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Travel insurance vs credit card cover
Some credit cards include travel cover, and it can be worth having. But it usually comes with conditions, lower limits and a narrower list of what it pays for. Standalone travel insurance is built for the trip itself. The way to decide is to read your card’s terms against what a bad trip would actually cost.
Side by side
What it is
Credit card cover
Cover that some cards include, subject to the card’s terms.
Travel insurance
A policy you buy for a trip or a year, written for travel.
Conditions to be covered
Credit card cover
Often you must pay for the trip, or part of it, with that card.
Travel insurance
You buy the policy and give your trip details.
Medical cover abroad
Credit card cover
May be limited or missing. Check the amount and what it includes.
Travel insurance
Usually a headline feature, with limits you can choose.
Trip changes and delays
Credit card cover
Sometimes included, often with tighter limits.
Travel insurance
Usually covers cancellation, delay and lost baggage, subject to the terms.
Who is covered
Credit card cover
The cardholder, and sometimes family under conditions.
Travel insurance
The people you name on the policy.
Visa or entry proof
Credit card cover
May not give you a certificate you can show.
Travel insurance
Provides a policy document for destinations that ask for proof of insurance.
Where each one falls short
Credit card cover
- Limits can be low and the conditions strict.
- Not every card gives a document accepted for visa requirements.
- Claims can hinge on how you paid.
Travel insurance
- You pay a premium for a trip you may not need help on.
- It has exclusions, so read them, especially for activities and pre-existing conditions.
- Buying late can affect what is covered.
How to decide
- 01
Read your card’s travel cover: the medical amount, what triggers it and what it excludes.
- 02
If you are heading somewhere with expensive healthcare, or a visa asks for insurance, get a standalone policy.
- 03
Buy travel cover when you book the trip, so cancellation is included from the start.
Common questions
Do I need travel insurance if my credit card includes cover?
It depends on the limits and conditions. Read the card’s terms, especially the medical amount and what you had to pay with the card. If they fall short of a bad trip, add a standalone policy.
Do some countries require travel insurance?
Some destinations, such as the Schengen area, ask for proof of medical travel insurance. Check the current entry requirements of where you are going.
Can I buy travel insurance for a flight out of Mactan-Cebu?
Yes. Crux arranges travel insurance for flights out of Mactan-Cebu. Ask an advisor for a quote for your trip.
General information only. It is not a quote, and it is not legal, tax or investment advice.
Not sure which fits you?
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