Learn about the benefits and limitations of American Express travel insurance, including options for cardholders and non-cardholders, and find out why you might need extra coverage for full...
Amex Travel Coverage: How It Works and Your Options
American Express is renowned for its prestigious credit cards – in fact, the brand is so well-known that people often refer to it as Amex for short. Many of these credit cards offer travel insurance as a benefit to cardholders. In some countries, you can also buy standalone American Express travel insurance without being a cardholder and still benefit from its features and travel support. However, standalone insurance is not available to Amex customers in the United States, and coverage details may vary by location.
Whichever option you choose, it’s essential to be aware that Amex travel insurance can have limitations, particularly in terms of medical coverage. For instance, for U.S. customers, card-based insurance does not typically include extensive medical coverage for emergencies while traveling. While many non-U.S. American Express cards offer emergency medical coverage, which often comes with significant limitations, depending on the specific plan.
With this in mind, Amex cardholders might want to consider supplementing their default travel insurance with additional coverage if medical protection is a priority. That way, they can ensure they are fully protected during their travels, particularly in case of a medical emergency.
Find Coverage That Fits Your Plans
Whether you are traveling for a short stay or living abroad long-term, the right insurance helps protect your health and gives you access to care when you need it overseas.
Does Amex Travel Insurance Cover International Travel?
Yes, both Amex card travel benefits and standalone travel insurance can cover international travel for U.S. citizens and customers in other countries. However, if you’re an American customer, your coverage may not apply if your travel violates official advisories or U.S. economic or trade sanctions.
It’s also important to note that Amex travel insurance has some strict rules and limits. For example, for cardholders, travel is only covered if they have purchased the trip in full with their Amex card. This includes expenses such as airfare, train tickets, hotel stays, vehicle rentals, and other travel-related costs.
American Express also has very specific terms and conditions for trip coverage. For example, to be covered, your travel usually needs to be more than 150 miles (241 km) away from home. This rule is designed to prevent claims for delays on local trips, such as serious delays on your daily commute. Additionally, many trips are only covered for up to 60 days, unless you purchase an insurance extension.
Do All American Express Cards Include Travel Insurance?
Most American Express cards offer some form of travel insurance, but the level of coverage can vary depending on the card. Therefore, it’s important to check your specific cardholder benefits to understand what is covered.
There are multiple levels and types of Amex cards to choose from. Generally speaking, the more exclusive your plan is and the higher your credit limits are, the better the travel coverage will be. For example, the American Express Gold Card and Platinum Card are particularly well-known for their comprehensive travel insurance benefits.
However, be aware that supplementary cards that are linked to an existing account may not include travel insurance. Additionally, Amex cards with lower credit limits or those issued in partnership with retailers may also lack travel insurance coverage.
For most American Express cardholders, the main benefit of Amex travel insurance is that coverage is provided automatically when you receive your Amex credit card. The benefits activate as soon as you start using your card to purchase travel and are always available. This means you don’t have to spend extra time or money researching and buying separate travel insurance, which is especially convenient for frequent travelers.
Standalone travel insurance from American Express works like other travel insurance plans but may offer different levels of coverage. However, depending on your needs, these standalone plans might not provide as much coverage as policies from other insurance companies. Therefore, it’s important to review the details to ensure they meet your coverage needs.
Amex Travel Insurance Features and Benefits
Amex travel insurance offers a range of features depending on whether you use a standalone plan or rely on credit card benefits, as well as your location in the world.
Below is an overview of the main coverage features that might be included:
Baggage Insurance
Car Rental Loss and Damage Coverage
Trip Delay Coverage
Global Assist Hotline
Trip Cancellation and Interruption
Medical and Dental Emergency
Medical Evacuation or Repatriation
Not all American Express cards include travel insurance, and those that do may not offer all the benefits listed above. For example, the Amex Gold Card offers basic coverage with no trip cancellation benefits, $300 for trip delays per trip, and limited baggage insurance.
It’s important to note that American Express card-based travel insurance typically does not include emergency medical coverage for U.S. customers. However, for Amex cardholders in other countries, emergency medical coverage is often included, though it typically comes with spending limits.
Amex’s standalone travel insurance plans offer various combinations and levels of coverage, depending on whether you choose one of their preset coverage levels or opt for the Build Your Own Coverage option.
Amex cardholders who use their card’s travel insurance can enjoy several functional travel benefits. These are particularly helpful for infrequent travelers who need only basic coverage and want to avoid the hassle of buying separate insurance.
