Significant NAB changes coming; no travel insurances on most cards from mid-2026

[aspro2]

I haven't seen this mentioned on AFF so far...

Headline summary:

Upcoming Complimentary Insurance changes​

Effective 1 July 2025 – For some NAB cards, excesses for certain covers will increase, and benefit limits will reduce under International Travel Insurance.

Effective 15 May 2026 – For some NAB cards, International Travel, Domestic Travel and Rental Vehicle Excess Insurances will be removed. For some other NAB cards, the cover period for International Travel Insurance will be reduced.

Full details: Changes to your NAB Complimentary Card Insurance Policy

The changes prior to 15 May 2026 are mostly minor fee and insurance tweaks (except excess increases from $400 to $600!), but then from that date the following cards lose all insurances, including for qualifying travel booked earlier but taking place after that date:

• NAB Rewards Platinum Credit Card
• NAB flybuys Rewards Credit Card
• NAB Low Rate Platinum Credit Card
• NAB Velocity Rewards Premium Credit Card
• NAB Premium Credit Card
• NAB Low Fee Platinum Credit Card

And these cards retain cover but have the maximum duration of cover reduced to 30 days:

• NAB Platinum Visa Debit Card
• NAB Qantas Rewards Premium Card
• NAB Qantas Plus Card

 

[aspro2]

I think the above is concerning beyond the obvious immediate issues. NAB is now responsible for multiple prominent card brands, so it's reasonable to fear a "spread" of this approach to their non-NAB card portfolio.

 

[b3LKMZAYN9]

It seems it's not affecting the "Level 1" cards.

Level 1 Card means the following cards issued by the Bank:
• NAB Qantas Rewards Signature Credit Card; or
• NAB Rewards Signature Credit Card.

 

[anat0l]

Wonder if this is a sign of things to come across not just NAB credit cards but other banks / credit providers?

 

[Alifar]

I've also just discovered this change as I was wanting to ensure we are covered for a family trip to Thailand, paid on our Qantas Rewards card. As well as the increase in the excess there is a reduction on the length of trip to 30 days, cancellation will be limited to $25K and overseas emergency medical will be limited to $20million. Whilst this won't impact on our trip, there may be people caught out by the 30 day limit or cancellation limit. I haven't received anything directly from NAB regarding this just found during my online search.

 

[SCM]

Sort of in line with the citi changes (also owned by NAB).

30 days is ridiculous though, many people are going on travel trips over 30 days, especially if you combine work and holiday travel. Won't be using NAB for any holiday transactions that's for sure.

 

[I love to travel]

On a slightly different note, the eligibility is $500 towards travel costs. Do people think that a tour counts as that cost?

 

[aspro2]

On a slightly different note, the eligibility is $500 towards travel costs. Do people think that a tour counts as that cost?

Yes.

 

[L2.]

I wonder what the chances are of NAB giving me a pro-rata refund of my first year annual fee following the announcement of these changes? I know that NAB is usually strict on that, but given the circumstances, it can't hurt to ask.

 

[Disgruntled 1]

They are removing a huge benefit especially for the mature traveller, but we will not see a reduction in Annual fee???,

 

[CaptJCool]

Yeah the letter from Citi arrived this week saying “we are capping limits now” and getting rid of complimentary travel insurance from 16 May 2026

 

[aspro2]

Virgin cards are also seeing changes to travel insurance. So it's the whole brand portfolio by the looks of it.

 

[MelbFlyer]

I generally keep cards and cancel after any trips I've booked on that card is taken, so as to take advantage of the included travel insurance rather than paying extra for it.

However, with some banks' recent policy of increasing blackout periods to 24 months as well as extending their blackouts to all products (both their own rewards points programs and QFF / VFF), it's kind of a loss-loss now - No travel insurance and an increased blackout period.

Keeping cards = Having included travel insurance for any trips booked on said card, but lengthens blackout periods.

Cancelling cards = Can maximise cards / minimise blackout periods, but you then need to purchase travel insurance separately (usually on top of any annual fees of the card you've cancelled).

Just the way things are going unfortunately.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

NAB doing their best to maintain a rubbish card offering

 

[MelbFlyer]

NAB doing their best to maintain a rubbish card offering

Still better than anything that CBA has! CBA's offerings are the worst of the Big 4 banks.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

Still better than anything that CBA has! CBA's offerings are the worst of the Big 4 banks.

CBA are horrendous. They're only interested in making lazy profits from doing home loans.

 

[Chicken]

Virgin cards are also seeing changes to travel insurance. So it's the whole brand portfolio by the looks of it.

I have also received a letter in the mail for my Suncorp Platinum.

It seems all cards at Platinum level or below are losing insurance, whereas Signature level is having insurance retained.

 

[fildu]

This is so confusing . . . on purpose perhaps? I've tried to get clear answers out of NAB but just geet teh same claptrap . . . My simple question is: after May next year will any Nab cards carry free International Travel MEDICAL insurance, if so for how long?
Can anybody clarify that?
And they talk endlessly about ELIGIBILITY . . . but eligibility for what? Nothing much?

 

[Chicken]

This is so confusing . . . on purpose perhaps?

No it isn't. You are just over thinking it:

If your card is signature level, you get insurance.
If your card is not signature level, you have no insurance from mid 2026

My simple question is: after May next year will any Nab cards carry free International Travel MEDICAL insurance, if so for how long?

If you look at NAB web site, all the cards losing insurance are cards below Signature level. So, you will get insurance if your card is not listed on the web site (which would be a Signature card)

And they talk endlessly about ELIGIBILITY . . . but eligibility for what? Nothing much?

You don't get insurance just because you hold an eligible card. You need to meet eligible criteria. Have you read the "NAB
Card Insurance ~ Policy Information Booklet ~ Effective 1 July 2025", more specifically page 19 "International Travel Insurance -> Part A – Eligibility for Cover"?

 

[fildu]

No it isn't. You are just over thinking it:
Not sure how you can overthink something . . . .
If your card is signature level, you get insurance.
If your card is not signature level, you have no insurance from mid 2026

OK -this was very hellpful . . . I can see now that just the Signature cards wwill be left with intl travel insurance . . . but what a strange way of marketing something by indicating what willl NOT have the feeature leaving out what WILL have it . . . thanks, if only teh NAB "Chat' site (more like a snail-mail site given the time taken to respond) couldl have said that to me instead of ramblling on for days with motherhood statements . . . . in any case I will be checking more thoroughly when back in Oz by phone before my neext yeear trips . . .

If you look at NAB web site, all the cards losing insurance are cards below Signature level. So, you will get insurance if your card is not listed on the web site (which would be a Signature card)

Yes, thanks, see above.

Yes I have. You misunderstood this one (or I didn't make myself clear) . . . of course you have to fit eligibillity criteria and travel . .. what I meant was what is it you might be eligible for given all the reductions (in most cards) of features . . . .look at this for instance as an example of strange negative marketing . . if you meet the eligibility requirements you WON'T get it!!

Cardholders with the below cards who meet eligibility, and the claimable event is on or after 15 May 2026 will no longer have International and Domestic Travel Insurance, and Rental Vehicle Excess Insurance in Australia.

You don't get insurance just because you hold an eligible card. You need to meet eligible criteria. Have you read the "NAB
Card Insurance ~ Policy Information Booklet ~ Effective 1 July 2025", more specifically page 19 "International Travel Insurance -> Part A – Eligibility for Cover"?