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About American Express Travel Insurance

Searching for suitable travel insurance for your journeys might seem overwhelming. Fortunately, several of the credit cards you currently possess may offer travel insurance perks. Therefore, it’s advisable to review the benefits included in your existing cards before deciding whether to pursue additional coverage with a separate travel insurance policy.

American Express is a widely known brand, and its AMEX Assurance Company is a reputable provider of travel insurance plans. These plans encompass coverage for various scenarios, such as foreign and domestic terrorism, hurricanes, financial default, mandatory evacuations, and additional contingencies.

Travel Insurance Plans

American Express provides two types of travel insurance: complimentary coverage offered with select cards and standalone travel insurance packages available for purchase. The prominent cards offering Amex travel insurance include the Platinum Card from American Express, the American Express Gold Card, and the Blue Cash Preferred Card.

Your eligibility for various protections depends on the type of coverage you choose. This can include medical protection, travel accident protection, baggage protection, and reimbursement for trip cancellation.

Standalone Travel Insurance Plans

1. Basic Plan

This economy plan from Amex provides coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, along with a basic level of post-departure protection, including emergency medical, baggage, and delays. However, the coverage amounts are relatively low, such as $5,000 for medical coverage and $1,000 for cancellation coverage. This plan is suitable for individuals seeking coverage while being mindful of their budget.

2. Silver Plan

The coverage provided here is akin to a standard travel insurance plan. Unlike the previous plan, cancellation coverage extends to the entire trip cost rather than being capped at $1,000. However, emergency medical coverage remains modest at $25,000.

3. Gold Plan

The Gold plan closely resembles the Silver plan, with minor variations. The primary differences lie in higher limits for medical evacuation, accident protection, and baggage loss.

4. Platinum Plan

This comprehensive plan offers extensive coverage, including up to $100,000 for medical expenses, a common feature among insurance providers. Yet, it does not include cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage. However, it’s important to note that the medical coverage remains relatively low compared to many other travel insurance plans, standing at just $25,000.

Complimentary Travel Insurance

1. Trip cancellation and interruption insurance

American Express provides trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance as a complimentary benefit on 13 of its credit cards. In case 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.

Suppose you utilized your American Express Platinum Card to book a $10,000 vacation to the Bahamas, which encompassed a $1,000 nonrefundable deposit. In the event of trip cancellation due to a medical condition, American Express would reimburse you $9,000, reflecting the original cost of your trip minus the $1,000 nonrefundable deposit.

2. Trip delay insurance

American Express provides free trip delay insurance on 20 of its cards, ranging from the Amex Platinum Card to the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card. This insurance type offers coverage for trip delays caused by various factors, including lost or stolen travel documents, terrorist activity, inclement weather, and equipment failure. For instance, if your flight gets canceled due to a mechanical issue with the aircraft, you may qualify for reimbursement under trip delay insurance.

3. Car rental loss and damage insurance

American Express offers over 50 cards featuring complimentary car rental loss and damage insurance. This insurance type provides coverage for vehicle damage or theft occurring within a covered territory. If your rental car sustains damage, American Express will pay the least amount among the following:

• The actual repair cost for the vehicle
• The adjusted vehicle invoice price, after deducting reasonable depreciation and salvage expenses.
• The wholesale value of the vehicle, after deducting reasonable depreciation and salvage expenses.

For instance, if the rental company acquired your vehicle for $25,000, its present value is $18,500, and the repair cost amounts to $7,500, your insurance coverage will compensate $7,500, as it represents the minimum amount. To utilize this insurance, you need to reserve and pay for your rental using an eligible Amex credit card, such as the Platinum Card or Cash Magnet Card.

4. Baggage insurance

American Express offers over 40 cards with baggage insurance benefits, which include the Amex Gold Card and the American Express Executive Business Card. Coverage extends to instances where loss or damage occurs:

• while directly in transit to or from the carrier’s terminal
• While the traveler is at the carrier’s terminal
• while in transit aboard a carrier’s vehicle

American Express imposes varying coverage limits for high-risk items like sporting equipment and jewelry. Therefore, it’s crucial to comprehend what items are covered before packing your bags.

5. Global Assist

Global Assist offers many of the same benefits as the Premium Global Assist coverage included with the Platinum card and other high-end Amex cards. The primary distinction lies in Premium Global Assist’s superior coverage for medical emergencies.

For instance, Global Assist does not cover the expenses 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. However, if you possess a Platinum Card with Premium Global Assist, you may receive this protection.

6. Premium Global Assist

Having an American Express Card with Premium Global Assist grants you access to a range of travel assistance services whenever you travel beyond 100 miles from home. Premium Global Assistant aids in pre-trip research and planning as well. Through this service, you can obtain information regarding customs requirements, foreign exchange rates, vaccination prerequisites, local weather, travel advisories, and visa specifications.

Cost of Insurance

For the purpose of comparing travel insurance options, we obtained a quote for a 67-year-old couple spending a total of $6,000 on an international trip lasting two weeks. This cost, age range, and duration are typical for the type of travel we commonly encounter. Please note that American Express Travel Insurance will ask you to declare the cost of the trip per person, rather than the total cost for the group.

The most affordable American Express Trip Insurance option that we feel comfortable recommending, the Platinum Plan, is priced at $706 for our couple. This plan offers comprehensive coverage, providing our travelers with confidence in having a robust policy.

How to File a Claim?

If you need to file a travel insurance claim, you should reach out to your benefits administrator. Here’s where you can reach out for each type of claim:

• Rental car coverage: Contact (800) 338-1670 within 30 days

• Luggage: Contact (800) 228-6855 within 30

• Cancellations, delays, or interruptions: Call (844) 933-0648 within 60

You can also file a claim for rental car and luggage coverage online. To support the validity of your claim, it’s essential to retain any receipts, police reports, medical bills, and other relevant documents about the loss(es) involved. The specific proof required may vary depending on the type of loss you experienced and the benefit under which you are filing a claim.

Customer Support

All American Express Travel Insurance individual products and packages provide access to a 24-hour hotline during your Covered Trip at no extra cost. For Travel Assistance during your Covered Trip, simply call our 24-hour hotline.

US: 800-228-6855

International: 303-273-6497

You have the flexibility to modify or cancel your coverage at any time before your trip. However, once your trip has commenced, no changes or cancellations to any products can be made. Any adjustments made to your coverage will result in a recalculation of the premium based on your changes.

To make changes to your policy or to cancel it, contact a representative via the toll-free number at 800-228-6855 or email us at AETI@aexp.com. Additionally, you have the option to request a full refund within 14 days after receiving your Certificate of Insurance/Policy and other Plan Documents.

Conclusion

If you already possess an American Express Card with complimentary travel insurance benefits, these perks are certainly worthwhile since you incur no additional cost to access various types of insurance coverage.

Opting for a standalone Amex travel insurance plan may prove beneficial if you’re embarking on a lengthy trip or a journey with multiple stops. Such trips tend to be more complex, increasing the likelihood of encountering issues where robust insurance coverage becomes essential.

Nevertheless, Amex travel insurance falls short in terms of medical coverage and cancel for any reason (CFAR) insurance. For a more comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes these types of protection, we recommend comparing travel insurance policies from other providers to find one that aligns with your specific needs.