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The Guide to AmEx Platinum Travel Insurance

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Table of Contents

When does the AmEx Platinum travel insurance kick in?

Amex platinum travel insurance benefits and limits, how to make an amex travel insurance claim, what if the card’s insurance benefits are insufficient, the platinum card® from american express travel insurance, recapped.

Travel insurance can provide peace of mind when you’re away from home, especially when you’ve spent significant money on your vacation. Although you can choose to buy a separate travel insurance policy, not everyone wants or needs to do so.

Many travel credit cards offer complimentary insurance for a variety of occurrences. The Platinum Card® from American Express offers travel insurance with a suite of benefits for eligible travelers, including coverage for trip interruption, rental car damage and lost luggage.

Let’s take a look at travel insurance on The Platinum Card® from American Express , its limits and the benefits it provides.

» Learn more: What is travel insurance?

So, does The Platinum Card® from American Express have travel insurance? The short answer to this is yes, but you’ll need to meet specific requirements for it to apply.

To get coverage from your card, you’ll need to use it to pay for your trip in its entirety. This is true whether you’re looking to utilize the trip insurance or the rental car insurance — you must pay for the full cost with The Platinum Card® from American Express .

Be aware of coverage limitations if you’re traveling using points or miles. While it’s possible to receive benefits when using your card to pay the taxes and fees on a reward redemption, coverage may not always apply.

You may still be covered for trip interruption, delay, and cancellation insurance when using points or frequent flyer miles.

However, rental car and baggage insurance only apply when you’ve used your card to pay for the full cost of whatever you’re buying — no points allowed. The exception is if you redeem American Express Membership Rewards to pay for some or all of the booking.

» Learn more: How does credit card travel insurance work?

We’ve included a breakdown of all the insurance benefits and other travel protections provided by The Platinum Card® from American Express .

Trip cancellation protection

The trip cancellation insurance you’ll receive will pay for any nonrefundable losses you incur due to a covered event.

Given the current climate, you may also be wondering: does The Platinum Card® from American Express travel insurance cover COVID? It can, depending on the reason you need to cancel. Covered events include quarantine imposed by a physician or illness for you, your family members or a traveling companion.

Other eligible events include a change in military orders, inclement weather or jury duty.

If you need to cancel your trip, AmEx will provide up to $10,000 per trip and a maximum of $20,000 every 12 months. Terms apply.

» Learn more: The guide to American Express travel insurance

Trip interruption coverage

As with trip cancellation protection, trip interruption insurance will reimburse you for nonrefundable losses by a covered event.

If your trip is interrupted, American Express will cover you for prepaid land, air and sea travel bookings you’ve missed. They’ll also pay for the cost of an economy-class ticket on the most direct route to rejoin your covered trip (or take you home).

The maximum benefit you’ll receive is $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 every 12 months. Terms apply.

Trip delay insurance

As it sounds, trip delay insurance will reimburse you for expenses incurred when your trip doesn’t go as scheduled. In the case of The Platinum Card® from American Express , coverage kicks in after you’ve been delayed by at least six hours for a covered reason.

Covered purchases may include food, toiletries, lodging, medication and other personal use items. You’ll be reimbursed for up to $500 on a covered trip and can make two claims within a 12-month period. Terms apply.

Rental car insurance

The Platinum Card® from American Express provides secondary rental car insurance . This means it’ll kick in after other claims — like those made to your personal insurance — have been paid. To activate coverage, you’ll need to decline the insurance offered by the rental car company.

AmEx will provide up to $75,000 due to damage or theft of the rental vehicle, but be aware that the policy doesn’t provide liability insurance.

It’ll also give you up to $1,000 per person (max of $2,000) for personal property lost in the incident and up to $5,000 for accidental injury. Finally, you’ll receive up to $300,000 for accidental death or dismemberment, though the rates will vary depending on the severity of your injuries.

This rental car insurance is valid worldwide with a few notable exceptions, including Australia, Italy and New Zealand. Terms apply.

» Learn more: Credit cards that provide travel insurance

Baggage coverage

Cardholders and their families are eligible for baggage insurance provided they’ve paid for the fare using The Platinum Card® from American Express . This benefit is only for lost baggage; delayed luggage is not protected.

Coverage limits vary depending on whether you’ve checked your bag or carried it on:

Checked bags: Up to $2,000 per person.

Carry-on: Up to $3,000 per person.

Note also that checked baggage is only covered when you’re actually traveling with a common carrier. Meanwhile, carry-on luggage is also covered when traveling to and from or waiting at the terminal.

There are also specific limits for high-risk items such as jewelry and electronic equipment. For these items, you’ll receive a maximum of $1,000 per person per trip. Terms apply.

» Learn more: Baggage insurance explained

Premium Global Assist

What else does The Platinum Card® from American Express travel insurance cover? Although this last benefit isn’t technically a type of travel insurance, it’s worth including as it can offer help while you travel.

AmEx’s Premium Global Assist hotline is a 24/7 service that can assist you in various ways, such as helping you get a new passport, finding translation services and even arranging for emergency medical evacuation.

Although using Premium Global Assist is free, the services that you may end up using are not necessarily covered by AmEx.

There are exceptions to this — if you need repatriation of mortal remains, emergency medical evacuation or if a child under 16 is left without care, AmEx will provide aid at no additional cost. Terms apply.

To file a claim, you’ll need to contact your benefit administrator. The phone number and timeframe will vary according to the type of insurance you’re using:

Trip cancellation, interruption or delay insurance: Within 60 days, call 844-933-0648.

Baggage insurance: Within 30 days, call 800-228-6855 or online .

Rental car insurance: Within 30 days, call 800-338-1670 or online .

» Learn more: The guide to AmEx Platinum rental car benefits

If The Platinum Card® from American Express travel insurance doesn’t seem like it’ll be enough for your trip, or if its coverage doesn’t include features that you’d like to have, consider purchasing a separate travel insurance policy before you travel.

Several companies allow you to compare various policies for any vacation and modify inclusions as you shop.

» Learn more: How much is travel insurance?

The travel insurance offered by The Platinum Card® from American Express includes some pretty generous benefits for travelers, especially since it’s complimentary (the $695 annual fee notwithstanding). Terms apply.

If you want to take advantage of this insurance, pay for your trip using your AmEx card and double-check any other stated requirements before heading out to ensure coverage.

Insurance Benefit: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

The maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.

Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Insurance Benefit: Trip Delay Insurance

Up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.

Insurance Benefit: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.

Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

Insurance Benefit: Baggage Insurance Plan

Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Covered Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier Vehicle (e.g., plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per Covered Trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.

Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Insurance Benefit: Premium Global Assist Hotline

You can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Plus, the Premium Global Assist Hotline may provide emergency medical transportation assistance and related services. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility.

If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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On This Page

• Key Takeaways

How does American Express travel insurance work?

Complimentary amex travel insurance, our picks for american express cards with travel insurance, standalone american express travel insurance plans, should i use the complimentary benefits or purchase a standalone policy, how to file an amex travel insurance claim, amex travel insurance faqs, 2024 complete guide to american express travel insurance.

• American Express offers two main forms of travel insurance: complimentary benefits for cardholders and standalone travel insurance policies .
• Complimentary travel insurance benefits for eligible cardholders include coverage for trip cancellations and interruptions, car rental loss and damage, baggage insurance and more.
• You can also purchase standalone travel insurance from Amex with any major credit card. There are four types of policies: basic, silver, gold and platinum.
• Depending on the type of coverage you select, you may be eligible for medical protection, travel accident protection, baggage protection and reimbursement for trip cancellation.
• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) insurance is not included , and medical coverage tends to be low unless you purchase a premium package. If you need additional coverage, you can compare quotes from other travel insurance providers .

Our top picks for the best american express travel insurance

• The Platinum Card ® from American Express: Best Overall for Travel Insurance
• The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express: Best for Businesses
• American Express ® Gold Card: Best for Basic Coverage

Featured American Express offers

The platinum card ® from american express.

The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express

American Express ® Gold Card

American Express offers two forms of travel insurance:

• Travel insurance as a complimentary benefit for certain cards
• Standalone travel insurance packages that you can purchase

While the complimentary Amex travel insurance perks may be enough for your trip, you should consider purchasing a standalone policy if you want more comprehensive coverage that includes medical insurance .

If you’re not an American Express cardholder, you can purchase one of four standalone travel insurance packages using any major credit card.

All four standalone travel insurance packages include:

• 24/7 travel assistance
• Baggage protection
• Medical coverage
• Trip interruption and trip cancellation coverage

The high-end packages also include travel accident protection and coverage for global trip delays.

Many American Express credit card comes with six types of complimentary travel insurance:

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance

Trip delay insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, baggage insurance, premium global assist, global assist.

Let’s dive more into each of these types of travel insurance and what they cover.

American Express offers 13 credit cards with complimentary trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance.

If you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason, American Express will reimburse you for any nonrefundable expenses paid to an airline, hotel or other travel supplier using your Amex card.

Here’s how it works. Imagine you used your American Express Platinum Card to book a $10,000 vacation to the Bahamas. Included in the $10,000 total was a $1,000 nonrefundable deposit. If you have to cancel your trip due to a medical condition, American Express will reimburse you $9,000 — the original cost of your trip, less the $1,000 nonrefundable deposit.

