When planning your dream holiday, emergency medical situations tend not to be the first thought that comes to mind.

However, being prepared for the worst allows you to enjoy the best.

Credit cards with travel medical insurance can give you peace of mind when traveling abroad. These cards can cover a range of emergencies, with common carrier, travel accident and emergency medical and dental policies.

Let’s look at the best credit cards with medical travel insurance and how their policies differ.

Top Credit Cards Offering Travel Medical Insurance With Emergency Coverage

Here’s an overview of the best credit cards with travel medical insurance.

CardAnnual FeeTravel Medical Insurance Policy
Chase Sapphire Reserve®$550• Up to $100,000 for necessary emergency evacuation and transportation costs
• Up to $2,500 with a $50 deductible for necessary emergency medical and dental costs
• Up to $1,000,000 in common carrier insurance and $100,000 in 24-hour travel accident insurance for accidental loss of life, limb, sight, speech or hearing
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card$95Up to $500,000 in common carrier insurance and $100,000 in 24-hour travel accident insurance for accidental loss of life, limb, sight, speech or hearing
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card$395Up to $1,000,000 in common carrier insurance for accidental loss of life, limb, sight, speech or hearing
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite$550• Up to $100,000 for necessary emergency evacuation and transportation costs
• Up to $1,000,000 in common carrier insurance for accidental loss of life, limb, sight, speech or hearing
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card$0Up to $250,000 in common carrier insurance for accidental loss of life, limb, sight, speech or hearing
credit cards with travel medical insurance

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the top credit cards with travel insurance, among its other premium travel benefits.

It offers travel medical insurance under three separate insurance policies:

  • Emergency evacuation and transportation
  • Emergency medical and dental benefit
  • Travel accident insurance

Through its emergency evacuation and transportation perk, you can receive up to $100,000 in coverage for necessary transportation and evacuation costs.

Here’s a summary of the card’s policy:

Emergency evacuation and transportationChase Sapphire Reserve®
Coverage LimitUp to $100,000 for necessary transportation and evacuation costs
Claim WindowAll expenses must be pre-approved by the benefit administrator in coordination with a physician. Claim forms must be completed and returned within 180 days of the occurrence.
Special Conditions• Your trip can’t be fewer than five days or more than 60 days.
• Your trip must be in excess of 100 miles from your place of residence (doesn’t apply to New York residents).
Covered PersonsYou, your spouse and eligible children under age 19 (or under the
age of 26 if enrolled full-time at an accredited university)
Notable Exclusions• Travel for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment
• Non-emergency services, supplies or charges
• Services, supplies or charges rendered by a member of the eligible person’s immediate family
• Care not prescribed by or performed by or upon the direction of a hospital, physician or dentist; care not medically necessary as determined by the benefit administrator
• Care which is experimental/investigative in nature
• Care for any illness or bodily injury that occurs in the course of employment if you are eligible for benefits or compensation
• Care received in any country which may be determined by the U.S. government to be unsafe
• Care for any illness or injury suffered due to: self-inflicted harm; mental health issues; alcoholism or substance abuse; war; military duty; civil disorder; air travel (except as a passenger on a licensed aircraft operated by an airline or air charter company); routine physical examination; elective abortion; participation in or attempt at a felonious act; skydiving, scuba, skin, or deep-sea diving; hang gliding, parachuting, rock climbing and contests of speed

The emergency medical and dental benefit can cover you for up to $2,500 with a $50 deductible. This can cover you for ambulance services, anesthetics, x-ray examinations or treatments, laboratory tests, medicine and drugs, the services of legally qualified medical professionals and hospital stays.

If your physician recommends a hotel stay after hospitalization to aid your recovery, you can receive up to $75 per day for a maximum of five days to cover the cost of your hotel room.

