Are you covered for Coronavirus under your credit card travel insurance?

Now that the early-pandemic days of clearing supermarket shelves and hoarding toilet paper are behind us, and most countries are open to travellers, you might be wondering if your complimentary credit card travel insurance policy will cover the spicy cough on your upcoming overseas trip.

Unfortunately, as we’ve come to expect over the past couple of years, there are no blanket rules when it comes to Covid coverage, and each credit card travel insurance provider seems to have its own way of treating the matter.

Some credit card travel insurance providers will cover COVID-19 to some extent, while others will flat-out exclude cover related to any losses connected with epidemics or pandemics.

So, if you’re heading overseas and plan on relying upon your bundled credit card travel insurance policy, you’ll want to know exactly where you stand regarding Covid cover.

The best way to know for sure is by looking through the product disclosure statement (PDS) that comes with your policy with a fine-tooth comb. But, you can start here with some of the more frequently asked ones. 

Two of the more important Covid-related travel insurance benefits you should be looking into are medical and cancellation cover. But to make things easier, we’ve put together a breakdown of some providers and how they treat Coronavirus under their credit card travel insurance policies.

But before we get into the overview, there are a couple of important things to note:

Activate your bundled credit card travel insurance before you go

Generally you’ll have to activate your credit card travel insurance when heading overseas. If you don’t make sure to check if it’s active, then you might not be covered on your overseas trip for anything that happens outside the period of insurance.

Eligibility requirements for credit card travel insurance

To be eligible for your bundled credit card travel insurance, you might have to spend a certain amount on your card, or even make eligible purchases, which will be outlined in further detail on the various providers’ websites.  

Further eligibility requirements may include being under a certain age (under 79 is a common requirement), but there may be more. So, always read the PDS. 

Always read the PDS that comes with your credit card travel insurance policy

By reading the PDS, you’ll be able to understand the limitations of Covid-related cover on your credit card travel insurance policy, including under what circumstances your provider will or will not cover pandemics.

Underwritten by: Allianz Global Assistance 

ANZ credit cards that offer complimentary travel insurance include:

• ANZ Frequent Flyer Platinum
• ANZ Frequent Flyer Black
• ANZ Rewards Platinum
• ANZ Rewards Black
• ANZ Rewards Travel Adventures
• ANZ Platinum

Does ANZ credit card travel insurance cover Coronavirus? 

If you are positively diagnosed as suffering a sickness recognised as an epidemic or pandemic, such as COVID-19, cover is available for:

• Overseas medical assistance
• Overseas emergency medical
• Evacuation and repatriation
• Cancellation
• Additional expenses 

For more information call Allianz Global Assistance on: 1300 135 271

Underwritten by: Zurich Australian Insurance through Cover-More 

CommBank credit cards that offer complimentary travel insurance:

• CommBank Low Fee Gold Credit Card 
• CommBank Low Rate Gold Credit Card 
• CommBank Gold Awards Credit Card
• CommBank Platinum Awards Credit Card
• CommBank Diamond Awards Credit Card 
• CommBank Ultimate Awards Credit Card
• World Debit Mastercard

Does Commonwealth Bank credit card travel insurance cover Coronavirus? 

Commonwealth Bank credit card travel insurance provides limited cover for overseas emergency medical expenses related to COVID-19. 

However, CommBank credit card travel insurance does not provide cancellation cover related to COVID-19.

CommBank's standalone travel insurance policy, i.e. not the bundled policy, does not provide cover for Covid whatsoever. 

For more information call Cover-More on: 1300 467 951

Underwritten by: Allianz Global Assistance 

NAB credit cards that offer complimentary travel insurance:

• NAB Premium Credit Card
• NAB Platinum Credit Card
• NAB Signature Credit Card
• NAB Platinum Visa Debit Card
  

Does NAB credit card travel insurance cover Coronavirus?

From 30 June 2022, NAB credit card travel insurance may provide limited cover for COVID-19 related events, such as:

• Overseas Emergency Assistance
• Overseas Emergency Medical
• Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
• Cancellation
• Additional Expenses

For more information call Allianz Global Assistance on: 1800 187 025

Underwritten by: Allianz Global Assistance

Westpac credit cards that offer complimentary travel insurance:

• Westpac Earth Black
• Westpac Earth Platinum
• Westpac Earth Platinum Plus
• Westpac Altitude Black
• Westpac Altitude Platinum 
• Westpac Altitude Platinum Plus
• Singapore Airlines Platinum
• Singapore Airlines Gold
• Westpac Low Fee Platinum
• Private Bank Gold Mastercard

Does Westpac credit card travel insurance cover Coronavirus?

From 8 July, Westpac has announced it will be providing COVID-19 and pandemic cover on eligible travel insurance policies through select credit cards (T&Cs apply). Benefits include:

• Overseas Emergency Assistance
• Overseas Emergency Medical
• Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
• Cancellation
• Additional Expenses

For more information call Allianz Global Assistance on: 1800 091 710

Underwritten by: Chubb 

American Express credit cards that offer complimentary travel insurance:

• American Express Platinum Card 
• American Express Gold Card 
• American Express Rewards Advantage Card 
• American Express Green Card  
• American Express Explorer Credit Card 
• American Express Platinum Reserve Credit Card 
• American Express Platinum Edge Credit Card 
• American Express Platinum Rewards Credit Card 
• Qantas American Express Ultimate Credit Card 
• American Express Velocity Gold Credit Card  
• American Express Elevate Credit Card 
• American Express Elevate Premium Credit Card

Does American Express credit card travel insurance cover Coronavirus?

American Express credit card travel insurance provides limited cover for Covid-related events, such as:

• Trip cancellations, curtailments, and changes
• Medical emergency expenses cover 

It's recommended you check the specific PDS for your card to make sure you're aware of the way your credit card travel insurance treats Covid. 

Note: There is no cover if you travel against a Smartraveller ‘Do Not Travel’ warning or if borders have closed at your destination prior to departure.

For more information call Chubb on: (02) 9335 3200

Underwritten by: Allianz Global Assistance

Citi credit cards that offer complimentary travel insurance:

• Citi Prestige credit card
• Citi Premier credit card
• Citi Rewards credit card
• Emirates Citi World Mastercard
• CitiBusiness Gold credit card

Does Citi credit card travel insurance cover Coronavirus?

Unfortunately, Citi will not cover you for any loss, damages, or expenses caused by, arising directly or indirectly from or in any way related to any epidemic or pandemic, including COVID-19. 

For more information call Allianz Global Assistance on: 1800 072 791

Underwritten by: Allianz Global Assistance 

HSBC credit cards that offer complimentary travel insurance:

• HSBC Platinum credit card
• HSBC Platinum Qantas credit card
• HSBC Premier World MasterCard
• Low Rate credit card

Does HSBC credit card travel insurance cover Coronavirus?

HSBC credit card travel insurance provides some cover for Covid, including for benefits like: 

• Overseas emergency assistance
• Overseas emergency medical 
• Evacuation and repatriation 
• Cancellation 
• Additional expenses 

Make sure you read through the relevant PDS to understand the limits of HSBC’s coverage.

For more information call Allianz Global Assistance on: 1800 648 093

According to Mozo’s database, 32 credit card providers on site offer complimentary travel insurance on their credit cards. 

If you are concerned about whether you are covered for any medical issues or cancellations due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, contact your provider, or its travel insurance underwriter, on one of the following numbers.

RELATED ARTICLE: Everything you need to know about travel insurance

Interested in what other travel features come complimentary on credit card products? Jump over to our credit card comparison table to check out various options or Mozo's top choices of the best credit cards.