Travel Accident Insurance
Understand accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage while traveling.
- •Pays lump sum for death or severe injury on common carriers (planes, trains, buses)
- •Coverage amounts range from $100K to $1M depending on card
- •Must pay for travel with covered card (some cards accept taxes/fees only)
- •Covers cardholder, spouse, and dependent children
- •NOT medical expense coverage—only lump-sum payouts for specific losses
Benefit terms and coverage may vary. Always verify details with your card issuer before filing a claim. Information shown may not reflect recent changes to your card's benefits.
How Travel Accident Insurance Works
Travel accident insurance provides a lump-sum payment to you or your beneficiaries if you suffer death or severe injury while traveling as a passenger on a common carrier (commercial flight, train, bus, cruise ship). This is NOT medical expense coverage—it pays predetermined amounts based on the type of loss.
What's Covered
- •Accidental death (100% of coverage)
- •Loss of both hands or both feet (100%)
- •Loss of sight in both eyes (100%)
- •Loss of one hand and one foot (100%)
- •Loss of one hand, foot, or eye (50%)
- •Loss of speech or hearing (50%)
- •Paralysis (quadriplegia 100%, paraplegia 75%)
- •Coverage while entering, riding, or exiting common carriers
What's NOT Covered
- •Accidents in personal or rental vehicles
- •Illness or disease (only accidents)
- •Pre-existing conditions causing or contributing to loss
- •Suicide or self-inflicted injuries
- •War, terrorism (varies by issuer)
- •High-risk activities (skydiving, bungee jumping, racing)
- •Accidents while intoxicated or during illegal activity
- •Pilots or crew members (passengers only)
Why Claims Get Denied
- •Common carrier fare not paid with covered card
- •Loss caused by illness or medical condition, not accident
- •Accident occurred in rental car or personal vehicle
- •Injury from excluded high-risk activity
- •Loss occurred beyond 180-365 day window after accident
- •Travel to country under State Department advisory at booking
- •Beneficiary not properly designated or documentation incomplete
- •Cardholder was operating the vehicle (not a passenger)
Claim Basics
- •Notify benefit administrator within 20 days of loss
- •For death claims: submit death certificate and beneficiary info
- •For dismemberment: submit physician's statement certifying loss
Designate beneficiaries in writing before traveling—don't wait until after an incident. Coverage is automatic when you pay with your card.
Documentation Checklist
- •Credit card statement showing common carrier purchase
- •Boarding pass, ticket receipt, or travel itinerary
- •Completed claim form from benefit administrator
- •For death: certified death certificate
- •For dismemberment: physician's statement certifying loss
- •Accident report or incident report from authorities
- •Medical records documenting injury and treatment
- •Beneficiary designation form (if previously filed)
Coverage Comparison
| Card | Annual Fee | Coverage Limit | Coverage Scope | Covered Parties | Coverage Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$395 | $1,000,000 | Per Person | — | Primary | |
$795 | $1,000,000 | Per Person | Cardholder | Primary | |
$795 | $1,000,000 | Per Person | Cardholder | Primary | |
$450 | $1,000,000 | Per Person | Cardholder | Primary | |
$95 | $1,000,000 | Per Person | Cardholder | Secondary | |
$395 | $1,000,000 | Per Person | Cardholder, Spouse, Dependents | Secondary | |
$95 | Contact issuer | — | — | — | |
$395 | Contact issuer | — | — | — |
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