Here’s a summary of the card’s policy:

Emergency Medical and Dental BenefitChase Sapphire Reserve®
Coverage LimitUp to $2,500 with a $50 deductible. If your physician recommends a hotel stay after hospitalization to aid your recovery, you can receive up to $75 per day for a maximum of five days.
Claim WindowBenefit administrator must be contacted within 90 days of the occurrence, and claims form must be completed and returned within 180 days.
Special Conditions• Your trip must be in excess of 100 miles from your place of residence (doesn’t apply to New York residents).
• Your trip must have been booked through a travel agency.
Covered PersonsYou, your spouse and eligible children under age 19 (or under the
age of 26 if enrolled full-time at an accredited university)

Notable exclusions for the emergency medical and dental benefit are identical to those of the emergency evacuation and transportation insurance perk.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve also comes with common carrier travel insurance of up to $1,000,000 and 24-hour travel accident insurance of up to $100,000.

Depending on the injury or injuries suffered, you’ll be paid up to a percentage of the maximum benefit amount. For example, the loss of thumb and index finger of the same hand is eligible for a 25% payout, while the loss of one hand is eligible for 50%. For an injury resulting in loss of hearing and speech, you can receive up to 100% payout.

Here’s an overview of the policy in detail:

Travel Accident InsuranceChase Sapphire Reserve®
Coverage Limit• Common carrier travel insurance of up to $1,000,000 for accidental loss of life, limb, sight, speech or hearing
• 24-hour travel accident insurance of up to $100,000 for accidental death or loss of limb, sight, speech or hearing
Claim WindowBenefit administrator must be contacted within 20 days of the accident or loss, and claims form must be completed and returned within 90 days.
Special Conditions• Common carrier travel insurance applies when entering, exiting or traveling with a common carrier.
• 24-hour travel accident insurance covers trips with a maximum of 30 consecutive days; coverage will end at 12.01 a.m. on day 31 of your trip.
• If you haven’t been found after one year since a disappearance, stranding, sinking or wrecking, the loss of life benefit will apply.
• The loss of life benefit is payable to your beneficiary in the following order of priority: 1) your spouse or domestic partner; 2) your child(ren); 3) your parents; 4) your brothers and sisters; 5) your estate.
Covered PersonsYou and your immediate family members
Notable Exclusions• You entering or exiting any aircraft while acting or training as a pilot or crew member
• Your emotional trauma, mental or physical illness, disease, pregnancy, childbirth or miscarriage, bacterial or viral infection, bodily malfunctions, or medical or surgical treatment or diagnosis thereof
• Your commission or attempted commission of any illegal act including but not limited to any felony
• Any occurrence while you are incarcerated
• You participating in parachute jumping from an aircraft
• You being engaged in or participating in a motorized vehicular race or speed contest
• You participating in any professional sporting activity for which you received a salary or prize money
• You traveling or flying on any aircraft engaged in flight on a rocket–propelled or rocket–launched aircraft
• Your suicide, attempted suicide or intentionally self–inflicted injury
• A declared or undeclared war

Pros

  • $300 annual statement credit for travel purchases
  • 5X points on flights when purchased as travel via Chase Travel℠ (applies after the first $300 is spent on annual travel purchases)
  • 10X points on car rentals and hotels booked through Chase Travel (applies after the first $300 is spent on annual travel purchases)
  • 3X points on eligible delivery service purchases, takeout and dining out
  • 3X points on travel purchases (applies after the first $300 is spent on annual travel purchases)
  • 10X points on Chase Dining purchases via Ultimate Rewards
  • $120 statement credit reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee, every four years
    Complimentary Priority Pass SelectTM membership
  • Redeem points for 50% more value when used for travel purchases through Chase Travel℠ (1.5 cents per point).
    No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • High annual fee
travel medical insurance

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers excellent travel insurance for an annual fee of just $95.

The card comes with a solid travel accident insurance plan covering you in instances of loss of life, speech, limb, sight or hearing. You can receive coverage of up to $500,000 in common carrier travel insurance and up to $100,000 in 24-hour travel accident insurance. This covers both you and your immediate family members.

