Credit card travel insurance: what's covered

Insurance that may be included

Gold and premium credit cards in particular bundle several types of travel insurance into one package. Exactly which ones are included, and how much cover they give, varies widely from card to card – what counts are the insurance terms (Versicherungsbedingungen) published by the card provider.

Cards with travel insurance in our comparison

Most cards with included travel insurance charge an annual or monthly fee. Only a few are free – and in our comparison, these are all credit cards with an instalment option, where you should definitely switch to full repayment. Some premium accounts from online banks also include an insurance package.

The key condition: the payment clause

Many credit card insurance policies only apply if you paid for the trip, or a specified share of it, with that exact card – for example the flight, package holiday or rental car. With other cards, at least the travel health cover applies automatically, regardless of how you paid. Before booking, check which variant your card has, and if in doubt, pay with the insured card.

Partners and children are also often only covered if they travel with you, and sometimes only up to an age limit. For trips you pay for through a company account or with another card, the cover then does not apply.

What statutory health insurance pays abroad – and what it doesn't

In the EU and a few other countries, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) on the back of your German health insurance card (Gesundheitskarte) helps you. Your statutory health insurer (gesetzliche Krankenkasse) then only pays for treatment under the rules of the country you are visiting; co-payments and private treatment are on you. Outside these countries, statutory health insurance usually pays nothing at all, and it never covers transport back to Germany.

That is why travel health insurance makes sense for every trip. Whether you get it through your credit card or take out a separate policy is a matter of doing the maths.

What else to watch out for

Included insurance is convenient, but often comes with restrictions:

• Maximum duration: often only the first weeks of a trip are covered; long stays and semesters abroad usually are not
• Age limits: older travellers sometimes face restrictions or are excluded
• Excess: may apply per claim
• Co-insured persons: partners and children are not always covered, or only when travelling with you
• Pre-existing conditions: known illnesses are often excluded
• Validity: cover usually ends when you cancel the card – even for trips you have already booked

Is a card with insurance worth it?

A separate annual travel health policy often costs individuals only a low double-digit amount per year. Paying a card fee just for the health cover is therefore rarely worth it. The package only becomes interesting if you really need several components – such as trip cancellation cover for expensive trips or the rental car excess – and the conditions fit the way you travel.

For long stays, family trips or pre-existing conditions, a standalone policy is often the better solution, without gaps. A free card with insurance can be a good addition, as long as you use it with full repayment.

What to do if you need to claim

For your travel insurance to actually pay out when something happens, it is crucial to go about it the right way. Collect all relevant documents from the start: medical certificates, receipts for expenses, damage reports from the airline or rental company, booking confirmations and proof that you paid with the card. Without these documents, a claim often cannot be reimbursed, or only in part.

Report the claim to the insurer as early as possible – many policies set short reporting deadlines. In a medical emergency, call the insurer's emergency number first, as some treatments and any transport home must be agreed in advance. Ideally, save the number and the insurance terms on your smartphone before you leave.

Frequently asked questions about credit card travel insurance

Does my credit card's travel insurance apply automatically?

Not always. With many cards, you are only covered if you paid for the trip, or part of it, with the card. Some cards provide at least the travel health insurance regardless. Your card's insurance terms tell you which applies.

Does a credit card mean I no longer need my own travel health insurance?

Only if the card's cover fits your trips: length of trip, destination, who is travelling with you, age and the payment clause. If you travel for longer, with your family or have pre-existing conditions, you are usually better protected with your own policy.

Are family members covered too?

That depends on the card. Partners and children are often only covered if they travel together with the cardholder, sometimes with age limits for children. Check this before you book.

Are there free credit cards with travel insurance?

Yes, but only a few. In our comparison, they are genuine credit cards with an instalment option. Switch them to full repayment – otherwise the instalment interest will quickly cost more than any insurance is worth.