A Guide to Chase Sapphire Preferred Travel Insurance

Brittney started her writing career in the world of science, putting her physics degree to good use. Her journey into finance started with building her personal credit, but soon grew into a borderline obsession with credit cards and travel rewards. For the last 7 years, she has enjoyed the ability to share her expertise with readers, as well as the opportunity to interview companies and individuals making an impact on our financial lives. She wholly believe most problems can be solved with the right research -- and a good spreadsheet -- and she specializes in translating complex financial topics into actionable advice to help educate and empower readers.

Our Credit Cards Expert

Fact Checked Eric McWhinnie

Eric McWhinnie has been writing and editing digital content since 2010. He specializes in personal finance and investing. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance.

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

We all know the best credit cards can be worth their weight in rewards, but that's not the only way your cards can save you money. For example, Chase Sapphire Preferred travel insurance benefits can be extremely valuable when things don't go as planned.

Here's a look at everything the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card's travel insurance covers.

Chase Sapphire Preferred travel insurance: What's covered?

When it comes to Chase credit card benefits, Chase Sapphire Preferred travel insurance is hard to beat. This travel card's insurance covers everything from trip cancellation to lost luggage.

Chase stands out among the best travel credit cards, and not just because of its high rewards rates. Chase credit cards also offer some of the best travel insurance benefits around -- and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is no exception.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

On Chase's Secure Website .

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

On Chase's Secure Website .

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars. 4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it.

Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars. 4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it.

Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor

Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it.

Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

On Chase's Secure Website .

Credit Score Circle with letter I in it.

Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Intro APR Circle with letter I in it.

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Rewards Circle with letter I in it.

Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.

5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases

Annual Fee Circle with letter I in it.

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

60,000 bonus points

The enormous welcome bonus (worth $750), bonus travel and dining rewards, and $50 annual hotel credit alone make this card well worth the annual fee. This card’s points are valuable and easy to use, as you can redeem them at 25% more value for Chase Travel bookings, giving it less of a learning curve than other travel cards. It also has a strong list of travel protections you don't see often from such an affordable card, including primary rental car insurance, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

Trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance

You and your immediate family are covered if something catastrophic disrupts your travel arrangements. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card travel insurance provides up to $10,000 per person (max $20,000 per trip). Your trip could be canceled or cut short for any number of reasons, including a major illness or severe weather.

Only prepaid, nonrefundable purchases made with your Chase card (or booked with Chase Ultimate Rewards points) are eligible.

Not every emergency will count. Coverage excludes the following:

But your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card travel insurance does cover terrorist activity and/or hijackings, as well as jury duty or a court subpoena you can't postpone.

Travel and emergency assistance services

If something goes wrong abroad, you can call the Chase benefit administrator to get medical or legal referrals and other emergency assistance. Note, the costs of those services aren't covered. You'll need to handle those on your own.

Trip delay reimbursement

Carrier delays happen all too frequently. Some can lead to unexpected overnight stays. If you get delayed by more than 12 hours, you can claim back your expenses. Covered expenses include meals, hotels, toiletries, and medications.

Trip delay insurance tops out at $500 per covered ticket. Your spouse and dependent children under the age of 22 are eligible. Only one hazard per trip is covered. You can't claim expenses if a delay was public or known before you set out.

Auto rental collision damage waiver

Rental car insurance can be expensive, but you can waive it when you pay with your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. This primary collision coverage will reimburse you for collision damage or theft. And you're covered up to the cash value of the vehicle. It also includes reasonable towing charges.

Coverage applies to most consumer vehicles, but not all. You can't claim for the following:

Baggage delay insurance

Each year, thousands of bags get delayed between takeoff and arrival. Baggage delay can cost a lot if you need to replace necessities. If your luggage is delayed by the carrier for six hours or more, baggage delay insurance kicks in.

You'll get up to $100 a day for a maximum of five days. You'll be able to buy things like clothing, toiletries, and a charger for your cell phone. Both the primary cardholder and immediate family members can claim so long as travel was paid for with the eligible Chase card.