The same exclusions, special conditions and claim window apply as with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

However, the Sapphire Preferred card doesn’t include the emergency medical evacuation and transportation coverage or the emergency medical and dental benefit as seen with the Sapphire Reserve card. If these are perks you can take advantage of, the higher annual fee of the Sapphire Reserve could be worth it.

Here’s a summary of the Sapphire Preferred card’s travel accident insurance policy:

Coverage LimitChase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Coverage Limit• Common carrier travel insurance of up to $500,000 for accidental loss of life, limb, sight, speech or hearing
• 24-hour travel accident insurance of up to $100,000 for accidental loss of life, limb, sight, speech or hearing
Claim WindowBenefit administrator must be contacted within 20 days of the accident or loss, and claims form must be completed and returned within 90 days.
Special Conditions• Common carrier travel insurance applies when entering, exiting or traveling with a common carrier.
• 24-hour travel accident insurance covers trips with a maximum of 30 consecutive days; coverage will end at 12.01 a.m. on day 31 of your trip.
• If you haven’t been found after one year since a disappearance, stranding, sinking or wrecking, the loss of life benefit will apply.
• The loss of life benefit is payable to your beneficiary in the following order of priority: 1) your spouse or domestic partner; 2) your child(ren); 3) your parents; 4) your brothers and sisters; 5) your estate.
Covered PersonsYou and your immediate family members
Notable Exclusions• You entering or exiting any aircraft while acting or training as a pilot or crew member
• Your emotional trauma, mental or physical illness, disease, pregnancy, childbirth or miscarriage, bacterial or viral infection, bodily malfunctions, or medical or surgical treatment or diagnosis thereof
• Your commission or attempted commission of any illegal act including but not limited to any felony
• Any occurrence while you are incarcerated
• You participating in parachute jumping from an aircraft
• You being engaged in or participating in a motorized vehicular race or speed contest
• You participating in any professional sporting activity for which you received a salary or prize money
• You traveling or flying on any aircraft engaged in flight on a rocket–propelled or rocket–launched aircraft
• Your suicide, attempted suicide or intentionally self–inflicted injury
• A declared or undeclared war

Pros

  • Up to $50 in statement credits for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel℠, every account anniversary year
  • 5X total points on travel purchases when purchased through Chase Travel℠ (Points will not be earned on hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 annual hotel credit.)
  • 3X points on eligible delivery service purchases, takeout and dining out
  • 3X points on online grocery purchases (excludes Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs)
  • 3X points on select streaming service purchases
  • 2X points on eligible travel purchases
  • 1X points on all other purchases
  • Annual account anniversary point bonus equivalent to 10% of your total yearly expenditure. Earned after you renew and pay your annual fee
  • Redeem your points for 25% more value when purchasing travel through Chase Travel℠ (1.25 cents per point).
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • No lounge access or Global Entry perks
travel health insurance

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Another beloved travel rewards card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, offers a competitive travel insurance policy.

Under its travel accident insurance plan, you can receive coverage of up to $1,000,000 in common carrier travel insurance for accidental death or loss of limbs, sight, speech or hearing.

 

As long as you charge the entire cost of common carrier travel to your card, you’ll be covered from the moment you leave your house to the moment you arrive at your destination.

Here’s an overview of the Venture X card’s travel accident insurance policy:

Travel Accident InsuranceCapital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Coverage LimitCommon carrier travel insurance of up to $1,000,000 for accidental loss of life, limb, sight, speech or hearing
Claim WindowBenefit administrator must be contacted within 20 days of the accident or loss, and claims form must be completed and returned within 90 days.
Special Conditions• Common carrier travel insurance applies from door-to-door when traveling with a common carrier, as long as you charge the entire cost to your card.
• The loss of life benefit is payable to your beneficiary in the following order of priority: 1) your spouse or domestic partner; 2) your child(ren); 3) your parents; 4) your brothers and sisters; 5) your estate.
Covered PersonsYou and your immediate family members
Notable Exclusions• You entering or exiting any aircraft while acting or training as a pilot or crew member
• Your emotional trauma, mental or physical illness, disease, pregnancy, childbirth or miscarriage, bacterial or viral infection (except bacterial infection caused by an accident or from accidental consumption of a substance contaminated by bacteria), bodily malfunctions, or medical or surgical treatment or diagnosis thereof
• Your suicide, attempted suicide or intentionally self–inflicted injury
• A declared or undeclared war