If your trip is interrupted for a covered reason, American Express will reimburse you for:

• The pre-paid, non-refundable land, air and sea transportation arrangements that you missed
• Additional transportation expenses for you to rejoin your common carrier or return home

The following are considered American Express covered reasons:

• Accidental bodily injury or sickness (must provide proof from a physician)
• Inclement weather
• Change in military orders
• Terrorist action or hijacking
• Call to jury duty or subpoena by the courts (and unable to postpone or waive)
• You’re home becoming uninhabitable
• Quarantine ordered by a physician for health reasons

The trip coverage does have some limitations, including:

It doesn’t cover cancellations or interruptions caused by a pre-existing condition.

This is an illness or injury that began in the 60 days prior to your purchase of a covered trip. That means if you purchased your trip to the Bahamas on April 1, you wouldn’t be eligible for reimbursement if you had to cancel due to a medical condition that developed between January 31 and April 1.

Additional transportation expenses can’t cost more than an economy-class airline ticket by the most direct route.

Amex won’t cover business class tickets for you to return home or join your common carrier. In travel lingo, a common carrier is a transportation provider that offers its services to the general public.

Additional expenses to purchase new tickets can’t exceed the difference between your original fare and the economy fare for your rescheduled trip.

American Express checks the most direct route to determine how much to refund. For example, if your original ticket cost $500 and an economy ticket for your new departure date costs $750, you’ll receive the $250 difference. Amex doesn’t refund the entire ticket price.

Amex travel insurance only covers $10,000 per trip and $20,000 per eligible credit card per 12-month period.

This applies to trip cancellations and trip interruptions.

American Express won’t refund any expenses covered by other travel suppliers.

This includes refunds, vouchers, credits, goodwill payments or other benefits provided by airlines, cruise lines, tour companies and other travel providers. For example, if you have to miss a theater performance due to a trip interruption, American Express won’t cover the cost of the tickets if the theater gives you a full refund.

American Express offers 20 cards with free trip delay insurance , from the Amex Platinum Card to the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card.

This type of travel insurance covers trip delays due to:

• lost or stolen travel documents
• terrorist activity
• inclement weather
• equipment failure

For example, if your flight is canceled due to a mechanical problem with the aircraft, you may be eligible for reimbursement under trip delay insurance.

American Express has more than 50 cards with complimentary car rental loss and damage insurance. This type of insurance covers vehicle damage or theft of a vehicle from a covered territory.

If your rental car is damaged, Amex will pay the lowest amount of the following:

• The invoice price of the vehicle, minus reasonable depreciation and salvage costs
• The wholesale book value of the vehicle, minus reasonable depreciation and salvage costs
• The actual cost to repair the vehicle

For example, if the rental company purchased your vehicle for $25,000, the vehicle is worth $18,500 today and it will cost $7,500 to repair the vehicle, your insurance will pay $7,500 since it’s the lowest amount.

To activate this type of insurance, you must reserve and pay for your rental with an eligible Amex credit card, such as the Platinum Card or Cash Magnet Card.

You must also decline these optional coverages at the car rental counter:

• Personal property coverage
• Personal accident insurance
• Full collision damage waiver
• Similar insurance coverage

Finally, you must sign the rental agreement as the person responsible for taking control of the vehicle . Therefore, you can’t use your rental loss and damage insurance on a vehicle rented by your spouse, parent, child, sibling or friend, even if you have a Platinum card or other eligible credit card.

American Express has more than 40 cards with baggage insurance benefits, including the Amex Gold Card and the American Express Executive Business Card.

Amex covers lost and damaged bags under the following circumstances:

• The loss or damage occurs while in direct transit to or from the carrier’s terminal (carry-on bags only).
• The loss or damage occurs while you’re at the carrier’s terminal (carry-on bags only).
• The loss or damage occurs while traveling in a carrier’s vehicle (carry-on bags and checked bags).

Amex has different coverage limits for high-risk items, such as sporting equipment and jewelry, so make sure you understand what’s covered before you pack your bags.

If you have an American Express Card with Premium Global Assist, you’ll have access to a variety of travel assistance services any time you travel more than 100 miles from home.

These Premium Global Assist services include:

• Lost item search
• Missing baggage
• Passport replacement
• Emergency transportation
• Translation
• Card cancellation
• Embassy referrals
• Medical assistance
• Financial assistance
• Legal referrals
• Urgent message relay

The Premium Global Assistant service also helps with pre-trip research and planning. With this service, you can get information about customs requirements, foreign exchange rates, vaccination requirements, local weather, travel warnings and visa requirements.

Global Assist provides many of the same benefits as the Premium Global Assist coverage included with the Platinum card and other high-end Amex cards. The main difference is that Premium Global Assist provides better coverage for medical emergencies.

For example, Global Assist will not cover the cost of returning your minor child to their principal residence if you’re unable to continue traveling with them due to a covered illness or injury. If you have a Platinum Card with Premium Global Assist, you may get this protection.

Best Overall for Travel Insurance

Earn 5X Membership Rewards ® points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, and 1X points on other eligible purchases.

Card Details

Travel Insurance Details

• Trip cancellation/interruption: $10,000 per covered trip or up to $20,000 in a 12-month period
• Trip delay: Up to $500 per trip for delays over 6 hours
• Car rental: Secondary
• Lost/damaged baggage coverage: Up to $2,000 per person for checked bags and $3,000 per person for carry-ons (up to $3,000 per person total)
• Global Assist: Yes, Premium

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/​benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

• Excellent rewards rate for travel purchases
• Qualify for $1,500+ in statement credits
• Very generous welcome offer
• High annual fee of $695
• Many statement credit offers are too specific and hard to use
• Non-travel-perks aren’t spectacular

This is quite a spectacular card with incredibly valuable benefits, but the annual fee is objectively very high.

Best for Businesses

Earn 5 Membership Rewards ® points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels through American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases. Earn 1.5 points per dollar on eligible business expenses and purchases of $5,000+ (up to $2 million per calendar year). Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.

• Global Assist: Premium
• Excellent welcome offer
• Easy to earn points
• Great travel benefits
• No intro APR offer
• Hefty $695 annual fee
• High spending requirement for welcome offer

The annual fee certainly has a shock factor but for the premium business traveler, this card’s luxury perks could make it well worth it.

Best for Basic Coverage

Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X. Earn 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point per dollar), 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases

• Trip cancellation/interruption: N/A
• Trip delay: Up to $300 per trip for delays over 12 hours
• Lost/damaged baggage coverage: Up to $500 per person for checked bags and $1,250 per person for carry-ons (up to $$1,250 per person total)
• Global Assist: Yes
• Generous welcome offer
• High rewards potential
• Many transfer partners available
• High annual fee
• Complicated statement credits
• Good or excellent credit recommended

If you like to dine out frequently, the $200+ worth of dining-related annual statement credits can easily help justify the yearly fee.

You don’t need to have a Platinum Card or another high-end American Express Card to get travel insurance. All you have to do is purchase a standalone plan with any major credit card.

The company offers four standalone insurance plans: Basic, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

Basic travel insurance plan

The basic plan is a good option if you want cheap travel insurance . While it includes various types of coverage, these levels tend to be low.

Basic plan benefits:

• Cancellation: Up to $1,000
• Trip interruption: Up to $1,000
• Global medical protection: Medical up to $5,000; dental up to $750; evacuation/repatriation up to $5,000
• Global luggage protection: Baggage loss up to $250; up to $100 for a delay of 24 hours or more
• 24-hour travel assistance

Silver travel insurance plan

With the silver plan, most coverage levels are much higher than with the basic plan. For example, trip cancellation will cover up to 100% of the total trip cost instead of up to just $1,000.

However, medical coverage is still low compared to most travel insurance plans at just $25,000.

Silver plan benefits:

• Cancellation: Up to 100% of the trip cost
• Trip interruption: Up to 100% of the trip cost
• Global medical protection: Medical up to $25,000; dental up to $750; evacuation/repatriation up to $100,000
• Travel accident protection: $50,000 to $100,000, depending on circumstances
• Global luggage protection: Baggage loss up to $500; up to $300 for a delay of 6 hours or more
• Global delay: Up to $150 per day; limit of $500 per trip

Gold travel insurance plan

The gold plan is very similar to the silver plan. The main differences are the increases in medical evacuation limits, accident protection and baggage loss.

Gold plan benefits:

• Trip interruption: Up to 150% of the trip cost
• Global medical protection: Medical up to $25,000; dental up to $750; evacuation/repatriation up to $500,000
• Travel accident protection: $100,000 to $200,000, depending on circumstances
• Global luggage protection: Baggage loss up to $1,000; up to $300 for a delay of 6 hours or more
• Global delay: Up to $150 per day; limit of $750 per trip

Platinum travel insurance plan

This is the most comprehensive plan. It covers up to $100,000 for medical expenses, which is similar to other insurance providers. However, it still does not include cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage .

Platinum plan benefits:

• Global medical protection: Medical up to $100,000; dental up to $750; evacuation/repatriation up to $1 million
• Travel accident protection: Up to $200,000
• Global luggage protection: Baggage loss up to $2,500; up to $500 for a delay of 3 hours or more
• Global delay: Up to $300 per day; limit of $1,000 per trip

For most people, the complimentary benefits available with the Platinum Card and other types of American Express travel credit cards are more than adequate.

