American Express complimentary travel insurance

American Express offers complimentary travel insurance on a range of cards in Australia, as well as insurance options for your shopping. These policies are all underwritten by Chubb and have the potential to save you money on standalone policies.

Just like any insurance, you need to meet a set of conditions to get cover and make claims. That’s why it’s always good to read the insurance policy booklet. But if you just want an idea of cover, we’ve got some of the key details here.

What American Express cards have complimentary insurance?

Right now, American Express offers complimentary travel insurance on 6 personal cards in Australia. It also offers cover for purchases and other items. Here’s a look at the insurance you can get with personal Amex cards you can currently apply for:

What’s covered by American Express complimentary travel insurance?

The cover you get depends on the Amex card that you have and you’ll see details of exactly what applies to your card in its insurance policy booklet (available on the Amex website). But as a basic guide, you’ll typically get emergency medical cover, luggage and some cover for cancellations – including a few cards with cover for specific COVID-19 situations.

To give you an idea of the type of cover you can get, we’ve broken down the key types of benefits available, including cards that offer some form of cover and claim limits. But remember, you should always read the insurance policy booklet for your card to get full details.

What’s not covered by this insurance?

All insurance policies have details of when you will and won't get cover, so check before you book a trip or make a claim. In the case of American Express complimentary travel insurance, some of the key situations that aren't typically covered include:

Remember: Each American Express complimentary insurance policy is different, so you should read the insurance policy document for your card to get full details.

What do I need to do to use this insurance?

It can vary depending on the card, but the requirements generally include:

• Booking. You must book the full fare for a return trip on your American Express credit card or by using reward points earned through the card (e.g. American Express Membership Rewards, Qantas Points or Velocity Points). On some cards, such as the American Express Platinum charge card, you can also claim insurance if you have booked a trip using other rewards points, as long as you pay for taxes and other additional fees using your American Express card.
• Travel plans. Your travel must start and end in Australia and you need to show proof of your plans to return, for example, a return flight booking.
• Age. You must be under 80 years of age.

Does American Express credit card travel insurance cover family members?

The travel cover you get with an eligible American Express credit card also extends to your spouse and any dependent children, providing they meet the booking requirements and are travelling with you for the entire trip.

American Express outlines the following definitions for spouses and dependents:

• Spouse. A husband, wife, fiancé(e) or a de-facto and/or life partner with whom the American Express primary cardholder has continuously cohabited for a period of 6 months or more.
• Dependent child. A legally dependent child up to and including the age of 25, including a stepchild or legally adopted child, who is fully dependent on the American Express primary cardholder for financial support.

Pre-existing medical conditions

This complimentary travel insurance doesn't cover pre-existing medical conditions. In really simple terms, that means you won't get cover if you've seen a doctor or other qualified professional about a condition that causes issues overseas. It's the same if you're aware of a physical, medical, mental or dental condition before you travel.

There are some exceptions if you're pregnant, though:

• If you’re travelling overseas, you’ll be covered for unforeseen emergency medical treatment as long as it’s more than 8 weeks before your expected due date and is not related to any other pre-existing conditions (for example, gestational diabetes).
• If your card offers cancellation and amendment cover, you can claim for issues related to your pregnancy as long as it’s more than 8 weeks before your expected due date.

Note that this insurance won’t cover the actual birth of your child when you’re overseas. If you’re planning a trip during your pregnancy, make sure you read the insurance policy booklet to see exactly when you will and won’t get cover.

• What is a pre-existing medical condition?

  Travel insurance policies all have specific ways of looking at existing medical conditions, so it's really important you're aware of the actual definition they use.

  As well as the summary above, we have included an example of the definition of a pre-existing medical condition from the current American Express Explorer card insurance policy document, effective from 15 March 2022 (page 19-20):

  Pre-Existing Medical Condition means any physical defect, medical or dental condition, illness, injury or disease that:

  IN THE TIME PERIOD PRIOR TO MAKING YOUR QUALIFYING TRAVEL PURCHASE	THE PHYSICAL DEFECT, MEDICAL OR DENTAL CONDITION, ILLNESS, INJURY OR DISEASE
  2 years	Requires either of the following: 1. Ongoing medication for treatment or risk factor control; Prescribed medication from a Doctor; Check-ups, consultations, reviews or progress advice (other than those recommended by a Doctor to review a previous condition that is considered by a Doctor prior to You making Your Qualifying Travel Purchase to be cured or in complete remission); or Surgery; or 2. Is either Under investigation; Pending diagnosis or test results; Chronic or arthritic.
  3 years	Affects any of the following body parts: Heart; Brain (other than a mental health–related condition); Liver; Back/spine; Kidneys; Cardiovascular or circulatory or respiratory system; and where such medical condition either: Involved a hospital emergency visitation or being an inpatient in hospital; or Required or requires surgery, a specialist appointment or consultation; or Requires: Ongoing medication for treatment or risk factor control; or Prescribed medication from a Doctor; or Check-ups, consultations, reviews or progress advice (other than those recommended by a Doctor to review a previous condition that is considered by a Doctor prior to You making Your Qualifying Travel Purchase to be cured or in complete remission); or a. is currently either: Under investigation; or Pending diagnosis or test results.
  5 Years	Is related to cancer
  3 months	Led to the manifestation of symptoms where a reasonable person in the circumstances would be expected to be aware of or a reasonable person under the circumstances would have foreseen.

