Platinum Charge Card Insurance Change from 1st April

[TtiGeR]

Hi all,

I was just checking the T&C of the Travel Insurance from the AMEX Platinum Card and noticed some (major) changes.

https://icm.aexp-static.com/Interne...ance Benefits/Platinum_RCP_Insurance_0414.PDF

Activation of Transport Accident and Card Account Balance Waiver Cover:
Activation of Travel Insurance Cover:

Cover is effective when You pay the full fare for a Trip:

i) on the American Express Platinum Card Account; or
ii) with American Express Membership Rewards points; or
iii) with any other travel rewards or frequent flyer points provided the taxes and/or surcharges have been charged to Your American Express Platinum Card Account.


American Express Not Accepted
Cover is effective if You cannot pay the full fare for a Trip on Your American Express Platinum Card Account because the provider does not accept American Express as a form of payment. You must be able to supply proof of purchase and the name and address of the provider who would not accept your American Express Platinum Card Account.

On a separate page:

Important: Supplementary Card Members are not covered for Travel Insurance benefits. If You are a Supplementary Card Member or a Supplementary Card Member is travelling with You on a Trip, You should consider whether these benefits provide adequate cover. The Supplementary Card Member may need to take out a separate travel insurance policy.

Well, it looks quite interesting to me. Did anyone receive any email / letter from AMEX in regards to the change?

 

[sampson]

no. the changes are scary. I'd hate for me or a family member to be denied care in a US hospital because 'tricky wording' means I didn't bring a big fat file to show Amex as a precondition to approval for life saving sergury.

I know it's off topic however Amex wanted to sell me their stand-alone policy because the card insurance isn't as safe as the paid one. Bait n Switch? I felt safer with another specialist company.

 

[vantage03]

If supp card holders were previously covered, that's a really major change. Does anyone know if this is the case for Centurion too?

 

[zig]

I haven't received any notification from Amex about these changes. A real erosion of benefits for supplementary card holders. Very little motivation for a supplementary card holder bother to pay for any travel on their Amex card.

 

[TtiGeR]

Just called ACE and they were not aware of any change. After reviewing the "new" policy, the agent said she couldn't see any major change. She didn't quite understand why a new effective date was given and was confused as well.

I spent some time to review every page and the only real change I noticed was

Section (M) Refund Protection Cover

Previously,
If, within ninety (90) days of the date of purchase, You try to return an unused Eligible Item to the Retailer and the Retailer will not take it back, You can return it to Us and We will credit Your American Express Platinum Card Account with the Purchase Price.

Now,
If, within ninety (90) days of the date of purchase, You try to return an unused Eligible Item to the Retailer and the Retailer will not take it back, You can return it to Us and We will reimburse You with an amount not exceeding the Purchase Price.

 

[equus]

I haven't received any notification from Amex about these changes. A real erosion of benefits for supplementary card holders. Very little motivation for a supplementary card holder bother to pay for any travel on their Amex card.

This change happened quite a while ago, not just now. Do note, however, that the Insurance PDS defined "Primary" and "Supplementary" quite differently to the actual account.

Primary card member is what you would expect, and also their spouse, defacto, and dependent children irrespective of whether or not they actually have an Amex card in their name. Supplementary cardholder is anyone and the same relations/dependent a who had a Supp card, and (presumably) is not a Primary cardmember by dint of a relationship to the account holder.

 

[desiredusername]

The ASIC top dog Mr Kell told the Aust Insurance Council seminar on Feb 28 about their work on all sorts of insurances and law reforms and court cases in England and the USA. Go to Australian Securities and Investments Commission and search "American Express" to find it. If there's any disconnect or gaps or 'clever wording', go to Financial Ombudsman Service if only because "systemic issues" can lead to reforms.