You’ve booked travel with your HSBC credit card. Is your free insurance still valid?
Key takeaways
- Your HSBC credit card is being cancelled, but that doesn't automatically cancel your complimentary travel insurance.
- Eligible cardholders can retain cover until 1 January 2028, provided they've met the policy requirements, on travel purchased prior to the account's closure.
- This gets you over a year of complimentary insurance coverage, well after your credit card account is closed.
Is HSBC credit card travel insurance still valid?
Yes. The bank has confirmed that although all credit card accounts will close November 18, 2026, eligible customers can continue accessing HSBC complimentary international and domestic travel insurance until 1 January 2028.
You can also make a claim after this date, provided the insured event happened before 1 January 2028 and meets the policy conditions.
Which HSBC credit cards include free travel insurance?
- HSBC Platinum Credit Card (international + domestic)
- HSBC Platinum Qantas Credit Card (international + domestic)
- HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card (international + domestic)
- HSBC Premier World Mastercard (international + domestic)
- HSBC Low Rate Credit Card (domestic only)
How do you activate your HSBC travel insurance?
You'll need to meet the policy's spending requirements to activate the complimentary insurance. This means you need to purchase your travel before November 18, 2026, when the card will no longer be usable.
For international travel, you need to:
- Spend at least $500 on eligible prepaid travel costs using your HSBC credit card before leaving Australia.
- Have a return overseas travel ticket booked.
- Meet the policy's Australian residency requirements.
- Cover is available for trips of up to 4 consecutive months per trip.
For domestic travel, you need to:
- Spend at least $250 on prepaid travel costs using your card. If the return flight costs less than $250, the full ticket cost must be charged to the card instead.
- Have a return travel ticket booked.
- Cover is available for trips of up to 14 consecutive days.
Eligible prepaid costs include flights, accommodation, cruises and tours.
Who is covered by your HSBC credit card travel insurance?
✈️ You, your spouse and your dependants are eligible for cover.
✈️ They'll need to travel with the cardholder for at least 50% of the trip.
✈️ For international trips, each eligible family member needs at least $500 of prepaid travel costs charged to the HSBC card account, and a return flight ticket.
✈️ For domestic trips, each eligible family member needs at least $250 of their prepaid travel costs charged to the HSBC card account, plus a return flight ticket.
What exactly does HSBC travel insurance cover?
If you meet the eligibility requirements, HSBC's complimentary international travel insurance includes:
- Overseas emergency medical expenses, up to $20 million.
- Emergency medical assistance, evacuation and repatriation.
- Trip cancellation and travel disruption.
- Lost, stolen or damaged luggage.
- Travel delays and missed connections.
- Rental vehicle excess cover, subject to the policy conditions.
The policy also includes cover for some other travel-related expenses and emergencies. Limits, excesses, exclusions and conditions apply to individual benefits, which may include cover for pre-existing medical conditions and certain activities.
What should you do before travelling?
If you've booked a holiday using your HSBC credit card:
- Make sure you've met the $500 international or $250 domestic spending requirement.
- Keep your credit card statement as proof of payment.
- Check your partner and children also meet the eligibility requirements.
- Arrange alternative cover if your trip extends beyond 1 January 2028.
- Read the insurance PDS so you understand what's excluded.
You can contact Allianz Global Assistance on 1800 648 093 if you're unsure whether your trip qualifies.
Save $300+ on travel insurance with your free credit card insurance – but is the cover any good?
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