Could you be covered by HSBC’s complimentary travel insurance for credit card customers? Compare the terms and conditions and find out here.
Since August 2015, HSBC credit card insurance has been offered in conjunction with Allianz Group Australia (AGA). Before this change, it was underwritten by Zurich.
To save you from wading through the updated terms and conditions, we have outlined the most important points about HSBC credit card complimentary international travel insurance here. Find out the eligibility requirements, what is and isn’t covered and how you can make a claim below.
Which cards offer complimentary travel insurance?
You’re eligible to receive complimentary international travel insurance when you meet the eligibility requirements on the following HSBC credit cards:
What are the eligibility requirements?
- Eligibility. To be eligible for the cover, you must pay for at least 90% of your overseas return travel ticket with your HSBC card.
- Activation. The cover is automatically provided when you meet the eligibility requirements and there’s no need to tell Allianz or HSBC about your travel plans to activate it.
- Pre-existing medical conditions. There is no cover for pre-existing medical conditions. You can apply to have your pre-existing medical conditions insured by calling Allianz directly on 1800 648 093.
How do I know if I’m covered and what I’m covered for?
HSBC Platinum credit cards provide complimentary international travel insurance for up to four months from the date of your departure from Australia. Your spouse and dependant children are also covered when you purchase 90% of their international travel ticket using your HSBC account.
Only the primary cardholder can claim the benefits listed specifically for the “cardholder”, while a spouse or dependant must claim benefits listed under the cardholder’s “spouse or dependants” benefits section of this insurance policy. Your spouse and dependant children must also travel with you for the length of your journey to be eligible for HSBC credit card insurance benefits.
How do I make a claim?
Documents to take with you
You will need to provide these documents if you want to make a claim:
- Proof that you’re eligible for cover, such as a card statement or a receipt of payment for your overseas travel ticket.
- If you’re making a claim for a stolen, lost or damaged personal item, you must provide a copy of police report or any other official reports relating to the incident.
Steps to make a claim
Follow these steps to make a claim on your HSBC credit card insurance policy:
- Overseas. To make an emergency overseas claim, call Allianz Global Assistance on +61 7 3305 7499 (reverse charges from overseas). You will need to provide your policy number as well as proof that you paid for your travel tickets with your eligible HSBC credit card. The Allianz Global Assistance phone service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Allianz can also put you in touch with their global team of medical professionals who can help with:
- Emergency transport to the nearest hospital
- Emergency evacuation to Australia
- Providing payment guarantees to overseas medical institutions
- Provide an emergency service and emergency medical travel planning
- In Australia. Make sure you contact Allianz on 1800 648 093 within 30 days of your return home if you want to make a claim against your HSBC credit card insurance. You may be required to provide a written loss report within 30 days. Allianz reserves the right to reject your claim if you fail to submit this document on time.
What insurances am I covered under?
The following benefits and limits apply to HSBC credit card complimentary international travel insurance. HSBC Premier World Mastercard cardholders receive a higher benefit limit.
What does excess mean?
Note: An excess in insurance is basically the amount you must pay towards any claim that you make.
| Benefit | Cover | Excess |
|---|---|---|
| Medical and hospital expenses | Unlimited | $200 |
| Luggage and travel documents | $25,000 per person $40,000 per family | No excess |
| Resumption of journey following the death of a family in Australia | $7,500 per person $14,000 per family | $200 |
| Special event | Up to $3,000 | $200 |
| Unexpected cancellation of travel or accommodation | Unlimited | $200 |
| Rental vehicle excess cover | $3,000 | $200 |
| Travel delay expenses | Up to $900 for a family | $200 |
| Accident death | Up to $65,000
| No excess |
| Funeral expenses | $15,000 per cardholder $30,000 per family | No excess |
| Legal liability | $2,500,000 | No excess |
| Domestic pets | Up to a maximum of $500 if you’re return to Australia is delayed | No excess |
| Assault requiring hospitalisation | Up to $600 | No excess |
| Hijack or detention | Up to $250 per person per 24 hours (maximum $12,000) | No excess |
Complimentary insurance sub-limits
Sub-limits also apply for some of the benefits listed here. For example, within the Luggage and Travel Documents benefit, you receive up to $5,500 per personal item for baggage, clothing and personal valuables and get up to $600 for emergency replacement of lost clothes and toiletries.
