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Full List of Travel Insurance Benefits for the Chase Freedom Unlimited [2023]

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Table of Contents

Basic card information, does the freedom unlimited card offer travel insurance benefits, travel insurance coverage, how coverage compares, final thoughts.

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The Chase Freedom Unlimited ® is arguably the most popular no-annual-fee rewards credit card in the U.S. It was a huge hit when it was first released and Chase has continued to boost the value proposition of this card through its regular refreshes.

This credit card is best known as a cash-back credit card, but one of the secret features of this card is that its rewards can be converted to Ultimate Rewards points with the right credit card pairing.

Incredibly, the Freedom Unlimited card comes with basic travel insurance , which is surprisingly rare considering the no-annual-fee nature of this card.

In this guide, we outline all of the details of the Freedom Unlimited card’s travel insurance coverage.

Travel insurance is one of the features of the Freedom Unlimited card , but there are so many other reasons why you’d want to hold this credit card.

Here’s a table summarizing the Freedom Unlimited card’s high-level perks:

This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

The Chase Freedom Unlimited ® is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. There aren’t many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer multiple great bonus categories like 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.

When paired with other Chase cards in the Ultimate Rewards family, you can transfer that cash back into points if you wish – making it one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet.

• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
• 3% foreign transaction fee
• INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
• Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited ® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
• Member FDIC
• APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Freedom Unlimited card absolutely offers travel insurance benefits.

To set expectations, though, the suite of travel insurance benefits is a tiny fraction of what is offered on more premium cards such as  The Platinum Card ® from American Express or Chase Sapphire Reserve ® .

But the answer is  yes , the Freedom Unlimited card offers travel insurance benefits.

So now that we’ve established that the Freedom Unlimited card offers travel insurance benefits, the next logical question is: what types of coverage are offered?

In this guide, we break down each of the benefits, one by one.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

Arguably, the most important travel insurance perk offered by the Freedom Unlimited card is trip cancellation and interruption coverage.

If there’s a covered loss or event, including severe weather, sickness, or other covered situations, you can get reimbursed for your prepaid nonrefundable passenger fares. Covered fares include those on common carriers such as airlines, buses, cruise ships, or trains.

Trip cancellation coverage begins on the initial deposit or booking date of the trip and ends at the point and time of departure on your scheduled departure date.

Meanwhile, trip interruption coverage begins on the scheduled departure date and ends on your scheduled return date.

The maximum coverage you can get through this benefit is $1,500 per covered person with a cap of $6,000 per trip.

Also, trip interruption covers up to $250 in ground transportation expenses for necessary medical treatment, to the airport, terminal, or station of departure, and/or between the arrival airport, terminal, or station and covered travelers’ residences.

Covered people include the cardholder and immediate family members, even if the cardholder is not traveling with them.

You must pay for all or a portion of your trip using your Freedom Unlimited card or using rewards from your Freedom Unlimited card. If you redeem points, Chase will reimburse you at a value of 1 cent per point.

Here are some examples of covered incidences:

• Severe weather that prevents the start or continuation of a covered trip
• Accidental bodily injury, loss of life, or sickness experienced by the covered person or traveling companion that prevents the covered person or companion from traveling on the trip
• Accidental bodily injury, loss of life, or sickness of an immediate family member of the covered person or companion when the injury or sickness is considered life-threatening and requires hospitalization or an immediate family member requires the care of the covered person or companion
• An organized strike affecting public transportation that affects the covered person’s ability to commence or continue on a covered trip
• Changes in military orders of the covered person or his/her spouse/domestic partner
• Terrorist action or hijacking

Here are some of the exclusions:

• Travel arrangements canceled or changed by the common carrier, tour operator, or travel agency (unless it’s a result of severe weather or an organized strike affecting public transportation)
• Preexisting conditions
• Traveling against the advice of a physician
• Changes in plans or financial circumstances
• Declared or undeclared war
• Trips that exceed 60 days in duration
• Financial insolvency of the cardholder’s travel agency, tour operator, or travel supplier

Filing a Claim

You can file a claim 100% online or start the claims process over the phone:

• You can also call the Benefits Administrator at 888-320-9656 (or 804-673-1691 to call collect outside the U.S.) to file a claim.
• Call the Benefit Administrator or start the claim process within 20 days of your cancellation or interruption.
• If filing over the phone, answer a few questions with the Benefits Administrator so that they can provide you with the right claim forms and required documentation.
• Provide the required documentation and all completed forms within 90 days or as soon as reasonably possible (no later than 1 year after the 90-day deadline).

Some examples of required supporting documentation include:

• Travel itinerary
• Documentation confirming the reason for trip cancellation or interruption, such as medical documents or a death certificate
• Freedom Unlimited card statement reflecting the last 4 digits of the account number and proof of expenses incurred and prepaid nonrefundable travel arrangements
• Copies of the cancellation or refund policies of the providers involved in the trip
• Unused vouchers, tickets, or coupons

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

The Freedom Unlimited card provides secondary rental car insurance while you’re traveling. To use it, you will always need to decline the rental car agency’s loss damage waiver (LDW) or collision damage waiver (CDW).

Also, you must pay for the entire rental car transaction using your Freedom Unlimited card. If you book your rental car using your rewards points, you can still qualify for coverage.

Once you do that, you will have:

• Secondary rental car coverage for damage and theft for U.S. domestic car rentals
• Primary rental car coverage for damage and theft on international car rentals (some exclusions apply)

To get coverage, you must use a Freedom Unlimited card with your name embossed on the card.

Your rental period must be a maximum of 31 consecutive days to get coverage.

Other drivers can get coverage on the car rental, but only if these additional drivers are listed on your auto rental agreement.

There is a series of excluded vehicles:

• Exotic and antique cars (over 20 years old or that have not been manufactured for 10 years or more)
• Selected models of Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac, Infiniti, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, and Range Rover are covered
• Motorcycles, mopeds, motorbikes
• Passenger vans with seating for more than 9 people, including the driver
• Recreational vehicles
• Trucks (other than pick-up trucks)
• Vehicles with open cargo beds

Many travelers mistake liability coverage with credit card rental car insurance. There aren’t any credit cards that offer liability coverage, so you’ll still be 100% responsible for charges and damages if you are at fault  for the incident.

Here’s what’s covered:

• Theft and/or damage to the covered rental car
• Loss-of-use charges imposed by the rental company, including administrative fees
• Reasonable towing charges that occur while you’re responsible for the vehicle

Here are some of the exclusions for coverage:

• Any obligation you assume under any agreement
• Any violation of the auto rental agreement
• Confiscation by authorities
• Damage due to off-road operation of the vehicle
• Depreciation of the rental vehicle
• Expenses reimbursable by your insurer, employer, or employer’s insurance
• Injury of anyone, including you, or damage to anything inside or outside the rental vehicle
• Items not installed by the original manufacturer
• Leases and mini leases
• Loss or theft of personal belongings
• Personal liability
• Rental periods that exceed 31 days
• Theft or damage due to hostility of any kind, including war, invasion, rebellion, insurrection, or terrorist activities
• Theft or damage due to intentional acts or driver(s) being under the influence of alcohol, drugs, intoxicants, or due to contraband or illegal activities
• Wear and tear, gradual deterioration, or mechanical breakdown

The list goes on, but you’ll notice that these are very niche or unusual exclusions. Just use the rental car as intended, and you shouldn’t run into any major issues.

Filing a claim is easy; just follow these steps:

• You must begin the claim process no later than 60 days after the incident date.
• You’ll need to also report the incident and file a police report, if available. Next, photograph as much of the incident as possible, especially the damaged vehicle. After that, get a copy of the repair estimate and itemized repair bill.
• The Benefits Administrator will provide the list of required documentation to complete your claim.
• Collect all of the relevant documentation, sign and complete the claim forms, and submit all of the documents within 100 days after the incident date, even if all other required documentation isn’t yet available.
• You may be requested to provide more documentation by the Benefits Administrator. All documentation must be postmarked within 365 days of the theft or damage date in order to qualify for reimbursement.

You’ll also likely need to provide the credit card statement showing the last 4 digits of your Freedom Unlimited card and the car rental purchase to substantiate the rental car booking.

Roadside Dispatch

The Freedom Unlimited card includes Roadside Dispatch in its benefits list, which can be used 24/7 as needed. Although the benefit isn’t free, you’ll be able to access roadside assistance on a pay-per-use basis.

For a flat fee of $69.95 per service call , you can access these services:

• Fuel delivery (up to 5 gallons, plus the fuel cost)
• Jump-starting
• Lockout service (no key replacement services)
• Standard towing (up to 5 miles included)
• Standard winching
• Tire changing (must have a good, inflated spare)

You just need to call 800-847-2869 when you need roadside assistance, and they’ll ask for your location and further details. After that, you’ll have your services arranged and delivered to you.

Travel and Emergency Assistance Services

The last element of the Freedom Unlimited card’s travel insurance is travel and emergency assistance services.

Essentially, this benefit is designed to help you if you need legal, medical, or other major assistance while you’re away from home.

It doesn’t cover the cost of the services ; rather, it connects you to referrals and firms that can help offer these services.

Available 24/7, 365 days per year, travel and emergency assistance services cover the primary cardholder, the cardholder’s spouse or domestic partner, and any dependent children under the age of 22.

Covered services include:

• Emergency message services record and relay emergency messages for travelers, immediate family members, and business colleagues
• Medical referral assistance provides medical referrals, monitoring, and follow-up
• Legal referral assistance provides referrals to English-speaking attorneys, U.S. embassies, and U.S. consulates
• Emergency transportation assistance helps make arrangements for emergency transportation home or to the nearest medical facility
• Emergency ticket replacement helps process and assist replacement tickets should you lose your ticket
• Lost luggage locator service helps through claim procedures or arranging shipment of replacement items if your airline or common carrier loses your checked luggage
• Emergency translation service provides telephone assistance in all major languages and locates local interpreters
• Prescription assistance and valuable document delivery arrangements helps you fill or replace prescriptions and arrange for pickup and delivery of prescriptions, as well as transport critical documents you left at your home or elsewhere
• Pre-trip assistance gives information about currency exchange rates, weather reports, health precautions, required passport visas, necessary immunizations, and ATM locations

That wraps up the overview of travel coverages offered by the Freedom Unlimited card. Now, let’s see how it stacks up with other options!

Other Credit Cards

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card often gets compared to the Freedom Unlimited card.

The Freedom Unlimited card generally outperforms because of its substantial trip interruption and cancellation insurance.

Trip interruption and trip cancellation insurance are benefits that aren’t offered on most annual fee credit cards — so the fact that Chase offers it on a card with no annual fee is impressive.

Generally, no-annual-fee credit cards only offer 2 benefits: secondary rental car insurance and travel accident insurance. The main benefit missing from the Freedom Unlimited card that would make it the undisputed travel insurance leader in the no-annual-fee realm is  travel accident insurance .

