. Centurion (or Platinum) members tell me if the medical and dental insurance part of your AmEx travel insurance is valid for a medical emergency when you are traveling within the U.S.?

To be honest, I have no idea if the travel insurance benefits of my UK-issued Platinum International Dollar card were similarly worded. Thank heavens I never had to find out.

Another odd difference between my Platinum and Centurion: Last year my luggage was delayed and AmEx told me I could spend up to $400 for essentials (clothes, toiletries). I see the Centurion benefit for the same occurence only allows me $250!

Sheesh!

Susan

I thought your country of residence isn't necessarily the country you hold your citizenship. In your case, I'd classify your country of residence as Denmark (assuming you're still living there at the moment). Therefore, the insurance doesn't cover domestic travel within Denmark... Travel insurance doesn't cover domestic travel in the country you're living in is common... No?

Maybe worthwhile to call Amex to clarify?

I think the issue for SusanDK is what's written parenthetically.

(Please note that coverage . . . is excluded in the country of which the Cardmember is a national . . .).

As I read it, since she is a citizen of the U.S., she's not covered when traveling in the U.S. even though it is travel "commencing and ending in [her] country of residence," i.e. Denmark.

The obvious solution is to renounce her U.S. citizenship ;)

Alfonso

I think the issue for SusanDK is what's written parenthetically.

(Please note that coverage . . . is excluded in the country of which the Cardmember is a national . . .).

As I read it, since she is a citizen of the U.S., she's not covered when traveling in the U.S. even though it is travel "commencing and ending in [her] country of residence," i.e. Denmark.

The obvious solution is to renounce her U.S. citizenship ;)

Alfonso


I am a german centurion card holder and it is standard. Your medical benefits are valid except in the country of your permanent residence as well as the country where the card is being issued, so for me living in CAnada, that means all countries except Canada and Germany. By the way this is also a standard with some normal travel insurances.

Leumas,

You are correct that country of residence and country of citizenship can be different, as in my case. As Alfonso states, my problem is that the insurance excludes both, so that I'm not covered in Denmark (no problem for me) nor when traveling in the U.S. (a huge problem).

I did phone Centurion insurance people yesterday. At first, the guy said only the exclusion from country of residence would apply, and I'd be ok when traveling in the U.S. But when I reiterated that that is not what is stated, he understood the problem, so has agreed to investigate and get back to me. Obviously, I would insist on something in writing if he tries to tell me I'm covered while traveling in the U.S., because it clearly states that I am not.

Strangely enough, he also tried to tell me that I wouldn't be covered if traveling in the UK! Presumably this has to do with the country from which the card is issued, as ThWilmesi mentioned. But this would be absurd. I live in Denmark, am a U.S. citizen, but am not covered by travel insurance if I travel to the UK?!

He promised to call me back with an answer, so I will post it when I get it. Thanks all.

Susan

I just received a call back from AmEx Centurion in the UK. My worst fears are true. Despite my being a resident of Denmark, since I'm a national of the U.S., when I'm traveling in the U.S., I am not covered for medical or dental expenses should I require emergency care.

Now a question for U.S. Centurion card holders -- does the U.S. issued Centurion cover you for emergency medical and dental if traveling within the U.S. (but away from your home). I'm asking because according to the person I spoke to in the UK today, the UK Centurion in sterling does cover a UK resident traveling within the UK despite that they are also covered under the national health service.

So if the U.S. issued Centurion would cover me, I will need to try to transfer my account to AmEx stateside.

Thanks,
Susan

I have a UK card billed in GBP and the terms very clearly states that I am covered for medical expenses outside my country of residence- the country of residence defined as "country of official residence to be substantiated by a resident visa, carte de sejour or any official document"
I am not a UK national (Canadian), but was told that I am entitled to medical treatment anywhere except UK and Sweden (since I am UK resident and have a valid Swedish residence permit), including Canada so long as I can prove that I am not resident in Canada (spend less than 90 days a year there or whatever, which I can by entry and exit stamps).

So if the U.S. issued Centurion would cover me, I will need to try to transfer my account to AmEx stateside.

That could be expensive. I believe a US centurian card is quite a bit more expensive than one issued out of Europe (something to do with everyone wanting to have one). You might get better value for money from a US issued Platinum card. Also, remember that you will still probably not be covered in the US! Sounds to me like you need to investigate your insurance options to ensure that you are covered everywhere (Amex might simply not be up to delivering what you need).

Remember, as a Danish resident you should have full access to their national healthcare system and (I believe as I Danish resident) you should also be covered for other European countries though you may need to fill in a form. A chat with someone at your local GP practice in Denmark might be a good starting point to get things cleared up.

The best option if one is looking for medical coverage while travelling is to have medical insurance rather than rely only on Amex. I have Cigna which covers me and my wife- her company pays the premium (some 1000 pounds a year) as a perk. We have used it both in the UK and abroad without any problem. My wife had an accident in the UK and had all kinds of scans and hospitalisation costing more than GBP 8000, which they paid without a quibble. I have used it in the US for dental (to get an emergency filling which had come off) and minor ailments.

I just received a call back from AmEx Centurion in the UK. My worst fears are true. Despite my being a resident of Denmark, since I'm a national of the U.S., when I'm traveling in the U.S., I am not covered for medical or dental expenses should I require emergency care.

Now a question for U.S. Centurion card holders -- does the U.S. issued Centurion cover you for emergency medical and dental if traveling within the U.S. (but away from your home). I'm asking because according to the person I spoke to in the UK today, the UK Centurion in sterling does cover a UK resident traveling within the UK despite that they are also covered under the national health service.
........


I've got a UK issued Centurion Card, here's my understanding:

The medical benefits do not cover me whilst in the UK, under any circumstances.

Some of the travel benefits are available when travelling in the UK as long as the trip includes at least one night away from home. No such restriction for international travel.

The latter exclusion is pretty common in UK-issued travel insurance policies.

You might also want to carefully read the definition of a "pre-existing condition", which is pretty all-encompassing. I had a close encounter with it last year...

FWIW, the bundled Centurion insurance compares quite favourably with most of the top-end travel policies you can buy here, last time I did a sanity check. Though the added requirement that you have to pay on an Amex card to get the benefit of the "Travel Inconvenience" package is a bit of a bind.

Cheers,

Ken.

"Don't try to out-wierd me, three-eyes, I get stranger things than you free with my breakfast cereal" - Zaphod Beeblebrox, negotiating with the HHGTG receptionist, in the HHGTG.

Another odd difference between my Platinum and Centurion: Last year my luggage was delayed and AmEx told me I could spend up to $400 for essentials (clothes, toiletries). I see the Centurion benefit for the same occurence only allows me $250!


That's odd - it is worth noting that delayed baggage is covered twice by the UK Centurion group policy - first under Section 1.2 Travel Inconvenience (which only applies if you purchased your flight with an American Express card) and again under Section 2.8.2 Baggage Delay (which applies otherwise).

For the UK Card, the first cover is for £750 after 6 hours of delay, and the second is for £200 after 12 hours of delay.

If your policy is structured similarly, it could be that there is another provision which is more favourable in there as well.

You are correct, NickW, there was an additional provision for the Travel Inconvenience insurance when the ticket is paid with AmEx. So the cover is the same under my UK IDC Centurion as it was under my Platinum card, ie. $400 for baggage delay over 6 hours.

Susan