Travel Insurance with CCs

[Lonely Flyer]

I am looking at using my credit card to get the insurance cover free for an overseas trip.

I have a Gold Amex Gold Citibank and Platnium ANZ among others.

Are there any knowledgable FFers out there that know the pro and cons of each and which one they recommend.

 

[G*]

Yes, from a personal (& traumatic) perspective, buy a policy and don't rely on the one offered by your card provider. If you're headed to the US and it all goes pear shaped as you're being wheeled into ED (without any pain relief because that doesn't commence until you're 'financial') and you're trying to explain to the 'clerk' that you have credit card insurance as they try to authorise USD$20,000 on your card, the cost of a policy seems inconsequential. Often the hospitals need a policy number and well as a 24 hour contact number here so that they can authorise the next set of (extortionate) costs. This may also involve the surgeon having to justify what forthcoming treatment and costs are involved - a piece of cake if you're the one about to pass out from lack of analgesia! Convinced ? Do remember that a broken leg may exceed $140,000 and that's before flights home.

 

[poppet]

I have to agree with G* ... I've had bad experiences trying to make a claim relying on Plat AMEX travel insurance. Ever since I have just paid extra to get a dedicated travel insurance policy.

 

[dajop]

Often the hospitals need a policy number and well as a 24 hour contact number here so that they can authorise the next set of (extortionate) costs.

I've used Westpac Altitude Gold travel insurance (not for medical emergency, but death of relative) and had both a policy number (or was it a case number?) and 24 hour contact number (went straight to the insurer - not Westpac) and had issues dealt with efficiently and effectively. It pays to attempt to get this information prior to departure, particularly in case of medical emergency.

 

[baswitzer]

I have a gold AMEX co sponsored by my professional association (union) and always make a point of getting a seperate policy. I just dont feel comfortable relying on the card policy.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I think the other point is that for the CC to work (and it may not anyway as pointed out by others above from claims to peace of mind) is that you have to use that one card for all your true travel costs. You can't pay cash or use another card.



For many of these costs, particularly when overses it actually costs more to pay with the various CC's due to;

*currency conversion fees
*poor conversion rates.

This marginal difference adds up.....and can actually exceed the cost you are "saving" with the CC Insurance.

Normally when overeas my practice has been to use cash (partly for anti-fraud reasons) which often results in savings from it being cash.

My last trip due toa last minute hitch in a new Wizard PPIn number not ariving in time meant that ona recent trip to New Caledonia that I had to use CC's (amex and VISA) a lot more than normal.

The amount of extra costs and poor conversion rates (copared to what I got over the couinter there for Aussie $) that have shown up on my post trip statements have re-affirmed by view that cash is best overseas....and that the FF earn does not go close to offsetting all the extra fees.

 

[NM]

I think the other point is that for the CC to work (and it may not anyway as pointed out by others above from claims to peace of mind) is that you have to use that one card for all your true travel costs. You can't pay cash or use another card.

This varies by CC. Some require a minimum pre-spend as low as $250. Other require all airfares to be paid on the card in order to trigger the policy.

 

[coco50]

My last trip due toa last minute hitch in a new Wizard PPIn number not ariving in time meant that ona recent trip to New Caledonia that I had to use CC's (amex and VISA) a lot more than normal.

The amount of extra costs and poor conversion rates (copared to what I got over the couinter there for Aussie $) that have shown up on my post trip statements have re-affirmed by view that cash is best overseas....and that the FF earn does not go close to offsetting all the extra fees.

I agree about using cash but securing it while you travel is a pain. Regarding Nouvelle Caledonie - it's a bit scary when XPF 5000 comes spewing out of the ATM - but, after you divide by ~ 70 its not much!

 

[Alanslegal]

This varies by CC. Some require a minimum pre-spend as low as $250. Other require all airfares to be paid on the card in order to trigger the policy.

IME I use ANZ Gold which requires a pre-spend of $250 prior to the actual trip. I usually book a non-refundable hotel stay and qualify for ANZ's insurance, in addition

I also then use CB Gold free for life and purchase the actual flight ticket, this should qualify myself onto CB's insurance.

So technically I then have two types of CC travel cover, I guess for "just in case" situations.

 

[MelUser]

Has anyone relied on the Cth Bank Platinum Mastercard insurance.

THe policy document seems to indicate that it is all above board but (according to the policy) you have to take a copy of your credit card statement, policy document and fax it to them before they'll authorise payment. THis could be difficult if you're being wheeled into casualty/emergency!

Has anyone relied on the Cth Bank Mastercard policy?

 

[StevePER]

I agree about using cash but securing it while you travel is a pain. Regarding Nouvelle Caledonie - it's a bit scary when XPF 5000 comes spewing out of the ATM - but, after you divide by ~ 70 its not much!

Just after we arrived in Papeete we took some money out and then bought an orange juice with a 10000 XPF note - for some reason they weren't very happy with that.

 

[Arthur Hodgson]

IME I use ANZ Gold which requires a pre-spend of $250 prior to the actual trip. I usually book a non-refundable hotel stay and qualify for ANZ's insurance, in addition

I also then use CB Gold free for life and purchase the actual flight ticket, this should qualify myself onto CB's insurance.

So technically I then have two types of CC travel cover, I guess for "just in case" situations.

This is pretty much what I do.

I have had to make a claim on the ANZ gold Visa insurance a couple of times, and they paid up without any major quibbles (did take a while though).

So I usually just rely on my CC insurance and feel quite secure.

 

[og]

I have used the ANZ Bold Visa card for several years now. One claim (death of relative) and the pay out was done but very rigorously checked (lots of exact evidence) and took 3 months to get the cheque. Still happy to use that.

I usually trigger the insurance with an Expedia (or similar) hotel booking and use my Amex for air travel etc.