- Overseas medical expenses. Allianz provide overseas medical cover for the following events:
- Repatriation
- Bed care
- Emergency dental expenses
- Escort Services
- Medical Expenses
- Loss of a limb or a sense (e.g. sight)
- Death
- Luggage and travel documents. Allianz will provide cover for the loss or theft of the following personal items:
Item Cover Luggage, valuables and personal valuables $5,500 Portable electrical equipment and binoculars $5,500 Cameras and equipment/accessories $5,500 Laptop computers and equipment/accessories $5,500 Travel documents, traveller’s cheques, credit cards and cash $600 up to $1,100 for a family
- Domestic travel exceptions. A trip from mainland Australia to Lord Howe Island, Christmas Island or Cocos Island is considered an overseas journey; however, hospital and medical expenses do not apply if you’re visiting these destinations.
- Cancellation of travel arrangements and unexpected expenses. Allianz will cover you for cancelled travel arrangements and unexpected costs for the following situations:
- An unexpected natural disaster in your destination or at your normal place of residence
- Your residence in Australia has been destroyed
- Unexpected quarantine
- Court subpoena
- Your travel companion or relative in Australia becomes sick or dies
- You miss a connecting flight due to a flight delay
- Your travel documents are stolen
Other insurances
You’re eligible to receive the following insurances when you use your HSBC platinum or premier credit card overseas and in Australia:
- Purchase protection insurance. Get 90 days of worldwide cover for items purchased with your eligible HSBC credit card. You can claim up to $125,000 per year for each account.
- Guaranteed pricing scheme. This benefit refunds you the difference in price when you buy an item and you see it on sale for less elsewhere.
- Transit accident insurance. This cover provides a financial benefit if you’re injured or killed when riding in a public passenger vehicle such as a ferry or bus.
- Extended warranty insurance. Extended warranty insurance will match the Australian warranty equivalent up to one year for eligible items purchased with your HSBC credit card. The table below highlights how it works:
Australian warranty Extended warranty 7 days 7 days 14 days 14 days 1 month 1 month 6 months 6 months 1 - 5 years 1 year 5 years + N/A
HSBC platinum and premier credit cards can cover you and your family for emergency medical and dental costs, lost personal items and travel delays for up to four months. All you need to do is charge at least 90% or more of your overseas travel ticket to your eligible HSBC credit card.
If you want to use this insurance, remember to take a copy of your policy document and product disclosure statement with you when you leave Australia. You’ll need these documents, as well as proof of purchase of flights with your HSBC credit card, to make a claim through Allianz.
We can help you with general questions about your credit cards and complimentary insurance cover, so feel free to write a comment below. If you have any specific questions about your insurance policy, you will need to contact Allianz on 1800 648 093 for information specific to your circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
Images: Shutterstock
Back to top
If I am unable to travel due to unexpected illness (of myself) am I covered for the cost of rebooking or cancelling a flight? I have purchased all the travel expenses on my HSBC Platinum card.
Hi Cynthia,
Thank you for leaving a question.
Yes the HSBC Complimentary Credit Card Insurance does offer cancellation under their “Cancellation of travel arrangement and unexpected expenses”. Please ensure that you contact HSBC as early as possible if a cancellation is necessary so they could advise you of what documents are necessary to complete this process. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
I booked my flights from Syd-Sin-Syd for myself, wife and 3 year old son for travel between Aug 15 and Aug 29. My son has now come down with a chest infection and unless he fully recovers we may need to reschedule our travel or cancel our trip. I paid for the flights and accommodation using my HSBC Platinum Visa. We should be in a position to make a call a week before travel. What is the best way to make changes/cancel and claim? Also what documents are required from the doctor?
Hi Devdutt,
Thank you for getting in touch with finder.
Since HSBC credit card insurance has been in conjunction with Allianz Group Australia (AGA), it is best to contact them to inform them about the cancellation of your travel arrange due to your son’s health condition. It is best to submit a fully completed Physician Statement Form for your claim to be approved. You also have to make sure that you have your proof that you’re eligible for cover, such as a card statement or a receipt of payment for your overseas travel ticket.
I hope this helps.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
Is going on cruise to New zealand covered by the HSBC credit card?
Hello Gunarajah,
Thank you for your comment.