Travel Insurance Policies

The travel insurance provided by the Freedom Unlimited card pales in comparison to a full travel insurance policy .

Travel insurance policies usually also cover:

• Delayed baggage insurance
• Emergency evacuation coverage
• Lost, stolen, or damaged baggage insurance
• Medical and dental coverage
• Primary rental car insurance
• Trip delay insurance

So using the Freedom Unlimited card is by no means a replacement for a travel insurance policy.

That said, travel insurance policies usually cost around 10% of the coverage amount, so that would entail an additional cost you’ll need to budget for.

The Freedom Unlimited card is a great rewards credit card with no annual fee and many useful benefits.

Its travel insurance, in particular, is about as good as you can get for a card with no annual fee.

In fact, the Freedom Unlimited card outperforms its competitors in the travel coverage realm.

Just remember that there are almost no instances in which the Freedom Unlimited card’s travel coverages and protections can actually replace a complete travel insurance policy purchased separately.

The information regarding the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is considered travel for the freedom unlimited card.

The Freedom Unlimited card doesn’t offer a bonus multiplier on “travel” as the Chase Sapphire Reserve card does. However, you can earn 5% cash-back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Your travel must be booked and paid for specifically through Chase Ultimate Rewards to qualify, however.

Does Chase insure all travel?

Chase does not insure all travel. In fact, the travel insurance benefits you get are dependent on what card you have, the type of travel you booked, and more.

Is the Freedom Unlimited card good for travel?

The Freedom Unlimited card is a great introductory card for travel. You can earn up to 5% cash-back on travel purchases and utilize travel insurance benefits such as secondary rental car coverage and trip interruption and cancellation insurance.

Who is covered by Chase travel insurance?

In general, it depends on what travel insurance benefit you’re referring to. On the Freedom Unlimited card’s trip cancellation and trip interruption benefit, the cardholder (name must be embossed on the Freedom Unlimited card) and immediate family members are covered. Immediate family members include your spouse, spouse’s parents, sons and daughters (including adopted children and stepchildren), parents (including stepparents), brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, domestic partners, and legal guardians or wards.

Does the Freedom Unlimited card waive foreign transaction fees?

The Freedom Unlimited card does not waive foreign transaction fees. You’ll need to pay a 3% foreign transaction fee if you make a foreign purchase using your Freedom Unlimited card.

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$200 Cash Back After You Spend $500 On Purchases In The First 3 Months From Account Opening: This product is not available to either (i) current cardmembers of this credit card, or (ii) previous cardmembers of this credit card who received a new cardmember bonus for this credit card within the last 24 months. You will receive 20,000 bonus points with this bonus offer, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. To qualify and receive your bonus, you must make Purchases totaling $500 or more during the first 3 months from account opening. ("Purchases" do not include balance transfers, cash advances, travelers checks, foreign currency, money orders, wire transfers or similar cash-like transactions, lottery tickets, casino gaming chips, race track wagers or similar betting transactions, any checks that access your account, interest, unauthorized or fraudulent charges, and fees of any kind, including an annual fee, if applicable.) After qualifying, please allow 6 to 8 weeks for bonus points to post to your account. To be eligible for this bonus offer, account must be open and not in default at the time of fulfillment.

Cash Back And Points: Rewards Program Agreement: For more information about the Chase Freedom Unlimited rewards program, view the latest Rewards Program Agreement (PDF) Opens in a new window . We will mail your Rewards Program Agreement once your account is established. If you become a Chase Online customer, your Rewards Program Agreement will also be available after logging in to chase.com/ultimaterewards Opens in a new window . Cash Back and Points: "Cash Back rewards" are the rewards you earn under the program. Cash Back rewards are tracked as points and each $1 in Cash Back rewards earned is equal to 100 points. You may simply see "Cash Back" in marketing materials when referring to the rewards you earn. You may also see, "points" or "Ultimate Rewards points" when referring to the points you can use. How you can earn points: You'll earn points on purchases of products and services, minus returns or refunds, made with a Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card by you or an authorized user of the account. Buying products and services with your card, in most cases, will count as a purchase; however, the following types of transactions won't count and won't earn points: balance transfers, cash advances and other cash-like transactions, lottery tickets, casino gaming chips, race track wagers or similar betting transactions, any checks that access your account, interest, unauthorized or fraudulent charges, and fees of any kind, including an annual fee, if applicable. 1.5% Cash Back: You'll earn 1.5% Cash Back rewards for each $1 spent. 3% Cash Back rewards total for each $1 spent on purchases in the following rewards categories: drugstores and dining at restaurants including takeout and eligible delivery services (1.5% additional Cash Back rewards on top of the 1.5% Cash Back rewards earned on each purchase). 5% Cash Back rewards total for each $1 spent on purchases made using your card through Chase Travel (3.5% additional Cash Back rewards on top of the 1.5% Cash Back rewards earned on each purchase). 5% total Cash Back on qualifying Lyft rides through 03/2025: You'll earn an additional 3.5% Cash Back for each $1 spent when your card is used for qualifying Lyft products and services purchased through the Lyft mobile application through 03/31/2025 . Qualifying Lyft products and services include rides taken in Classic, Shared, Lux, or XL modes; bike and scooter rides; and subscription and membership products. Purchase of gift cards, car rentals, vehicle service centers, miscellaneous fees, and other Lyft products and services are excluded from this promotion. Future Lyft products or services may not be eligible for additional Cash Back. You may see "5% Cash Back rewards" in marketing materials to refer to the 3.5% Cash Back rewards earned in addition to the 1.5% Cash Back rewards earned on all purchases. The additional 3.5% Cash Back rewards will appear on your billing statement in a separate line from the 1.5% Cash Back rewards. Lyft is not responsible for the provision of, or the failure to provide, Chase benefits or services. How you can use your points: You can use your points to redeem for any available reward options, including cash, gift cards, travel, and pay with points for products or services made available through the program or directly from third parties. Redemption values for reward options vary. Points expiration/losing points: Your points don't expire as long as your account remains open, however, you will immediately lose all your points if your account status changes, or your account is closed for program misuse, fraudulent activities, failure to pay, bankruptcy, or other reasons described in the terms of the Rewards Program Agreement. Rewards Categories: Merchants who accept Visa/Mastercard credit cards are assigned a merchant code, which is determined by the merchant or its processor in accordance with Visa/Mastercard procedures based on the kinds of products and services they primarily sell. We group similar merchant codes into categories for purposes of making rewards offers to you. Please note: We make every effort to include all relevant merchant codes in our rewards categories. However, even though a merchant or some of the items that it sells may appear to fit within a rewards category, the merchant may not have a merchant code in that category. When this occurs, purchases with that merchant won't qualify for rewards offers on purchases in that category. Purchases submitted by you, an authorized user, or the merchant through third-party payment accounts, mobile or wireless card readers, online or mobile digital wallets, or similar technology will not qualify in a rewards category if the technology is not set up to process the purchase in that rewards category. For more information about Chase rewards categories, see chase.com/RewardsCategoryFAQs Opens in a new window .

Amazon Shop With Points: When using points at checkout, each point is worth $0.008, which means that 100 points equals $0.80 in redemption value. Amazon.com Shop with Points service terms apply . Amazon, the Amazon.com logo, the smile logo, and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com , Inc. or its affiliates.

Zero Liability: Zero Liability Protection does not apply to use of an account by an authorized user without the approval of the primary cardmember. If you think someone used your account without permission, tell us immediately by calling the Cardmember Services number on your card or billing statement.

Account Alerts: Delivery of alerts may be delayed for various reasons including technology failures and capacity limitations. There is no charge from Chase, but message and data rates may apply. Complimentary 3 months of DashPass/50% Discounted DashPass for 9 months: When the membership is activated for the first time by 12/31/2024 your Chase Freedom Unlimited account will receive 3 months of complimentary DashPass for use on both the DoorDash and Caviar applications during the same membership period based on the first activation date. After your complimentary period ends, you'll be automatically enrolled for 9 months at 50% off the then current monthly DashPass rate until you cancel. After the DashPass discounted period ends, you will continue to be enrolled and charged the then current monthly DashPass rate until you cancel. You can cancel anytime on DoorDash or Caviar. Membership will be registered in the name of the primary cardmember or an authorized user, whoever activates the benefit first. Membership period for the user on the Chase credit card account referenced above will begin and end based on when the first user activates the membership on DoorDash or Caviar. The same log in credentials must be used on DoorDash and Caviar in order for the DashPass benefit to be used on both applications. To receive the membership benefits, the primary cardmember and authorized user(s) must first add their applicable Chase credit card as a default payment method on DoorDash or Caviar, and then click the activation button. Once enrolled in DashPass, you must use your Chase Freedom Unlimited card for payment at checkout for DashPass-eligible orders to receive DashPass benefits. Benefits of DashPass include no delivery fee on orders above the minimum subtotal (as stated in the DoorDash and Caviar apps and sites) from DashPass-eligible merchants (amounts subject to change). However, other fees (including service fee), taxes, and gratuity on orders may apply. Current value of the DashPass membership is as of 04/01/2022. Membership must be activated with a United States address. Payment through third-party payment accounts, or online or mobile digital wallets (like Apple Pay and Google Pay), or memberships purchased through third parties are excluded from this offer. Mobile applications, websites and other information provided by DoorDash or Caviar are not within Chase's control and may or may not be available in Spanish. Chase is not responsible for the provision of, or the failure to provide, DoorDash or Caviar benefits and services. If you product change to another Chase credit card during the promotional period, your benefits may change. You may experience a delay in updating your applicable benefits in the DoorDash application; please note, once you product trade, the benefits from your previous credit card are no longer available for your use. Your applicable Chase credit card account must be open and not in default to maintain membership benefits. See full DoorDash terms and conditions at: https://help.doordash.com/consumers/s/article/offer-terms-conditions?language=en_US .

All deliveries subject to availability. Must have or create a valid DoorDash account. Qualifying orders containing alcohol will be charged a $0.01 Delivery Fee. No cash value. Non-transferable. See full terms and conditions at: help.doordash.com/consumers/s/article/offer-terms-conditions .

