Amex Platinum Charge Card Travel Insurance

[albyd]

Some years ago, Amex changed providers and while the old policy allowed coverage of pre existing conditions for a modest additional premium, that’s no longer offered.

Whilst CBA cards aren’t up there with the best points earners, they still currently offer automatic comprehensive cover if you register your trip on net bank to activate the cover (no min spend required). Allianz was their insurer until recently now replaced by CoverMore (I think they just resell the cover) and you can still get pre-existing conditions covered for a few. Best to confirm with CBA including considering their PDS as I’m not an insurance expert and can’t offer advice.

Are there any other credit cards offering ‘rasy’ Coverage of pre existing conditions esp if you haven’t paid for your trip with that card?

 

[serenityc]

Some years ago, Amex changed providers and while the old policy allowed coverage of ore existing conditions for a modest additional premium, that’s no longer offered.

Whilst CBA cards aren’t up there with the best points earners, they still currently offer automatic comprehensive cover if you register your trip on net bank to activate the cover (no min spend required). Allianz was their insurer until recently now replaced by CoverMore (I think they just resell the cover) and you can still get pre-existing conditions covered for a few. Best to confirm with CBA including considering their PDS as I’m not an insurance expert and can’t offer advice.

Are there any other credit cards offering ‘rasy’ Coverage of pre existing conditions esp if you haven’t paid for your trip with that card?

ANZ frequent flyer platinum have always offered complimentary travel insurance and as noted before charge just $75.00 for pre existing conditions. The minimum spend is not that high either. Of course if paying with this card and possibly others through booking.com for accommodation. As far as I can see the complimentary cover will not kick in as most places charge you at the end of your stay and you are only covered if payment for either the flight or hotel is made up front.

 

[daft009]

That doesn’t seem right. This is the wording of the insurance document for Platinum and it has been changed over recent years to explicitly call out frequent flyer points as this was a significant issue for many cardholders...

Cover is effective for each Trip only when:
(a) You pay the full fare for a return Trip on Your American Express Platinum Card; or
(b) You pay using American Express Membership Rewards points, frequent flyer points; or
(c) YouuseYourTravelBenefit.
The Trip must be a return Trip and commence and end in Your Country of Residence. Cover is not activated until a return ticket has been purchased.
Important: One-way Trips are not covered.

so I just questioned if 2x 1way would be covered.
EG: SYD to LHR 1 ticket, LHR to SYD 1 ticket.
Answer is yes.

 

[SeaWolf]

It seems quite outdated that the card is requiring the 'full fare' still, when most other cards have moved to a "spend $X of prepaid expenses" model and CommBank doesn't even require that, you just need to have the card and register the trip.

 

[stm1sydney]

ANZ frequent flyer platinum have always offered complimentary travel insurance and as noted before charge just $75.00 for pre existing conditions. The minimum spend is not that high either. Of course if paying with this card and possibly others through booking.com for accommodation. As far as I can see the complimentary cover will not kick in as most places charge you at the end of your stay and you are only covered if payment for either the flight or hotel is made up front.

That's a big trap for young players right there. I'm looking at ANZ versus CBA credit cards, and ANZ has much better rewards points (CBA is now dreadful) and they have about the same travel insurance - both very good compared to Amex.

The kicker, as you note, is that you have to pre-spend $250 with ANZ, whereas with CBA you just pre-activate. I like to use my Amex for the flights for the extra points, so that leaves accomm for any pre-spend. But if it is booking.com (with payment processed later) or cash payment, then you are stuffed if you are relying on ANZ. (And much of my personal travel is to dodgy third world countries where cash payment is king or booking.com is just used for the reservation, and for my work travel my client will often directly pay for the hotel on their account.) Aaaargh.

What do I do?

 

[theblank]

It seems quite outdated that the card is requiring the 'full fare' still, when most other cards have moved to a "spend $X of prepaid expenses" model

If you check carefully you will likely find that most other cards still require the purchase of the flight on the card, so AMEX is not really outdated.

 

[muppet]

If you check carefully you will likely find that most other cards still require the purchase of the flight on the card, so AMEX is not really outdated.

Given the $1400 annual fee, i really think it should operate more like an annual policy rather than trip by trip activation.

I contacted Chub or whoever underwrites it to try to confirm if a particular trip would be covered where I couldn't pay on the Amex.... they were completely unhelpful so who knows what would happen if I had to claim.

 

[straitman]

Given the $1400 annual fee, i really think it should operate more like an annual policy rather than trip by trip activation.

I contacted Chub or whoever underwrites it to try to confirm if a particular trip would be covered where I couldn't pay on the Amex.... they were completely unhelpful so who knows what would happen if I had to claim.

I made a claim through Chubb for an iPhone screen and ‘unhelpful’ is about as nice as I can say about them.