Cruiseship is covered with the complimentary travel insurance under the cruisepack section when you use your HSBC Platinum Credit Card and HSBC Platinum Qantas Credit Card to pay for at least 90% of your overseas return travel ticket. You can verify these by calling Allianz which is the issuer of this insurance. You may refer above to see Allianz’s contact number. I hope this helps.
Regards,
Jhezelyn
Do I need to tell alliance that I am travelling overseas & above info says I need a policy number when making a claim. Is that correct?
Hi Ross,
Thank you for contacting finder.
I understand you are inquiring about letting Alliance know of your travel.
It would be best to keep the policy number with you and then call Alliance at the time you will make a claim.
Thanks.
John
I’m traveling to Russia (via Finland). For the visa I need an insurance statement for health insurance overseas. Is it cover by my HSBC credit card?
Hi Dimitri,
Thank you for your question.
I’m afraid that health insurance is not covered in the complimentary travel insurance attached to your HSBC credit card. The insurance you are covered is outlined above under “What insurances am I covered under?” section.
If you are considering of getting a separate insurance, you may like to get a quote from insurers on this page.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
May
Hi there, I am travelling to Malaysia,India, Paris,Cuba, Mexico and Peru. I have purchased and will be purchasing all flight tickets using HSBC Platinum credit card. My question is whether if the travel insurance will be void when I purchase each ticket separately to each destination? E.g. Australia–>Malaysia, Malaysia—> India, India—>Paris and so forth.The PDS’ wordings were referring to return tickets from Australia, thus I feel a little uneasy interpreting its meaning. I have a feeling that HSBC complimentary card is now underwritten by Allianz GLobal. Please kindly check.Thank you.
Hi Eng, thanks for your inquiry!
The travel insurance will cover all of your destinations, provided that your trip is for 4 months or less. Your cover will end at midnight four consecutive months after the date of departure shown on your overseas return travel tickets. The underwriter for this policy has changed from Zurich to Allianz Global Assistance.
Cheers,
Jonathan
Hi we have purchased tickets for overseas travel to and from Australia using our HSBC card, but we want to know if we will still be covered for flights (not purchased with HSBC) on a side trip to Russia which occur before our return to Australia.
Hi Chris,
Thank you for your inquiry.
The journey covered for your trip is from the travel point of your departure place in Australia and ends once you arrive to Australia. Unfortunately, any flights that are not charged via cardholder’s HSBC Platinum credit card is not covered for the travel insurance.
To understand more about complimentary travel insurances offered by credit cards, kindly refer to this page.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Debbie
Regarding the 4 months limit. Is this per trip per year? Or is it once the 4 months has been used up then there is no more insurance available forever?
Hi David,
Thanks for your question.
The consecutive 4 months refers to the length of the trip that will be covered. So your cover will end at midnight four consecutive months after the date of departure shown on your overseas return travel tickets.
So long as you meet the eligibility requirements, you should be able to take advantage of the insurance policy. However, there are some limitations on what you can claim per statement period/trip, so you should read over the policy document to confirm some of these details.
Cheers,
Sally
Regarding overseas rental vehicle coverage – does the $3000 cover basic rental, or do you have to take up the additional excess reduction given on rental vehicles for the coverage to take effect?
Hi Shane,
Thanks for your inquiry.
The rental vehicle excess coverage policy covers any excess or deductible of which you’re legally obligated to pay if there is a loss or damage to the rental vehicle. This policy covers you for the duration of the rental.
Please refer to the rental vehicle excess coverage section of this page.
Hope this helps.
Sharon
My Husband and myself are travelling to singapore,thailand, then to Dublin via Dubai.
Our return flight is from Paris to singapore via Doha,then singapore to gold coast (QLD)
Question
the Bangkok to dublin (via dubai) flight with Emirates was made using FFpoints(Qantas), we did still need to pay $650.00 .do we still qualify for cover?
Hi Glenda,
Thanks for your question.
As per the terms and conditions “Cardholders will receive four months of Overseas Travel Insurance free of cost”. As long as you meet the eligibility requirements and pay for your return airfare (that is, the airline ticket to and from Australia and at least 90% of the total cost trip) on your card before leaving Australia, then you will be covered for a period of four months during your travels, which will include if you change your travel plans during your trip.
I hope that helps.
Kind Regards,
Isaiah