The 8 Best Credit Cards for Travel Accident Insurance in 2019
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You don’t embark on a journey thinking something bad will happen because chances are that the worst won’t happen. It’s good to know, however, that if something did happen and you were severely injured or even worse, there is coverage available — and it comes complimentary on your credit card.
Travel Accident Insurance is widely available but seldom used. In fact, news and media provider Reuters reports that there were zero accidental deaths on scheduled commercial U.S. air carriers in 2017, which is the most recent data available.
And while you don’t normally base your credit cards on this coverage, it’s helpful to know which cards come with this coverage. Travel protections and benefits can save you money when you travel and provide peace of mind knowing you have coverage should something drastic happen during your trip.
Travel Accident Insurance, specifically, is one of those peace-of-mind coverages that can be a welcome resource should you need it.
Here’s a look into travel accident insurance with the objective of defining the coverage and letting you know which popular cards carry the protection as part of a broader package of travel protections and benefits.
Table of contents
Table of Contents
What is Travel Accident Insurance?
Travel Accident Insurance is a complimentary travel protection that is offered on certain travel rewards credit cards. The coverage pays out a specified benefit should you or your immediate family become severely injured, including dismemberment, loss of sight, hearing, or speech, or death due to a covered accident on a common carrier during your travels.
The coverage works similar to life insurance in the case of accidental death. Dismemberment and severe injury is handled differently in that a percentage of the total death benefit is paid out depending on the severity of the injury. The limits of the benefit payouts are depicted in a table published within the Guide to Benefits for each specific credit card.
Travel Accident Insurance is different than trip cancellation, trip interruption, and trip delay insurance in that it only pays a benefit in the case of accidental death or specified severe injuries when traveling on a common carrier.
Also, unlike most travel insurance policies that come with your credit card, travel accident insurance is not secondary coverage. This means it will pay benefits in addition to other life, disability, or medical coverage you hold.
Primary and additional cardholders can generally designate a beneficiary for the accident life insurance portion of the coverage.
Bottom Line: Travel Accident Insurance comes complimentary on many travel rewards credit cards. It works similar to an accidental life insurance policy in the case of death and pays out a percentage of that benefit in the case of severe injury.
The Best Credit Cards for Travel Accident Insurance
The best credit cards for travel accident insurance coverage have travel protections and benefits beyond that of just travel accident insurance. The following travel rewards credit cards offer some of the best travel insurance packages available and all of the coverages come complimentary with the card.
Chase Travel Accident Insurance
Chase actually has 2 types of travel accident insurance:
- Common Carrier Travel Accident Benefit — this protection covers you while you are a passenger on any common carrier or at the airport/terminal/station immediately before or after your trip.
- 24-Hour Travel Accident Benefit — you will be covered as soon as you begin your trip, during your qualifying trip, and until you return for accidental death, dismemberment, and loss of speech, sight, or hearing.
Chase Cards that Provide Travel Accident Insurance
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Recommended)
The Chase Sapphire Preferred provides up to $500,000 for the Common Carrier Benefit, or $100,000 for the 24 Hour Benefit. In addition to Travel Accident insurance, the Sapphire Preferred offers travel insurance.
| Credit Card | Benefits & Info |
|---|---|
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card How We Get $1k+ Value From Just 60k Pts > |
|
Chase Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card
The Ink Business Preferred provides up to $500,000 for the Common Carrier Benefit, or $100,000 for the 24 Hour Benefit.
| CHASE CARD | BENEFITS & INFO |
|---|---|
Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card |
|
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
In addition to Travel Accident Insurance of up to $1,000,000, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers complimentary emergency evacuation insurance up to $100,000 and $2,500 in emergency medical/dental expenses.
| Credit Card | Benefits & Info |
|---|---|
Chase Sapphire Reserve® |
|
Marriott Bonvoy™ Bold Credit Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold card offers up to $500,000 in travel accident insurance benefits when you purchase your common carrier ticket with your card.
World of Hyatt Credit Card
Pay for your transportation ticket with your World of Hyatt card and receive up to $500,000 in travel accident insurance due to a covered loss.
United Branded Credit Cards
These United-branded credit cards come with complimentary travel accident insurance of up to $500,000.
| CREDIT CARD | BENEFITS & INFO |
|---|---|
| UnitedSM Explorer Card |
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| UnitedSM Explorer Business Card |
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Chase Coverage Details and Conditions
Who is covered on Chase issued credit cards?
The primary cardholder, additional card holder, and immediate family members are covered for Chase Travel Accident Insurance.
Immediate family is defined as you (the cardholder), your spouse or domestic partner, you or your domestic partner’s children, including adopted children or step-children. Additionally, legal guardians or wards, siblings or siblings-in-law, parents or parents-in-law, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts/uncles, and nieces/nephews are covered.
Conditions for Coverage on Chase Cards
- Pay for the common carrier fare in full or in part with your eligible Chase card
- One of the following:
- The accident occurs while riding as a passenger, boarding, exiting, or being struck by a common carrier on a covered trip
- The accident occurs at the airport, terminal or station at the beginning or end of the common carrier covered trip
Bottom Line: Many Chase credit cards come with travel accident insurance and since the definition of covered persons is so broad, benefits are provided for even extended family members.
