Does Chase Sapphire Cover Travel Insurance?

This is a review of the Travel Insurance benefit that comes with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® personal credit card. The information in this article was compiled directly from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Guide to Benefits, effective October 1, 2024. Benefits, exclusions, and limits are determined solely by the issuer and may change at any time. This post is for general information only and is not the official policy. Always review the latest Guide to Benefitsfrom Chase for current terms.

Credit card travel insurance is one of those perks that sounds incredible on paper. Swipe your card, and suddenly you’ve got built-in protections for everything from trip cancellations to rental car accidents. And in some cases—like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card’s car rental coverage—it truly can save the day.

But here’s the catch: these benefits are packed with fine print. Many travelers assume they’re covered in every situation, only to learn the hard way that exclusions and restrictions can make getting a claim approved incredibly challenging. Even more important: this card does not include any emergency medical coverage if you get sick or injured abroad.That’s a major gap families and international travelers should pay close attention to.

TL;DR – Quick Glance at Chase Sapphire Preferred Coverage

✅ What’s Covered

• Primary rental car coverage (up to $60,000). (NY nuance: inside the U.S. it’s primary unless you have personal auto insurance—then it’s excess.)

• Trip cancellation/interruption up to $10K per traveler / $20K per trip ($40K per 12-month period per account). There are quite a few exclusions to what's considered a covered reason for cancellation/interruption.

• Trip delay up to $500 per person after 12+ hours or an overnight delay. A more comprehensive travel insurance policy can you get reimbursement with as little as a 3 hour delay, so the 12 hour requirement isn't great.

• Lost luggage up to $3,000 per traveler (subs: $500 jewelry/electronics); baggage delay $100/day up to 5 days after 6+ hours. Travelers are also protected for lost or delayed luggage with their passenger rights through the airlines, so I take this benefit with a grain of salt since you can only claime $100/day.

  
  

❌ What’s Missing

• No emergency medical or evacuation coverage.

• Many exclusions (luxury vehicles, pandemics/epidemics border-closure scenarios, supplier insolvency, pre-existing conditions within 60 days, pregnancy >26 weeks, etc.).

• Several benefits are secondary (e.g., lost luggage, baggage delay, purchase protection).

👉 Bottom line: Great perks for travel hiccups, but not enough for international travel—especially for medical emergencies.

Where the Chase Sapphire Preferred Travel Insurance Shines

• Primary Auto Rental Coverage (up to $60,000)Covers theft or damage worldwide when you decline the rental company’s CDW/LDW. Primary in the U.S. and abroad.NY residents: inside the U.S. it’s primary unless you have personal auto insurance—then it’s excess.

• Trip Cancellation & Interruption InsuranceUp to $10,000 per traveler / $20,000 per trip / $40,000 per 12-month period per account for covered reasons (death/illness/injury, severe weather, named storm warnings, organized strikes, certain terrorism-related events, uninhabitable home/lodging, jury duty/subpoena, quarantine, etc.).

• Trip Delay ReimbursementIf your common carrier is delayed 12+ hours or requires an overnight stay, you can claim up to $500 per personfor reasonable expenses (meals, lodging, toiletries, meds). Covered reasons include equipment failure, inclement weather, strike, hijacking/skyjacking.

• Lost or Delayed BaggageLost/damaged/stolen baggage & contents up to $3,000 per traveler per trip (subs: $500 jewelry/watches; $500 electronics/cameras).Baggage delay: $100/day in essentials after 6+ hours, up to 5 days.NY lost luggage: $2,000 per bag; $10,000 total cap per trip for all travelers.

Where the Chase Sapphire Preferred Travel Insurance Falls Short

• No Emergency Medical or Evacuation CoverageIf you get sick, injured, or need hospitalization abroad, this card provides no medical treatment or evacuation benefit. (There is 24/7 Travel & Emergency Assistance for referrals/logistics—but you pay the costs.)

• Heavy Fine Print & Common Denials

  • Rental cars: No luxury/exotic brands, antique cars, RVs/motorcycles, rentals >31 days, car-sharing, vans >12 passengers.

  • Trip cancellation/interruption: No coverage for supplier default/insolvency, pandemic/epidemic border closures or disinclination to travel, pre-existing conditions within 60 days before booking, pregnancy past 26 weeks, certain assisted reproduction scenarios (such as IVF), failure to obtain required visas/documents.

  • Secondary: Lost luggage and baggage delay are secondary to the carrier’s payments.

• Extended Warranty (Important nuance)This adds 1 year to a valid U.S. manufacturer/store/service-contract warranty (combined total max 4 years). It’s not “secondary insurance”—it begins after the other warranties end. Limits: $10,000/item; $50,000/account.

Why You Still Might Need a Comprehensive Travel Insurance Policy

Credit card benefits are a great bonus, but they’re not a substitute for true travel insurance. If you’re traveling internationally, you especially want a plan that includes emergency medical coverage, medical evacuation, and 24/7 assistance that actually pays the bills—not just referral help. One ER visit or evacuation abroad can run into the five figures (or more). Pairing your card’s perks with a comprehensive policy closes the biggest gaps while keeping the perks you already have.

👉 Get a custom quote from Travel Insured HERE

👉 Get a custom quote from Allianz Travel Insurance HERE

Bottom Line: Wins vs. Gaps

• ✅ Wins: Primary rental car coverage, solid trip cancellation/interruption caps, useful trip delay protection, and practical baggage benefits.

• ❌ Gaps: No medical/evacuation, strict exclusions, and some benefits are secondary—making claims more complex.

Takeaway: Use the Chase Sapphire Preferred for booking to unlock these protections—but don’t rely on it alone. For international trips (especially with kids), a stand-alone policy with emergency medical and evacuation is the smart, stress-reducing choice.

Disclaimer

The information in this article was compiled directly from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Guide to Benefits, effective October 1, 2024. Benefits, exclusions, and limits are determined solely by the issuer and may change at any time. This post is for general information only and is not the official policy. Always review the latest Guide to Benefitsfrom Chase for current terms.