Posted by: Alina Comoreanu

Trips get delayed, cancelled and cut short all the time, for all sorts of reasons. Luggage also gets delayed, and even lost, on a regular basis. Yet travel insurance packages typically inflate the cost of a trip by 4% to 10%. So it’s no surprise that most people are content rolling the dice. Fortunately, though, the solution might already be in your wallet.

Credit card travel insurance can reimburse cardholders in the event of cancelled trips, missed connections, lost or delayed luggage, or even death. But coverage amounts and restrictions vary widely based on the type of card you have, the company that issues it and the card network it’s affiliated with. So you don’t want to exclusively rely on plastic before looking into the details of your policy.

With that in mind, WalletHub compared the travel insurance coverage offered by 71 credit cards from the 10 largest issuers. You can check out our findings below, along with the methodology we used to rate each card. We also recommend taking a look at our editors’ picks for the best travel credit cards overall. Offers are accurate as of June 20, 2019.

1. Key Findings
2. Typical Credit Card Travel Insurance Coverage
3. Detailed Findings
4. Methodology

Key Findings

2019’s Best Credit Cards with Travel Insurance

Best For...	Best Card(s)	Coverage Details	WalletHub Score
Travel Accident Insurance	Chase Sapphire Reserve	$1M in coverage.	87.50%
Luggage Insurance	Chase Sapphire Preferred	Lost Luggage: $3K in coverage	92.90%
Trip Delay / Cancellation Insurance	Chase Sapphire Preferred	Trip Cancellation: $10K in coverage per trip Trip Delay: $500 in coverage per ticket	92.90%
Overall Travel Insurance Coverage	Chase Sapphire Preferred	Travel Accident: $500K in coverage Lost Luggage: $3K in coverage Delayed Luggage: $500 in coverage per trip Trip Cancellation: $10K in coverage per trip Trip Delay: $500 in coverage per ticket	92.90%

 

Credit Card Travel Insurance Overview:

• 63% of cards offer travel accident insurance, providing an average of $440K in coverage.
• 20% of cards offer trip cancellation insurance, providing an average of $4.44K in coverage.
• 23% of cards offer lost luggage insurance, with an average of $2.7K in coverage.
• 19% of cards offer delayed luggage insurance, with an average of $344 in coverage.
• 4% of cards offer travel delay insurance, providing an average of $500 in coverage.
• Citi, Bank of America and Discover no longer provide travel insurance on their cards.

2019’s Best Business Credit Cards with Travel Insurance

Best For...	Best Card(s)	Coverage Details	WalletHub Score
Travel Accident Insurance	Chase Ink Business Preferred	$500K in coverage	92.90%
Luggage Insurance	Chase Ink Business Preferred	Lost Luggage: $3K in coverage Delayed Luggage: $500 in coverage per trip	92.90%
Trip Delay / Cancellation Insurance	Chase Ink Business Preferred	Trip Cancellation: $5K in coverage per trip Trip Delay: $500 in coverage per ticket	92.90%
Overall Travel Insurance Coverage	Chase Ink Business Preferred	Travel Accident: $500K in coverage Lost Luggage: $3K in coverage Delayed Luggage: $500 in coverage per trip Trip Cancellation: $5K in coverage per trip Trip Delay: $500 in coverage per ticket	92.90%

 

Business Credit Card Travel Insurance - Market snapshot:

• 68% of business credit cards offer travel accident insurance, providing an average of $370K in coverage.
• 59% of business credit cards offer lost luggage insurance, with an average of $2.6K in coverage.
• 23% of business credit cards offer delayed luggage insurance, with an average of $380 in coverage.
• 9% of business credit cards offer trip cancellation insurance, providing an average of $5.0K in coverage.
• 9% of business credit cards offer travel delay insurance, providing an average of $500 in coverage.

