Travel insurance is a crucial aspect of planning a trip. It provides financial protection against unforeseen circumstances such as trip cancellations, medical emergencies, or lost luggage. One of the most popular travel credit cards that offers robust travel insurance is the Chase Sapphire. The two main versions of the Chase Sapphire card—Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve—both provide various travel-related insurance benefits. In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at what Chase Sapphire travel insurance covers and how it can benefit travelers.
Overview of Chase Sapphire Travel Insurance
Chase Sapphire travel insurance is automatically available to cardholders when they pay for their trips using their Chase Sapphire card. This means that you don’t need to purchase additional travel insurance, as many of the essential coverage options are already built into your card’s benefits. Depending on the version of the card you hold, your coverage amounts and benefits may differ, but both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Sapphire Reserve offer a wide range of protections that cater to different travel needs.
The primary types of travel insurance coverage offered by Chase Sapphire include:
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
Trip Delay Insurance
Baggage Delay Insurance
Lost Luggage Reimbursement
Travel Accident Insurance
Rental Car Insurance (Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver)
Emergency Evacuation and Transportation Coverage
Roadside Assistance
Now, let’s explore these coverage types in detail.
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1. Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance is one of the most significant travel insurance benefits provided by the Chase Sapphire cards. It helps you recover non-refundable costs if you need to cancel or cut short a trip due to a covered reason.
What does it cover?
- If your trip is canceled or interrupted due to reasons such as illness, severe weather, or other covered situations, this benefit reimburses you for non-refundable, prepaid travel expenses.
- Covered expenses include flights, hotels, tours, and other travel-related costs.
Coverage Amounts:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred: Up to $10,000 per trip and $20,000 per 12-month period.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip.
Covered Reasons for Cancellation:
- Illness or injury to you, a family member, or a travel companion.
- Severe weather causing your trip to be delayed or canceled.
- Terrorist incidents in your destination.
- Jury duty, court summons, or a required quarantine.
Important Note: Not every reason for canceling a trip will be covered, so it’s essential to review the terms and conditions carefully.
2. Trip Delay Insurance
Trip delay insurance reimburses you for additional expenses if your trip is delayed by a certain number of hours.
What does it cover?
- The insurance covers reasonable expenses incurred as a result of delays, such as meals, lodging, and transportation.
Coverage Amounts:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred: Up to $500 per ticket if your trip is delayed by more than 12 hours.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Up to $500 per ticket if your trip is delayed by more than 6 hours.
This benefit is especially useful for frequent travelers who might face delays due to weather or airline issues.
3. Baggage Delay Insurance
Losing your baggage or having it delayed can ruin your trip. Chase Sapphire cards offer baggage delay insurance to cover necessary expenses while you wait for your luggage to arrive.
What does it cover?
- This insurance reimburses you for essential items like toiletries, clothing, and other necessities if your baggage is delayed by a certain number of hours.
Coverage Amounts:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred: Up to $100 per day for a maximum of five days for baggage delayed over 6 hours.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: The same $100 per day for up to five days.
Baggage delay insurance helps ensure that you aren’t left stranded without the essentials in the event of delayed luggage.
4. Lost Luggage Reimbursement
If your luggage is lost, damaged, or stolen, Chase Sapphire cards offer coverage for reimbursement.
What does it cover?
- This insurance covers both checked and carry-on luggage that is lost or damaged while under the care of the airline or another common carrier.
Coverage Amounts:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred: Up to $3,000 per passenger.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Also up to $3,000 per passenger, with a $500 limit for items like jewelry or electronics.
This can give you peace of mind knowing that your valuables are covered while you travel.
5. Travel Accident Insurance
Travel accidents can occur during flights or other parts of your trip. Chase Sapphire provides travel accident insurance in case of accidental death or dismemberment while traveling.
What does it cover?
- This insurance provides financial compensation if you or an immediate family member is seriously injured or dies during the course of your travel.
Coverage Amounts:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred: Up to $500,000 in coverage.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Up to $1,000,000 in coverage.
This benefit is designed to help with the financial burden of accidental injury or death while traveling.
6. Rental Car Insurance (Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver)
One of the most valuable benefits of the Chase Sapphire cards is their rental car insurance, known as the Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver (CDW).
What does it cover?
- The rental car insurance covers damage due to collision or theft of a rental car, provided you decline the rental company’s collision insurance and pay for the rental with your Chase Sapphire card.
Coverage Amounts:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred: Coverage is secondary, meaning it kicks in after your personal insurance.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Coverage is primary, meaning it covers the cost without involving your personal auto insurance policy.
This is especially useful for international rentals, where purchasing local car insurance can be expensive.
7. Emergency Evacuation and Transportation Coverage
If you experience a medical emergency while traveling and need to be evacuated or transported to a medical facility, Chase Sapphire offers emergency evacuation coverage.
What does it cover?
- This benefit covers the cost of emergency medical transportation, including evacuation and necessary medical care during transport.
Coverage Amounts:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred: Up to $100,000 in coverage.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Up to $100,000 in coverage.
This type of insurance can be lifesaving in situations where medical services are not readily available.
8. Roadside Assistance
Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a roadside assistance program, which is helpful if you run into trouble with your vehicle during a road trip.
What does it cover?
- This benefit includes services such as towing, tire changing, jump-starts, and lockout assistance.
Coverage Amounts:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Up to $50 per incident, up to four times per year.
Roadside assistance is not available with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, but it can be a valuable perk for frequent road travelers.
Additional Benefits
In addition to the core travel insurance benefits outlined above, the Chase Sapphire cards offer several additional perks that can enhance your travel experience:
Travel and Emergency Assistance: Chase provides access to a 24/7 hotline for legal and medical referrals, translation services, and other emergency assistance.
Purchase Protection: This covers new purchases against theft or damage for 120 days.
Extended Warranty Protection: Extends the warranty on eligible purchases by one additional year.
How to Use Chase Sapphire Travel Insurance
To take advantage of these benefits, you’ll need to follow a few simple steps:
Book your travel using your Chase Sapphire card to ensure that your trip is covered.
Read the terms and conditions of your card’s travel insurance benefits to understand what’s included and excluded.
Contact Chase’s claims department if you need to file a claim. Be sure to keep receipts and documentation related to your travel expenses and any incidents that occur during your trip.
Conclusion
Chase Sapphire travel insurance provides comprehensive protection for travelers, offering coverage for everything from trip cancellations to lost luggage. Whether you hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the travel insurance benefits can give you peace of mind while on the road or in the air. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the terms of your coverage and use your card to book trips to take full advantage of these valuable benefits.