 

[daft009]

I made a screen claim and approved within 48hrs and money in my account 4-5 days after. Great service

 

[straitman]

I made a screen claim and approved within 48hrs and money in my account 4-5 days after. Great service

My first response was after 5 days and then it was only an acknowledgement saying they’d get back soon.

 

[liuyz]

I contacted Chub or whoever underwrites it to try to confirm if a particular trip would be covered where I couldn't pay on the Amex

I think there is a section in the T&C says, if Amex is not accepted as a way of payment, as long as you can prove it, the trip will still be covered.

I made a claim last year on a whole trip cancellation, and fund in bank within 5 days. Experience was good.

 

[muppet]

I think there is a section in the T&C says, if Amex is not accepted as a way of payment, as long as you can prove it, the trip will still be covered.

I made a claim last year on a whole trip cancellation, and fund in bank within 5 days. Experience was good.

The T&Cs i think are fairly clear (in my non-legal interpretation). but it would be nice to have a positive customer focus that reassured people they are covered.

This is serious risk and money we're talking about, why should it be a lottery after the fact or having to lawyer up?

Yes, all my tiny claims have been paid without question. But if i get serious injured in the land of the free - there's massive incentive for Chub to find a way out. I want pre-departure confirmation and all insurance should be obligated to confirm or deny if you will be covered - if they can't/won't ... how is it insurance? it's just a lottery ticket.

 

[liuyz]

Agree.
All insurance has to be confirmed before departure.
Relavent gov body should look into this.

 

[theblank]

The T&Cs i think are fairly clear (in my non-legal interpretation). but it would be nice to have a positive customer focus that reassured people they are covered.

the qualification conditions for the insurance are very clear in black and white. If you comply, you are covered.
If you want a certificate of insurance, you are going to have to go and buy a policy.

 

[muppet]

the qualification conditions for the insurance are very clear in black and white. If you comply, you are covered.
If you want a certificate of insurance, you are going to have to go and buy a policy.

Ahh we have a certificate of insurance.
All I am seeking is clarification of the terms, before an insured event occurs and I don’t believe that is unreasonable.
There is lots of legalese that not everyone understands - I think insurers should have to confirm cover when asked.

 

[liuyz]

I have question on the rental car CDW for AU version Charge card.

In US, they have primary and secondary insurance on CDW. And the CDW comes with the Charge is a secondary insurance, which require you have a primary cover first.

Do we have such thing on our AU issued Charge card? Or does our AU Charge card need to have a primary insurance when rent in US?

Thanks a lot.

 

[Quattro]

Thought I'd post an update. Currently in Japan and have been affected by the typhoon.

Have submitted a claim via Chubb for Travel Inconvenience Insurance as part of Plat Charge. $700AUD per card, partner with me with hers.

Have never had a cancellation so will be interesting to see in the coming days.

I have consumed the whole $1400 in accommodation (5 day delay).

 

[couchlife]

It's a shame I didn't notice this thread sooner.

Here is my 2 cents:

Free Credit Card Travel Insurance - coverage for missed connections due to late incoming?

Hi Does your free credit card travel insurance (FCCTI) buy you an airfare when you miss a connection due to late arrival of the preceding flight, when traveling on separate itineraries? I was travelling on MH from KUL to BKK on Itinerary A, and connecting to EK418 (rest in peace...) from BKK...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

In short, I use Citi Prestige as it gives cover for missed connections due to late arrivals. I confirmed with Chubb that the Amex Plat does not have such cover.

Also, I prefer their car rental terms over AmEx Plat, which won't cover you for cars with a retail value of $125000 (ie exotic cars).

Having to put the cost of flights on to the card in order to activate the cover is not an issue for me.

 

[Quattro]

It's a shame I didn't notice this thread sooner.

Here is my 2 cents:

Free Credit Card Travel Insurance - coverage for missed connections due to late incoming?

Hi Does your free credit card travel insurance (FCCTI) buy you an airfare when you miss a connection due to late arrival of the preceding flight, when traveling on separate itineraries? I was travelling on MH from KUL to BKK on Itinerary A, and connecting to EK418 (rest in peace...) from BKK...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

In short, I use Citi Prestige as it gives cover for missed connections due to late arrivals. I confirmed with Chubb that the Amex Plat does not have such cover.

Also, I prefer their car rental terms over AmEx Plat, which won't cover you for cars with a retail value of $125000 (ie exotic cars).

Having to put the cost of flights on to the card in order to activate the cover is not an issue for me.

Thanks for pointing that out actually. If need be ill use Citi's Platinum regarding connecting flights.

However in my instance, $700 per card is superior on the Amex Platinum Charge. Citi is $425.

 

[Quattro]

Travel Inconvenience Insurance.
I can claim UP TO $700 per card travelling member, up to a maximum of $1400aud (so two card holders on the same trip).

The $700 can be used on:
- food
- accommodation
- refreshments (toiletries? Not sure).

Citibank covers this too, but $475 per person, maximum $1100 for families.