Pros

  • Up to $300 annual statement credit when booking travel through Capital One Travel
  • 10X miles on rental cars and hotels when booked through Capital One Travel
  • 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2X miles on all other purchases
  • Complimentary access for you, your authorized users and up to two guests for Priority Pass Select, Capital One and Plaza Premium Group lounges (enrollment required)
  • Cardholder benefits, including experience credits and room upgrades, when staying with the Premier or Lifestyle Collections
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 10,000 bonus miles every year on your account anniversary

Cons

  • 10X miles on rental cars and hotels is available when booked through Capital One Travel only

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite card is another solid choice of a credit card with travel insurance.

This card offers emergency evacuation insurance coverage of up to $100,000 and up to $10,000 for the repatriation of remains to your residence.

You need to cover the cost of your trip using your card to be eligible for coverage. The benefit includes you and your immediate family members.

The Premium Rewards Elite card also offers a travel accident insurance plan. This plan can cover you for expenses up to $1,000,000 in the case of death or dismemberment when traveling with a common carrier.

These two travel insurance perks make this card highly lucrative for the frequent traveler.

For the most up-to-date policy exclusions and information on the claims process, consult your Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Guide to Benefits.

Pros

  • Up to $300 annual statement credit for airline incidental fees, such as seat upgrades, baggage fees, airline lounge fees and in-flight services
  • Up to $150 annual statement credit for lifestyle conveniences such as video streaming services, food delivery, fitness subscriptions and rideshare services
  • Up to $100 statement credit for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees, every four years
  • 2X points on travel and dining purchases
  • 1.5X points on all other purchases
  • Free unlimited access to Priority Pass lounges with up to four complimentary Priority Pass™ Select memberships
  • 20% savings on domestic and international flights when you pay with points
  • VIP benefits with Avis®, Hertz® and National®
  • Benefits with The Luxury Hotel Collection
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • No airline or hotel transfer partners

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

If you want solid common carrier travel insurance without paying an annual fee, look no further than the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

When you charge the cost of a common carrier fare to your card, you’ll receive coverage of up to $250,000 for accidental loss of life, sight, limb, speech or hearing when traveling with a common carrier.

The card is also free of foreign transaction fees and earns 1.25X miles on non-bonus category spending, making it a great option if you’re traveling abroad.

Here’s an overview of the VentureOne card’s travel accident insurance policy:

Travel Accident InsuranceCapital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Coverage LimitCommon carrier travel insurance of up to $250,000 for accidental loss of life, limb, sight, speech or hearing
Claim WindowBenefit administrator must be contacted within 20 days of the accident or loss, and claims form must be completed and returned within 90 days.
Special Conditions• Common carrier travel insurance applies from door-to-door when traveling with a common carrier, as long as you charge the entire cost to your card.
• The loss of life benefit is payable to your beneficiary in the following order of priority: 1) your spouse or domestic partner; 2) your child(ren); 3) your parents; 4) your brothers and sisters; 5) your estate.
Covered PersonsYou and your immediate family members
Notable Exclusions• You entering or exiting any aircraft while acting or training as a pilot or crew member
• Your emotional trauma, mental or physical illness, disease, pregnancy, childbirth or miscarriage, bacterial or viral infection (except bacterial infection caused by an accident or from accidental consumption of a substance contaminated by bacteria), bodily malfunctions, or medical or surgical treatment or diagnosis thereof
• Your suicide, attempted suicide or intentionally self–inflicted injury
• A declared or undeclared war
credit cards with travel insurance

What is Travel Medical Insurance?

Travel medical insurance can reimburse you for the costs of medical emergencies abroad.

You can receive travel medical insurance through a travel rewards credit card, as part of a comprehensive travel insurance plan or as a standalone travel medical insurance plan.

