6 Credit Cards That Provide Travel Insurance

Travel insurance can be a lifesaver when unexpected events disrupt your trip. Whether it's a delayed flight, lost luggage, or a medical emergency, travel insurance can help protect you from financial losses and provide peace of mind.

While you can purchase standalone travel insurance policies, many credit cards in Singapore offer complimentary travel insurance as a perk, saving you money and simplifying your travel planning. These policies often include coverage for trip cancellations, medical emergencies, travel delays, and lost or damaged baggage. In this article, we'll explore ten credit cards that offer travel insurance benefits, helping you choose the right card to protect your next adventure.

» Learn more: Best travel credit cards in Singapore 2025

Travel insurance offered through credit cards typically provides a range of coverage to protect you during your trip. And the best part? It's often completely free as a perk of your card membership. Here's a breakdown of common benefits:

• Baggage delay: This covers the cost of essential items if your checked baggage is delayed by the airline, allowing you to purchase necessities like toiletries and clothing while you wait for your bags to arrive.

• Lost/damaged baggage: If your baggage is lost or damaged by the airline, this coverage reimburses you for the value of your belongings, helping you replace essential items or recoup some of your losses.

• Trip delay: This covers expenses incurred when your trip is delayed for a significant amount of time, such as meals, accommodation, and transportation. This can help alleviate the financial burden of unexpected delays.

• Trip cancellation: This reimburses you for non-refundable trip expenses if you need to cancel your trip due to covered reasons like illness, injury, or severe weather, protecting you from financial losses.

• Trip interruption: Reimburses you for non-refundable trip expenses if you need to cut your trip short due to covered reasons like illness, injury, or severe weather.

• Medical expenses: Covers medical costs incurred while travelling, including hospitalisation and doctor's visits.

• Medical evacuation: If you experience a medical emergency while travelling that requires immediate transportation to a medical facility or back home, this coverage helps cover the costs of such evacuation.

• Travel accident insurance: Provides a lump sum payment in the event of accidental death or dismemberment during your trip.

• Rental car excess: Covers the excess you're liable for if there has been a rental car accident. This can be primary or secondary coverage, depending on the card.

Note: Coverage limits, terms, and conditions vary depending on the credit card and the insurer. It's essential to review the policy details carefully to understand the extent of your coverage.

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While the complimentary travel insurance offered by credit cards can be valuable, it's important to assess whether it provides sufficient coverage for your specific needs. In some cases, you might need to consider purchasing additional travel insurance.

For example, if you're embarking on a long and expensive trip with a total cost of S$10,000, but your credit card only offers trip cancellation coverage up to S$5,000, you might want to purchase a separate policy to cover the remaining S$5,000. This ensures that you're fully protected in case you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason.

Similarly, if you have specific concerns, such as pre-existing medical conditions or engaging in adventurous activities, you might need to purchase additional coverage to address those specific risks.  It's always a good idea to review the policy details of your credit card's travel insurance and compare it with your individual needs and risk tolerance.

» Learn more: Travel insurance compensation for flight delays and cancellations

The best travel credit cards of 2025 can offer valuable protection and peace of mind for your trips.  However, it's essential to understand the coverage details and consider whether you need additional insurance based on your individual circumstances. Always review the policy wording carefully and compare it with your travel plans and risk tolerance.

Insurance benefit: Trip delay insurance

• Coverage: This benefit reimburses you for unexpected expenses incurred when your trip is delayed for a significant amount of time. Covered expenses typically include meals, accommodation, and transportation. This can be a lifesaver if you're stranded at an airport or hotel due to a flight delay or cancellation.

• Eligibility: To be eligible for trip delay insurance, your trip must be delayed by a certain number of hours (typically 6-12 hours) due to a covered reason, such as weather disruptions, mechanical issues, or airline strikes. The specific terms and conditions will vary depending on the credit card and the insurer.

Insurance benefit: Trip cancellation and interruption insurance

• Coverage: This benefit reimburses you for non-refundable trip expenses if you need to cancel or cut short your trip due to a covered reason. Covered reasons typically include illness, injury, severe weather, or other unforeseen events that prevent you from travelling.

• Eligibility: To be eligible for trip cancellation or interruption insurance, your trip expenses must be prepaid and non-refundable. The cancellation or interruption must also be due to a covered reason as specified in the policy. It's important to review the policy details carefully to understand what is considered a covered reason.

Insurance benefit: Car rental loss and damage insurance

• Coverage: This benefit provides coverage for damage or theft of a rental car. It can help protect you from potentially high costs if the rental car is involved in an accident or is stolen during your trip.

• Eligibility: To be eligible for car rental loss and damage insurance, you typically need to use your eligible credit card to pay for the entire rental and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver (CDW) or similar option. This allows your credit card's insurance to act as the primary coverage.

Insurance benefit: Baggage insurance plan

• Coverage: This benefit provides coverage for lost, damaged, or stolen baggage during your trip. It can help reimburse you for the cost of replacing essential items if your luggage is delayed, lost, or damaged by the airline.

• Eligibility: To be eligible for baggage insurance, you typically need to use your eligible credit card to pay for your travel fare. The coverage may also extend to baggage delays, providing reimbursement for essential items you need to purchase while waiting for your luggage to arrive.

Don't just use your travel credit card – make it work for you! Here's how to maximise your rewards and benefits:

• Use your eligible credit card for travel purchases: To activate the travel insurance benefits, ensure you use your eligible credit card to pay for your travel expenses, such as flights, accommodation, and rental cars.

• Maximise rewards on travel spending: Many travel credit cards offer bonus rewards on travel-related expenses. Utilise these bonus categories to earn more rewards on your trips.

• Redeem rewards for travel benefits: If your card offers travel-related rewards, such as miles or points, redeem them for flights, hotel stays, or travel upgrades to maximise the value of your rewards.

Note: XX mpd refers to "miles per S$1 spend".

See also: Credit Card Travel Insurance vs Travel Insurance: What's the Difference?