Starting 28 February 2025, Citi Prestige Cardholders will see a significant reduction in their complimentary travel insurance coverage, as Citi discontinues its own travel insurance policy. This change will replace the current dual-coverage setup with a single insurance policy underwritten by AIG, which is provided through Mastercard’s World Elite program.
Currently, Citi Prestige Cardholders benefit from two separate travel insurance policies: one from Citi, underwritten by HLAS, and another from Mastercard, underwritten by AIG. This dual-coverage system allowed cardholders to claim from both policies for certain incidents, with one policy stepping in to cover gaps left by the other. For example, if medical coverage under one policy was insufficient, the second policy could help. Similarly, benefits like delayed luggage, flight delays, or death claims could be covered under both policies, maximizing the cardholder’s protection.
However, Citi has announced that it will phase out its HLAS policy from 28 February 2025. From that date, cardholders will only be covered by the Mastercard-provided AIG policy.
Changes to Coverage and Claims Process
For trips that conclude on or before 28 February 2025, cardholders can still submit claims to either HLAS or AIG. However, for trips that end on or after 1 March 2025, only the AIG policy will apply.
While the AIG policy offers solid coverage overall, it does have some notable limitations. For instance, it does not include coverage for post-trip medical expenses in Singapore, which could be a consideration for some travelers. On the plus side, AIG’s policy provides better protection than the HLAS policy in several areas, such as trip cancellation, postponement, curtailment, and personal liability. AIG also extends coverage to domestic helpers, a feature that the HLAS policy does not provide.
Adequacy of Coverage: A Closer Look
While the AIG policy provides a reasonable amount of coverage, there are gaps worth noting. Most importantly, AIG does not cover the loss of miles or points. For example, if a traveler books a KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes award and is unable to travel due to illness or other reasons, they will not be reimbursed for the lost miles. Similarly, if a cardholder cancels an award hotel booking after the free cancellation period has passed, they will not be compensated by AIG.
Travelers who often use miles or points for bookings may want to consider additional coverage to protect these assets. Furthermore, features like rental car excess coverage and post-trip medical expenses in the country of residence are also worth looking for in a travel insurance policy.
Final Thoughts
The removal of Citi’s HLAS policy means that Citi Prestige Cardholders will rely solely on the AIG policy for complimentary travel insurance starting 28 February 2025. While the AIG policy offers decent coverage, cardholders should carefully review the details of the policy to ensure it meets their specific needs. With certain exclusions—particularly around the coverage of miles and post-trip medical expenses—travelers may want to supplement the AIG policy with additional coverage to ensure full protection.
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