However, the company doesn’t offer medical coverage with any of its free insurance benefits. If you have a chronic health condition, consider purchasing a standalone policy from Amex or another insurance provider.

You should also consider a standalone policy if you’re concerned about getting into an accident during your trip, as the free insurance options don’t include any kind of travel accident coverage.

Note: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

If you need to file a travel insurance claim, you must contact your benefits administrator.

Here’s what to do for each type of claim:

• Rental car coverage: Call (800) 338-1670 within 30 days of the covered event. You can also submit a claim online .
• Luggage: Call (800) 228-6855 within 30 days of the covered event. You can also submit a claim online .
• Delays, interruptions or cancellations: Call (844) 933-0648 within 60 days of the covered event.

For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, please visit this page .

For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express, please visit this page .

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, please visit this page .

Is American Express travel insurance worth it?

If you already have an American Express Card with complimentary travel insurance benefits, these perks are absolutely worth it since you pay nothing extra to access several types of insurance coverage.

Paying for a standalone Amex travel insurance plan may be worth it if you’re going on a long trip or a trip with multiple stops. These trips are more complex, so it’s more likely you’ll encounter a problem, making good insurance coverage essential.

However, Amex travel insurance is lacking when it comes to medical coverage and cancel for any reason (CFAR) insurance. For more comprehensive travel insurance that includes the types of protection, we recommend comparing travel insurance policies from other providers to find one that suits your needs.

Do I get travel insurance with my American Express card?

Each Amex credit card comes with some type of travel insurance. The amount of coverage depends on the type of credit card you have.

Do all American Express cards offer travel insurance?

Every Amex credit card comes with rental car loss and damage insurance. You may qualify for additional insurance benefits if you have the Platinum American Express Card or another high-end credit card from American Express.

In addition to travel insurance, some Amex credit cards come with additional travel benefits, such as airline credits or a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck membership.

Do I have to have an American Express credit card to get American Express travel insurance?

No. You can purchase an Amex travel insurance policy with any major credit card, including Visa, Mastercard and Discover .

Does American Express travel insurance cover COVID?

It depends on the circumstances. If you choose to travel after the government issues COVID-related travel restrictions, your travel insurance won’t cover any medical or quarantine costs related to COVID-19.

If you qualify for Amex insurance, it may cover the following:

• Your destination has new travel restrictions that were imposed after you’d already booked your trip.
• Your flight is canceled due to COVID-19.
• You develop a COVID-19 infection and can’t travel.
• Your origin country advises against nonessential travel after you’ve already booked your trip.

Does American Express travel insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

No, this type of travel insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions. These are medical conditions that develop within 60 days prior to booking your trip.

About the Author

Leigh Morgan is a seasoned personal finance contributor with over 15 years of experience writing on a diverse range of professional legal and financial topics. She specializes in subjects like navigating the complexities of insurance, savings, zero-based budgeting and emergency fund development.

In the last five years, she’s authored over 300 articles for credit unions, digital banks, and financial professionals. Morgan is also the author of “77 Tips for Preventing Elder Financial Abuse,” a book focused on helping caregivers protect the elderly from financial scams.

In addition to her writing skills, she brings real-world financial acumen thanks to her previous experience managing rental properties as part of a $34 million real estate portfolio.

* Opinions expressed here are those of the LA Times Compare Cards Team and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser or entities included within this content. See our editorial policy for more details.

All products or services are presented in this content without warranty. The information, including card details such as rates and fees, is accurate at the time of publish. Please visit each bank's website directly for the most current information.

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The best travel insurance policies and providers

It's easy to dismiss the value of travel insurance until you need it.

Many travelers have strong opinions about whether you should buy travel insurance . However, the purpose of this post isn't to determine whether it's worth investing in. Instead, it compares some of the top travel insurance providers and policies so you can determine which travel insurance option is best for you.

Of course, as the coronavirus remains an ongoing concern, it's important to understand whether travel insurance covers pandemics. Some policies will cover you if you're diagnosed with COVID-19 and have proof of illness from a doctor. Others will take coverage a step further, covering additional types of pandemic-related expenses and cancellations.

Know, though, that every policy will have exclusions and restrictions that may limit coverage. For example, fear of travel is generally not a covered reason for invoking trip cancellation or interruption coverage, while specific stipulations may apply to elevated travel warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Interested in travel insurance? Visit InsureMyTrip.com to shop for plans that may fit your travel needs.

So, before buying a specific policy, you must understand the full terms and any special notices the insurer has about COVID-19. You may even want to buy the optional cancel for any reason add-on that's available for some comprehensive policies. While you'll pay more for that protection, it allows you to cancel your trip for any reason and still get some of your costs back. Note that this benefit is time-sensitive and has other eligibility requirements, so not all travelers will qualify.

In this guide, we'll review several policies from top travel insurance providers so you have a better understanding of your options before picking the policy and provider that best address your wants and needs.

The best travel insurance providers

To put together this list of the best travel insurance providers, a number of details were considered: favorable ratings from TPG Lounge members, the availability of details about policies and the claims process online, positive online ratings and the ability to purchase policies in most U.S. states. You can also search for options from these (and other) providers through an insurance comparison site like InsureMyTrip .

When comparing insurance providers, I priced out a single-trip policy for each provider for a $2,000, one-week vacation to Istanbul . I used my actual age and state of residence when obtaining quotes. As a result, you may see a different price — or even additional policies due to regulations for travel insurance varying from state to state — when getting a quote.

AIG Travel Guard

AIG Travel Guard receives many positive reviews from readers in the TPG Lounge who have filed claims with the company. AIG offers three plans online, which you can compare side by side, and the ability to examine sample policies. Here are three plans for my sample trip to Turkey.

AIG Travel Guard also offers an annual travel plan. This plan is priced at $259 per year for one Florida resident.

Additionally, AIG Travel Guard offers several other policies, including a single-trip policy without trip cancellation protection . See AIG Travel Guard's COVID-19 notification and COVID-19 advisory for current details regarding COVID-19 coverage.

Preexisting conditions

Typically, AIG Travel Guard wouldn't cover you for any loss or expense due to a preexisting medical condition that existed within 180 days of the coverage effective date. However, AIG Travel Guard may waive the preexisting medical condition exclusion on some plans if you meet the following conditions:

• You purchase the plan within 15 days of your initial trip payment.
• The amount of coverage you purchase equals all trip costs at the time of purchase. You must update your coverage to insure the costs of any subsequent arrangements that you add to your trip within 15 days of paying the travel supplier for these additional arrangements.
• You must be medically able to travel when you purchase your plan.

Standout features

• The Deluxe and Preferred plans allow you to purchase an upgrade that lets you cancel your trip for any reason. However, reimbursement under this coverage will not exceed 50% or 75% of your covered trip cost.
• You can include one child (age 17 and younger) with each paying adult for no additional cost on most single-trip plans.
• Other optional upgrades, including an adventure sports bundle, a baggage bundle, an inconvenience bundle, a pet bundle, a security bundle and a wedding bundle, are available on some policies. So, an AIG Travel Guard plan may be a good choice if you know you want extra coverage in specific areas.

Purchase your policy here: AIG Travel Guard .

Allianz Travel Insurance

Allianz is one of the most highly regarded providers in the TPG Lounge, and many readers found the claim process reasonable. Allianz offers many plans, including the following single-trip plans for my sample trip to Turkey.

If you travel frequently, it may make sense to purchase an annual multi-trip policy. For this plan, all of the maximum coverage amounts in the table below are per trip (except for the trip cancellation and trip interruption amounts, which are an aggregate limit per policy). Trips typically must last no more than 45 days, although some plans may cover trips of up to 90 days.

See Allianz's coverage alert for current information on COVID-19 coverage.

Most Allianz travel insurance plans may cover preexisting medical conditions if you meet particular requirements. For the OneTrip Premier, Prime and Basic plans, the requirements are as follows:

• You purchased the policy within 14 days of the date of the first trip payment or deposit.
• You were a U.S. resident when you purchased the policy.
• You were medically able to travel when you purchased the policy.
• On the policy purchase date, you insured the total, nonrefundable cost of your trip (including arrangements that will become nonrefundable or subject to cancellation penalties before your departure date). If you incur additional nonrefundable trip expenses after purchasing this policy, you must insure them within 14 days of their purchase.
• Allianz offers reasonably priced annual policies for independent travelers and families who take multiple trips lasting up to 45 days (or 90 days for select plans) per year.
• Some Allianz plans provide the option of receiving a flat reimbursement amount without receipts for trip delay and baggage delay claims. Of course, you can also submit receipts to get up to the maximum refund.
• For emergency transportation coverage, you or someone on your behalf must contact Allianz, and Allianz must then make all transportation arrangements in advance. However, most Allianz policies provide an option if you cannot contact the company: Allianz will pay up to what it would have paid if it had made the arrangements.

Purchase your policy here: Allianz Travel Insurance .

American Express Travel Insurance

American Express Travel Insurance offers four different package plans and a build-your-own coverage option. You don't have to be an American Express cardholder to purchase this insurance. Here are the four package options for my sample weeklong trip to Turkey. Unlike some other providers, Amex won't ask for your travel destination on the initial quote (but will when you purchase the plan).

Amex's build-your-own coverage plan is unique because you can purchase just the coverage you need. For most types of protection, you can even select the coverage amount that works best for you.

