Australians who rely on complimentary travel insurance attached to their credit card are being urged to check their cover before their next overseas trip.
The warning comes ahead of October 1 when new Reserve Bank of Australia reforms will remove card payment surcharges and reduce the interchange fees banks can earn from card transactions.
With banks set to earn less from card transactions, several have announced changes to the complimentary travel insurance benefits attached to some cards.
NAB, for example, has removed complimentary international and domestic travel insurance from a number of cards from May 15, while other NAB cards now offer a shorter period of international travel cover.
Westpac is also scaling back its complimentary cover from October 1, removing benefits including trip cancellation, travel delay and luggage cover from its international travel policy.
ANZ has also made changes to its complimentary travel insurance, including increasing the excess on eligible international travel insurance claims from $350 to $500, while CommBank is restructuring its credit card and rewards offering from October 1.
Natalie Smith, Marketing Director at Comparetravelinsurance.com.au, says the changes are a timely reminder for travellers to check the fine print of their credit card cover.
“For many travellers, complimentary travel insurance is a highly appealing credit card benefit, but that cover can change over time,” she added.
“If you’re relying on your credit card insurance for an upcoming trip don’t assume you’re still eligible for the same benefits. Check your current policy carefully, including what is covered, the limits and excesses that apply, and whether you need to meet any conditions to activate your cover.”
Even if your credit card still offers complimentary travel insurance, travellers may need to meet specific eligibility requirements before they are covered.
For instance, depending on the card and insurer, this can include paying for a minimum amount of the trip using the eligible card, activating the insurance before departure and meeting other conditions.
Travellers should also check whether points-only bookings qualify and whether their particular card level is eligible.
“Complimentary doesn’t necessarily mean automatic,” says Ms Smith.
What should travellers check?
Comparetravelinsurance.com.au recommends checking:
- Is your specific card still eligible for complimentary travel insurance?
- Has the level or scope of cover changed?
- What is the maximum medical cover available overseas?
- What excess would you have to pay if you make a claim?
- Are cancellation, luggage and travel delay still covered?
- Do you need to activate the insurance before travelling? Is this process manual or automatic?
- Do you need to pay for a minimum amount of your trip using the card?
- Are pre-existing medical conditions covered, and do you need to declare them?
Lastly, Ms Smith notes that given the changing scope of credit card coverage, a standalone policy may in some cases be a more practical option.
“A credit card policy can provide valuable cover, but travellers need to understand what they are actually getting,” she adds.
“If credit card cover no longer meets your needs, a standalone travel insurance policy may provide more comprehensive benefits that you can often compare before you buy.”