Typical Credit Card Travel Insurance Coverage

	Example Of An Average Policy	Best Policy
Sign Up	No sign up or product registration required
Travel Accident Insurance	$250,000 for death and dismemberment. If primary cardholder and authorized users, spouse / domestic partner are killed in a common carrier accident while traveling — or lose a limb, sight, speech or hearing — the benefit may offer some financial assistance.	$500,000 for death and dismemberment. If primary cardholder and authorized users, spouse / domestic partner, dependent children (under 24), legal guardians or wards, siblings or siblings-in-law, parents or parents-in-law, grandparents or grandchildren, aunts or uncles, nieces or nephews are killed in a common carrier accident while traveling or during your vacation — or lose a limb, sight, speech or hearing — the benefit may offer some financial assistance.
Luggage Insurance	$1,250 for lost luggage and $0 for delayed luggage. If your checked or carry-on luggage is permanently lost, stolen or damaged by the common carrier, benefit may refund the purchase price of the missing items or the cost to repair the damaged items.	$3,000 for lost luggage and $500 for delayed luggage. If your checked or carry-on luggage is permanently lost, stolen or damaged by the common carrier, the benefit may refund the purchase price of the missing items or the cost to repair the damaged items. If your checked baggage is delayed on a trip, the benefit may reimburse the cost of necessary personal and business items until your baggage arrives.
Extra Travel Insurance	None	Up to $10,000 per trip if your trip gets canceled or cut short. Up to $500 if your trip is delayed by 12+ hours. If your trip is cancelled or interrupted because of personal matters, illness, travel related or weather, you may be reimbursed for the cost.
Travel Emergency Assistance	Help with lost/stolen luggage and travel documents. Referrals to local physicians, attorneys, embassies and cash advance services.
Claims Process	Submit Proof of Loss, which must describe both the Accident and the Injury, and the extent and type of loss (medical records, and death certificate, proof of payment method for the Common Carrier).
Example Card Offering This Type of Policy	AmEx EveryDay Preferred	Chase Sapphire Preferred

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Detailed Findings

Personal Cards

Overall	Card Name	Luggage Insurance	Travel Accident Insurance	Eligibility, Cost & Extra Coverage	Overall Score (weighted average)
1	Sapphire Preferred (Chase)	90%	100%	88%	92.9%
2	Sapphire Reserve (Chase)	90%	100%	70%	87.5%
3	Visa Signature (Wells Fargo)	55%	96%	88%	79.1%
T - 4	Quicksilver Cash Rewards (Capital One)	55%	91%	65%	70.6%
T - 4	VentureOne Rewards (Capital One)	55%	91%	65%	70.6%
6	FlexPerks Travel Rewards (U.S. Bank)	55%	96%	59%	70.55%
7	FlexPerks Gold (U.S. Bank)	55%	96%	53%	69.75%
8	Venture Rewards (Capital One)	55%	91%	53%	67%
T - 9	Rewards American Express (USAA)	28%	96%	78%	67%
T - 9	Rewards Visa Signature (USAA)	28%	96%	78%	66.65%
T - 9	Cashback Rewards Plus American Express (USAA)	28%	96%	78%	66.65%
T - 9	Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature (USAA)	28%	96%	78%	66.65%
13	EveryDay Preferred (Amex)	47%	91%	53%	64.2%
14	Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite (U.S. Bank)	55%	96%	35%	63.35%
15	Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card	28%	96%	65%	62.9%
16	Savor Cash Rewards (Capital One)	28%	96%	53%	59.3%
17	Rate Advantage Visa Platinum (USAA)	28%	91%	58%	58.9%
18	American Express Gold Card	47%	91%	35%	58.8%
19	Cash 365 (U.S. Bank)	Not offered	96%	65%	53.1%
T - 20	EveryDay (Amex)	Not offered	91%	65%	51.35%
T - 20	Blue (Amex)	Not offered	91%	65%	51.35%
T - 20	FlexPerks Select+ (U.S. Bank)	Not offered	91%	65%	51.35%
T - 20	Blue Cash Everyday (Amex)	Not offered	91%	65%	51.35%
T - 24	Rewards Card (Wells Fargo)	Not offered	86%	70%	51.1%
T - 24	Platinum (Wells Fargo)	Not offered	86%	70%	51.1%
T - 24	Cash Wise (Wells Fargo)	Not offered	86%	70%	51.1%
T - 28	American Express Cash Magnet Card	Not offered	86%	65%	49.6%
T - 28	Platinum (Capital One)	Not offered	86%	65%	49.6%
30	QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards (Capital One)	Not offered	86%	59%	47.8%
31	Blue Cash Preferred (Amex)	Not offered	91%	53%	47.75%
T - 32	Freedom Unlimited (Chase)	Not offered	%	90%	27%
T - 32	Freedom (Chase)	Not offered	%	90%	27%

*Citi, Bank of America and Discover do not provide travel insurance on their cards. **Barclays is currently offering only co-branded cards, which were not evaluated in this report.

Business Cards

Rank	Credit Card Name	Luggage Insurance	Travel Accident Insurance	Eligibility, Cost & Extra Coverage	Overall Score (weighted average)
1	Ink Business Unlimited (Chase)	90%	96%	100%	95.1%
2	Ink Business Preferred (Chase)	90%	96%	88%	91.5%
3	Ink Cash (Chase)	83%	96%	70%	83.65%
T - 4	Business Elite Card (Wells Fargo)	83%	91%	58%	78.3%
T - 4	Business Platinum Credit Card (Wells Fargo)	83%	91%	58%	78.3%
T - 6	Spark Cash Select (Capital One)	55%	91%	65%	70.6%
T - 6	Spark Classic (Capital One)	55%	91%	65%	70.6%
T - 6	Spark Miles Select (Capital One)	55%	91%	65%	70.6%
T - 9	Spark Cash (Capital One)	55%	91%	53%	67%
T - 9	Spark Miles (Capital One)	55%	91%	53%	67%
T - 11	SimplyCash Plus Business Credit Card (Amex)	47%	86%	65%	66.05%
T - 11	The Blue Business Plus Credit Card (Amex)	47%	86%	65%	66.05%
13	American Express Business Gold Card	47%	86%	35%	57.05%
T - 14	FlexPerks Business Travel Rewards Card (U.S. Bank)	Not offered	96%	53%	49.5%
T - 14	U.S. Bank Business Leverage Visa Signature Card	Not offered	96%	53%	49.5%