Complimentary Instacart+ Membership: You will receive one complimentary Instacart+ membership per eligible card account for 3 months (for Freedom, Freedom Unlimited, Freedom Flex, Freedom Student, Freedom Rise, Slate, and Slate Edge cardmembers) when the membership is activated on http://www.instacart.com/chase with an eligible card between 6/15/2022 and 7/31/2024. ("You" and "your" mean you as the primary cardmember or any authorized user, depending on which user activates first). This offer is non-transferrable . Membership must be activated with a United States address. Payment through third-party payment accounts, or online or mobile digital wallets (like Apple Pay and Google Pay), or memberships purchased through third parties are excluded from this offer. Benefits of Instacart's membership include no delivery fee on orders that total over $35 (amount subject to change – see Instacart.com for current minimum); however, other fees, taxes, and/or tips may apply. Delivery subject to availability. If you do not currently have a paid or trial Instacart+ membership, by activating your Instacart+ membership, you agree to the Instacart+ Terms and you agree that after the complimentary Instacart+ membership period ends, you will be automatically enrolled in an annual Instacart+ membership and billed at $99/year or the then current annual Instacart+ membership rate for each membership activated, unless you have not placed any orders or you cancel during your complimentary Instacart+ membership period. If you currently have a paid or trial Instacart+ membership, you agree that your existing membership will be paused for the duration of this benefit and resume upon expiration. Your existing membership will automatically renew based on the Instacart+ Terms previously agreed upon unless you cancel. Your membership fees will be billed to any active payment method on file until you cancel. You can cancel your Instacart+ membership prior to the end of your complimentary Instacart+ membership period or at any time thereafter by selecting "Cancel Membership" in your Account Settings. Cancellation goes into effect during the next billing cycle. You may cancel within the first 15 calendar days of your paid Instacart+ membership and receive a refund of the Instacart+ membership fee you paid, but only if you have not placed any orders using your Instacart+ membership. If you change to another Chase credit card during the promotional period, your benefits may change. Mobile applications, websites and other information provided by Instacart are not within Chase's control and may or may not be available in Spanish. Chase is not responsible for the provision of, or the failure to provide, Instacart benefits and services. Your complimentary membership benefits may be removed if your eligible credit card account is closed or in default.

Statement Credit on Instacart Purchases: Earn up to $10 per calendar quarter (for Freedom, Freedom Unlimited, Freedom Flex, Freedom Student and Freedom Rise cardmembers) in statement credits on qualifying Instacart purchases from 8/1/2022 through 7/31/2024 when you activate a complimentary Chase Instacart+ membership on Instacart.com/Chase with your eligible Chase credit card. Calendar quarters are Jan – March, April – June, July – September, October – December, and the partial calendar quarters at the beginning and end of the promotional period. You can check the status of your enrollment in the Chase benefit within the Instacart+ section of the Instacart mobile app. You will continue to receive statement credit benefits regardless of whether you choose to renew your Instacart+ membership at the end of your complimentary period. Qualifying Instacart purchases include only those orders purchased by you, or an authorized user, with a Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card through Instacart.com or the Instacart mobile application (gift cards excluded). Statement credit(s) will post to your account within 48 hours of your qualifying Instacart purchase posting to your account and will appear on your monthly credit card billing statement within 1-2 billing cycles. Statement credits will be issued for the calendar quarter in which the transaction posts to your account. For example, if you pay for an Instacart order, but Instacart does not post the transaction until after the current calendar quarter ends, the cost of the Instacart purchase will be allocated towards the next calendar quarter's maximum, or will not qualify if the promotional period has ended. If you change to another Chase credit card during the promotional period, your benefits may change. Mobile applications, websites and other information provided by Instacart are not within Chase's control and may or may not be available in Spanish. Chase is not responsible for the provision of, or the failure to provide, Instacart benefits and services. Accounts must be open and not in default at the time the statement credit posts to your account.

Cardmembers Eligible for Chase Pay Over Time: Eligible cardmembers are those with access to Chase Pay Over Time who use a participating Chase credit card for eligible purchases. Access to Chase Pay Over Time is not guaranteed, is based on a variety of factors such as creditworthiness, credit limit and account behavior, and may change from time to time. Participating Chase credit cards are consumer credit cards issued by Chase, small business cards are excluded at this time. For Chase Pay Over Time at checkout on Amazon.com, Amazon Visa and Prime Visa cards and Chase Mastercard credit cards are also excluded. Purchases Eligible for Chase Pay Over Time Set Up After Purchase: Purchases of at least $100 are eligible, excluding certain transactions such as (a) cash-like transactions, (b) any fees owed to us, including Annual Membership Fees, and (c) purchases made under a separate promotion or special finance program. Eligible purchases will be identified within your transaction history on chase.com Opens in a new window or the Chase Mobile App. Purchases Eligible for Chase Pay Over Time at Checkout on Amazon.com: Orders totaling at least $50 of eligible items on Amazon.com are eligible. Amazon may designate any item as ineligible, such as Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods, Amazon Prime Now, 1-Click Purchases and Subscribe & Save. If your order includes a recurring subscription, then only the first month's subscription fee will be eligible. If available for your account, the option to choose "financing offers available" will appear at checkout.

INSTACART ® , the Instacart Carrot logo, the Instacart Partial Carrot logo, and the Instacart Carrot Top logo are trademarks of Maplebear Inc., d/b/a Instacart. Instacart may not be available in all zip or post codes. See Instacart Terms of Service for more details.

The Contactless Symbol and Contactless Indicator are trademarks owned by and used with the permission of EMVCo, LLC.

Chase Freedom Unlimited credit cards are issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Accounts subject to credit approval. Restrictions and limitations apply. Offer subject to change.

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Is the Chase Freedom Unlimited Worth It?

Rebecca is a freelance writer specializing in finance. She writes about credit cards, investing and small business for a number of financial websites, including U.S. News & World Report. In addition, she creates blog and website content for major brands in the banking and insurance space.

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The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers cash-back rewards with a $0 annual fee, which might appeal to you if you're cost-conscious. But it's important to consider the full picture to make sure it's the right card for you.

For instance, some $0 -annual-fee cards may not be worthwhile if it means missing out on valuable rewards or benefits other cards may offer. Here's a closer look at what you can expect from the Chase Freedom Unlimited® if you're on the hunt for a new cash-back rewards card.

» Learn more: Beginner's guide to points and miles

High value benefits of the Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Unlimited cash back.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card typically offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on most purchases, 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase, and 3% back at drugstores and restaurants, including takeout and delivery.

Add to that two limited-time cash-back promotions:

You can also earn 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2025. That also applies to qualifying Lyft products and services purchased through the Lyft app.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is subject to the 5/24 rule, a Chase policy to decline your credit card application if you’ve opened five or more card accounts, with any issuer, in the last 24 months. So consider whether this card could put you at the five-card limit and whether that would mean sacrificing a better option down the road.

» Learn more: Chase 5/24 rule explained

Sizable introductory cash-back bonus

Introductory bonus offers can make no-annual-fee cash-back cards more appealing if they come with an easy-to-meet minimum spending requirement. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers the following welcome bonus: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

Compared to other cash-back rewards cards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® has one of the most competitive welcome bonuses.

» Learn more: Which cash-back credit cards offer a good welcome bonus?

Flexible cash-back redemptions

Another plus of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is the options you have for redeeming cash-back rewards. Rewards earned with this card can be redeemed for:

Statement credit.

Direct deposit into a U.S. checking or savings account.

Shopping with points at Amazon.com.

Gift cards for shopping, dining and entertainment.

Travel booked through Chase.

You can get even more value from those points if you have another Chase card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . That’s because Chase lets you transfer your points between cards.

For example, transferring points from the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card gives you 25% more redemption value when you then use the points for travel in the Chase portal. So transferring the 20,000 points from the welcome bonus can get you value equal to 25,000 points when booking through the portal.

» Learn more: Cash Back vs. Travel: How to Choose Credit Card Rewards

So, is the Chase Freedom Unlimited® worth it or not?

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a lot to like if you're interested in a $0 -annual-fee cash-back rewards card. Consider this card if you:

Want to earn unlimited cash-back rewards without juggling rewards tiers or rotating bonus categories.

Want to earn the welcome bonus.

Want flexible ways to redeem your cash back rewards.

Have another Chase card that's eligible for Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

» Learn more: Full review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited®

This card may not be the best fit if you'd like to leave a slot open for another Chase rewards card under the 5/24 rule. Overall, however, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a solid pick for earning cash back with no annual fee while enjoying a few additional perks along the way.

If you want to dive into rotating bonus categories to earn even more points, still with a no-fee card, consider the Chase Freedom Flex® .

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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Why i'm keeping my chase sapphire reserve card, i'm keeping my chase sapphire reserve® for its impressive travel benefits and pairing possibilities..

Some offers mentioned below are no longer available.

I've been obsessed with travel since I got my first passport in high school. Over the years, I've used lots of credit cards to fund my trips, from airline cards to cash-back cards .

I've wanted the Chase Sapphire Reserve® since its debut in 2016. With comprehensive travel insurance, an annual $300 travel credit and free room upgrades at luxury hotels, it's ranked one of CNBC Select's top travel cards . But it also comes with a hefty $550 annual fee.

I took the plunge early last year: My fiance and I were taking a lot of trips and we calculated that we'd get enough from the card's travel perks to offset the fee.

We were wrong, though: It's more than paid for itself several times over.

That was in the first year, though, when I received the welcome bonus. Here's why I'm keeping the Chase Sapphire Reserve card for another year — and why it's the only card I'll pay an annual fee for.

Chase Ultimate Rewards® points

My Chase Sapphire Reserve came with a welcome bonus of 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after I spent $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of opening the account. That's $900 I used for hotels and airfare through Chase Travel℠ — or nearly twice the $550 fee I paid.

And for a limited time, the welcome bonus has been increased to 75,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, making it worth $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.

While that welcome bonus is just for the first year, I'll still earn points from the card I can put toward more adventures. Chase Ultimate Rewards points can also be applied toward numerous airline and hotel loyalty programs with a 1:1 ratio, including: 

• Aer Lingus   
• Air Canada  
• Air France-KLM
• British Airways  
• Singapore  
• Southwest  
• Virgin Atlantic  
• InterContinental Hotels Group 

TSA PreCheck and Global Entry credit

I've saved a few minutes at my home airport with TSA PreCheck , but Global Entry has really come in handy over the years. It enabled me to skip an hours-long line at Chicago O'Hare coming back from Toronto and make a tight connection after a girls' trip to Mexico. It also spared me an eternity at customs and immigration after a 13-hour flight from Taiwan to San Francisco.

My Chase Sapphire Reserve gives me a $100 application fee credit for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry every four years. I need to renew both before 2025, so that's a savings I'll be able to enjoy this year.

Priority Pass lounge access

I like to play a game at the airport where I see how little I can spend. We try to pack snacks from home and pick up lunch before leaving our destination, but it's not always easy. 

That's why I love the lounge access included with my Chase Sapphire Reserve. I get a free Priority Pass™ membership, which allows unlimited entry to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. You can bring up to two guests for free, so I don't have to leave my fiance behind.

Without my Chase Sapphire Reserve, it would cost me about $469 a year for Priority Pass lounge access, plus $35 a guest per visit. The lounges I've visited offer hot meals, snacks, drinks and a comfy place to relax. Some lounges even have showers and the option to rent a room if we have time to catch a nap. 

