Necessity of Travel Insurance when Paying with a Credit Card
Dec 7, 2023, 5:12 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2023
Posts: 1
Necessity of Travel Insurance when Paying with a Credit Card
Hai..
I am wondering about the need for travel insurance when making my travel arrangements using a credit card? Seeking advice from fellow travelers who have experience with credit card protections and coverage for trips. Specifically interested in understanding whether the built-in insurance benefits offered by credit card companies provide sufficient coverage for unexpected events while traveling, such as trip cancellation, lost luggage, or medical emergencies. Give me some suggestions to take decision for purchasing additional travel insurance.
I am wondering about the need for travel insurance when making my travel arrangements using a credit card? Seeking advice from fellow travelers who have experience with credit card protections and coverage for trips. Specifically interested in understanding whether the built-in insurance benefits offered by credit card companies provide sufficient coverage for unexpected events while traveling, such as trip cancellation, lost luggage, or medical emergencies. Give me some suggestions to take decision for purchasing additional travel insurance.
Dec 7, 2023, 8:59 am
#2
Moderator: Information Desk, Women Travelers, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 15,644
Welcome to Flyertalk! The likely answer is: It depends. It depends on what credit cards you hold, where you reside, how you're paying for your trip, where you're going and what you'll be doing. Your best bet is to read each card's travel insurance policy carefully, then compare its benefits to the benefits (and cost) of a standalone travel insurance policy.
While I haven't personally used the travel insurance benefits for any of my credit cards, I have used other insurance-like benefits, and IMHO the level of coverage but also the level of headaches can vary. For example, I had multiple cards that had purchase protection insurance and extended warranty coverage. Basically, if I lost or broke a product within 60 days of purchasing something on the card, it would be repaired or replaced. And, the warranty was doubled, for up to a year.
American Express:
Discover:
While I haven't personally used the travel insurance benefits for any of my credit cards, I have used other insurance-like benefits, and IMHO the level of coverage but also the level of headaches can vary. For example, I had multiple cards that had purchase protection insurance and extended warranty coverage. Basically, if I lost or broke a product within 60 days of purchasing something on the card, it would be repaired or replaced. And, the warranty was doubled, for up to a year.
American Express:
- Me: "I had a picture framed, then dropped the frame on the way home and it broke." Amex: "Oops, send us a picture of the frame and copy of the receipt, and we'll credit the purchase price back to you so it can be replaced."
- Me: "My printer stopped working and it's 1 month past the end of the manufacturer's warranty. Amex: "That's too bad. Send us the receipt and a copy of the warranty and we'll credit you the purchase price."
Discover:
- Me: "I bought a new bathroom medicine cabinet, and when I was attaching the mirrored door, the mirror cracked. Discover: "That's unfortunate. Please send us three estimates for the cost of repairing the mirror." Me: "Um, there's no one who can repair or replace the mirror. Discover: "Please continue to respond to absurd requests until we decide whether to cover it."
- Me: "My fitbit broke just outside of the manufacturer's warranty." Them: "Please provide us with a repair estimate on letterhead of an authorized repair center." Me: "There is not repair center. Fitbit doesn't make their watches repairable." Them: "We can't make a decision until we have a repair estimate."
Dec 7, 2023, 2:07 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,016
ThomasEva12 Welcome to FT
Note from your profile are in USA.
As above a lot depends on where you are travelling. If out of USA check very carefully. Then check again. Especially for medical emergencies including medical evacuation to your home. Medical can cost in the $100,000's in some places. Are places that require cash or credit card first.
Many more threads in insurance in this forum--->https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-products-639/
Emergency Evacuation Insurance from Chase Credit Cards
Do You Purchase Travel Insurance?
Hai..
I am wondering about the need for travel insurance when making my travel arrangements using a credit card? Seeking advice from fellow travelers who have experience with credit card protections and coverage for trips. Specifically interested in understanding whether the built-in insurance benefits offered by credit card companies provide sufficient coverage for unexpected events while traveling, such as trip cancellation, lost luggage, or medical emergencies. Give me some suggestions to take decision for purchasing additional travel insurance.
I am wondering about the need for travel insurance when making my travel arrangements using a credit card? Seeking advice from fellow travelers who have experience with credit card protections and coverage for trips. Specifically interested in understanding whether the built-in insurance benefits offered by credit card companies provide sufficient coverage for unexpected events while traveling, such as trip cancellation, lost luggage, or medical emergencies. Give me some suggestions to take decision for purchasing additional travel insurance.
As above a lot depends on where you are travelling. If out of USA check very carefully. Then check again. Especially for medical emergencies including medical evacuation to your home. Medical can cost in the $100,000's in some places. Are places that require cash or credit card first.
Many more threads in insurance in this forum--->https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-products-639/
From Ambien to luggage to travel insurance, if it's a travel product, we're going to talk about it. For all things electronic, please visit the Travel Tech Forum.
Do You Purchase Travel Insurance?
Dec 9, 2023, 4:25 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
I self-insure for most things as if I get stranded or lose stuff I can generally afford to replace my flights/hotels/possessions even if they come to thousands of USD. But healthcare, particularly in some countries, could end up costing millions which I can't afford, so that's what I'm looking for in travel insurance and anything else is a bonus/nice to have.
So if it were me in this situation, I would just look at the foreign healthcare coverage of any credit card insurance and if it appears to be sufficient then I wouldn't get any extra.
So if it were me in this situation, I would just look at the foreign healthcare coverage of any credit card insurance and if it appears to be sufficient then I wouldn't get any extra.
Dec 9, 2023, 6:46 am
#5
Suspended
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 388
I just checked my Amex Plat card travel insurance benefits. For medical, it covers "emergency medical". I am not sure if they cover doctor's visit for non-emetgency such as flu, diarrhea, etc. These are non-emergency, but antibiotics require doctors prescription.
Dec 9, 2023, 1:29 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Paying for a doctor's visit is not that big if a deal if it comes to that. It's certainly much cheaper than paying additional insurance premiums every time you travel.