The prices for the packages and the build-your-own plan don't increase for longer trips — as long as the trip cost remains constant. However, the emergency medical and dental benefit is only available for your first 60 days of travel.

Typically, Amex won't cover any loss you incur because of a preexisting medical condition that existed within 90 days of the coverage effective date. However, Amex may waive its preexisting-condition exclusion if you meet both of the following requirements:

• You must be medically able to travel at the time you pay the policy premium.
• You pay the policy premium within 14 days of making the first covered trip deposit.
• Amex's build-your-own coverage option allows you to only purchase — and pay for — the coverage you need.
• Coverage on long trips doesn't cost more than coverage for short trips, making this policy ideal for extended getaways. However, the emergency medical and dental benefit only covers your first 60 days of travel.
• American Express Travel Insurance can protect travel expenses you purchase with Amex Membership Rewards points in the Pay with Points program (as well as travel expenses bought with cash, debit or credit). However, travel expenses bought with other types of points and miles aren't covered.

Purchase your policy here: American Express Travel Insurance .

GeoBlue is different from most other providers described in this piece because it only provides medical coverage while you're traveling internationally and does not offer benefits to protect the cost of your trip. There are many different policies. Some require you to have primary health insurance in the U.S. (although it doesn't need to be provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield), but all of them only offer coverage while traveling outside the U.S.

Two single-trip plans are available if you're traveling for six months or less. The Voyager Choice policy provides coverage (including medical services and medical evacuation for a sudden recurrence of a preexisting condition) for trips outside the U.S. to travelers who are 95 or younger and already have a U.S. health insurance policy.

The Voyager Essential policy provides coverage (including medical evacuation for a sudden recurrence of a preexisting condition) for trips outside the U.S. to travelers who are 95 or younger, regardless of whether they have primary health insurance.

In addition to these options, two multi-trip plans cover trips of up to 70 days each for one year. Both policies provide coverage (including medical services and medical evacuation for preexisting conditions) to travelers with primary health insurance.

Be sure to check out GeoBlue's COVID-19 notices before buying a plan.

Most GeoBlue policies explicitly cover sudden recurrences of preexisting conditions for medical services and medical evacuation.

• GeoBlue can be an excellent option if you're mainly concerned about the medical side of travel insurance.
• GeoBlue provides single-trip, multi-trip and long-term medical travel insurance policies for many different types of travel.

Purchase your policy here: GeoBlue .

IMG offers various travel medical insurance policies for travelers, as well as comprehensive travel insurance policies. For a single trip of 90 days or less, there are five policy types available for vacation or holiday travelers. Although you must enter your gender, males and females received the same quote for my one-week search.

You can purchase an annual multi-trip travel medical insurance plan. Some only cover trips lasting up to 30 or 45 days, but others provide coverage for longer trips.

See IMG's page on COVID-19 for additional policy information as it relates to coronavirus-related claims.

Most plans may cover preexisting conditions under set parameters or up to specific amounts. For example, the iTravelInsured Travel LX travel insurance plan shown above may cover preexisting conditions if you purchase the insurance within 24 hours of making the final payment for your trip.

For the travel medical insurance plans shown above, preexisting conditions are covered for travelers younger than 70. However, coverage is capped based on your age and whether you have a primary health insurance policy.

• Some annual multi-trip plans are modestly priced.
• iTravelInsured Travel LX may offer optional cancel for any reason and interruption for any reason coverage, if eligible.

Purchase your policy here: IMG .

Travelex Insurance

Travelex offers three single-trip plans: Travel Basic, Travel Select and Travel America. However, only the Travel Basic and Travel Select plans would be applicable for my trip to Turkey.

See Travelex's COVID-19 coverage statement for coronavirus-specific information.

Typically, Travelex won't cover losses incurred because of a preexisting medical condition that existed within 60 days of the coverage effective date. However, the Travel Select plan may offer a preexisting condition exclusion waiver. To be eligible for this waiver, the insured traveler must meet all the following conditions:

• You purchase the plan within 15 days of the initial trip payment.
• The amount of coverage purchased equals all prepaid, nonrefundable payments or deposits applicable to the trip at the time of purchase. Additionally, you must insure the costs of any subsequent arrangements added to the same trip within 15 days of payment or deposit.
• All insured individuals are medically able to travel when they pay the plan cost.
• The trip cost does not exceed the maximum trip cost limit under trip cancellation as shown in the schedule per person (only applicable to trip cancellation, interruption and delay).
• Travelex's Travel Select policy can cover trips lasting up to 364 days, which is longer than many single-trip policies.
• Neither Travelex policy requires receipts for trip and baggage delay expenses less than $25.
• For emergency evacuation coverage, you or someone on your behalf must contact Travelex and have Travelex make all transportation arrangements in advance. However, both Travelex policies provide an option if you cannot contact Travelex: Travelex will pay up to what it would have paid if it had made the arrangements.

Purchase your policy here: Travelex Insurance .

Seven Corners

Seven Corners offers a wide variety of policies. Here are the policies that are most applicable to travelers on a single international trip.

Seven Corners also offers many other types of travel insurance, including an annual multi-trip plan. You can choose coverage for trips of up to 30, 45 or 60 days when purchasing an annual multi-trip plan.

See Seven Corner's page on COVID-19 for additional policy information as it relates to coronavirus-related claims.

Typically, Seven Corners won't cover losses incurred because of a preexisting medical condition. However, the RoundTrip Choice plan offers a preexisting condition exclusion waiver. To be eligible for this waiver, you must meet all of the following conditions:

• You buy this plan within 20 days of making your initial trip payment or deposit.
• You or your travel companion are medically able and not disabled from travel when you pay for this plan or upgrade your plan.
• You update the coverage to include the additional cost of subsequent travel arrangements within 15 days of paying your travel supplier for them.
• Seven Corners offers the ability to purchase optional sports and golf equipment coverage. If purchased, this extra insurance will reimburse you for the cost of renting sports or golf equipment if yours is lost, stolen, damaged or delayed by a common carrier for six or more hours. However, Seven Corners must authorize the expenses in advance.
• You can add cancel for any reason coverage or trip interruption for any reason coverage to RoundTrip plans. Although some other providers offer cancel for any reason coverage, trip interruption for any reason coverage is less common.
• Seven Corners' RoundTrip Choice policy offers a political or security evacuation benefit that will transport you to the nearest safe place or your residence under specific conditions. You can also add optional event ticket registration fee protection to the RoundTrip Choice policy.

Purchase your policy here: Seven Corners .

World Nomads

World Nomads is popular with younger, active travelers because of its flexibility and adventure-activities coverage on the Explorer plan. Unlike many policies offered by other providers, you don't need to estimate prepaid costs when purchasing the insurance to have access to trip interruption and cancellation insurance.

World Nomads offers two single-trip plans.

World Nomads has a page dedicated to coronavirus coverage , so be sure to view it before buying a policy.

World Nomads won't cover losses incurred because of a preexisting medical condition (except emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains) that existed within 90 days of the coverage effective date. Unlike many other providers, World Nomads doesn't offer a waiver.

• World Nomads' policies cover more adventure sports than most providers, so activities such as bungee jumping are included. The Explorer policy covers almost any adventure sport, including skydiving, stunt flying and caving. So, if you partake in adventure sports while traveling, the Explorer policy may be a good fit.
• World Nomads' policies provide nonmedical evacuation coverage for transportation expenses if there is civil or political unrest in the country you are visiting. The coverage may also transport you home if there is an eligible natural disaster or a government expels you.

Purchase your policy here: World Nomads .

Other options for buying travel insurance

This guide details the policies of eight providers with the information available at the time of publication. There are many options when it comes to travel insurance, though. To compare different policies quickly, you can use a travel insurance aggregator like InsureMyTrip to search. Just note that these search engines won't show every policy and every provider, and you should still research the provided policies to ensure the coverage fits your trip and needs.

You can also purchase a plan through various membership associations, such as USAA, AAA or Costco. Typically, these organizations partner with a specific provider, so if you are a member of any of these associations, you may want to compare the policies offered through the organization with other policies to get the best coverage for your trip.

Related: Should you get travel insurance if you have credit card protection?

Is travel insurance worth getting?

Whether you should purchase travel insurance is a personal decision. Suppose you use a credit card that provides travel insurance for most of your expenses and have medical insurance that provides adequate coverage abroad. In that case, you may be covered enough on most trips to forgo purchasing travel insurance.

However, suppose your medical insurance won't cover you at your destination and you can't comfortably cover a sizable medical evacuation bill or last-minute flight home . In that case, you should consider purchasing travel insurance. If you travel frequently, buying an annual multi-trip policy may be worth it.

What is the best COVID-19 travel insurance?

There are various aspects to keep in mind in the age of COVID-19. Consider booking travel plans that are fully refundable or have modest change or cancellation fees so you don't need to worry about whether your policy will cover trip cancellation. This is important since many standard comprehensive insurance policies won't reimburse your insured expenses in the event of cancellation if it's related to the fear of traveling due to COVID-19.

However, if you book a nonrefundable trip and want to maintain the ability to get reimbursed (up to 75% of your insured costs) if you choose to cancel, you should consider buying a comprehensive travel insurance policy and then adding optional cancel for any reason protection. Just note that this benefit is time-sensitive and has eligibility requirements, so not all travelers will qualify.