Priority Pass lounges aren't the only place I can kick back, either: Chase has started its own Sapphire Lounges network and we're excited to check them out in Boston and New York City, where my fiance has family. Without a Sapphire Reserve card, entry into these elite lounges costs $100 per visit. A standalone Priority Pass membership only gets you one complimentary Sapphire Lounge visit a year. After that, it's $75 a pop. (The only exception is Hong Kong, where Priority Pass members enjoy unlimited access to the Sapphire Lounge.)

Granted, lounge access doesn't directly offset Chase Sapphire's $550 annual fee, but in a world of $20 plastic-wrapped sandwiches and $7 coffees, it saves us money in other ways. And the relaxed state of mind it puts us in is priceless.   

The $300 travel credit

Each year when you renew the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you get a $300 annual travel credit that's automatically applied to travel expenses. 

My fiance and I travel a lot so that credit offsets a good chunk of the $550 annual fee. Last year, we used it to book a luxury hotel room in Toronto. In 2024, it's covering flights to friends' weddings and family gatherings.

While the credit can be put toward airfare and hotel rooms, it can also cover:

• Taxis and car services
• Car rentals
• Train tickets
• Campgrounds
• Bus tickets
• Travel agency services

You'd be surprised how quickly you can rack up $300 in just parking and tolls. 

I'm also not charged foreign transaction fees with my Chase Sapphire Reserve, which helped keep costs down when we were in Canada and Asia. We have enough international travel planned that this will continue to be a valuable perk.

It comes with travel insurance

I had to cancel a big road trip In September 2023 because of a family emergency . I foolishly hadn’t bought a travel insurance policy when I made reservations for the house we rented and thought I was out nearly $500,

Then I remembered my Chase Sapphire Reserve comes with travel insurance . I was able to file a claim easily and got reimbursed.   The policy includes coverage for trip delays and cancellations, lost baggage, emergency medical care and even damage to your rental car. It’s on par with offerings from many top travel insurance companies , which typically cost between 3% and 5% of your trip's non-refundable expenses. As an example, it would have cost about $300 just to insure our flight between Japan and Taiwan last year.

I’ve considered getting an annual travel insurance plan to cover all of our trips, but that would cost about $1,000 for both my partner and me, according to several top carriers I’ve quoted. That’s double the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s annual fee. 

Getting coverage through my card means I don’t ever have to think about travel insurance: All the non-refundable trip expenses I pay for with it are automatically covered.  That doesn’t just save me money, it saves me time and mental energy.

I can transfer Ultimate Rewards points between cards

Last winter, we decided to renovate our bathroom and looked for a 0% intro APR card to give us more time to pay off the cost.

We settled on Chase Freedom Unlimited® , which comes with 0% APR for the first 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers. ( After that, it has a variable APR of 20.49% to 29.24%.)

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Enjoy 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; and 3% cash back on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Welcome bonus

INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

0% for the first 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers

Regular APR

20.49% - 29.24% variable

Balance transfer fee

Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Foreign transaction fee

Credit needed.

Excellent/Good

Member FDIC. Terms apply.

Read our Chase Freedom Unlimited® review.

That gives us enough breathing room to pay for the new bathroom and still clear the balance before our 15-month introductory period ends.

Having a Chase Sapphire Reserve makes the deal sweeter, though, because we can transfer points between the two cards: For an upcoming trip to Southeast Asia, I'm transferring points from my Chase Freedom Unlimited to the Sapphire Reserve card to use in the Chase Travel ℠ portal. That will make them worth 1.5 cents per point, rather than the 1 cent I'd get from Chase Freedom.

It's great for wedding and honeymoon expenses

Since my partner and I got engaged in March, we've been shocked at how expensive weddings are. In 2023, the average cost of a wedding in Ohio was about $30,000, according to The Knot . We hope to come in well below that, but we'll still be on the hook for a lot . 

We hope to use the Chase Sapphire Reserve to pay for hotel rooms for guests and catering from some of Cincinnati's great local restaurants. The card earns 3x points on travel expenses and dining and 10x points on hotels and car rentals made through Chase Travel after the $300 annual travel credit is used. (Through March 2025, cardholders also get 10x points on Lyft, 5x points on flights and 10x points on Chase Dining purchases.). 

Other categories earn 1 point for every dollar, so we'll also get a boost on things like invitations and dress alterations.

When we decide where we want to spend our honeymoon, we'll use the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal to book it: I have my eye on several places in the Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection, which come with complimentary upgrades like late checkout, wifi and room upgrades.

Many people open a new credit card for wedding expenses , but we're sticking to the card we have.

Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.  Sign up here .

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products . While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

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Travel insurance

Best travel insurance companies of June 2024

Amy Fontinelle

Heidi Gollub

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 2:16 p.m. UTC June 7, 2024

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Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy .

WorldTrips is the best travel insurance company of 2024 , based on our in-depth analysis of travel insurance policies. Its Atlas Journey Elevate plan gets the top score in our rating because of the extensive coverage it provides for the price. It offers best-in-class emergency medical and evacuation benefits, as well as high limits for baggage insurance.

Best travel insurance of 2024

• WorldTrips : Best travel insurance.
• Travel Insured International : Best for emergency evacuation.
• TravelSafe : Best for missed connections.
• Aegis : Cheapest travel insurance.
• Travelex : Best for families.
• AIG : Best for add-on coverage options.
• Nationwide : Best for cruise itinerary changes.

Why trust our travel insurance experts

Our travel insurance experts evaluate hundreds of insurance products and analyze thousands of data points to help you find the best trip insurance for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content . You can read more about our methodology below.

• 1,855 coverage details evaluated.
• 567 rates reviewed.
• 5 levels of fact-checking.

Best travel insurance companies

Best travel insurance.

Top travel insurance plans

Average cost, medical limit per person, why it’s the best.

If you’re looking for the best travel insurance for international travel , WorldTrips’ Atlas Journey Elevate plan gives you $250,000 in travel medical insurance with primary coverage. This plan is a good option if health insurance for international travel is a priority. It also has $1 million in emergency evacuation coverage. 

See our full WorldTrips travel insurance review .

Pros and cons

• $250,000 in primary medical coverage.
• $1 million per person in medical evacuation coverage.
• Primary damage or loss baggage coverage of $500 per item, up to $2,500.
• 5 optional upgrades, including pet care, adventure sports and rental car damage and theft.
• No non-medical evacuation coverage.

Customer reviews

WorldTrips has a rating of 4.27 stars out of 5 on Squaremouth, based on 428 reviews of policies purchased through the travel insurance comparison site since 2008. 

Heidi’s expert take:   “WorldTrips offers primary coverage for emergency medical expense and for baggage damage or loss. This means the insurer will pay for your claim first and then seek recovery from any responsible third party, such as your health insurance provider, airline or homeowners insurance company (if your belongings are stolen). Travel insurance with secondary medical coverage might be cheaper, but then you’d have to file claims with third parties yourself, before you could turn to your travel insurance for help.” Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

Best travel insurance for emergency evacuation

Travel insured international.

Top travel insurance plan

If you’re traveling to a remote area, consider Travel Insured International’s Worldwide Trip Protector. It has the best travel insurance for emergency evacuation of travel insurance policies in our rating. This top travel insurance plan provides up to $1 million in emergency evacuation coverage per person and $150,000 in non-medical evacuation per person. It also has primary coverage for travel medical insurance benefits.

• Only plan in our rating that offers $150,000 in non-medical evacuation coverage.
• $500 per person baggage delay benefit only requires a 3-hour delay.
• Optional rental car damage benefit up to $50,000.
• Missed connection benefit of $500 per person is only available for cruises and tours.

Travel Insured International has a rating of 4.39 stars out of 5 on Squaremouth, based on 3,402 reviews of policies purchased on the travel insurance comparison site since 2004.

Heidi’s expert take:   “The Worldwide Trip Protector plan provides rare non-medical evacuation benefits of up to $150,000. If you’re traveling to an area at risk of a political, security or national disaster, this emergency evacuation coverage could help get you back to safety.” Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

Best travel insurance for missed connections

TravelSafe offers good travel insurance for missed connections , with $2,500 in missed connection coverage for each person on the plan.

• Best-in-class $2,500 per person in missed connection coverage.
• $1 million per person in medical evacuation and $25,000 in non-medical evacuation coverage.
• Generous $2,500 per person baggage and personal items loss benefit.
• Most expensive of our best-rated travel insurance plans.
• No “interruption for any reason” coverage option.
• Weak baggage delay coverage of $250 per person after 12 hours.

TravelSafe has a rating of 4.3 stars out of 5 on Squaremouth, based on 1,506 reviews of policies purchased on the travel insurance comparison site since 2004.

Heidi’s expert take:   “If you miss out on prepaid vacation plans because you didn’t make a connecting flight, you’ll be glad for the $2,500 missed connection coverage. Some policies only provide missed connection coverage for cruises and tours, but TravelSafe Classic doesn’t impose that restriction.” Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

Cheapest travel insurance

Go Ready Choice by Aegis has the most affordable travel insurance of the best-rated travel insurance companies in our rating. This is based on the average cost of seven international trips of varying lengths and values for travelers of different ages.

See our full Aegis travel insurance review .

• Cheapest of our best trip insurance plans.
• Pet care benefit of $500 under travel delay benefits.
• Low emergency medical and evacuation limits.
• Low missed connection benefit of $500 per person for cruises and tours only.
• Low baggage and personal items loss benefit of $500 per person.

Aegis has a rating of 4.06 stars out of 5 on Squaremouth, based on 1,111 reviews of policies purchased on the travel insurance comparison site since 2013.

Heidi’s expert take:   “If you’re looking for a  budget travel insurance policy , Go Ready Choice may fit the bill. It has comparably low coverage limits, but if you have health insurance that will cover you on your trip, its $50,000 in secondary medical coverage may be sufficient.” Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

Best travel insurance for families

Top-scoring plan

Travelex Insurance Services has the best travel insurance for families because you can add kids aged 17 and younger to your Travel Select plan at no additional charge.

See our full Travelex travel insurance review .

• Free coverage for children 17 and under on the same policy.
• Robust travel delay coverage of $2,000 per person ($250 per day) after 5 hours.
• Hurricane and weather coverage after a common carrier delay of any amount of time.
• Low emergency medical coverage of $50,000 per person.
• Non-medical evacuation is not included.
• Low baggage delay coverage of $200 requires a 12-hour delay.

Travelex has a rating of 4.43 stars out of 5 on Squaremouth, based on 2,048 reviews of policies purchased on the travel insurance comparison site since 2004.

Heidi’s expert take:   “If you’re traveling with kids, a Travelex policy will cover them, too. The number of children you can add to your policy is unlimited and they’ll get travel protection at no additional cost.” Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

Best travel insurance for add-on coverage options

Travel Guard Preferred from AIG allows you to customize your policy with a host of available upgrades, making it the best traveler insurance for add-on options . These include “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage , rental vehicle damage coverage and bundles that offer additional benefits for adventure sports, travel inconvenience, quarantine, pets, security and weddings.