It’s important to understand the difference between travel medical insurance vs. travel health insurance.

While travel medical insurance reimburses you for the costs of medical emergencies abroad, it won’t cover the costs of routine, non-emergency procedures. That’s where travel health insurance comes into the picture.

Whether you’re a digital nomad, diplomat, foreign correspondent or simply spend much of your time traveling abroad, a travel health insurance plan can cover a comprehensive range of routine medical expenses.

While you need to purchase a separate travel health insurance plan, you can enjoy automatic travel medical insurance with the right credit card. However, there are some key differences to understand between travel medical insurance offered by a credit card vs. that offered by a separate insurance plan.

Specifically, claims limits tend to be much higher with a separate insurance plan compared to those offered through a credit card. Likewise, a comprehensive travel insurance plan can give you wider coverage and can be tailored to include certain typically excluded activities, such as scuba diving or other adventure sports, as well as specific high-risk geographic regions.

Emergency Medical Coverage

Credit card travel medical insurance is typically offered through a range of separate insurance perks. These tend to be:

  • Emergency evacuation and transportation insurance
  • Emergency medical insurance
  • Travel accident insurance (also known as common carrier insurance)

Some credit cards offer all three variations of travel medical insurance, while others may offer only one insurance perk.

Emergency evacuation and transportation insurance covers the necessary costs of evacuation, transportation and medical services in the event of illness or injury abroad. In some cases, this can include repatriation of remains.

Emergency medical insurance covers the medically necessary costs recommended and rendered by a physician, dentist or hospital for emergency injuries or illness.

Travel accident insurance typically includes two sub-insurance policies: common carrier insurance and 24-hour travel accident insurance.

Common carrier insurance covers you for accidental loss of hearing, sight, speech, limbs or life when entering, exiting or traveling with a common carrier.

In contrast, 24-hour travel accident insurance covers you for accidental loss of hearing, sight, speech, limb or life simply while abroad.

These insurance policies can help you save huge out-of-pocket costs if the worst comes to worst.

Key Features to Look for in Credit Cards With Travel Medical Insurance

Travel medical insurance coverage varies widely from one card to the next. Let’s cover some of the main differences to look out for.

Coverage Limit

Coverage limits per claim can vary significantly between card issuers.

For example, common carrier travel insurance can cover you up to anywhere between $250,000 and $1,000,000.

Depending on how much you travel, a higher limit may make more sense.

However, certain credit card insurances tend to be much lower than those offered by third-party insurance companies. For this reason, it often makes sense to apply for a separate travel medical insurance policy, in addition to that offered by your credit card.

For instance, the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s emergency medical and dental benefit insures you up to $2,500 only—far below that offered by external insurance plans.

Likewise, credit card insurance tends to provide secondary coverage. That means it reimburses you only after your primary insurance has been exhausted.

Geographical Restrictions

Just because your card has travel medical insurance doesn’t mean you’ll be covered everywhere you travel to.

Typically, countries deemed high risk are excluded from coverage. Which countries are identified as high risk can change over time based on assessments made by the government.

For example, Chase currently excludes Afghanistan, Myanmar, El Salvador, Iran, Iraq, Kampuchea, Laos, Lebanon, Nicaragua, North Korea, Vietnam and Yemen from coverage.

If you’re planning on traveling to these countries, you’ll need to take out a separate insurance policy specifically for high-risk areas.

Similarly, certain accidents must be a minimum distance away from your place of residence to be eligible for coverage.

For instance, Chase’s emergency evacuation and transportation, and emergency medical and dental benefit can be triggered only when you’re a minimum of 100 miles away from your place of residence (New York residents are exempted from this requirement).

Type of Expenses Covered

Depending on the exact type of travel medical insurance, a wide array of expenses may be covered.

Common carrier travel insurance covers you for expenses related to loss of life, limb, sight, speech, hearing or sight when exiting, entering or traveling with a common carrier. These policies can also cover repatriation of remains up to a specific dollar amount.

