Is credit card travel insurance enough?
Some credit card travel insurance policies offer a good standard of cover now but there are a few pitfalls to watch out for.

Credit cards often come with benefits and perks - a really common one is complimentary travel insurance. Credit cards with travel insurance included are often offered by the companies that also have frequently flyer programs, like Qantas and AMEX, because they're targeting the regular jet setter.
You'll generally get basic international and/or domestic coverage for you, your partner and your direct family, if you're traveling together. While the insurance is free, you typically have to pay for your return travel with the credit card.
Here's a really quick breakdown of the pros and cons of credit card travel insurance:
Your credit card's travel insurance is sometimes all you need, but there are still reasons to take out a standalone policy. Certainly it's worth it if the alternative is not having travel insurance at all! But there are definitely situations where you should look at a standalone policy, including:
"Travelling as a couple? Some credit card insurance covers you and a partner, but others don't. So check the fine print. Remember credit card insurance generally requires you to register, it isn't enough to just pay using your card. And it's rare for credit card insurance to cover domestic travel, for that, you'll usually need a separate policy."
Most credit card travel insurance policies have a $500 minimum excess, much higher than the $200 figure which is more common for stand alone policies. The excess is the amount you will pay out of pocket when you make a claim, so a higher excess makes it harder to claim in some situations.
For example, my luggage was delayed for just over 24 hours on a trip to Scotland. I could have made a claim to buy some essentials, but I'd have had to pay that $500 excess. Instead, I persevered with what I had in my hand luggage, since there's no way essentials would have cost me as much as $500.
You'll generally want travel insurance for your entire party, especially if you're travelling with your family. While some credit card travel insurance offers free cover for your partner and children, not all of them do. On the other hand, traditional travel insurance for multiple people often comes with a discount.
If you're not sure, you should call and ask your credit card company. I looked through the product disclosure statement (PDS) of several complimentary travel insurance policies and it wasn't always clear it would cover more than the cardholder.
Standard travel insurance can can cover some pre-existing medical conditions. Insurers have made it a fairly straightforward process. If your conditions aren't listed in the PDS as automatically covered, you'll need to fill out a short questionnaire. You'll then find out, typically online within minutes, if your condition can be covered, and whether it will be more expensive.
Credit card travel insurance doesn't typically have this flexibility. It will simple not cover you for claims related to a pre-existing condition, which could be as simple as having asthma.
It's a similar issue if you're over 79. Lots of standard travel insurance policies can cover you, but many credit card policies won't.
Some complimentary insurance products come with lower limits than standard travel insurance. As a benchmark, a standalone comprehensive travel insurance policy can offer unlimited medical cover, unlimited cancellation, $25,000 for lost or stolen luggage and $30,000 for travel delay expenses. Credit card travel insurance policies often come in way below that.
Think of it this way - credit card travel insurance generally doesn't have a price increase for countries like the USA or Japan, despite those countries having extremely expensive healthcare systems. Now that might sound great, but there's a reason these destinations should cost more for insurance. Not only is medical care expensive, flights and accommodation are also really pricey.
If you wind up in trouble in a really expensive country, you'd be glad to have taken out a more comprehensive travel insurance policy than your credit card offered.
If you're confused, call your credit card provider and find out what's covered. Some cards offered super basic cover, with travel insurance protection only for limited circumstances like transit accident insurance. But some cards will cover you for a much wider range of mishaps, including rental vehicle excess cover, cancellation or travel inconvenience cover and medical cover.
Those are some big differences. For example, our credit card specialist Amy Bradney-George found that Qantas Money's policy states that it doesn't cover any pre-existing conditions and excludes IVF pregnancy (cover for natural pregnancy is available for the first 22 weeks).
Keep in mind you generally have to pay more for better cover.
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I am 75. Credit card with NAB.Will I have cover?My card is platinum.
Hi Jill,
Thanks for reaching out to Finder.
Yes, cardholders aged 75 years and under can use NAB credit card complimentary travel insurance provided that you meet the other eligibility criteria stated from complete guide to NAB complimentary travel insurance.
You can also review the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions of your policy for more details.
Hope this helps.
Kind Regards,
Harold
I am with anz and have a visa platinum which I get free travel insurance is that a good way to go
Hi Claire,
Thanks for your question.
It depends on what you are looking for out of your travel insurance policy and how comprehensive the ANZ policy are offering. The checklist under Credit Card vs Standalone Travel Insurance should help you weigh up the pros and cons.
Please make sure to read the eligibility criteria, features, and details of the policy, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statement of the policy before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you. If necessary, speak to the insurance brand to verify any details.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
You don’t list Westpac Earth Black American Express Cards.
Hi Jan,
Thanks for your comment.
You may visit this guide if you would like to know more about the Westpac Earth Black American Express Cards. If you would like to compare policies from the travel insurers in our panel, please enter your travel details into the travel insurance quote form.
Please make sure to read the eligibility criteria, features, and details of the policy, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statement of the policy before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you. If necessary, speak to the insurance brand to verify any details.
All the best,
Richard