There’s also a medical bundle that increases the travel medical benefit to $100,000 and emergency evacuation to $1 million. This is a good option if you’re looking for foreign travel health insurance.

See our full AIG travel insurance review .

• Bundle upgrades allow you to customize your travel insurance policy.
• Emergency medical and evacuation limits can be doubled with optional upgrade.
• Base travel insurance policy has relatively low medical limits.
• $300 baggage delay benefit requires a 12-hour delay.
• Optional CFAR upgrade only reimburses up to 50% of trip cost.

Heidi’s expert take: “You can add riders to your AIG travel insurance policy to maximize your coverage. Choose from these bundles: adventure sports, medical, pet, quarantine, security and wedding. You may also want to add “cancel for any reason” coverage and rental vehicle damage coverage.”  Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

Best travel insurance for cruise itinerary changes

Nationwide’s Choice Cruise is good travel insurance for cruises . It has a $500 per person benefit if a cruise itinerary change causes you to miss a prepaid excursion.

Choice Cruise also has a missed connections benefit of $1,500 per person after only a 3-hour delay when you’re taking a cruise or tour. But note that this coverage is secondary coverage to any compensation provided by a common carrier.

See our full Nationwide travel insurance review .

• Benefits for cruise itinerary changes, ship-based mechanical breakdowns and covered shipboard service disruptions.
• Non-medical evacuation benefit of $25,000 per person.
• Missed connection coverage of $1,500 per person for tours and cruises, after a 3-hour delay.
• Baggage loss benefits of $2,500 per person.
• Travel medical coverage is secondary.
• Trip cancellation benefit for losing your job requires three years of continuous employment.
• No “cancel for any reason” upgrade available.

Nationwide has a rating of 4.02 stars out of 5 on Squaremouth, based on 570 reviews of policies purchased on the travel insurance comparison site since 2018.

  Heidi’s expert take: “This plan has protections for cruisers when it comes to prepaid expenses. But its emergency medical coverage is secondary, which means you’d have to file medical claims with your health insurance company first. Since U.S. health insurance won’t help you at sea, you may want to look for cruise travel insurance with primary medical coverage instead.” Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

Compare the best travel insurance plans

Via Compare Coverage’s website

Heidi’s expert take: “Here are my tips on how to buy travel insurance that gets you the most coverage for the lowest price: Buy early . Getting travel insurance within two weeks of making your first trip deposit may qualify you for coverage of pre-existing medical conditions, and it won’t cost you any extra.  Look for primary emergency medical coverage . If you buy a plan with secondary coverage, you’ll have to file a claim with your health insurance first, even if you know it will be denied.  Don’t overinsure . Calculate the value of only your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses that are not already covered by other insurance (like credit card travel insurance or health insurance, if your coverage extends to where you are traveling). Even if this value is $0, you can still buy travel insurance for the travel medical insurance benefits, and you’ll only be paying for the insurance you need.  Understand exclusions . If you are planning to go scuba diving, for instance, make sure this adventure activity is not excluded from a policy’s coverage. If so, you may need to pay for a rider or shop for another plan that offers the coverage you need.” Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

What is the best travel insurance?

The best travel insurance for international travel is sold by WorldTrips, according to our in-depth trip insurance comparison.

The best travel insurance plan for you will depend on the trip you are planning and the coverage areas that are most important to you.

• Best cruise travel insurance
• Best COVID travel insurance
• Best “cancel for any reason” travel insurance
• Best senior travel insurance

Best travel insurance for cruises

The best cruise travel insurance is Atlas Journey Preferred sold by WorldTrips . This plan offers solid travel insurance for cruises for a low rate.

Best travel insurance for COVID-19

The best COVID travel insurance is the Trip Protection Basic plan sold by Seven Corners . It is a relatively low cost travel insurance plan with optional “cancel for any reason” coverage that reimburses up to 75% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses.

Best travel insurance for “cancel for any reason” 

The best “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) travel insurance is Seven Corners’ Trip Protection Basic. Adding CFAR coverage to a RoundTrip Basic plan only increases the cost by about 40%, which is lower than other plans we analyzed. For the extra cost, you get coverage of 75% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses, as long as you cancel at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure.

Best travel insurance for seniors

The best senior travel insurance is the Gold plan sold by Tin Leg . It is an affordable travel insurance plan with travel medical primary coverage of $500,000 and a pre-existing conditions waiver if you insure the full amount of your trip within 14 days of your first trip deposit.

How much is travel insurance?

The average cost of travel insurance is 5% to 6% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs . 

How much you pay for travel insurance will depend on:

• The cost of your trip.
• Your destination.
• The length of your trip. 
• The ages of travelers being insured.
• Your state of residence.
• The travel insurance policy you choose.
• The total coverage amounts in your policy.
• Any travel insurance add-ons you select. 

Here are average travel insurance rates for a 30-year-old female who is insuring a 14-day trip to Mexico.

Looking to save? Discover cheap travel insurance options.

How much travel insurance should I buy?

Travel insurance companies typically offer several plans with varying maximum limits. The higher the coverage limits, the more you’ll pay for travel insurance. 

Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison site, recommends the following coverage limits for international travel: 

• Emergency medical coverage: At least $50,000. 
• Medical evacuation coverage: At least $100,000. 

If you’re going on a cruise, or to a remote location, Squaremouth recommends: 

• Emergency medical coverage: At least $100,000. 
• Medical evacuation coverage: At least $250,000.

When evaluating travel insurance plans, our team of insurance analysts considered the best medical travel insurance policies to have at least $250,000 in emergency medical coverage and at least $500,000 in medical evacuation coverage. 

When should I buy travel insurance?

The best time to buy travel insurance is within two weeks of making your first nonrefundable travel payment, whether it’s for a plane ticket, hotel stay, cruise or excursion. 

Travel insurance costs the same whether you buy it early or last minute, and buying it early has added benefits: 

• You may be able to add on “ cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage , an upgrade that is typically only available for a limited time after you’ve started paying for your trip. 
• You may qualify for a pre-existing medical conditions exclusion waiver, meaning your pre-existing conditions will be covered by travel insurance. This waiver is generally added to your policy automatically, provided you buy the travel insurance within a certain window after your first trip deposit.
• You will be covered over a longer period of time for unforeseen events that could cause you to cancel your trip, such as medical emergencies, inclement weather and natural disasters. 

Expert tip: You can buy travel insurance up to the day before you leave on your trip, but waiting may cost you the opportunity to qualify for a pre-existing conditions exclusion waiver or to buy a “cancel for any reason” upgrade.

Where can I buy travel insurance?

You can buy a travel insurance plan:

• Online. Visit a travel insurance company’s website to buy a policy directly or use a comparison website like Squaremouth or Travelinsurance.com to see your options and compare plans. You may also be able to purchase travel insurance online through an airline, cruise, hotel, rental car company or other provider you book a ticket with.
• In person. A travel agent or insurance agent may be able to assist you in buying travel insurance.

Travel insurance trends in 2024

Americans are changing the way they travel and this includes buying travel insurance when they might have skipped it in the past. As spending on trips continues to rise , travelers have more to lose if their plans are disrupted. 

Based on travel insurance quote requests on the Squaremouth website last month, these are the main benefits travelers are looking for in a travel insurance policy.

*Source: Squaremouth.com. Travel insurance quote filter usage from April 28 to May 28, 2024.

Methodology

Our insurance experts reviewed 1,855 coverage details and 567 rates to determine the best travel insurance of 2024. For companies with more than one travel insurance plan, we shared information about the highest-scoring plan.

Insurers could score up to 100 points based on the following factors:

• $3,000, 8-day trip to Mexico for two travelers age 30.
• $3,000, 8-day trip to Mexico for two travelers age 70.
• $6,000, 17-day trip to Italy for two travelers age 40.
• $6,000, 17-day trip to Italy for two travelers age 65.
• $15,000, 17-day trip to Italy for four travelers ages 40, 40, 10 and 7.
• $15,000, 17-day trip to France for four travelers ages 40, 40, 10 and 7.
• $15,000, 17-day trip to the U.K. for four travelers ages 40, 40, 10 and 7.
• Medical expenses: 10 points. We scored travel medical insurance by the coverage amount available. Travel insurance policies with emergency medical expense benefits of $250,000 or more per person were given the highest score of 10 points.
• Medical evacuation: 10 points. We scored each plan’s emergency medical evacuation coverage by coverage amount. Travel insurance policies with medical evacuation expense benefits of $500,000 or more per person were given the highest score of 10 points.
• Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver: 10 points. We gave full points to travel insurance policies that cover pre-existing medical conditions if certain conditions are met.
• Missed connection: 10 points. Travel insurance plans with missed connection benefits of $1,000 per person or more received full points.
• “Cancel for any reason” upgrade: 5 points. We gave points to travel insurance plans with optional “cancel for any reason” coverage that reimburses up to 75%.
• Travel delay required waiting time: 5 points. We gave 5 points to travel insurance policies with travel delay benefits that kick in after a delay of 6 hours or less.
• Cancel for work reasons: 5 points. If a travel insurance plan allows you to cancel your trip for work reasons, such as your boss requiring you to stay and work, we gave it 5 points.
• Hurricane and severe weather: 5 points. Travel insurance plans that have a required waiting period for hurricane and weather coverage of 12 hours or less received 5 points.

Some travel insurance companies may offer plans with additional benefits or lower prices than the plans that scored the highest, so make sure to compare travel insurance quotes to see your full range of options.

If you’d like to dig in deeper, head over to our travel insurance ratings methodology page.

Best travel insurance FAQs

According to our analysis, WorldTrips has the best trip insurance. Two of its plans — Atlas Journey Explore and Atlas Journey Elevate — get 5 stars in our rating.

The best travel insurance policy for you will depend on what type of coverage you need. With so many different policies and carriers, the policy that was best for your friend’s trip to California might not be ideal for your trip to Japan. If you’re looking for the best travel insurance for international travel, you may be willing to pay more for higher coverage levels.