Depending on the loss suffered, you’ll receive a percentage of the maximum benefit available. In certain cases, you’ll be eligible for the full benefit payout.

Travel medical insurance tends to cover necessary medical costs in the event you’re injured or fall ill. These can include the cost of the services rendered by legally qualified medical professionals, medicine, anesthetics and drugs, X-rays, hospital stays and ambulance services, among other costs.

Emergency evacuation insurance benefits cover the costs directly related to your transportation and evacuation, where it’s deemed necessary by a legally qualified physician. It’s important to know that emergency evacuation insurance will only cover you when the expenses have been pre-approved by your benefits administrator. That means you’ll need to call them immediately in the event of an emergency.

Exclusions and Limitations

When it comes to credit card travel medical insurance, it’s crucial to read the policy terms and conditions carefully.

Common policy exclusions include but aren’t limited to:

  • Injuries resulting from intentional self-harm and suicide
  • Injuries resulting from extreme sports such as parachuting and scuba diving
  • Secondary injuries or illnesses, such as emotional trauma
  • Injuries received or illnesses contracted in ineligible countries
  • Injuries resulting from war or military duty
  • Participation in any professional sporting activity for which you received a salary or prize money

Similarly, while your immediate family members tend to be covered under credit card travel medical insurance policies, it’s important to understand how your card issuer defines “immediate family.”

For example, immediate family may include your spouse and children up to 19 years old (or up to 26 years old if enrolled full-time at an accredited university). Alternatively, the definition could be wider, encompassing grandparents, in-laws, aunts, uncles and more.

By knowing the extent of coverage, you can rest assured if worst comes to worst.

How to Make an Emergency Medical Claim

To receive medical coverage under a credit card travel accident policy, you’ll need to make a claim, typically within 20 days of the accident.

You can start this process by calling your benefit administrator. They’ll then send you the correct forms to fill out. Alongside the forms, you’ll typically need to submit:

  • Your travel itinerary
  • Credit card account statement with evidence of the common carrier fare charge
  • Police report confirming the accident
  • Receipts for any hospital bills or other services
  • Proof of costs that have already been reimbursed by your primary insurance provider (if applicable)

In the event you died as a result of a common carrier accident, your designated beneficiary would be responsible for completing the claims process. They’d also need to submit your death certificate as proof of loss of life.

You normally have 90 days to submit the necessary documents to be eligible for compensation.

For emergency evacuation insurance, the claims process is slightly different. This is because you need to coordinate the evacuation effort directly with your benefits administrator. Instead of contacting your benefits administrator after the occurrence, they need to approve—often in communication with a legally qualified physician—that your evacuation and transportation is medically necessary. Failure to do this will prevent you from being compensated.

When submitting proof of loss documents for an emergency evacuation insurance claim, you’ll also need to provide proof of the physician’s statement that evacuation was indeed necessary for your situation.

For emergency evacuation coverage claims, you typically have up to 180 days to collect and submit all necessary documents and evidence.

Travel With Peace of Mind

Travel is supposed to be relaxing. With a solid credit card travel medical insurance plan, you can have peace of mind and enjoy your vacation to the max.

Consider how frequently you travel and what you want coverage for when selecting a credit card. Once you’ve narrowed this down, focus on a card with benefits you can use regularly.

Just keep in mind that it’s often a good idea to take out a separate insurance policy, as credit card coverage is typically lower than the industry standard. That way, you can rest assured that you have both primary and secondary coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get travel insurance with a credit card?

Yes, there are many credit cards on the market that come with a range of travel insurance related perks.

Does credit card travel insurance cover medical emergencies?

Credit card travel insurance can cover medical emergencies. Other notable credit card travel insurance perks include trip delay, baggage loss and delay, and travel insurance for trip cancellations. In addition to cards with travel medical insurance, cards with trip delay insurance are a great choice for frequent travelers.

Do all cards offering medical travel insurance cover emergencies?

Yes, all credit cards with travel medical insurance cover at least one type of emergency. However, depending on the card, certain types of emergency may or may not be covered.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.