Lost luggage reimbursement

It's not only inconvenient but also costly when your luggage goes missing. Lost luggage reimbursement coverage provides up to $3,000 per covered passenger. It covers any luggage lost or damaged on a covered trip. The coverage limit extends to jewelry, watches, and electronics. It does not cover documents, cash, tickets, or traveler's checks.

You can claim for both checked and carry-on bags. Covered passengers include both the cardholder and immediate family members. In fact, even if you're not traveling with your family, their lost luggage would be covered if the trip was paid for with your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

Roadside dispatch

This is one area where the premium Chase Sapphire Reserve® outstrips the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card holders can call roadside dispatch for help. But you'll have to pay any fees. In contrast, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® covers up to $50 per incident four times per year.

Compare the Chase Sapphire Reserve® vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for more on how these cards stack up.

Travel accident insurance

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card's travel accident insurance benefits are split into two types: Common Carrier Accident Insurance and 24-Hour Travel Accident Insurance. Both types cover accidental death or dismemberment. They also cover loss of speech, sight, or hearing, if it occurs on a covered trip.

The Common Carrier Accident Insurance has a maximum benefit of up to $500,000. It insures you during the journey itself -- boarding, disembarking, and riding. Common carriers include commercial airplanes, buses, trains, and cruise ships.

The 24-Hour Travel Accident Insurance extends from the beginning through to the end of your trip. That's based on your scheduled departure and return dates as printed on your boarding pass. If you're away for longer than 30 days, check your complete benefits guide for additional conditions. The maximum payout for 24-Hour Travel Accident Insurance is $100,000.

Only one of these can be applied to a single accident. So, you'll be eligible for Common Carrier Accident coverage or 24-Hour Travel Accident Insurance, but not both.

As you can see, it's worth taking travel insurance into account when you compare credit cards. You can save money on insurance and get help in an emergency with the right travel credit card.

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Logo for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

On Wells Fargo's Secure Website .

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it.

Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor

Intro: Circle with letter I in it.

0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular: 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR

On Wells Fargo's Secure Website .

Logo for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website .

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it.

Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

On Discover's Secure Website .

<a href=Logo for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card" />

On Bank of America's Secure Website .

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars. 4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it.

Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor

Intro: Circle with letter I in it.

0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

On Bank of America's Secure Website .

How to file a claim

You can file your claim online or by phone. A Chase Sapphire Preferred travel insurance claim must be made by the primary cardholder. In most cases, the written claim must be filed within 20 days after the incident, or "as soon as reasonably possible" if you are physically unable to file within the 20-day period.

The specifics to filing a Chase Sapphire Preferred travel insurance claim will depend on the type of insurance coverage. In most cases, you'll need to report the issue to your travel provider as soon as possible. For example, you need to report lost luggage to the carrier immediately, and you'll need proof of that report when you file your claim with Chase.

Once you report your loss, the benefit administrator will send you additional paperwork. You'll need to complete and return it within 90 days of the original incident. You'll also need to submit supporting documentation. This may include reports made with your carrier, medical documents, or receipts for expenses incurred as a result of lost or delayed baggage.

You only need to put a portion of your trip on your card to be eligible for cancellation/interruption and/or travel accident coverage. But most of Chase's travel insurance benefits only apply to purchases you pay for with your card or through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program. So, if you pay for your flight with your card but not your hotel, only the flight can be reimbursed.

What if you use third-party rewards, like airline miles, to cover the ticket, and your Chase card for fees? You'll only be reimbursed for those miles if the program is one of Chase's travel partners.

Of course, with 2x points per dollar on travel, it's no hardship to use your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for your travel purchases. Don't have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card? You can prequalify for a Chase credit card with a few easy steps.

Should you get the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for its travel insurance?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has many of the same credit card travel insurance benefits as the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. And, its $95 annual fee is a fraction of the premium travel card's $550 price tag.

See below for the side-by-side comparison of these two travel cards: