Does credit card complimentary travel insurance cover my family?
Credit cards with complimentary travel insurance usually cover your spouse and dependent children travelling with you – here's what you need to know.
Key takeaways
- Finder's December 2023 survey found 65.69% of women and 57.71% of men have never used credit card insurance.
- Activate family cover by paying travel costs on your card, travelling together and holding return tickets to Australia.
- Read your card policy booklet before travelling to verify age limits, pre-existing condition exclusions and family eligibility definitions.
Does my credit card's complimentary travel insurance cover my partner and children?
We've looked at some of Australia's major credit card providers that offer complimentary travel insurance that covers you and your family. You can search for a brand here to see which insurance company provides the cover.
| Card issuer | Insurance provider | Includes partner and children |
|---|---|---|
| ANZ | Allianz | Yes |
| American Express | Chubb | Yes |
| Bankwest | Cover-More | Yes |
| BankSA | Allianz | Yes |
| Bank of Melbourne | Allianz | Yes |
| Bank of Queensland | Allianz | Yes |
| MyCard | Allianz | Yes |
| Commonwealth Bank | Cover-More | Yes |
| NAB | Allianz | Yes |
| Qantas Money | Chubb | Yes |
| Suncorp | Allianz | Yes |
| St.George | Allianz | Yes |
| Virgin Money | Allianz | Yes |
| Westpac | Allianz | Yes |
Finder survey: Which credit card insurance features have people used?
| Response | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| I've never used credit card insurance | 65.69% | 57.71% |
| Travel insurance | 25.86% | 33.27% |
| Purchase insurance | 6.38% | 12.41% |
| Rental car insurance | 7.59% | 10.71% |
| Extended warranty insurance | 5.34% | 9.4% |
| Transit accident insurance | 2.93% | 5.45% |
| Other | 0.86% | 0.56% |
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1113 Australians, December 2023
Who is considered a spouse or dependent for complimentary credit card travel insurance?
The definition of a spouse and dependent children is slightly different for each complimentary credit card travel insurance policy. But they are generally along the lines of the following definitions:
Spouse
This may include your husband, wife, spouse or de-facto partner who is permanently living with you at the time that your journey begins.
Some policies may require you to have lived with your partner for a set period (such as 3 consecutive months) prior to the trip.
Dependent children
The term dependent children refers to your unmarried child or children, typically up to the age of 16 or 18. It can also include children who are 24 years old or younger if they live with you or are enrolled in full-time higher education.
Some policies may have a broader definition to include dependents older than 18 if they have a condition that makes them reliant on you. So it's worth checking your card's insurance policy or contacting the insurer to confirm who is eligible for cover.
Must read
Every credit card provider (and their insurance provider) has different conditions for dependents. For example, Commonwealth Bank credit cards with travel insurance cover "you, your spouse and up to 10 accompanied children, if they're travelling with you for the entire journey."
If you have an ANZ Black or Platinum card, the insurance booklet defines dependents as children, including step-children and foster children under 25 years of age. Spouses and children are eligible for cover if they have a return ticket and travel with you for at least 50% of the cover period.
The bottom line: always read your insurance policy booklet before you travel to see if your family is covered.
What conditions will my family or dependents need to meet for cover?
Every complimentary credit card travel insurance policy has different conditions you need to meet for cover. They can also have separate requirements for your spouse and dependents. Some of the most common include:
- Travel details. Most policies require your spouse or children to be travelling with you for all of the trip, or for a minimum amount of time. For example, 50% to 80% of your trip. Usually, you and your family also need to have return tickets to and from Australia before you leave.
- Spending requirement. You may be required to pay a portion of your travel costs (including your partner and children's travel costs) with your credit card to activate the insurance.
- Age. Most complimentary travel insurance policies only cover people aged 80 and under. You may be able to purchase additional cover at a premium for people aged 80 and above.
- Residency. Eligible family members travelling with you usually need to live in Australia and meet the insurer's eligibility rules (which may include holding a valid Australian visa and/or a valid Medicare card).
- Exclusions and pre-existing conditions. Complimentary insurance generally doesn't cover pre-existing medical conditions. It's important to check what's automatically covered, what you may need a referral for and what won't be covered before you leave.
Most credit cards with complimentary travel insurance provide cover for your partner and children joining you on your trip. However, make sure to check your card's insurance policy to check any exclusions, eligibility requirements or steps you need to activate the insurance before you leave for your holiday.
Frequently asked questions
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