Travel Insurance through credit card provider

[Teak]

Hi,

Does anyone solely use the travel insurance provided through their credit card provider? We will be travelling to Europe for 5 weeks, and are eligible for travel insurance through our CBA platinum card. The insurance is provided through Zurich. Is there anything I need to consider by just relying on this insurance?

 

[ashleyn]

Hi,

Does anyone solely use the travel insurance provided through their credit card provider? We will be travelling to Europe for 5 weeks, and are eligible for travel insurance through our CBA platinum card. The insurance is provided through Zurich. Is there anything I need to consider by just relying on this insurance?

I have a serial distrust of free insurances. You get what you pay for so check closely the T&C

 

[Teak]

I have a serial distrust of free insurances. You get what you pay for so check closely the T&C

Thanks - I have already 'qualified' for the insurance with the travel expenses I have placed on my card. I will compare the T&C's with my normal insurance provider.

 

[stewiejp]

After a lot of online research, and calls to the insurance company, I have been - however the only thing I am really concerned about is the medical side of things. Treatment, evacuation etc, as the only item I generally carry with me worth a great deal of money is my camera gear (around $10,000 worth). Even though the camera gear is covered, if I lose anything else, sure I'll put in a claim if it's worth it but it wouldn't ruin my holiday if I had to buy some new clothes... in fact, the Good Lady would probably be happy if I bought some new threads.

From memory mine is with Zurich as well, however each card has different policies, even with Zurich who do a few so read yours in depth. Everybody's insurance needs are different, mine are low. The usual credit cards provide "normal" insurance as well (not travel). Eg 2012 I was "stranded" in coughet when Air Australia went broke (aka Strategic Airlines) - my ING visa debit card (not the insurer) refunded my return flight in full even though those who paid cash at a travel agency were not, also most (all?) travel insurance policies do not cover airlines going broke.

 

[AdMEL]

I have a serial distrust of free insurances. You get what you pay for so check closely the T&C

On the flip side, I don't believe in paying for something I already have, provided the cover is what I need! And the card cover is not free - you pay for it via the annual fee, merchant fees and interest!

Thanks - I have already 'qualified' for the insurance with the travel expenses I have placed on my card. I will compare the T&C's with my normal insurance provider.

That's the best thing to do. There's a decent article on Aus Bus Traveller that provides a good run down on many cards, which may assist. My experience is that card insurance provided by Zurich is pretty comparable, with some minor differences which may or may not impact you. One thing the CBA card insurance isn't great for, is car rental excess cover, which is a lower amount than many other cards.

 

[bodri]

One thing to check with CBA is the pre-existing conditions requirement. The way I read it, you need to advise them in advance of any condition and I assume that would include things like asthma etc which under some other cc policies is automatically covered. Worth a phone call to check before leaving for peace of mind if nothing else.

Here is the quote from their policy booklet:

"We do not insure you for any event that is caused by, or arises as a result of, any pre-existing medical condition of yours, a relative, travel companion or any other person that may give cause for you to claim, unless it is specifically covered in the International Travel Insurance or we have given prior written approval to cover your pre-existing medical condition and you have paid the administration fee."

 

[stewiejp]

If in doubt I would call the insurance company - sure they may not cover you for something, or try to charge you a premium, but that would be better than being stranded with no cover somewhere. Things like asthma, even though they are pre-existing conditions are generally covered anyway by some providers - depending on the severity of your condition and how it is managed.

 

[jbird]

Make sure you take a good look at what is covered through your credit card. I usually find it is better to go with a third party that specializes in travel insurance. You will usually have better coverage and it is not that expensive anyways. I have used easytravelinsurance.org before and had no problems with them.

 

[Dalescott]

I use my credit card insurance all the time. I have had one claim on it, and no problems. Got the T&C for it, and had a look at it, comparing it to Woolworths travel Insurance, I could see little betweem them.

 

[k_sheep]

I have had several claims on the freebie Zurich CC insurance with absolutely no dramas at all - all paid without question and quickly.

 

[sydunipete]

I did the Kokoda Track using my CBA (Zurich) AMEX travel insurance. In researching before the trip I read the policy line by line VERY carefully, rang the Zurich call centre and asked lots of questions and declared my type of cover to the trekking company (which rightly so insisted upon travel insurance). All gave me confidence it would be sufficient for my needs there.

My needs are pretty low. "Get me outta here" evacuation cover is number one. Especially on the Kokoda Track.

I travel overseas about twice a year and continue to use just he Platinum Amex cover.

I've never needed to claim (touch wood) and I guess that's the ultimate test.

Bodri (above) was right regarding pre-existing conditions (my wife has some). But the process is straight forward and they were very reasonable (ie provided full cover).