Default Travel Benefits for Cardholders
American Express offers a mobile app to help cardholders manage their accounts and travel arrangements. All cardholders have access to the Global Assist Hotline, which provides 24/7 support for travelers facing problems or emergencies. This service is part of American Express’s global network and is included with American Express Gold cards.
Most Amex Platinum cards and higher, including the Centurion and Plum cards, offer the Premium Global Assist plan, which provides concierge-level personal support.
U.S. cardholders also benefit from strong coverage for car rental damage and loss via Amex insurance. This is one of American Express’s most common travel insurance benefits and is available with over 50 American Express cards.
Benefits When You Use Your Card for Purchases
When you pay for travel with your Amex card, your card’s travel insurance is automatically activated to cover that purchase. Here are two examples:
Example 1: You bought a cruise package using your Amex Platinum card, but had to cancel the trip because you needed emergency surgery. The cancellation policy would cover this reason, and you would be reimbursed up to the plan’s limits for your travel purchase.
Example 2: You bought a plane ticket using your Amex Platinum card, but the airline delayed your flight and would not reimburse you for related costs. Under the American Express Platinum Travel Inconvenience policy, you will be reimbursed for hotel and food expenses incurred while waiting for a delayed flight, up to a specified limit. However, you would not be refunded if you purchased a new ticket with a different airline to get home.
Notably, your card benefits generally won’t cover travel or travel-related purchases that you make without using your Amex card. The only exception is if the provider does not accept American Express as a form of payment.
If you want to claim for a purchase you made without your card, you will need to provide detailed information about the retailer and proof of purchase to confirm that you could not have used your Amex card for that transaction.
Can I Buy Additional Coverage Through American Express?
If your Amex card doesn’t provide travel coverage or only offers basic coverage, you can buy supplementary travel insurance through American Express. This extra coverage gives you additional benefits beyond what’s included with your card.
In the U.S., you can choose from various travel insurance packages, ranging from Basic to Platinum, or use the Build Your Own Coverage option. This allows you to cover things your card does not or increase coverage in areas you are concerned about. Whether you select a package or create your own, the available coverage levels are similar.
It’s important to note that while Amex’s standalone travel insurance plans offer some medical coverage, the limits may be lower than those provided by other providers.
Can I Still Buy Travel Insurance from Another Provider?
If you’re not satisfied with the travel coverage provided by your Amex card, you can buy it from another provider to use when you travel.
For example, the Amex Platinum Card offers up to $10,000 per trip or $20,000 per year for trip cancellation. In comparison, U.S. residents and citizens looking for a trip cancellation plan can opt for Trawick Pathway Premier, which covers 100% of your trip cost up to $100,000 and includes optional Cancel For Any Reason coverage. This might be a better option if you need higher coverage limits or more flexible cancellation terms.
Safe Travels International
Designed for non-U.S. citizens traveling outside their home country (excluding the U.S.)
Coverage for an unexpected recurrence of a Pre-Existing Condition
Coverage from 5 days to 364 days – extensions are available
Again, Amex card-based travel insurance for U.S. customers typically does not include emergency medical coverage. For international customers, Amex card travel insurance may include medical coverage, but this can be limited depending on the insurance provider Amex partners with in that country.
To get more comprehensive travel health insurance, including coverage for pre-existing conditions and high emergency treatment limits, you might want to consider a travel medical insurance plan. For example, U.S. residents and citizens can choose the BCBS Global Solutions Single Trip Platinum travel medical plan, which offers up to $1 million in travel health coverage and includes pre-existing conditions for less than $5 per travel day.
Single Trip Platinum Travel Insurance
For U.S. citizens and residents up to age 95
Includes pregnancy coverage, baggage loss, trip interruption & more
Even if you don’t have an Amex card, you can buy travel insurance directly from American Express. These plans are similar to those offered to cardholders.
However, coverage for baggage, delays, and trip interruption may be limited, especially for business or international travel. Medical coverage is also restricted, with many plans capping it at $7,500.
Some Amex travel insurance plans include trip cancellation coverage, which is valid for a wide range of situations. If you buy insurance through the AmexTravel.com website, you can opt for Trip Cancel Guard, which covers up to 75% of the trip costs if you need to cancel.
However, American Express does not offer “Cancel for Any Reason” insurance, either with their cards or as a standalone option.
American Express offers travel insurance plans both in the U.S. and internationally. However, the coverage and options can vary depending on your location.
For customers outside the U.S., travel insurance plans are typically regulated and underwritten by local insurers. For example, in Canada, travel medical insurance is underwritten by RSA Canada, while in Australia, it is provided by Chubb Insurance Australia Limited.