Providers will often require CFAR purchasers insure the entire dollar amount of their travels to receive the coverage. Also, many CFAR policies mandate that you must cancel your plans and notify all travel suppliers at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure.

Likewise, if your primary health insurance won't cover you while on your trip, it's essential to consider whether medical expenses related to COVID-19 treatment are covered. You may also want to consider a MedJet medical transport membership if your trip is to a covered destination for coronavirus-related evacuation.

Ultimately, the best pandemic travel insurance policy will depend on your trip details, travel concerns and your willingness to self-insure. Just be sure to thoroughly read and understand any terms or exclusions before purchasing.

What are the different types of travel insurance?

Whether you purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy or rely on the protections offered by select credit cards, you may have access to the following types of coverage:

• Baggage delay protection may reimburse for essential items and clothing when a common carrier (such as an airline) fails to deliver your checked bag within a set time of your arrival at a destination. Typically, you may be reimbursed up to a particular amount per incident or per day.
• Lost/damaged baggage protection may provide reimbursement to replace lost or damaged luggage and items inside that luggage. However, valuables and electronics usually have a relatively low maximum benefit.
• Trip delay reimbursement may provide reimbursement for necessary items, food, lodging and sometimes transportation when you're delayed for a substantial time while traveling on a common carrier such as an airline. This insurance may be beneficial if weather issues (or other covered reasons for which the airline usually won't provide compensation) delay you.
• Trip cancellation and interruption protection may provide reimbursement if you need to cancel or interrupt your trip for a covered reason, such as a death in your family or jury duty.
• Medical evacuation insurance can arrange and pay for medical evacuation if deemed necessary by the insurance provider and a medical professional. This coverage can be particularly valuable if you're traveling to a region with subpar medical facilities.
• Travel accident insurance may provide a payment to you or your beneficiary in the case of your death or dismemberment.
• Emergency medical insurance may provide payment or reimburse you if you must seek medical care while traveling. Some plans only cover emergency medical care, but some also cover other types of medical care. You may need to pay a deductible or copay.
• Rental car coverage may provide a collision damage waiver when renting a car. This waiver may reimburse for collision damage or theft up to a set amount. Some policies also cover loss-of-use charges assessed by the rental company and towing charges to take the vehicle to the nearest qualified repair facility. You generally need to decline the rental company's collision damage waiver or similar provision to be covered.

Should I buy travel health insurance?

If you purchase travel with credit cards that provide various trip protections, you may not see much need for additional travel insurance. However, you may still wonder whether you should buy travel medical insurance.

If your primary health insurance covers you on your trip, you may not need travel health insurance. Your domestic policy may not cover you outside the U.S., though, so it's worth calling the number on your health insurance card if you have coverage questions. If your primary health insurance wouldn't cover you, it's likely worth purchasing travel medical insurance. After all, as you can see above, travel medical insurance is often very modestly priced.

How much does travel insurance cost?

Travel insurance costs depend on various factors, including the provider, the type of coverage, your trip cost, your destination, your age, your residency and how many travelers you want to insure. That said, a standard travel insurance plan will generally set you back somewhere between 4% and 10% of your total trip cost. However, this can get lower for more basic protections or become even higher if you include add-ons like cancel for any reason protection.

The best way to determine how much travel insurance will cost is to price out your trip with a few providers discussed in the guide. Or, visit an insurance aggregator like InsureMyTrip to quickly compare options across multiple providers.

When and how to get travel insurance

For the most robust selection of available travel insurance benefits — including time-sensitive add-ons like CFAR protection and waivers of preexisting conditions for eligible travelers — you should ideally purchase travel insurance on the same day you make your first payment toward your trip.

However, many plans may still offer a preexisting conditions waiver for those who qualify if you buy your travel insurance within 14 to 21 days of your first trip expense or deposit (this time frame may vary by provider). If you don't need a preexisting conditions waiver or aren't interested in CFAR coverage, you can purchase travel insurance once your departure date nears.

You must purchase coverage before it's needed. Some travel medical plans are available for purchase after you have departed, but comprehensive plans that include medical coverage must be purchased before departing.

Additionally, you can't buy any medical coverage once you require medical attention. The same applies to all travel insurance coverage. Once you recognize the need, it's too late to protect your trip.

Once you've shopped around and decided upon the best travel insurance plan for your trip, you should be able to complete your purchase online. You'll usually be able to download your insurance card and the complete policy shortly after the transaction is complete.

Related: 7 times your credit card's travel insurance might not cover you

Bottom line

Not all travel insurance policies and providers are equal. Before buying a plan, read and understand the policy documents. By doing so, you can choose a plan that's appropriate for you and your trip — including the features that matter most to you.

For example, if you plan to go skiing or rock climbing, make sure the policy you buy doesn't contain exclusions for these activities. Likewise, if you're making two back-to-back trips during which you'll be returning home for a short time in between, be sure the plan doesn't terminate coverage at the end of your first trip.

If you're looking to cover a sudden recurrence of a preexisting condition, select a policy with a preexisting condition waiver and fulfill the requirements for the waiver. After all, buying insurance won't help if your policy doesn't cover your losses.

Disclaimer : This information is provided by IMT Services, LLC ( InsureMyTrip.com ), a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 5119217) and a member of the Tokio Marine HCC group of companies. IMT's services are only available in states where it is licensed to do business and the products provided through InsureMyTrip.com may not be available in all states. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not create or modify any insurance policy terms in any way. For more information, please visit www.insuremytrip.com .

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• Amex Gold Card

Full List of Travel Insurance Benefits for the Amex Gold Card [2024]

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Table of Contents

Amex gold card — snapshot, amex gold card — travel insurance benefits, travel benefits, final thoughts.

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The American Express ® Gold Card is known for being a go-to card for everyday purchases at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets. The card also doubles as a travel rewards card offering elevated earnings on select flight purchases and a nice selection of flexible travel redemption options.

The card is far less known for its travel insurance benefits. Today, we’re turning the spotlight on some of the useful travel insurance benefits that come with the card and talking about how these benefits can add value to the cardholder.

First, let’s look at the overall earning and redemption features of the Amex Gold card, then jump right into the list of travel insurance benefits you can expect to find on the card.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with  no credit score impact.

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The American Express ® Gold Card  is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com
• $325 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• No lounge access
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
• Get the American Express ® Gold Card in either the Gold, Rose Gold or Limited-Edition White Gold metal design. White Gold design is only available while supplies last.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards ® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards ® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express ® Gold Card at Dunkin' locations.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express ® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express ® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Terms Apply.
• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  None

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip:  Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 90,000 points with the Amex Gold card. The current public offer is 60,000 points + up to $100 back. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Why We Like the Card Overall

We like that you can jumpstart your earnings with a generous welcome bonus after meeting minimum spending requirements in the first 6 months after card approval.

The Amex Gold card also strikes a nice balance between functioning as an everyday spending card and offering accelerated earnings on flights. It also offers flexible travel redemption options.

You’ll earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases each year). Plus, you’ll receive 3x earnings on flights purchased directly with the airline and via AmexTravel.com .

With monthly statement credits for select purchases, it’s easy to find enough value to offset the annual fee.

When it’s time to use your rewards, you’ll have options such as redeeming points for flights via AmexTravel.com or transferring your points to the American Express transfer partners for even more potential value.

While the Amex Gold card doesn’t come with a long list of comprehensive travel benefits, you’ll find these core travel insurance benefits useful for saving money and for access to assistance should something go wrong during your journey.

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance

Having car rental insurance can save you money and provide a level of peace of mind when renting a vehicle . The Amex Gold card comes with secondary car rental insurance that would require you to first file a claim with any other applicable insurance before card coverage kicks in.

Secondary coverage can still be valuable coverage, but there is another car rental coverage option included on the card that is a much better choice.

Premium Protection

The option to purchase Premium Protection car rental insurance on the Amex Gold card is a game changer.

You’ll pay one low price of $12.25 to $24.95 for the entire period, up to 42 total days, for primary theft and damage coverage. The actual rate will depend on your state of residence and the level of coverage chosen. Note that this is not a per-day rate like the car rental agencies charge.

Just enroll in the coverage via your online card account, then whenever you charge your rental car to your card, you’ll have the coverage automatically. You are not charged prior to renting a car.

There is no deductible. Accidental death/dismemberment coverage is included. Liability coverage, uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage, or disability coverage is not included.

Cardholders and authorized listed drivers are covered.

Applicable coverages for both secondary and Premium Protection include rental car damage, theft, and loss of use.

Coverage is not available when renting vehicles in Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, and New Zealand.

There are several additional exclusions, including the theft of an unlocked vehicle, illegal activity, intoxication of the driver, and war. Access the Guide to Benefits for a complete list of exclusions, terms, and conditions.

Filing a Claim

You can file a claim online or call 800-338-1670. You must file the claim within 30 days of the event and submit the required claim form within an additional 15 days. You’ll then have 60 days to submit the required documentation.

Bottom Line: The Amex Gold card comes with secondary car rental insurance with the option to purchase primary Premium Protection for one low rate that covers the entire rental period. 