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Methodology

WalletHub reviewed the online travel benefits policies for all of the credit cards available via the websites of the 10 largest credit card issuers by purchase volume, excluding student and co-branded cards.

We evaluated each offer in three overall categories, using the corresponding weights to obtain overall scores: Travel Accident Insurance (35%); Luggage Insurance (35%); Eligibility Cost & Extra Coverage (30%). These categories are comprised of 12 individual metrics, descriptions of which you can find below. For cards featuring multiple policies, we evaluated their average coverage details.

Where policies were incomplete or unclear, we contacted the issuers directly and requested clarification. All issuers responded to our questions and either confirmed the accuracy of our data or provided corrections.

The maximum score attainable for a card in this report is 100%.

Travel Accident Insurance1. What is Covered? - Worth 50%A) Death and Dismemberment – Worth 25%

• If death and dismemberment is covered = 25%
• If only death is covered = 15%
• If only dismemberment is covered = 10%
• If there is no benefit offered = No points (where applicable)

B) Modes of Travel Included – Worth 15%

• Airlines = 10%
• Buses= 2%
• Taxis / Airport Limousines = 1%
• Cruises / Boats = 1%
• Trains = 1%
• No benefit offered = No points (where applicable)

*Scores for this metric are cumulative, as more than one option may be available

C) Coverage Duration – Worth 10%

• Entire trip, from departure to return – door to door = 10%
• Departure to arrival in destination (both ways), plus auxiliary transportation (i.e. taxi, bus, train, etc.) = 6%
• Departure to arrival in destination (both ways)= 5%
• Length of stay at designated destination = 5%
• No benefit offered = No points (where applicable)

2. Amount Offered for Death / Accident Coverage - Worth 50%

• If the benefit amount is $300,000+ = 50%
• If the benefit amount is $200,000 - $299,999 = 45%
• If the benefit amount is $100,000 - $199,000 = 40%
• If the benefit amount is $0 - $99,999 = 25% points
• If there is no benefit offered = No points (where applicable)

Luggage Insurance1. What type of luggage does it cover? – Worth 15%

• If both carry-on and checked baggage is covered = 15%
• If only checked luggage is covered = 12%
• If there is no benefit offered = No points (where applicable)

2. Amount of coverage for delayed luggage - Worth 35%

• If the benefit amount is $400+ = 35%
• If the benefit amount is $200 - $399 = 28%
• If the benefit amount is up to $199 = 21%
• If no coverage is offered = No points (where applicable)

*Scores for this metric are averages across all travel related benefits, as coverage may differ between benefits of the same card

3. Amount of coverage for lost luggage - Worth 40%

• If the benefit amount is $2000+ = 40%
• If the benefit amount is between $1000 -$1999 = 32%
• If the benefit amount is between $500 - $999 = 28%
• If the benefit amount is up to $499 = 20%
• If no coverage is offered = No points (where applicable)

4. Offers hotel burglary coverage? - Worth 10%

• If the benefit is offered = 10%
• If the benefit is not offered = No points (where applicable)

Eligibility, Cost & Extra Coverage1. Who is covered? – Worth 25%

• Full family (includes immediate family plus nieces, uncles, siblings in law etc.) = 25%
• Immediate family (includes cardholder, spouse and dependable children) = 20%
• Cardholder only = 5%
• No coverage provided = No points (where applicable)

2. Is additional travel insurance coverage provided? – Worth 30%

• If cancelled trip insurance coverage is provided = 20%
• If delayed trip insurance coverage is provided = 10%

• *Scores for this metric are cumulative, as more than one option may be available

3. Activating the benefit – Worth 15%

• If no sign up is required and coverage is still provided when purchases are paid for using rewards = 15%
• If no sign up is required = 11.25%
• If coverage is still provided when purchases are paid for using rewards = 3.75%
• If there is no benefit offered = No points (where applicable)

4. Second year annual fee – Worth 30%

• If the annual fee of the card is $0 = 30%
• If the annual fee of the card is $1 - $49 = 24%
• If the annual fee of the card is $50 - $99 = 18%
• If the annual fee of the card is $100+ = 6%
• If the annual fee of the card is $200+ = No points (where applicable)

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