American Express Cards that Provide Travel Accident Insurance
The Platinum Card® from American Express
While American Express offers travel accident insurance on all 68 of its cards, the travel insurance that comes with the premium Amex Platinum Card stands out.
In addition to death and dismemberment coverage of up to $500,000, you’ll also receive medical evacuation insurance and emergency medical/dental coverage.
| CREDIT CARD | CARD BENEFITS |
|---|---|
The Platinum Card® from American Express How We Get $1,500+ In Value From This Card (Per Year) > |
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The American Express® Gold Card
In the case of accidental death or severe injury, coverage on the Amex Gold Card pays up to $250,000.
| AMEX CARD | BENEFITS & INFO |
|---|---|
American Express® Gold Card |
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Who is covered on American Express Cards?
The basic cardmember, additional authorized cardmembers, their spouses or domestic partners, and dependent children under age 23.
American Express Coverage Conditions
Conditions for Coverage on American Express Cards:
- The entire common carrier fare must be paid for with an eligible American Express card
- The accident occurs while riding as a passenger, boarding, exiting, or being struck by a common carrier on a covered trip
- All covered persons must reside in the U.S., Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands
Bottom Line: American Express offers Travel Accident Insurance on 68 of its cards.
Additional Credit Cards with Travel Accident Insurance
There are several other travel rewards cards that offer Travel Accident Insurance to varying degrees.
Capital One Issued Rewards Cards — All of Capital One’s Visa Signature and Mastercard Rewards cards come with Travel Accident Insurance coverage. Charge your entire travel fare to your card and receive up to $250,000 in benefits. You can read about our recommended Capital One Cards here.
Visa Infinite Credit Cards — Cardholders and dependents are covered when the common carrier ticket is purchased with the eligible card. Coverage is provided up to $500,000 for accidental death or dismemberment.
Wells Fargo Visa Cards — Pays up to $150,000 when your common carrier ticket is paid for in full with your card.
Note that since so many credit cards offer Travel Accident Insurance, this list is highlighting just some of the most popular cards and not supplying an exhaustive list. You’ll want to access your specific card’s Guide to Benefits or call the number on the back of your card to determine if you have coverage and the limits of that coverage.
How to File a Claim
Filing a claim for accidental death or severe injury is straightforward regardless of the issuing credit card institution. The first step is to contact the benefits administrator as soon as possible after the accident, generally no later than 30 days, by calling the number on the back of your card.
You could be asked to submit any of the following for documentation:
- Completed and signed claim form
- Proof of payment method for common carrier ticket
- Explanation of loss
- Death certificate, if applicable
- Medical records, if applicable
Bottom Line: Regardless of the credit card issuer, you’ll want to submit your claim on a timely basis and confirm that all the required documentation has been received by the benefits administrator to avoid any chance your claim being delayed or denied due to lack of information.
Other Useful Travel Protections and Benefits
Travel Accident Insurance is just one travel protection offered complimentary on travel rewards credit cards. Look for these additional travel benefits when selecting a travel rewards card.
- Car rental collision damage waiver insurance — one of the most valuable travel benefits you can have is primary rental car insurance. Learn which cards are best for car rental insurance.
- Trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage — When your trip is cancelled or delayed, it’s bound to result in unplanned expenses. Trip cancellation and interruption coverage will reimburse you for covered events that cause you to cancel your trip or cause disruption while your trip is in progress.
- Trip delay reimbursement — If your flight is delayed a specified number of hours, usually 12 hours or more, a benefit is paid to reimburse you for expenses such as lodging, transportation, meals, and necessary personal items
- Lost, damaged, or delayed luggage insurance — Chances are you’ll get paid by the airline if your baggage is lost, damaged, or delayed. This coverage will pay for eligible incidents where your out-of-pocket costs are more than the common carrier will cover.
- Travel and emergency assistance services — Help is just a phone call away, day or night, if something goes wrong during your travels. Get help finding an English speaking medical provider, legal services, or assistance replacing a lost passport.
- Emergency evacuation insurance — A few premium travel rewards cards such as the Amex Platinum Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve provide emergency evacuation transportation services.
- Emergency medical coverage — The Amex Platinum Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred, and Chase Sapphire Reserve all offer limited reimbursement coverage for medical emergency expenses.
- Roadside dispatch – Premium travel rewards cards such as the Amex Platinum Card come with free roadside assistance. Other cards charge a flat discounted fee per service call. Roadside dispatch is a handy coverage to have on your card, in either case, if you should break down on the side of the road.
Bottom Line: Finding a card that has a package of complimentary travel protections and benefits you can use brings extra value that can save you money or provide peace of mind during your travels.
Final Thoughts
No one likes to think about having a severe accident happening during their travels. Chances are, you’ll never have to worry about using the travel accident insurance that comes with your card. However, just knowing it exists is enough.
It is not a key travel insurance coverage that causes you weigh one travel rewards card over another. Selecting a card that offers a broader collection of travel protections and benefits you can use is a more prudent approach.
Always compare the coverage that comes on your card with a comprehensive travel insurance policy to determine if the complimentary coverage is adequate for your trip. If not, you can supplement the complimentary coverage easily and inexpensively.
