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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
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.
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.
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
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How does American Express travel insurance work?
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.
Complimentary Amex travel insurance
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.
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
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:
1
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.
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2
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.
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3
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.
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4
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.
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5
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.
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.
Car rental loss and damage 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.
Baggage insurance
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.
Premium Global Assist
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
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.
Our picks for American Express cards with 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.
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Annual Fee
$695
Welcome Offer
80,000 points
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (670 - 850)
Why we like it
The American Express Platinum card, although a bit on the pricey side with a $695 annual fee, boasts a multitude of premium travel perks. If you’re a luxury traveler who knows how to make the most of a credit card’s offerings, this card can reward you well.
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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.
Pros
Excellent rewards rate for travel purchases
Qualify for $1,500+ in statement credits
Very generous welcome offer
Cons
High annual fee of $695
Many statement credit offers are too specific and hard to use
Non-travel-perks aren’t spectacular
Bottom Line
This is quite a spectacular card with incredibly valuable benefits, but the annual fee is objectively very high.
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.
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Annual Fee
$695
Welcome Offer
150,000 points
Regular APR
19.49% to 28.49% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (670 - 850)
Why we like it
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is a top-tier credit card for business owners looking to earn travel rewards on their business expenses. Although it boasts a hefty $695 annual fee, its rewards make up for it if used to their full extent.
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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: 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.
Pros
Excellent welcome offer
Easy to earn points
Great travel benefits
Cons
No intro APR offer
Hefty $695 annual fee
High spending requirement for welcome offer
Bottom Line
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.
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
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Annual Fee
$325
Welcome Offer
LTO: 60,000 points + 20% bonus
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (670 - 850)
Why we like it
The American Express® Gold Card is perfect for travelers who spend a lot of money on dining out. It offers high rewards for eligible purchases, a substantial welcome offer, and an annual fee that can be easily offset by utilizing the card’s benefits.
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Card Details
Travel Insurance Details
Trip cancellation/interruption: N/A
Trip delay: Up to $300 per trip for delays over 12 hours
Car rental: Secondary
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
*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.
Pros
Generous welcome offer
High rewards potential
Many transfer partners available
Cons
High annual fee
Complicated statement credits
Good or excellent credit recommended
Bottom Line
If you like to dine out frequently, the $200+ worth of dining-related annual statement credits can easily help justify the yearly fee.
Standalone American Express travel insurance plans
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
24-hour travel assistance
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:
Cancellation: Up to 100% of the trip cost
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
24-hour travel assistance
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:
Cancellation: Up to 100% of the trip cost
Trip interruption: Up to 150% of the trip cost
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
24-hour travel assistance
Should I use the complimentary benefits or purchase a standalone policy?
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.
How to file an Amex travel insurance claim
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.
Amex travel insurance FAQs
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.
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.
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