A comprehensive travel insurance plan bundles several types of travel insurance coverage, each with its own limits. To ensure you have adequate financial protection for your trip, your travel insurance policy should include the following travel insurance coverages:

• Trip cancellation . With trip cancellation insurance , you’re covered if you need to call off your trip because of a reason listed in your policy, such as unexpected illness, injury or death of you, a family member or a travel companion, severe weather, jury duty and your travel supplier going out of business. 
• Travel delay. Once your trip has started, travel delay insurance reimburses you for unexpected expenses you incur after a minimum delay, such as five hours. It can cover needs like airport meals, transportation and even overnight accommodation. 
• Trip interruption. If you need to cut your trip early for a reason listed in your policy, trip interruption insurance can reimburse you for any prepaid, nonrefundable payments you’ll lose by leaving early. It can also pay for a last-minute one-way ticket home. 
• Travel medical . Emergency medical benefits are especially important if you need international health insurance for travel outside of the country. Your domestic health insurance may provide limited coverage once you leave the U.S. The best travel medical insurance pays for ambulance service, doctor visits, hospital stays, X-rays, lab work and prescription medication you may require while traveling. 
• Emergency medical evacuation. If you’re traveling to a remote area, or planning excursions such as boating to an island, emergency medical evacuation coverage is a good idea. This coverage pays to transport you to the nearest adequate medical facility if you are injured or sick while traveling. 
• Baggage delay. After a certain waiting period, such as six or 12 hours, this coverage will reimburse you for necessities you need to buy to tide you over while you wait for your bag to arrive. Be sure to save your receipts and look at your coverage limit, as some caps are low, like $200. 
• Baggage loss. Baggage insurance can reimburse you if your bag never arrives, or if your personal belongings are stolen during your travels. Coverage limits apply here, as well as exclusions for certain items such as electronics.  

“Typically, travelers are expected to pay their expenses out of pocket, and then file a claim for reimbursement,” said James Clark, spokesperson for Squaremouth. “However, there are medical situations in which a provider may be required to pre-authorize payment to make sure the policyholder receives the treatment they need.”

According to Clark, “Providers can pre-authorize payment for medical care and emergency evacuations. With that said, every circumstance is unique, and providers will handle each situation on a case-by-case basis.”

Travel insurance covers your prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs — as well as extra money you may need to spend due to unforeseen circumstances and emergencies — both before and during your trip.

Travel insurance coverage varies by plan, but in general travel insurance covers costs associated with these problems: 

• Bankruptcy of a travel insurance company, such as your airline or tour operator. 
• Dangerous weather conditions.
• Delayed and lost luggage.
• Illness or death in your family that requires you to stay home or cut your trip short.
• Illness that needs medical attention.
• Injury requiring medical evacuation.
• Jury duty. 
• Travel delays and missed connections.
• Theft of your personal belongings while traveling.
• Unexpected job loss. 

Travel insurance policies often exclude or limit “foreseeable” losses. Typical travel insurance exclusions include:

• Accidents or injuries caused by drinking or drug use.
• Canceling your trip because you changed your mind.
• Ending your trip early because you changed your mind.
• Losses caused by intentional self harm, including suicide.
• Losses due to war, civil disorder or riots.
• Medical tourism.
• Medical treatment for pre-existing conditions.
• Mental health care.
• Natural disasters that begin before you buy travel insurance.
• Non-medical evacuation.
• Normal pregnancy. 
• Medical treatment related to high-risk activities.
• Routine medical care, such as physicals or dental care.
• Search and rescue.

Your U.S. health insurance may provide little or no coverage in foreign countries. Check with your health insurance company to see if you have any global benefits and ask how they work. If your health care does extend across the border, the benefits it provides abroad may not be the same benefits it provides domestically. 

Medicare usually won’t pay for health care outside of the United States and its territories, so older travelers planning an international trip should look into the best senior travel insurance with robust medical benefits. 

The best time to buy travel insurance is immediately after booking your trip and making a nonrefundable payment — in other words, as soon as you’re at risk of losing money. This way, you’ll know the total cost that you need to insure and you’ll have the longest window to take advantage of your policy’s benefits if something goes wrong.

You can’t wait until something goes wrong and then buy travel insurance to get reimbursed for your loss. Travel insurance only covers unexpected losses.

Travel insurance companies can decline to cover travel to certain countries. For example, you may find that some trip insurance companies don’t offer coverage to countries with a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory from the U.S. State Department. 

Travel insurance policies also frequently exclude certain risks that you’re more likely to encounter in Level 4 or Level 3 countries. For example, your policy may not cover losses related to declared or undeclared wars or acts of war or losses related to known or foreseeable conditions or events. 

Some credit cards , such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , offer benefits such as trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance and trip delay reimbursement when you use your card to pay for your trip.

Ask your credit card issuer for your card’s benefits guide to see what coverage you may have. Keep in mind that it may not cover all the risks you want to protect against, such as the cost of international health care or emergency medical evacuation .

Business travel insurance makes sense if you are self-employed and paying for your own travel expenses, or if you are traveling internationally and want medical coverage abroad.

You might also consider buying travel insurance for a business trip if your company won’t cover extra expenses if your flight is delayed or you need to head home early.

Cruise travel insurance can help protect you financially if you need emergency medical care in a remote location, or if a delayed flight causes you to miss embarkation and you need to pay extra to catch up to your cruise.

Experts caution that travel insurance you buy through a cruise line may not be as comprehensive as plans you can buy directly from travel insurance companies.

Some travel insurance plans cover rental cars as an optional upgrade, for an additional cost. The 5-star rated travel insurance companies in our rating offer these optional rental car benefits:

• Travel Insured International — Rental car damage and theft coverage of $50,000.
• WorldTrips — Rental car damage and theft coverage of $50,000 with a $250 deductible. 

Travel insurance typically only covers a single trip, although your insured trip can have multiple destinations. 

If you’re looking to insure several trips in the same year, annual travel insurance may be a good option for you.

Travel insurance may be required, depending on the country you plan to visit. But it’s smart to consider buying a travel insurance policy for international travel, even when it is not required. A good travel insurance policy can protect you financially if you need emergency medical assistance when traveling, or if you need to cut your trip short and buy a last-minute plane ticket home because an immediate family member is ill. 

Wondering if travel insurance is worth it? What travel insurance covers

Editor’s Note: This article contains updated information from previously published stories:

• Spirit Airlines scrubs 60% of its Wednesday flights, says cancellations will drop ‘in the days to come.’
• 'Just a parade of incompetency': Spirit Airlines passengers with 'nightmare' stories want more than apology, $50 vouchers
• ‘This is not our proudest moment’: Spirit Airlines CEO says more flight cancellations expected this weekend
• Hurricane Irma: Flight cancellations top 12,500; even more expected
• Is an annual travel insurance policy right for you?
• How 2020 and COVID-19 changed travel forever – and what that means for you
• COVID-19 or delta variant have you ready to scrap your trip? Here’s how to cancel like a pro
• Sunday: Snow is over, but flight cancellations top 12,000
• After nearly 13,000 Harvey cancellations, Irma is new threat to airline flights
• What’s the difference between travel insurance and trip ‘protection’?
• How to choose the right travel insurance for your next vacation
• Travel insurance can save the day
• Angry passengers brawl after Spirit cancels flights
• What to do when travel insurance doesn’t work
• How lockdowns, quarantines and COVID-19 testing will change summer travel in 2021
• Travelers will pay and worry more on summer vacation this year. But they won’t cancel
• How to find a hotel with COVID testing and quarantine facilities wherever you travel
• Yearning to travel in 2022? First, figure out your budget – then pick a destination
• Pro tips for surviving a long flight during a pandemic: Get the right mask, bring a pillow
• Want to steer clear of contracting COVID-19 on your next vacation? Follow these guidelines
• Post-pandemic travel: Is it OK to ask another passenger’s vaccine status or request they mask up?
• These days, forgetting these important travel items could cost you thousands of dollars
• International travel hacks: When to book flights and hotels, how to deal with COVID-19 rules
• Traveling post-coronavirus: How do you book your next trip when so much remains uncertain?
• The COVID-19 guide to holiday travel – and the case for why you shouldn’t go this year
• Should you travel during the holidays? Americans struggle with their decision
• ‘There’s still pent-up demand’: What you should know about fall travel
• Planning for life after coronavirus: When will we know it’s safe to travel again?
• ‘Busiest camping season’: Travelers choose outdoor recreation close to home amid COVID-19 pandemic
• Considering a camping trip this summer? Tips to make sure your gear is good to go
• RVing for the first time? 8 tips for newbies I wish I’d known during my first trip
• Five myths about travel agents
• Should I buy travel insurance?
• Is travel insurance stacked against you?
• Five myths about travel insurance and terrorism
• These eight things could get your travel insurance claims rejected
• There’s a good chance that your credit card already gives you some kind of travel insurance coverage
• How to avoid a hotel cancellation penalty
• Change fees and travel insurance continue to rise

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Amy Fontinelle has more than 15 years of experience helping people make informed decisions about their money, whether they’re refinancing a mortgage, buying insurance or choosing a credit card. As a freelance writer trained in journalism and specializing in personal finance, Amy digs into the details to explain the products and strategies that can help (or hurt) people seeking greater financial security and wealth. Her work has been published by Forbes Advisor, Capital One, MassMutual, Investopedia and many other outlets.

Heidi Gollub is the USA TODAY Blueprint managing editor of insurance. She was previously lead editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor and led the insurance team at U.S. News & World Report as assistant managing editor of 360 Reviews. Heidi has an MBA from Emporia State University and is a licensed property and casualty insurance expert.

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Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card review: Luxury perks and valuable rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card overview

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best rewards credit cards of all time. Offering up to 10 points per dollar on travel through Chase Travel℠ and dining through Chase Ultimate Rewards, this card earns incredibly valuable Ultimate Rewards points that can be transferred to hotel and airline partners or redeemed directly for flights at a rate of 1.5 cents per point. Add in a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access and a litany of other perks, and this card is guaranteed to upgrade your travel lifestyle. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

* Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is the card that convinced average consumers that they could come out ahead with a premium credit card even after paying an annual fee of several hundred dollars a year.

In fact, the Sapphire Reserve was so successful from the moment it launched in 2016 (with an initial 100,000-point welcome bonus) that Chase temporarily ran out of the metal slabs needed to produce the cards.

If you have an excellent credit score and want premium benefits, the Sapphire Reserve could be a great option for you. Let's review the features that continue to make it such an attractive travel credit card — one that has earned a permanent spot at the top of many TPG wallets.

Chase Sapphire Reserve pros and cons

Chase sapphire reserve welcome offer.

Right now, the Chase Sapphire Reserve has a welcome offer of 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

With a value of 2.05 cents apiece for Chase Ultimate Rewards points (according to TPG June 2024 valuations ), the current 60,000-point bonus on the Sapphire Reserve is worth $1,230. That's equivalent to more than two years of its $550 annual fee.

Even if you don't utilize Chase's transfer partners, Sapphire Reserve cardholders get a value of 1.5 cents per Ultimate Rewards point when redeeming for travel in the Chase Travel portal , making the bonus worth $900 when redeemed through the portal. Even if you're a novice in the travel rewards field and don't know how to maximize transfer partners, you're guaranteed to get your money's worth in travel from the welcome bonus if you use your points to book travel through the portal.

Remember, too, that booking a flight this way typically counts as a revenue booking. This means you'll earn airline miles and elite credit as well, getting you even more value.