How to make a claim

If you think you will need to make a claim, contact Chubb as soon as possible so that it can give you information that’s specific to your situation.

You can do this by calling +61 2 8907 5666 overseas (for emergencies) or 1800 236 023 in Australia.

The simplest way to submit your claim is online, using the following steps:

You can also get a claim form by calling Chubb.

What to include in your claim

With insurance claims, it's always good to include as much detail and supporting documentation as possible. It makes it easier for the insurer to look at the claim and your eligibility for a payout.

So when you're travelling overseas with this cover, try to get as much written or photo evidence as you can for any claim you need to make. This could include:

• A referral or letter from a doctor or other professional you see in relation to a claim
• Official medical reports
• Police reports
• Photos of damaged items
• Emails or letters from airlines that relate to a claim
• Receipts or other proof of purchase

Some types of claims will also ask for specific documentation, such as a police report if you’re submitting a claim for stolen valuables.

Other types of complimentary insurance from American Express

Amex cards give you access to other types of insurance, also provided by Chubb. Below is a snapshot of the different types.

Card purchase cover

• What is it? Cover for the cost of a new item that is stolen or accidentally damaged. It covers most household and personal items such as laptops, shoes and jewellery. Exclusions include second-hand items, perishables, cash, computer software, vehicles and household fixtures such as dishwashers.
• When can I use it? If you have paid for the item with your eligible Amex card within 90 days before it is stolen or damaged, you can submit a claim. If you’ve only paid for part of the item with your Amex card, you can still make a claim but it will only cover the percentage paid for through the card.
• How can I make a claim? You need to show proof that you own the item and proof of damage or a police report for theft. Then, call Chubb on 1800 236 023 or submit your claim through the Chubb online claim portal. Note that there is a limit of up to $3,500 per item and $30,000 in any 365-day period.
• Is there an excess? A $50 excess applies for each claim.

Card refund cover

• What is it? Cover for new items worth more than $50 that you’ve bought in Australia when you can’t get a refund through the retailer.
• When can I use it? If you’ve used your Amex card to buy an item in the last 90 days and it’s unused, not faulty and the retailer won’t refund you. Note, that this does not cover second-hand items.
• How can I make a claim? Call Chubb on 1800 236 023 or submit your claim through the Chubb online claim portal. Note that there is a limit of up to $500 per item and $2,000 in any 365-day period.
• Is there an excess? No

Buyer’s advantage cover

• What is it? Cover for the breakdown or defect of eligible items you buy in Australia if they had a manufacturer’s warranty that expired before the issue. You’ll get extra cover for the same period as the original warranty, up to a maximum of 1 year. For example, if you bought a laptop with a 12-month manufacturer's warranty and it stopped working for no reason after 12 months, you could make a claim under this cover.
• When can I use it? If you used your eligible American Express card to pay for an item and it came with an Australian manufacturer's warranty of between 7 days and 5 years. You can make a claim if something happens after the original warranty period has ended.
• How can I make a claim? Call Chubb on 1800 236 023 or submit your claim through the Chubb online claim portal. Note that there is a limit of up to $20,000 per item and up to $20,000 in any 365-day period.
• Is there an excess cost? No.

Smartphone screen cover

• What is it? Cover for your smartphone screen if it’s damaged after being accidentally dropped or hit by something.
• When can I use it? You need to have used your Amex card to pay for the most recent 3 months of your smartphone data plan, or have bought your new phone outright with the card to get cover. You can claim twice in any 365-day period.
• How can I make a claim? Call Chubb on 1800 236 023 or submit your claim through the Chubb online claim portal.
• Is there an excess cost? Yes, it’s calculated as 10% of the repair cost. For example, if it costs $250 to repair the screen, your excess would be $25.

American Express business and corporate card complimentary insurance options

If you get an Amex card for your business, You can get some form of complimentary travel insurance on the following Amex business and corporate cards:

Similar to Amex cards for personal use, the amount of cover you get depends on the actual card.

For example, the American Express Business Card offers transport accident cover, card account balance waiver cover and business trip completion cover, while the American Express Platinum Business Card offers more comprehensive cover that includes:

So if you’re interested in getting a credit card for your business and want complimentary insurance, check the card’s relevant complimentary insurance policy booklet on the Amex website for full details.

Written by

Amy Bradney-George

Amy Bradney-George was the senior writer for credit cards at Finder, and editorial lead for Finder Green. She has over 16 years of editorial experience and has been featured in publications including ABC News, Money Magazine and The Sydney Morning Herald. See full profile

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