Trip Delay Insurance

To be eligible for trip delay insurance, you must pay for your entire trip with your Amex Gold card, associated rewards, or a combination of the 2. Using airline vouchers, certificates, or discounts, such as those associated with your frequent flyer account, in combination with your card, are also acceptable. Eligible travelers include family members, travel companions, and a spouse or domestic partner.

Trip delay insurance reimburses an eligible traveler for incidental expenses incurred after a 12-hour or greater trip delay. Eligible expenses can include lodging, meals, toiletries, medication, and necessary personal items.

Eligible Losses and Coverage Limits

The following types of losses are eligible covered losses :

• Inclement weather preventing a traveler from beginning a trip or continuing on a trip
• Terrorism or hijacking
• A common carrier’s equipment failure (documented)
• Lost/stolen travel documents, such as passports

You could receive up to $300 per trip with a limit of 2 claims per card, per 12-month period. Coverage is secondary to any other applicable coverage including reimbursement by the airline.

Loss exclusions include prepaid expenses, losses that were known to the public or the traveler prior to the trip, and intentional acts by the covered traveler. Access the card’s  Guide to Benefits for more details on loss exclusions under trip delay coverage.

You’ll have 60 days from the date of the loss to file a claim. You can do so by calling 844-933-0648 or the number on the back of your card to be directed to the claims department.

You’ll then have 180 days to submit the required documentation, which can include a statement from the common carrier validating the delay, receipts, your card statement showing the trip charge, and other requested supporting information.

Bottom Line: The Amex Gold card comes with trip delay insurance that provides up to $300 per trip for eligible expenses incurred after a 12-hour or greater delay due to a covered loss. 

Baggage Insurance Plan

To be eligible for baggage insurance, pay for your common carrier ticket entirely with your Amex Gold card and/or associated rewards. Trips paid for, in full or in part, with non-American Express rewards such as airline loyalty programs are not eligible.

You, your spouse or domestic partner, children under 23, and certain dependent handicapped children are covered for baggage insurance as long as the trip is paid for in full with your card and/or associated rewards.

Lost, damaged, or stolen baggage is covered, except in the event of war, government confiscation, or acts arising out of customer actions, for the following coverage limits.

High-risk items such as jewelry, gold, silver, platinum, electronics, furs, and sporting equipment, are limited to $250 per item maximum, per trip. 

Certain items are not covered under baggage insurance — here is a condensed list of those items:

• Credit cards, cash, securities, or money equivalents (such as money orders or gift cards)
• Travel documents, tickets, passports, or visas
• Plants, animals, or food
• Glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, prosthetic devices, and prescription or non-prescription drugs
• Property shipped prior to departure

You’ll have 30 days from the date of the loss to file a claim. To file a claim, you can go online or call 800-228-6855 within the U.S. To call from outside of the U.S., call 303-273-6498 collect.

You’ll then have 60 days to submit supporting documentation including a list of items lost, receipts, a statement showing the trip was purchased with the card or associated rewards, and common carrier reports.

Please note that we have abbreviated coverage descriptions and all terms and conditions are not spelled out in their entirety. You’ll want to access the benefits guide for full information.

Bottom Line: You and certain family members are covered for baggage insurance of up to $1,250 per person when traveling with a common carrier. You’ll need to pay for your entire trip with your card or rewards associated with your card for coverage to be valid. 

Travel Accident Insurance

Travel accident insurance that comes with the Amex Gold card pays a benefit in the unlikely event of accidental death or dismemberment of the primary card member, additional card member, spouse or domestic partner, or children under the age of 23.

The trip must be paid for with the Amex Gold card and/or associated Membership Rewards points (Pay With Points).

The coverage pays a benefit for death or severe injury suffered as a result of riding in, boarding, exiting from, or being struck by a common carrier.

The benefit paid is based on a table provided and can be up to $100,000.

While not travel insurance specifically, these additional benefits can provide assistance when planning a trip or if an unexpected event should disrupt your trip.

Emergency Travel Assistance

The Amex Global Assist Hotline provides important 24/7 assistance when traveling more than 100 miles from home. Receive help finding medical, legal, and translation referrals as well as assistance securing emergency transportation.

In addition, you could receive help securing a replacement passport or finding missing luggage.

You can reach the Global Assist Hotline at 800-333-2639. Outside the U.S., call 715-343-7977.

Actual services provided by third parties that incur costs are the responsibility of the cardholder.

Services are also not available in areas such as Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea, or the Crimea region.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

You’ll want to include the Amex Gold card during your next trip, as the card does not charge foreign transaction fees ( rates & fees ).

Additional Travel Benefits

Receive help planning your trip with Insider Fares via AmexTravel.com, upgrade your flights with points , American Express Travel Insurance , onsite benefits at The Hotel Collection , Amex Offers , and more.

While the Amex Gold card comes with several valuable travel insurance benefits, you would not select the card for this specific reason. The card shines when it comes to earning on select everyday purchases, for purchasing airline tickets, and its flexible travel redemption options. Those should be key reasons for selecting the card.

The fact that there are travel insurance benefits that come complimentary with the card is just one more reason to consider the card.

If having premium travel insurance benefits is a priority for you, you might consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card , The Platinum Card ® from American Express , the Chase Sapphire Reserve ® , or the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card , all of which offer some of the best travel insurance benefits.

You can read about more credit cards with travel insurance  in our article on this specific topic.

For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of the American Express Gold Card, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car rental loss or damage coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. For the trip delay insurance benefit of the American Express Gold Card, up to $300 per covered trip that is delayed for more than 12 hours; and 2 claims per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the American Express Gold Card, baggage insurance plan coverage can be in effect for eligible persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage during their travel on a common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a common carrier vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all covered persons per covered trip. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the global assist hotline benefit of the American Express Gold Card, you can rely on the Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click  here . For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

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American Express Travel Insurance (2024 Guide)

Alex Carver is a writer and researcher based in Charlotte, N.C. A contributor to major news websites such as Automoblog and USA Today, she’s written content in sectors such as insurance, warranties, shipping, real estate and more.

Kelly Larson is a senior editor with 14 years of experience creating and optimizing data-driven, reader-focused digital content. Kelly enjoys running and exploring the outdoors with his sons.

Here’s a breakdown of how we reviewed and rated the best travel insurance companies

• AmEx offers travel insurance policies for single-trips to card holders
• The perks include trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage delay and car rental collision coverage, which can protect you before and during your travels booked with a qualifying Amex card.
• Travel insurance policies vary depending on the credit card

Our Thoughts on American Express Travel Insurance

American Express offers complimentary travel benefits through qualifying Amex cards when you purchase trip expenses using your card. Benefits include trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, baggage coverage, car rental and collision protection and global assist hotline services to cardholders, family members and traveling companions. American Express also offers standard travel insurance policies that non-cardholders can purchase.

We appreciate how American Express offers a unique travel benefit with car rental collision damage. Based on our research, this coverage isn’t typically included with a standard travel insurance policy. We also like how Amex’s Premium Global Assist Hotline may offer emergency medical transport and repatriation services at no cost to the cardholder. However, like most other credit cards, you will be subject to an annual fee that’s dependent on your card. In addition, not all Amex cards offer the same maximum amount of free travel benefits.

If you currently have an Amex card with travel insurance perks, we recommend comparing its travel coverage with standard plans offered by competitors. To help you choose the travel protection that best fits you, consider your unique needs when deciding on coverage.

American Express Travel Insurance vs. Amex Credit Card Complimentary Travel Insurance

In addition to its complimentary travel insurance perks offered through various credit cards, American Express offers standalone policies for purchase. Note that you can purchase the company’s travel insurance policies even if you don’t have an American Express card. You’ll find four different plans and a custom plan option, making it easy to tailor coverage to suit a variety of travelers.

Amex complimentary travel insurance benefits are best for travelers who already hold an American Express card, as they come at no extra cost to cardholders. Depending on your specific Amex card, benefits can include baggage, car rental loss and damage, trip delay, trip cancellation, trip interruption and emergency hotline benefits. Some cards, such as the Platinum and Centurion Card, may offer all available benefits. Other Amex cards may only provide one or two. Unlike Amex’s standalone travel insurance policies, its baked-in benefits for cardholders don’t include emergency medical coverage.

How To Qualify for American Express Travel Insurance

Qualifying for American Express travel insurance benefits as an Amex card member is simple. However, you will need to visit the American Express retail and travel benefits page to learn if your exact card offers any travel insurance benefits. Various personal, business and corporate Amex cards qualify for travel insurance benefits, which we’ll detail further in this article.

If you own an Amex card with travel insurance benefits, you must book any nonrefundable travel expenses using your Amex card to qualify for reimbursement. Travelers eligible for these benefits include cardholders, family members and traveling companions who purchase a covered trip using an eligible card. If you’d like more coverage than American Express offers through its travel insurance benefits, the company provides “top-up options,” which are additional coverage limits available for purchase.

If you don’t own an Amex card, you can still apply for travel coverage through Amex Travel Insurance. You can get a free policy quote online through the American Express webpage or by calling customer service and speaking with a representative.

How Does Amex Travel Insurance Work?

American Express travel insurance benefits provide various protections for qualifying cardholders, offering coverage for trip cancellation, baggage delay, car rental collision and more. Amex cardholders also receive 24/7 Global Assist Hotline or Premium Global Assist Hotline services, which provide travel and emergency assistance services if you need help during covered travels.