That said, it's important to keep Chase's application restrictions in mind, especially regarding the Sapphire cards. And because of Chase's 5/24 rule , you'll want to apply for Chase cards first before turning to other issuers. That's why picking the right Sapphire product for your situation is critical.

Related: The best time to apply for these Chase cards based on offer history

Chase Sapphire Reserve benefits

The Chase Sapphire Reserve doesn't offer quite as many perks as The Platinum Card® from American Express , but it has plenty of valuable perks to appeal to many travelers. Here are the details on the main benefits of the Sapphire Reserve:

Annual travel credit

One of the biggest benefits of the card is the $300 annual travel credit . Chase will automatically credit your account $300 when you use it to make eligible purchases — which cover a wide variety of travel providers :

Merchants in the travel category include airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages.

This perk alone lowers your effective annual fee to just $250.

Lounge access

Sapphire Reserve cardholders get access to Chase Sapphire Lounges as well as access to Priority Pass lounges (including restaurants, although this benefit ends June 30 ) for themselves and up to two guests.

In addition, authorized users receive the same airport lounge access on their own — though you'll pay an extra annual fee of $75 for each additional cardholder.

The Priority Pass network includes some premium lounges , both in the U.S. and abroad. In recent years, Priority Pass also added airport restaurants to its network (you can see the full list here ). American Express cut these restaurants from its Priority Pass benefit in 2019, and Capital One removed this perk as of the start of 2023, but Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders continue to get free food (usually ~$28 per person) at all of these locations through June 30.

Free DoorDash DashPass subscription

Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders qualify for at least a one year free DoorDash DashPass subscription when they activate by Dec. 31.

In addition, you'll receive $5 per month in DoorDash credits that roll over two months before expiring, meaning you can save up to $15 to use all at once before expiration (through Dec. 31).

Lyft benefits

Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders receive 10 points per dollar on Lyft purchases through March 2025. This is akin to getting over a 20% return on Lyft rides since TPG values Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents apiece.

Cardholders also receive a complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership for two years, worth up to $199 annually. Activate by Dec. 31.

Instacart benefits

Cardholders get one year of complimentary Instacart+. Activate by July 31.

Instacart+ members also get up to $15 in statement credits for Instacart purchases each month through July.

Application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

Like many other premium cards, the Sapphire Reserve will reimburse you for the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck when you charge it to your card. When the Global Entry application fee rises to $120 (currently $100) in October, Chase will adjust this reimbursement accordingly . Remember that Global Entry includes PreCheck, so that's the smarter choice.

This benefit is available to cardholders once every four years. If you have already enrolled, you can use the credit to cover a friend's or family member's application fee.

Visa Infinite perks

Because the Sapphire Reserve is a Visa Infinite card, you'll receive the perks that come along with the program. Highlights include primary rental car insurance , trip cancellation and delay coverage, lost luggage reimbursement , a concierge service and access to the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection .

Earning points on the Chase Sapphire Reserve

Besides the welcome bonus, the bonus earning categories will also help build your Ultimate Rewards account. Here's an overview of what you'll earn on the card:

• 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel
• 10 points per dollar on dining purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 10 points per dollar on Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025)
• 10 points per dollar on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases (through March 2025) of $150 or more, with a maximum of 50,000 points
• 5 points per dollar on flights purchased through Chase Travel
• 3 points per dollar on all other travel (excluding the $300 annual travel credit) and dining purchases worldwide
• 1 point per dollar on everything else

Note that you won't earn any points on the first $300 spent on travel purchases each cardmember year, as that will trigger the card's $300 travel credit.

Once you factor in the $300 travel credit, the annual fee difference between the Sapphire Reserve and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is $155 ($250 versus $95). That means you'd need to earn an extra 7,561 Ultimate Rewards points a year with the Reserve to come out ahead (based on TPG's valuations and without considering any other perks and benefits). You can hit that mark by spending at least $211 monthly on travel (earning at least 3 points per dollar spent) or $631 on everyday purchases (earning 1 point per dollar spent).

Related: Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve worth the annual fee?

Redeeming points on the Chase Sapphire Reserve

The ability to redeem rewards with partners is one of the most important aspects of a travel rewards credit card, and that's definitely the case with the Sapphire Reserve. If you transfer your points to one of Chase's 14 travel partners , there's potential for some amazing redemptions. You could get a two-night stay at a Category 7 Hyatt property or a flight to Europe in Delta One business class (by transferring to Virgin Atlantic) with this bonus alone.

In addition to redeeming with transfer partners, you can book travel through the Chase Travel portal with points valued at 1.5 cents each. While it's not always the best value, this is a great option for boutique hotels that don't belong to a larger brand, such as Marriott or Hyatt. It's also great for booking flights when cash prices are low.

With the Pay Yourself Back program , you can currently redeem your points at a value of 1.5 cents each at select charities through June 30. You also have the option to use your points to cover gas purchases, pet supply stores or your annual fee at a rate of 1.25 cents apiece through June 30.

If you're new to Chase Ultimate Rewards, make sure to see our guide to redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards for maximum value .

Related: Best sweet spots with Chase Ultimate Rewards

Transferring points on the Chase Sapphire Reserve

Again, the most valuable use of your Chase Ultimate Rewards is to transfer them to one of Chase's 14 airline and hotel transfer partners, including valuable options like British Airways Executive Club , United Airlines MileagePlus and Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards .

TPG director of content Summer Hull especially loves the option to transfer her points to World of Hyatt , since she can use them to book stays at resorts or city properties that would typically be out of her budget, while others of us at TPG prefer to stay at Category 1 properties to stretch our points as far as possible. No matter how you prefer to use your rewards, you'll find some great transfer options in Chase's list of partners.

Related: How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for maximum value

Which cards compete with the Chase Sapphire Reserve?

The Sapphire Reserve's most natural competitors are another card earning the same points but with a lower annual fee and two other premium travel credit cards .

• If you want a mid-tier card with a lower annual fee: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a good choice for earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points but with a lower annual fee of $95. You'll get numerous travel protections and have access to all the same hotel and airline partners as you would with the Sapphire Reserve. For more information, check out our full review of the Sapphire Preferred .
• If you want a premium travel card with a lower annual fee: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers access to Priority Pass, Plaza Premium and Capital One lounges but has a lower annual fee of $395 (see rates and fees ). You'll also enjoy insurance protections and earn at least 2 miles per dollar on all purchases plus up to $300 in credits each year. For more information, check out our full review of the Capital One Venture X .
• If you want more lounge access and credits: The Platinum Card® from American Express offers over $1,500 in annual credits, if you can use all of them. Plus, it offers access to Priority Pass lounges and dozens of others, including the Amex Centurion Lounge network. Enrollment is required. However, the card does have a higher annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees ). For more information, check out our full review of the Amex Platinum .

For additional options, check out our full list of best travel credit cards and best Chase credit cards .

Related: Chase Sapphire showdown: Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve

Bottom line

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is nearly a no-brainer credit card for those who love travel rewards — especially for more frequent travelers.

With 3 points per dollar on travel and dining categories, industry-leading travel protections , valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points and various perks, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the best credit cards .

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve with 60 ,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here .

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.

Overview of Travel Insurance Coverage

What does travel insurance cover, what does credit card travel insurance cover, what travel insurance coverage do you need to pay more for, choosing the right travel insurance, what does travel insurance cover frequently asked questions, understanding what travel insurance covers.

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Chase Freedom Flex®. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

• Travel insurance is intended to cover risks and financial losses associated with traveling.
• Coverage can include trip cancellation, baggage protection, medical care, and emergency evacuation.
• When filing a claim, be specific and comprehensive in your documentation to ease the process.

Whether it's a trip across the world or a trip across the state, having travel insurance provides major relief if things go awry. Flight delays, lost baggage, illness, injuries, and other unforeseen events can disrupt even the best-laid plans. With a major disruption comes the potential for unanticipated expenses.

Travel insurance and the coverage it offers can help keep you protected and save you money in the long run.

Travel insurance policies protect travelers from financial losses should something go wrong during their trip. You can customize which coverages you want to include, and there are several to choose from.

"Common types of coverage include trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage protection, coverage for medical care if you get sick or hurt during your trip, and emergency medical evacuation," says Angela Borden, a travel insurance expert and product strategist for travel insurance company Seven Corners.

Travel insurance plans offer nonrefundable payments and other trip-related expenses. While monetary compensation is a primary benefit, there is another valuable perk of travel insurance. It can provide peace of mind.

Your specific travel insurance plan (and its terms and conditions) will determine the minutia and specifics of what is covered. As with most other forms of insurance, a general rule of thumb is the more you spend, the better your coverage.

"Travel insurance can be confusing, so it's best to research a reputable company that specializes in travel insurance and has a long history of successfully helping travelers all over the world," says Borden.

Trip cancellations and interruptions

A travel insurance policy can reimburse you for a prepaid, nonrefundable trip if it is canceled for a covered event, such as a natural disaster or a global pandemic.

Trip interruption insurance covers you if you're already on your trip and you get sick, there's a natural disaster, or something else happens. Make sure to check with your travel insurance providers to discuss any inclusions, coverage, and more.

Travel delays and missed connections

Travel delay insurance coverage provides reimbursement for any expenses you incur when you experience a delay in transit over a minimum time. Reimbursements can include hotels, airfare, food, and other related expenses.

Medical emergencies and evacuations

Typically, US healthcare plans are not accepted in other countries. So travel insurance with medical coverage can be particularly beneficial when you are abroad. Medical coverage can also help with locating doctors and healthcare facilities.

Medical transportation coverage will also pay for emergency evacuation expenses such as airlifts and medically-equipped flights back to the US. Out of pocket, these expenses can easily amount to tens of thousands of dollars. Certain plans may even transport you to a hospital of choice for care.

Travel insurance generally does not include coverage for pre-existing conditions. That said, you can obtain a pre-existing condition waiver, which we will talk about later.  

Baggage and personal belongings

Most airlines will reimburse travelers for lost or destroyed baggage, but be prepared for limitations. Travel insurance plans will typically cover stolen items, such as those stolen out of a hotel room. This may not include expensive jewelry, antiques, or heirloom items. Typically, airlines have a few days to recover your bag.

In the meantime, you can make a claim to pay for items like certain toiletries and other items you need to pick up. If your bag is truly lost or you don't get it for an extended period, you can file a true lost baggage claim.

A major perk on several travel credit cards is embedded credit card travel insurance . Typically, you will need to use the specific card for the transaction (at least with partial payment) for travel coverage to kick in.

