Be it an experienced traveller planning their next journey or a recent retiree looking forward to some leisure travel, having excellent credit card travel insurance is key. The top cards for seniors offer travel medical coverage as well as 24/7 assistance worldwide.
Compare cards to find one with sufficient coverage limits for the cost and expenses associated with your trip, medical evacuation coverage and preexisting condition waiver, cancel for any reason coverage and rental car coverage. Also consider adding additional benefits such as rental car protection and cancel for any reason coverage to further protect your interests.
1. HSBC World Elite Mastercard
The HSBC World Elite Mastercard boasts one of the most generous travel insurance policies on the market, covering trip cancellation/interruption, lost baggage and medical expenses.
Additionally, this card offers an annual travel enhancement credit of $100 and competitive earnings rates (3% on travel purchases, 2% for groceries/groceries/drugstore purchases and 1% elsewhere).
As opposed to most fixed-value currencies, the points earned with this card can be used towards almost any type of purchase imaginable – including HelloFresh deliveries, DoorDash deliveries and Lyft rides!
This card is offered to Advance and Premier clients as well as Private clients with assets of $1 million or more with HSBC Canada, who pay an annual fee of $149. However, Prime clients receive a rebate while Private clients qualify for one as well. In exchange for this card’s $149 annual fee there are 50k bonus points which could equal $750 worth of airfare travel credits but only after spending at least $4,000 (minus returns and credits) within three months (subject to changes due to returns/credits/cancelations of purchases/cancellations/cancel/cancellation/etc).
2. National Bank World Elite Mastercard
National Bank’s top-tier Mastercard boasts an array of rewards, travel and purchase benefits that span rewards, travel and purchases. Your first year is free with this card earning 40,000 points – offering at least 2% back on eligible purchases made.
This card also rewards grocery and dining expenses with five points for every dollar spent, up to a maximum annual spending cap of $50k. While its earning potential exceeds that of MBNA’s card, its travel-related coverage is limited – only up to $2 million medical and trip cancellation/interruption insurance is provided.
As part of its benefits, this card offers free access to airport lounges and up to two years of extended warranty protection on eligible purchases. Furthermore, you’ll have a concierge line available 24/7 that can help book entertainment tickets, find restaurants or plan other activities – plus redeem rewards such as statement credits, merchandise purchases or experiences even investments into an RRSP or tax-free savings account!
3. Desjardins Odyssey Visa Infinite Privilege
Desjardins Odyssey Visa Infinite Privilege card provides premium travel benefits, such as up to $2 million emergency medical coverage when traveling. In addition, this card also gives up to 25% discount Hertz car rentals and 10% off Thrifty or Dollar rentals as a bonus, along with up to 10% or 15% off of Thrifty or Dollar rentals – and provides six or twelve visits annually on Priority Pass membership with complimentary airport lounge access through Montreal-Trudeau International Airport’s Visa Infinite Privilege program – making this card ideal for members earning between $150,000 or $200,000. This card is only available to Desjardins members with minimum annual incomes between $150,000 or $200,000.
This card earns you 2% in BonusDollars when used for travel, dining and entertainment purchases; plus one point per dollar spent elsewhere. Furthermore, car rental collision damage waiver and purchase protection that doubles manufacturer warranties by two years are both included as features of this card. Furthermore, cardholders may benefit from priority security at airports that allows them to pass more quickly through security checks than non-cardholders.
4. American Express Platinum Card
The Platinum Card is like a luxurious suitcase filled with premium travel benefits. While its $695 annual fee may seem steep at first, frequent travelers with suitable spending habits and lifestyle can find that their investment pays dividends over time.
At American Express Travel or directly through airlines, this card earns five Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent, as well as for prepaid hotel bookings made through Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection. Furthermore, access is granted to over 1,400 airport lounges including Centurion Lounges and Priority Pass Lounges; premium benefits with three car rental companies (such as elite status and upgrades); concierge service accessing premium entertainment events like Coachella or Super Bowl; as well as concierge services provided.
This card requires good to excellent credit – FICO generally defines this as 670 or higher – and comes equipped with some unique features not found elsewhere, including extended warranties on eligible purchases and statement credits for qualifying digital entertainment expenses.