American Express notes that it doesn’t administer all travel benefits associated with qualifying Amex cards. New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company, covers trip delay, cancellation and interruption benefits. AMEX Assurance Company, a subsidiary of American Express, provides car rental loss, damage coverage and baggage insurance. American Express states that coverage is subject to certain terms, conditions and limitations, with coverage considered secondary to any primary coverages you may have through other companies associated with your travels.

American Express Credit Card Travel Insurance Benefits

Many American Express credit cards come with various travel insurance benefits when you book and pay for your trip expenses using your Amex card. Unlike the travel insurance policies sold through American Express, these benefits are accessible to cardholders for qualifying trips. 

The following sections offer a closer look at these coverages, including what they entail, monetary limits and which Amex cards offer each coverage.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption

Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance can reimburse you for prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses in two scenarios: if you need to cancel your trip for a reason covered under your policy, and if you need to cut your vacation short and return home for a covered situation. This benefit applies to all eligible travelers if you pay for your travel expenses (including flights and cruises ) using a qualifying Amex card. Note that if you book a trip with Amex Membership Reward Points, you’ll also be eligible for reimbursement.

The maximum reimbursement for trip cancellations and interruptions is the same across all Amex cards with this travel benefit. You’ll receive up to $10,000 per covered trip and $20,000 per eligible card per 12 consecutive months. American Express considers this coverage secondary, meaning any other applicable insurance or benefits provided through your travel supplier will apply before Amex coverage.

American Express lists accidental injuries, illnesses, acts of terrorism, unpostponable jury duty, military orders and more to be covered reasons for trip cancellation or interruption. We encourage you to carefully read through your Amex card’s specific policy terms to ensure you understand what scenarios are included and excluded from coverage.

The following Amex cards offer trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits:

• Centurion ® Card from American Express
• The Platinum Card ®
• Corporate Platinum Card ®
• The American Express Platinum Card ® for Schwab
• The Platinum Card ® from American Express for Goldman Sachs
• The Platinum Card ® from American Express for Morgan Stanley
• Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve Credit Card
• HIlton Honors American Express Aspire Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ™ American Express ® Card
• Business Centurion ® Card from American Express
• Business Platinum Card ®
• Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve for Business Credit Card
• The Corporate Centurion ® Card from American Express

Trip delay insurance coverage provides protection when your plane, bus, train or other type of transport experiences a delay. This benefit can extend to hotel rooms, meals and other necessities while you wait for your travels to resume. Covered delays accepted by American Express include delays caused by weather, lost or stolen passports, carrier equipment failure and more. Intentional acts by the traveler are excluded from this coverage.

There are 20 different Amex cards that offer trip delay insurance. American Express determines reimbursement rates by the Amex card you hold, but the allotted claims frequency remains the same across all applicable cards — two claims per 12-month period. You must notify the administrator of your claim within 60 days of your covered loss. Cards that provide $500 per covered trip and a delay threshold requirement of six hours include:

• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Cards that provide $300 per covered trip and a delay threshold requirement of 12 hours include:

• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy ™ American Express ® Card
• American Express ® Gold Card
• American Express ® Green Card
• Platinum Delta SkyMiles ® Credit Card
• American Express ® Business Gold Card
• Platinum Delta SkyMiles ® Business Credit Card

Baggage Delay or Loss

Baggage coverage can reimburse you for items in your travel bags if they are lost, stolen, damaged or delayed during transit. Most travel insurance companies offer plans that include this coverage, but coverage limits vary between providers. If you plan on traveling with expensive items in your luggage, you may want to consider a baggage insurance policy with high delay and loss limits.

Each Amex card offering baggage delay or loss coverage has a combined maximum payout of $3,000 per person. Carry-on baggage, checked luggage and high-end items may have different maximum limits depending on your Amex card. Regardless of your card and its limits, you must file a claim within 30 days of baggage loss.

Car Rental Collision Damage

Car rental collision damage coverage is a unique protection, as not all travel insurance providers offer it. It can cover any damage from a collision or theft incurred on a rental vehicle if you pay for the entire rental using your Amex card. Note that you need to forgo the car rental insurance offered by the rental company. Over 60 different Amex cards offer car rental loss and damage insurance, with varying reimbursement maximums depending on your card.

American Express offers two tiers of car rental loss and damage insurance: Tier 1 offers $50,000 in total coverage, and Tier 2 offers $75,000. This Amex travel benefit also provides accidental death and dismemberment, accidental injury and car rental personal property coverage for Tier 2 cards. Exclusions include drivers not named “authorized drivers” on your rental agreement, rentals lasting longer than 30 days and more.

Global Assist and Premium Global Assist Hotlines

American Express provides Global Assist and Premium Global Assist Hotlines to 73 different cards. Each type of assistance is available 24/7 to cardholders, but the assistance you qualify for depends on your card.

Global Assist Hotline services can help you prepare for your trip before leaving by offering information on customs, foreign exchange rates, passport and visa information and more. You can also benefit from lost passport or travel document replacement assistance, translation services, medical assistance and more. Note that while these services are free of charge, charges associated with third-party referrals will be your responsibility as a cardholder.

The American Express Premium Global Assist Hotline offers the same services as Global Assist, with a few extra perks. While Global Assist will provide administrative services for emergency medical transportation and repatriation of mortal remains, Premium Global Assist may offer the actual services — at no cost to the cardholder — depending on eligibility. It can also assist with medical financial coordination, which standard Global Assist doesn’t offer.

To qualify for Global Assist and Premium Global Assist benefits, you must be a cardmember in good standing with a trip originating from your U.S. billing address within the past 90 days. In addition, you must be traveling more than 100 miles from your home address. If you’re traveling to Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea or Crimea, you are ineligible for these assistance services.

Cards that provide Premium Global Assist include:

• Platinum Card ® from American Express
• Business Platinum Card ®  
• Corporate Centurion ® Card from American Express
• Corporate Platinum ® Card

American Express Travel Insurance Plans

Amex cardholders and non-cardholders alike can purchase Amex Travel Insurance plans. Similar to standard plans from providers like Seven Corners and Trawick International , these plans cover emergency medical services, trip cancellations, trip interruptions, lost or delayed baggage and more. Some coverages are also offered through Amex travel benefits, while others are unique to the company’s travel insurance policies.

Purchasing a plan is straightforward — you can either use the quote tool provided on the American Express website or contact a customer service representative for assistance. When shopping, you’ll have your choice of four plans — Basic, Silver, Gold and Platinum — in addition to a custom plan option. The next few sections provide more information on the coverage provided through American Express travel insurance policies.

Global Medical Protection

Global medical protection provides medical, dental, evacuation and repatriation coverage up to a fixed amount. Emergency medical and dental coverage is valid for the first 60 days of your trip. Emergency evacuation benefits cover the cost and help arrange emergency transportation to a capable medical facility. It also covers the cost of a visitor’s transport to a covered person’s bedside if hospitalization lasts more than five days.

Travel Accident Protection

Travel accident protection provides coverage for an accident resulting in death or dismemberment at any point during your trip, from the moment you leave home to the moment you arrive back. This coverage isn’t available with the American Express Basic travel insurance plan but comes with a Silver, Gold or Platinum plan.

24-Hour Travel Assistance

This benefit comes with every travel insurance policy purchased through American Express. It provides worldwide access to a 14-hour hotline that offers travel support before and during your trip. American Express also provides this benefit through Amex prepaid, reloadable cards.

Benefits Included With Amex Credit Card Coverage

Several coverages provided through an American Express Travel Insurance plan are also perks with qualifying Amex credit cards. However, coverage limits will vary. Whether you purchase a policy or use your Amex travel perks, it’s important to understand the limitations and restrictions outlined for each coverage.

Trip cancellation and interruption benefits can reimburse nonrefundable expenses if you need to cancel your trip before it starts or if it’s interrupted for a covered reason outlined in your policy. Coverage limits for each plan are as follows:

• Basic : Up to $1,000 in trip cancellation and interruption coverage
• Silver : Up to 100% of trip costs for cancellation and interruption coverage
• Gold : Up to 100% of trip costs for cancellation and 150% for interruption coverage
• Platinum : Up to 100% of trip costs for cancellation and 150% for interruption coverage

Global Baggage Protection

Global baggage protection offers reimbursement for lost, damaged or stolen baggage. This applies to checked baggage, carry-on baggage, or baggage on your hotel or cruise property. If your baggage is delayed, you can receive reimbursement for essential items you need replaced. Coverage limits for each plan include:

• Basic : Up to $250 for baggage loss and up to $100 for a 24-hour delay
• Silver : Up to $500 for baggage loss and up to $300 for a 6-hour delay
• Gold : Up to $1,000 for baggage loss and up to $300 for a 6-hour delay
• Platinum : Up to $2,500 for baggage loss and up to $500 for a 3-hour delay

Global Trip Delay

Global trip delay coverage protects delayed travel, covering lodging, meals and other necessary expenses. Covered travel scenarios include overbooked flights, missed flight connections and delayed or canceled flights . Included coverage limits are:

• Basic : Not included
• Silver : Up to $150 per day, maximum of $500 per trip
• Gold : Up to $150 per day, maximum of $750 per trip
• Platinum : Up to $300 per day, maximum of $1,000 per trip

How To File a Travel Insurance Claim With American Express

If you’ve purchased an American Express Travel Insurance policy and need to file a claim, you can contact your administrator in three ways. You can use the claims phone number or address found in your Certificate of Insurance/Policy or the claims portal through the American Express website. If you cannot locate your Certificate of Insurance or Policy, you can email the company to request an additional copy.