The insurance options for international customers generally include single-trip or multi-trip plans, but the Build Your Own Coverage option is usually not available. These plans can vary in costs and benefits but are often similar to American Express plans available in the U.S., with comparable limitations and exclusions.
There have been instances where international claims were denied due to the strictness of American Express underwriters and the high costs of international travel. For example, in one famous case, an Australian traveler’s claim was denied after a fatal accident during a volcano tour.
The claim was rejected not because of the tour itself, but because the injury occurred while the traveler was walking to the boat, rather than being on the ship, which was deemed outside the covered activities. The traveler’s family might have had better coverage with a policy that included more extensive or extreme activity coverage.
When buying travel insurance outside the U.S., you might find that other providers offer similar or even better coverage at a lower cost compared to American Express plans.
How Much Does American Express Travel Insurance Cost?
American Express cardholders receive travel insurance as part of their annual card fees, which range from $150 to $5,000 or more, depending on the card level. Cardholders can also purchase additional coverage, such as Trip Cancel Guard, for more extensive protection.
Travelers who do not have an American Express card can purchase American Express travel insurance as one of four packages or through the Build Your Own Coverage option. There are multiple levels of coverage to choose from, including Basic, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, with each providing an increasing amount of coverage for each benefit.
Amex Package Pricing
Below is an example of pricing for the Amex travel insurance packages for a 45-year-old traveling for a week in August 2024 with a trip cost of $5,000:
Basic –$59
No trip delay coverage
No travel accident protection
Cancellation to $1000
Baggage loss to $250
Medical coverage to $1,000
Evacuation/repatriation to $3000
Silver – $276
Cancellation reimbursed 100%
Baggage loss to $500
Medical coverage to $4,000
Evacuation/repatriation to $10,000
Includes trip delay and travel accident coverage
Gold – $328
Cancellation reimbursed 100%
Baggage loss to $1,000
Medical coverage to $4,000
Evacuation/repatriation to $20,000
Includes trip delay and travel accident coverage
Platinum – $328
Cancellation reimbursed 100%
Baggage loss to $2,500
Medical coverage to $7,500
Evacuation/repatriation to $20,000
Includes trip delay and travel accident coverage
Notably, all options include access to the Amex Global Assistance Hotline.
The Build-Your-Own option with Amex allows you to select specific coverage types, such as Global Trip Delay, and customize the level of coverage, including the cost. For the example trip above, choosing the maximum coverage options with the Build Your Own plan would cost $416, which is slightly more than the cost of the Platinum package.
American Express vs Other Providers
Travel insurance from specialized insurers often costs less than Amex coverage while providing equal or greater benefits.
Below is a price comparison for a 45-year-old traveling for a week in August 2024 with a trip cost of $5,000, alongside the Amex Platinum plan, which costs $381:
World Nomads Standard plan – $93
World Nomads Explorer – $158
Trawick Safe Travels International – $30
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Whether you’re an Amex cardholder or an independent customer, you may be wondering if American Express travel insurance is right for you.
For Amex cardholders, the main reason to choose Amex travel insurance is to add extra coverage for yourself or your travel companions. However, if you don’t have an Amex card, other insurance companies might offer better deals. They often provide more coverage and better benefits at a lower cost.
Reasons to Consider Amex
You might want to consider purchasing Amex travel insurance if:
You are an Amex cardholder and want extra coverage for your trip
You need travel insurance for a companion or family member traveling with you, and you are covered by Amex travel insurance
You need travel insurance for a companion or family member, and you are paying for their travel with your Amex card
Your travel costs align well with the coverage limits of Amex insurance plans
Reasons to Explore Other Options
You may want to consider other travel insurance options if:
You want a plan with higher travel coverage and better health insurance
Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) insurance is important to you
You or the person you’re insuring will be studying or traveling abroad
Your trip involves high-risk activities like parachuting, surfing, or extreme sports
Your trip lasts longer than 30 days
You need insurance for five or more people
Your travel expenses are not charged to an American Express card
You are not an American Express cardholder
The main benefit of Amex travel insurance for cardholders is its convenience. However, this convenience often comes with lower benefit limits. Other insurance plans may offer higher benefits, better customer service, and a more global perspective. Therefore, it’s wise to shop around before you commit to a policy.
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Emily Cotlier is an experienced communications consultant and business analyst, senior analyst at New Zealand’s Parliamentary Counsel Office, specializing in visas, immigration, international relocation, and managing finance, insurance, and real estate.
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