Travel insurance on credit cards — what's actually covered in 2026

Travel insurance bundled with a card sounds like a great deal. In practice, coverage varies enormously — some cards offer genuinely useful protection, others provide minimal cover that wouldn't pay out in the scenarios that matter most. Here's how to evaluate what you actually have.

Which cards include travel insurance

In the UK, free travel insurance is typically found on premium credit cards (Amex Platinum, Barclays Premier, some HSBC Premier cards) and on paid-tier digital bank plans (Revolut Premium/Metal, Monzo Premium). Most free travel cards — including Starling, Monzo standard, Halifax Clarity, and Wise — do not include travel insurance. In the USA, Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum include comprehensive travel insurance as part of their annual fee packages.

What a good policy typically covers

A comprehensive card travel insurance policy typically includes: emergency medical treatment and repatriation (often unlimited or up to £5–10 million), trip cancellation and curtailment (up to £5,000–10,000), delayed departure compensation (£50–100 per day after a defined delay), lost or stolen baggage (up to £1,500–2,500), and personal liability. The medical coverage is the most critical — a serious accident abroad without it can result in bills of hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The critical exclusions to check

Most card travel insurance policies exclude: pre-existing medical conditions (unless declared and accepted), winter sports and adventure activities (unless specifically included), travel to destinations with FCDO 'do not travel' warnings, travel for more than 31 consecutive days on a standard policy, and business travel on personal policies. If any of these apply to your trip, the card insurance may be worthless for your specific situation.

Activation requirements

Many card insurance policies require you to have paid for some or all of your trip with that card to activate coverage. Amex Platinum requires the full trip to be booked on the card. Some policies activate simply by holding the card — read your specific policy terms carefully. If you book on a different card and expect your travel card's insurance to cover you, you may have no cover at all.

Revolut's travel insurance

Revolut Premium (£9.99/month) and Metal (£16.99/month) include travel insurance provided by Zurich Insurance. This covers medical emergencies, trip cancellation, delayed luggage, and more. The coverage is real and has paid out for users — but read the limits and exclusions. The per-trip and annual limits are lower than standalone policies. For short European trips, Revolut Premium's bundled insurance is good value. For long trips or high-risk activities, consider a standalone policy.

When to rely on card insurance vs buy standalone

Card insurance is adequate for: standard European holidays under 31 days, trips where you're healthy with no pre-existing conditions, trips not involving adventure sports. Buy standalone insurance for: trips over 31 days, any trip involving skiing, diving, climbing, or adventure sports, travel with pre-existing medical conditions, trips where you're visiting multiple continents, or any trip where the stakes are high enough that comprehensive cover matters.

Key takeaways