Visa credit card travel health insurance provides protection for you when you travel overseas, with some cards offering only travel accident coverage while others also providing medical evacuation protection.
These benefits typically only apply when tickets purchased with the card are paid with it; they may not apply in cases requiring expensive medical care or certain activities.
Coverage
Visa credit card travel health insurance provides great protection during a vacation. It protects against accidental death and dismemberment while on a common carrier (airline, bus, train or cruise transportation), covers medical expenses up to $100,000 should illness or injury arise while traveling, and offers emergency evacuation coverage as well. But please keep in mind that it serves only as secondary coverage to existing private medical policies you may already possess.
Credit card travel insurance typically offers two separate policies: travel medical and trip protection. The former covers medical emergencies and evacuations while the latter provides extra coverage such as auto rental collision damage and lost luggage. Specifics vary between cards but generally offer coverage for cardholder and their family members as well as baggage delay coverage and flight delay reimbursement; certain cards also exclude certain destinations or activities.
Exclusions
Credit card travel protection policies often contain coverage limitations and deductibles that you should understand before selecting one with this protection. Furthermore, you should know what kinds of coverage are offered and the maximum payout per claim situation that exists with each card that provides this service.
Credit card travel insurance does not typically provide coverage for preexisting conditions or changes to financial situations, and may only offer up to a maximum limit per trip or annually. Furthermore, your coverage could be restricted if traveling to countries with high medical costs.
Finally, some cards don’t cover certain activities or destinations – such as scuba diving and bungee jumping – so a standalone travel health policy may be more suitable in these instances. Many travel insurance providers provide short-term plans designed specifically for international travelers to help bridge any gaps in coverage; typically these cost between $100 and $400 for one or more days of coverage.
Requirements
Many visas require travelers to carry private medical insurance; travel credit card plans may not meet this requirement. To be certain, contact a plan representative and verify coverage meets visa criteria. Some plans also offer services like prescription drug cards or document transportation assistance.
Credit card travel protection benefits typically include flight accident and delay coverage and emergency medical reimbursement for unexpected circumstances. Some cards, like the Sapphire Reserve, offer accidental death and dismemberment coverage that offers lump-sum payout if any loss of life, sight, speech, hearing or limb occurs while traveling.
To be eligible for coverage with Visa cards, trip transport and living accommodations must be paid for with one. In order to maintain good standing with your cardholder status. In addition, some cards provide coverage for immediate family members as well, though depending on policy terms this could limit how many insured individuals per trip and policy term can be covered at one time.
Limits
Credit card travel protection benefits can differ widely in terms of type, coverage limits and exceptions. Some cards only provide secondary coverage for trip cancellation and rental car damage while others provide primary protection. Furthermore, some policies include deductibles/caps which may not be affordable or acceptable, and follow specific procedures for claims submission/document submission/managing documentation processes that can often take up more time than purchasing separate travel insurance policies – separately managed policies often offer less restrictive coverage with reduced deductibles/caps/increased amounts as well as expanding on types of covered events/events covered events/etc.