I will now read the Aus Bus Traveller article with interest.

 

[Rocket88]

If the free credit card travel insurance is with Zurich i would be careful as some of their pre existing medical conditions are draconian . I have never claimed on travel insurance in 30 years of frequent travel but now i have Atrial fibrillation and require Warfarin to prevent stroke i am banned from all travel insurance that is associated with Zurich, or Zurich underwrites . Before anybody lectures me i understand the danger of chronic bleeding with warfarin and other blood thinners . May be doing me a favour as i have never had a good relationship with Zurich and their other insurance products anyway . Other insurance companies are much more agreeable even with their increased premiums .

 

[IrishPete]

I have never claimed on my ANZ Platinum insurance, but it helps me sleep at night. I never bother with anything else. It has got better and better over the years, even the car rental excess cover was increased quite recently (in line with the car rental companies who had increased the excesses).

IP

 

[Coley]

Has anyone had any dealings with the Macquarie Visa Platinum Card Travel Insurance? I recently got this this card for the QFF points promotion and I am considering using it for my next overseas trip to the US next year.

The card appears to be underwritten by ACE Insurance Limited? The excesses and terms don't seem too bad in the "conditions of use" brochure on the website.

 

[AllanG]

After a lot of online research, and calls to the insurance company, I have been - however the only thing I am really concerned about is the medical side of things. Treatment, evacuation etc,

No problem. A couple of years ago in Shanghai my wife had to go to hospital in the middle of the night and was there for some days. I called my credit card insurer and they immediately put me through to a doctor in Australia, who told me questions to ask and gave me a toll free number to call. When I called back they had a full rundown on the hospital and doctor treating her, had consulted people in China and decided not to evacuate her. Talked to them everyday she was in hospital they told me in advance what was going to happen. Back in Australia paid 100% medical bills, extra nights in hotel ( an expensive one) the difference we had to pay because of missed international flights and allowance for meals etc on the extra days we had to stay in China.

 

[mushypeas]

i don't support anyone has experience with "activating" the travel insurance component via award bookings?

ie: i've bought X amount of Avianca Lifemiles and then used those points + additional cash to purchase a ticket

is this considered a purchased airfare thus eligible for the cards' insurance policy or do I need to obtain a third party policy?

 

[IrishPete]

i don't support anyone has experience with "activating" the travel insurance component via award bookings?

ie: i've bought X amount of Avianca Lifemiles and then used those points + additional cash to purchase a ticket

is this considered a purchased airfare thus eligible for the cards' insurance policy or do I need to obtain a third party policy?

Read the policy document - policies differ. Some of them only require you to pay a few hundred dollars of the cost. If you have put that few hundred dollars on the credit card, it's none of their business how you paid for the rest - points, cash, another credit cards to earn points, a kidney...

Insurance companies sometimes get funny about being insured more than once - they fight over who is covering you. I wonder how this works with credit card insurance and other travel insurance?

 

[mushypeas]

yeah i have, unfortunately it's a bit convoluted...

"This cover provides four (4) months of free overseas travel insurance as outlined in this policy when prior to leaving Australia, at least 90% of the cost of the cardholder’s overseas return travel ticket (i.e. ticket from and returning to Australia) has been charged to the cardholder’s HSBC credit card account"

technically i have paid greater than 90% of the ticket value with the credit card (purchased points initially and then used those points + cash top up to finalise) but i wonder come event of claim they'll say the purchase of the points is not directly related to this specific flight ie: could of been used for multiple other flights.

i guess given its not straight forward im best just forking out for a separate policy.

 

[ric_melb]

No one but the insurer can say for sure, but presumably you have bought various goods with your credit card and earned points. Now you have used those points for your flight. I don't believe this can be construed to mean you bought a ticket using your credit card account.

 

[IrishPete]

Based on those conditions I wouldn't be taking the risk. My ANZ Platinum is much more generous - only $250 of the overseas travel arrangements must be paid for with the card: "have debited at least $250 worth of eligible overseas travel arrangements to your Platinum card account prior to departing Australia". Based on that ANZ wording I wouldn't be counting hotels that might only debit your card you when you check out, car hire ditto, meals, but flights, trains and so on while overseas but booked and paid for in advance, would be OK. That word "eligible" might need some investigating. I just deal with it by paying for my main flight on the credit card and problem solved.

This article from a couple of years ago Best and worst credit cards for travel insurance: what's covered? - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller suggests ANZ Platinum is the best, but there might be new players since then. It also says some policies DO cover travel paid for with THEIR points, so it may be worth asking your card issuer. If they don't, you could get an ANZ Platinum and pay for 250 of the travel arrangements on it.

I also have an AmEX Platinum Edge, but I haven't checked its insurance conditions.