TRIP INSURANCE

Something I want to touch on briefly is trip insurance.  I have had a few people ask me about trip insurance.  We never purchase trip insurance - however we use credit cards for travel that cover trip insurance. 

Chase Sapphire Preferred:

Benefit Information for Trip Cancellation

Who is covered?

You, the Primary Insured Person, and your Immediate Family Members are automatically covered. Immediate Family Member means your Spouse or Domestic Partner and their children, including adopted children or step-children; legal guardians or wards; siblings

or siblings-in-law; parents or parents-in-law; grandparents or grandchildren; aunts or uncles; nieces or nephews.

What is Trip Cancellation insurance?

Trip Cancellation insurance reimburses you or your Immediate Family Members for up to ten thousand ($10,000.00) dollars for each Covered Trip if a Covered Loss prevents you or your Immediate Family Members from traveling on or before the departure date and results in cancellation of the travel arrangements.

 What is not covered by Trip Cancellation insurance?

It does not apply to a Covered Loss caused directly or indirectly from:

• travel arrangements canceled or changed by a Common Carrier, Tour Operator, or any Travel Agency unless the cancellation is the result of severe weather or an organized strike affecting public transportation

• change in plans, financial circumstances, and any business or contractual obligations applying to you, your Traveling Companion, your Immediate Family Member, an Immediate Family Member of your Traveling Companion

• a Pre-existing Condition

United Explorer Card:

Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance

If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses made with your MileagePlus Explorer Card, including passenger fares, tours, and hotels.

Travel Accident Insurance

When you pay for your air, bus, train, or cruise transportation with your MileagePlus Explorer Card, you're covered for accidental death or dismemberment during your trip, from the moment you leave home until you return.

Citibank Advantage Signature:

Who is covered?

The cardholder, traveling companions, spouse, domestic partner (some credit card issuers exclude these), and immediate family members, which means unmarried children under 19 or under 23 if a full-time student.  (In contrast, the Chase Sapphire Card includes a much more extensive definition of family).

What is covered?

A qualifying trip (round-trip only) charged entirely to the card.

Trip cancellation

What is covered?

Sickness, injury or death which results in medically imposed restrictions before your trip begins or a loss or theft of checked baggage. The injury must be verified by a physician. Weather events, mechanical delays and anything else is not covered.

What is not covered? 

Pre-existing conditions and anything not specified above.

My suggestion is to check out the fine print for your preferred credit card and find out what they offer.  Another thing I love about Chase (both the United Explorer Card & the Sapphire Preferred) is the coverage they offer on car rental collision damage.  They cover worldwide including countries like Ireland that other cards do not.