During your travels, keep track of any receipts, police reports, medical bills and other documents you might need to provide in the event of a claim. The exact documents required will depend on the benefit for which you’re filing a claim. American Express directs policyholders to your Certificate of Insurance/Policy for specific information. Still, it also notes that the company’s claims department will share the documents needed to validate your claim. Note that American Express outlines specific time requirements for filing a claim within your policy, with requirements varying by coverage.

Should You Get an American Express Credit Card For Travel Insurance?

Signing up for an American Express credit card for travel insurance benefits is a personal decision, but it’s not your only option. You can purchase a policy through American Express Travel Insurance or another standard insurer, such as Travelex or Faye , without taking on the responsibility of a new credit card. Benefits offered through Amex travel perks or their standard travel insurance policies may not suit your coverage needs, as the company lacks cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage and other protections provided by other insurers.

If you already have an Amex card and feel the travel perks provided satisfy your needs, booking your vacation with your card is all you need to do to enjoy these benefits. However, whether you have an American Express card or another card with travel insurance perks, we encourage you to gather multiple quotes while considering your travel needs, budget and expectations before purchasing a policy. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Does american express travel insurance cover family members.

Yes, American Express travel benefits can provide coverage for cardholders, family members and traveling companions who purchase a covered trip using an eligible card. American Express Travel Insurance policies cover travelers enrolled when you buy your plan.

How long do you have to claim American Express travel insurance?

American Express outlines specific time requirements for filing a claim within your policy, but these time requirements vary by coverage type. Consult your policy documents or contact a customer service representative for more information on claim time constraints.

What trip cancellation reasons are covered?

Trip cancellation reasons covered under an American Express Travel Insurance policy include unexpected sickness or injury of the covered person or family member, adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, labor disputes or strikes affecting travel services, or the unexpected job termination of a covered person.

Do I need separate travel insurance if I have a credit card?

If you have a credit card offering travel insurance benefits and are satisfied with the coverage, you may not need a separate travel insurance policy. However, if you’d prefer higher coverage limits or specialty protections like CFAR coverage or an adventure sports waiver, it may be worth gathering quotes from reputable travel insurance providers.

Methodology: Our System for Rating Travel Insurance

• A 30-year-old couple taking a $5,000 vacation to Mexico.
• A family of four taking an $8,000 vacation to Mexico.
• A 65-year-old couple taking a $7,000 vacation to the United Kingdom.
• A 30-year-old couple taking a $7,000 trip to the United Kingdom.
• A 19-year-old taking a $2,000 trip to France.
• A 27-year-old couple taking a $1,200 trip to Greece.
• A 51-year-old couple taking a $2,000 trip to Spain.
• Plan availability (10%): We look for insurers with a variety of travel insurance plans and the ability to customize a policy with coverage upgrades.
• Coverage details (29%): We review the baseline coverage each company offers in its cheapest comprehensive plan. A provider with robust coverage earns full points, including baggage delay and loss, COVID-19 coverage, emergency evacuation and medical coverage, trip delay and cancellation coverage, and more. Companies also receive points for offering a variety of policy add-ons like accidental death and dismemberment, extreme sports, valuable items, cancel for any reason coverage and more.
• Coverage times and amounts (34%): We compare each company’s waiting periods and maximum reimbursement amounts for baggage, travel and weather delays. Companies that offer customers reimbursement after fewer than 12 hours of delays earn full points in this category. We also reward travel insurance providers that cover more than 100% of trip costs in the event of cancellations or interruptions.
• Company service and reviews (17%): We look for indicators that a company is well-prepared to respond to customer needs. Companies with an established global resource network, 24/7 emergency hotline, mobile app, multiple ways to file a claim and concierge services score higher in this category. We assess reputation by evaluating consumer reviews, third-party financial strength and customer experience ratings, specifically from AM Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

For more information, read our full travel insurance methodology.

A.M. Best Disclaimer

If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at editors@marketwatchguides. com .

MarketWatch Guides may receive compensation from companies that appear on this page.
The compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear, but it does not influence the recommendations the editorial team provides. Not all companies, products, or offers were reviewed.

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5 Min Read | Last updated: August 15, 2024

Annual Fee & Authorized User Fee – American Express Platinum

Want to know more about the annual fee for The Platinum Card ® ? Here’s an overview, plus a look at the Card’s abundance of travel and lifestyle credits, perks, and services.

At-A-Glance

The Platinum Card by American Express has a $695 annual fee. 1

With over $1,500 in value, the Platinum Card offers a suite of elevated benefits and statement credits across travel, entertainment, and dining that can help make every day an adventure.

For example, Platinum Card Members can unlock benefits like airport lounge access, complimentary elite status at participating hotels, and special access to exclusive reservations through Global Dining Access by Resy.

The Platinum Card ® from American Express has long been at the forefront of luxury travel, with high points multipliers and premium rewards. But did you know the Card also offers an abundance of elevated entertainment and dining benefits? Let’s take a closer look at the Platinum Card and see how it continues to go above and beyond.

How Much is The Platinum Card’s Annual Fee?

The Platinum Card has a $695 annual fee. 1 The fee is paid once a year, and the math works out to about $58 a month. At the same time, the Platinum Card can help you unlock access to over $1,500 in value. Here’s how:

• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Stay in the know with content that matters most to you. Use your Platinum Card to subscribe to one or more services on Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal and get up to $20 in statement credits each month after making eligible purchases directly from the participating partners with your Platinum Card. That's up to $240 annually to explore something new. Enrollment required.
• $200 Uber Cash: With your Platinum Card, you'll receive $15 in Uber Cash to use on eligible orders with Uber Eats and rides with Uber in the US every month plus a bonus $20 in December, delivered through an exclusive Uber app experience. That's up to $200 for Uber orders with Uber Eats and rides with Uber annually. You'll also become an Uber VIP, where available, without meeting minimum ride requirements and be matched with top-rated drivers, so that even a 5-minute trip can be a 5-star experience. (Uber Cash and Uber VIP are available to Basic Card Members only.)
• Global Lounge Collection ® : The American Express Global Lounge Collection can provide an escape at the airport, with more than 1,400 airport lounges across 650 cities in 140 countries and counting. Enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, with a value of over $500 when you enroll into Priority Pass Select and make multiple visits to select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges each year. The Global Lounge Collection also includes access to the Centurion Network and Delta Sky Club, subject to visit limitations. See terms.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 per calendar year in statement credits after eligible incidental fees, such as checked bags or in-flight refreshments, are charged to your Card by one qualifying airline of your choice. 2
• $100 Saks Credit: Earn up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on your Platinum Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Treat yourself to a luxury hotel stay. Card Members can receive up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid bookings at over 2,600 hand-selected hotels that are part of the Fine Hotels + Resorts ® and The Hotel Collection programs. Bookings must be made through American Express Travel and charged to your Platinum Card.
• $199 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: Every minute counts when you’re eager to travel. CLEAR Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Use the dedicated CLEAR Lane to confirm your identity without taking out your passport or ID – this can mean shorter lines, less waiting. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Platinum Card.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month. 3

Experience Membership Together: Adding Additional Card Members to the Platinum Card

Like all American Express Cards, the Platinum Card allows you to add Additional Card Members , commonly known as “ authorized users ,” to your account. With Additional Cards, you can extend access to select Platinum benefits. The annual fee is $195 for each Additional Platinum Card and Additional Card Members must be 13 years of age or older.

Adding Additional Card Members to your Platinum Card account can be a great way to maximize points-earning potential and extend select benefits to those you care about. If you’re the Basic Card Member (meaning you’re the primary account holder), you’ll earn rewards on your Additional Card Member’s purchases the same way you do on your own Card, so the rewards can really add up.

Additional Card Members can also share many of the same benefits, such as:

• Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection
• Complimentary elite status at select hotels
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ® fee credits

For Platinum Card Members who prefer a streamlined supplementary card, Companion Platinum Cards ® are also an option with no added annual fee. However, it’s important to keep in mind that Companion Card Members may not get all the same benefits as an Additional Card Member.

Remember: While Additional Card Members are not account owners, they are authorized to use the primary Card Member’s account. The primary Card Member is responsible for all spending activity and must pay for all charges made by Additional Card Members.

The Takeaway

The Platinum Card by American Express has a $695 annual fee that works out to about $58 a month. At the same time, the Platinum Card has over $1,500 in value across an elevated suite of benefits – on top of the traditional benefits that have kept Platinum at the forefront of luxury travel credit cards. You can also add an Additional Card Member for an annual fee of $195 or a Companion Card Member at no added cost.

Show Article Sources

1 For more on Rates and Fees for The Platinum Card ® , click here .

2 American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.

3 For more on Offer & Benefit Terms for The Platinum Card ® , click here .

Megan Doyle  is a business technology writer and researcher whose work focuses on financial services and cross-cultural diversity and inclusion.

All Credit Intel  content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express. 

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The material made available for you on this website, Credit Intel , is for informational purposes only and intended for U.S. residents and is not intended to provide legal, tax or financial advice. If you have questions, please consult your own professional legal, tax and financial advisors.

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