Each card has specific rules on what exactly is covered. But one of the industry leaders is the $550-per-year Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card. Here's a snapshot of what is covered with this specific card:

• Baggage delay: up to $100 reimbursed per day for up to five days if a passenger carrier delays your baggage by more than six hours.
• Lost and damaged baggage: up to $3,000 per passenger per trip, but only up to $500 per passenger for jewelry and watches and up to $500 per passenger for cameras and other electronic equipment.
• Trip delay reimbursement: up to $500 per ticket if you're delayed more than six hours or require an overnight stay.
• Trip cancellation and interruption protection: up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses.
• Medical evacuation benefit: up to $100,000 for necessary emergency evacuation and transportation when on a trip of five to 60 days and traveling more than 100 miles from home.
• Travel accident insurance: accidental death or dismemberment coverage of up to $100,000 (up to $1,000,000 for common carrier travel).
• Emergency medical and dental benefits: up to $2,500 for medical expenses (subject to a $50 deductible) when on a trip arranged by a travel agency and traveling more than 100 miles from home.
• Rental car coverage: primary coverage for damages caused by theft or collision up to $75,000 on rentals of 31 days or fewer

More protections are included with cards with an annual fee, but there are exceptions. The no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Flex, for instance, includes up to $1,500 per person (and up to $6,000 per trip) in trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage.

However, there are some differences between credit card travel coverage and obtaining coverage from a third party.

"Credit card coverage does not typically provide travel medical benefits," Borden says. "For protection if you get sick or hurt while traveling, you'll want a travel insurance plan with medical coverage."

Whether you get your travel insurance in a standalone policy or through a credit card, it's important to review your plan details carefully. In either case, there may be exclusions and other requirements such as deadlines when filing a claim, Borden notes.

Knowing what travel insurance doesn't cover is as important as knowing what it does cover.

"Travelers should understand that travel insurance benefits come into play only if a covered reason occurs," Borden says. Most standard travel insurance plans won't reimburse you for the following:

Cancel for any reason (CFAR)

Cancel-for-any-reason travel insurance covers a trip cancellation for any reason, not just a covered event. your standard benefits won't kick in unless it's a covered event. For instance, you'll be reimbursed simply for changing your mind about taking a trip.

That said, CFAR travel insurance is not without its downsides. For one, it's more expensive than traditional insurance, and most CFAR policies will only reimburse you for a percentage of your travel expenses. Additionally, CFAR policies aren't available for annual travel insurance . 

You can find our guide to the best CFAR travel insurance here.

Foreseen weather events

Sudden storms or unforeseen weather events are typically covered by standard travel insurance plans. There are exceptions to be aware of. For example, an anticipated and named hurricane will not be covered.

Medical tourism

If you're going to travel internationally for a medical procedure or doctor's visit, your travel insurance plan will not cover the procedure itself. Most medical travel plans also won't cover you if something goes wrong with your procedure.

Pre-existing conditions and pregnancy

Those with specific pre-existing conditions, such as someone with diabetes and needing more insulin, will not be covered by most plans. In addition, pregnancy-related expenses will likely not be covered under most plans.

That said, you can obtain a pre-existing condition waiver for stable conditions. In order to obtain a wavier, you will need to purchase travel insurance within a certain time frame from when you booked your trip, usually two to three weeks, depending on your policy.

Extreme sports and activities

Accidents occurring while participating in extreme sports like skydiving and paragliding will typically not be covered under most plans. However, many plans offer the ability to upgrade to a higher-priced version with extended coverage.

Navigating claims and assistance

When a trip goes awry, the first thing you should do is document everything and be as specific as possible with documentation. This will make the claims process easier, as you can substantiate and quantify your financial losses due to the delay.

For example, your flight home has been delayed long enough to be covered under your policy, you'll want to keep any receipts from purchases made while waiting. For instances where your luggage is lost, you will need to file a report with local authorities and document all the items you packed.

Cancellation protection also requires meticulous attention to detail. If you're too sick to fly, you may need to see a doctor to prove your eligibility. If an airline cancels a flight, you'll also need to document any refunds you received as travel insurance isn't going to reimburse you for money you've already gotten back. 

Part of the benefit of CFAR insurance is the reduced paperwork necessary to file a claim. You'll still need to document your nonrefundable losses, but you won't have to substantiate why you're canceling a trip.

Each plan should be personalized to meet the insured party's needs. Some travelers prefer to stick to the bare minimum (flight cancellation benefits through the airline). Others want a comprehensive plan with every coverage possible. Before you buy anything, set your destination. Are there any travel restrictions or changes pending? Does your destination country require emergency or other medical coverage?

If the destination airport is known for lost or delayed luggage, travelers should keep important items in carry-ons. Lost or delayed luggage coverage protects insured parties in the event of a significant delay or total loss.

Second, check current credit card travel benefits to avoid redundancies. Savvy travelers don't need to pay for the same coverage twice.

Finally, consider your individual needs. Do you have a chronic medical condition, or do you feel safe with emergency-only medical coverage? Keep in mind, this does not include coverage for cosmetic surgery or other medical tourism. Do you have a budget limit for travel insurance? Asking and answering these important questions will help every traveler find the right product.

Most travel insurance plans are simple, and Business Insider's guide to the best travel insurance companies outlines our top picks. Remember, read your policy and its specifics closely to ensure it includes the items you need coverage for.

No one likes to dwell on how a trip might not go as planned before even leaving. However, at its core, travel insurance provides peace of mind as you go about your trip. While the upfront cost may seem significant, when you compare it to the potential expenses of a canceled flight, emergency evacuation, or a hefty medical bill, it's a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.

Coverage for pandemics vary from policy to policy. Some travel insurance companies have specific provisions for pandemic-related cancellations, while others may exclude them entirely.

Sports injuries are often covered under travel insurance, but high-risk or adventure sports might require additional coverage or a special policy.

Travel advisories have different effects on your travel insurance depending on your policy. Traveling to a country already under travel advisory may invalidate your coverage, but if you're already traveling when a travel advisory is announced, you may be covered.

Travel insurance usually covers the cost of emergency medical evacuations to the nearest suitable medical facility, and sometimes back to your home country, if necessary.

Many travel insurance policies provide coverage for the cost of replacing lost or stolen passports during a trip.

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This article was originally published on March 23, 2023.

Booking travel through a credit card issuer’s portal — which is essentially their version of an online travel agency (OTA) such as Expedia or Orbitz — has its pros and cons.

The main advantage is extra rewards. That’s what convinced me to book a recent trip through the Chase Travel℠ portal using my Chase Freedom Flex® *.

I earned 5 percent cash back on those flights, whereas I would have only earned 1 percent if I booked directly with the airline. I bought $1,137.26 worth of airfare, so there was a significant difference between 5 percent ($56.86) and 1 percent ($11.37).

Sometimes it can also make sense to use a card issuer’s travel portal if you’re redeeming rewards for the trip. That’s especially compelling if you have a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® , which boosts the value of your points by 25 percent and 50 percent, respectively, if you redeem them through the Chase Travel portal.

The main drawback of any OTA — card issuer portals included — is that booking travel this way introduces an intermediary into the transaction. If anything goes wrong with your trip, you need to deal with the travel agency’s customer service instead of (or sometimes in addition to) the hotel or airline provider. This can make things more complicated.

Another important note is that hotel bookings made through OTAs typically do not earn loyalty points or count toward elite status. Airline reservations, on the other hand, are generally eligible for frequent flyer miles and elite status qualification.

In my case, I decided that an extra $45.49 in cash back was worth giving the Chase travel portal a shot. I also viewed it as a professional development opportunity to see how this works in the real world.

What happened with my trip

A 2023 Bankrate survey revealed that 77 percent of travelers who’ve traveled for leisure or business this year experienced at least one travel-related problem. These included higher prices than they were accustomed to (53 percent), long waits (25 percent), poor customer service (24 percent), hard-to-find availability (23 percent) and canceled or disrupted plans (23 percent). I experienced every single one of those things the night before my wife and daughter were scheduled to leave on the trip I booked through Chase.

Actually, I should back up. The problems started even earlier than that. Weeks before the trip, American Airlines made a schedule change that jeopardized my wife Chelsea and daughter Ashleigh’s chances of making their connecting flight. The new layover seemed impossibly short.

This was my first test of the customer service for the Chase travel portal. They passed with flying colors, efficiently rebooking Chelsea and Ashleigh at no extra cost and arranging the flights in such a way that it seemed much more likely they would be able to get from one plane to the other. It was fairly complicated because the connecting city needed to change, but the whole process was smooth. I was impressed.

Fast-forward to the night before the trip

We received an email from American Airlines that Chelsea and Ashleigh’s flight from Newark to Phoenix was canceled. There was no explanation, but we assume it had to do with either a staffing or equipment shortage since the weather was calm on both ends; the airline offered to rebook them on the same itinerary two days later. That was far from ideal, since the whole trip was only supposed to last five days (the ultimate destination was Monterey, California, where Chelsea’s parents live).

We simultaneously reached out to both Chase and American. Chelsea reported that the wait to speak with someone at the airline was listed at four hours. I got through to a Chase representative almost immediately.

I explained the situation, and the customer service agent and I started brainstorming alternatives. Was there a different way to get to Phoenix in time for the connecting flight to Monterey? We looked at Newark, JFK, LaGuardia — even as far away as Philadelphia and Hartford, but no dice. How about an entirely new routing? Could they fly from somewhere in the New York area to San Francisco, San Jose or Oakland, California? Those cities are all within a couple hours’ drive of Monterey.

After several attempts to find something that would work, we gave up. Nothing seemed to work. The Chase representative was great, and I feel like he did everything he could to try and solve our dilemma. American Airlines just didn’t have any availability.

We eventually got through to American Airlines and confirmed there were only two options: Travel two days later or cancel. We opted to cancel but — plot twist — we still found a way for Chelsea to visit her parents and for Ashleigh to see her grandparents. We rolled the dice and made an entirely new reservation with JetBlue. They had an early-morning flight from JFK to San Francisco with a few available seats.

The backup plan

The trip ended up costing $700 more due to higher-priced, last-minute plane tickets and a rental car to get them from San Francisco to Monterey, but the trip had a happy ending. It was ironic, too, because we had sworn off JetBlue after experiencing significant issues with them during family trips in the past. This time, they saved the day, and American Airlines dropped the ball.

I’ve heard that some people have taken to making backup flight reservations, especially on carriers such as Southwest, which have particularly generous cancellation policies. I’m not sure I would go that far, but there’s no doubt air travel has been a mess lately. In my view, airlines need to do a much better job of setting their schedules and sticking to them. Unfortunately, there’s little that passengers can do to protect themselves.

Travel insurance might help, and some travel credit cards provide travel insurance benefits at no added cost. But, at the end of the day, the airlines are the ones responsible for getting us from point A to point B.

The Chase portal wasn’t the problem; I would use it again. But given the current state of the airline industry, I’m going to be anxiously waiting to see if my next flight takes off as planned.

Have a question about credit cards? E-mail me at [email protected] and I’d be happy to help.

*The information about the Chase Freedom Flex® has been collected independently by Bankrate. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

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