Your guide to Chase’s trip insurance coverage

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. 

Chase credit cards are often top of mind when travelers are booking trips because of their superior protections. Chase is one of very few major U.S. credit card issuers that offers a full suite of travel protections across its premium credit cards, including trip delay reimbursement and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

Trip delay reimbursement covers reasonable out-of-pocket expenses due to a lengthy trip delay that is not covered by the common carrier. Trip cancellation/interruption insurance provides reimbursement for covered travel expenses when you have to cancel a trip or end it early.

As global travel concerns regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) and government-imposed restrictions continue to escalate, many TPG readers have asked questions about Chase’s travel insurance protections. As the situation both domestically and abroad changes, policies and best practices will likely change. But this guide will walk through which Chase credit cards have these benefits, what is currently covered and how you can file a successful claim.

Related reading: Tips for booking flights home from Europe now 

In This Post

Chase cards offering trip delay and trip cancellation/interruption insurance

Here is an overview of the Chase cards that offer Trip Delay Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance or both:

Card:	Annual Fee:	Rewards:	Trip Delay Reimbursement and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance:
Chase Sapphire Reserve	$550	3x on dining and travel purchases worldwide (and 10x on Lyft)	Both
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card	$95	2x on dining and travel purchases (and 5x on Lyft)	Both
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card	$95	3x on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business purchases each account anniversary	Both
United Club Card	$450	2x miles on United purchases; 1.5 miles on all other purchases	Both
United Explorer Card	$95, waived the first year	2x miles on United purchases, restaurants and hotel stays booked directly	Both
United TravelBank Card	$0	2% back in TravelBank cash on United tickets; 1.5% back on all other purchases	Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
United Business Card	$99	2x miles on United purchases, restaurants, gas stations, office supply stores, local transit and commuting	Both
World of Hyatt Credit Card	$95	4x points on Hyatt purchases; 2x points at restaurants, local transit, gym memberships and on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline	Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card	$89	10x points on IHG purchases; 2x points at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants.	Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card	$95	6x points on eligible Bonvoy purchases; 2x points on everything else	Trip Delay Reimbursement
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card	$0	3x points on eligible Bonvoy purchases; 2x points on other travel purchases	Trip Delay Reimbursement

The information for the United Club, United TravelBank cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related reading: Best credit cards for trip cancellation and interruption insurance

What is covered by trip cancellation/interruption insurance?

You can find the full terms and conditions of what is generally covered on your specific card in your Guide to Benefits, which can be found through your Chase account online. I’ll use the Chase Sapphire Reserve Guide to Benefits as an example.

Here is a rundown of the circumstances covered by Chase’s trip cancellation/interruption insurance:

• Accidental bodily injury, loss of life or sickness experienced by you or a traveling companion that prevents you or a travel companion from traveling on the trip
• Accidental bodily injury, loss of life or sickness experienced by an immediate family member of you or your traveling companion when it’s considered life threatening, requires hospitalization or requires care by you or your traveling companion.
• Severe weather that prevents a “reasonable and prudent person” from beginning or continuing a trip (terms about what constitutes as qualifying severe weather can be found in your Guide to Benefits)
• Named storm warning
• Change in military orders for you or your spouse
• Jury duty or a court subpoena, neither of which can be waived
• You or your traveling companion’s place of permanent residence being made uninhabitable, being burglarized or damaged by fire or flood
• You or your traveling companion’s lodging accommodations at the destination of the trip being made uninhabitable
• Death or hospitalization of you or your traveling companion’s host at destination
• Quarantine of you or your traveling companion imposed by a physician or by a competent governmental authority having jurisdiction, due to health reasons
• An organized strike affected public transportation which causes you or your traveling companion to either miss 20% or more of your scheduled trip or miss the departure of a prepaid cruise or scheduled tour (booked through a tour operator)
• Terrorism (there are exceptions here; exact terms on what types of terrorist incidents are covered for trip cancellation and interruption insurance are listed in your Guide to Benefits)

Chase does provide an extensive list of things that are not covered by trip cancellation/interruption insurance as well:

• Change in plans, financial circumstances and business obligations
• Pre-existing conditions
• Any loss due to the voluntary surrender of unused vouchers, tickets, credits, coupons or travel privileges available prior to their expiration date
• Travel arrangements scheduled to take place after the 26th week of pregnancy, or when a multiple pregnancy (such as twins or triplets) or pregnancy associated with an assisted reproductive program (such as in vitro fertilization) occurs prior to the initial deposit date or booking date of the trip
• Any loss for a trip booked while on a waiting list for a specified medical treatment
• Medical travel
• Disinclination to travel due to civil unrest
• Failure of you or your travel companion to obtain necessary visas, passports or requisite travel documents
• Illegal activity
• Suicide, attempted suicide or intentional self-inflicted injury
• Drug use at the time of the loss (except if the drug is taken and used as prescribed by a physician)
• Disinclination to travel due to an epidemic or pandemic
• Financial insolvency of a common carrier, travel agency, tour operator or travel supplier
• War (not including terrorism)
• (For trip cancellation only:) Trips booked to any area known to be associated with terrorist activity
• (For trip interruption only:) Travel arrangements canceled or changed by a travel supplier unless it’s the result of severe weather or an organized strike that affects public transportation

You’ll note that “disinclination to travel due to an epidemic or pandemic” is specifically listed as not covered. At the time of writing, Chase had given no update that would change this, which means canceling a trip you can go on but just don’t want to is not covered by your Chase travel insurance.

Related reading: Should I travel? Advice for the coronavirus outbreak

If you do find yourself canceling or cutting covered trip short, here are the basic guidelines provided by Chase on what types of expenses are covered for trip cancellation/interruption:

Non-Refundable prepaid travel expenses charged by a Travel Supplier (Travel Agency, Tour Operator, Provider of Lodging, rental car agency, Rented Recreational Vehicle Provider, commercial recreational excursion provider, Cruise Line, airline, railroad, and other Common Carriers). Eligible Travel Expenses also means redeposit fees imposed by a Rewards program administrator. Eligible Travel Expenses does not include Event Tickets or prepaid fees to theme parks, museums, golf courses, or other points of interest (unless such expenses are included as part of a travel package).

Right now, many cardholders are asking questions about whether coronavirus concerns, government-imposed travel restrictions and illnesses/quarantines are considered covered reasons.

What is covered by trip delay insurance?

Trip delay provides reimbursement for expenses incurred when your trip is delayed due to a covered hazard for more than six hours, or if a delay requires an overnight stay. It does not include expenses that are covered by the airline or other common carrier responsible for the delay. You and your family members are covered when you put at least part of a trip on your eligible Chase card.

Covered expenses include meals, lodging, toiletries and medication, but do not include any pre-paid expenses related to a trip such as a tour or activity fees.

Chase defines covered hazards as equipment failure, inclement weather, strike and hijacking/skyjacking. The Guide to Benefits specifically exempts any delay due to a covered hazard that was made public or made known to you prior to your departure.

Filing a claim

When you have a delay or trip cancellation/interruption that you think qualifies for coverage, you can file a claim through Chase’s online claims center.

Trip delay reimbursement requires the following documentation:

• Expense Receipts – Keep receipts from all of the expenses incurred due to the delay. Meal expenses more than $50 per covered traveler must be itemized.
• Fare Receipt – You’ll need a receipt that proves you purchased at least some of the common carrier fare on your card.
• Multiple Payment Methods – If you used more than one method of payment for your fare, you must provide documentation outlining any additional currency, voucher, points or other payment method used. For example, if you used points to pay for your flight and just used your card for taxes and fees, you’d need to show documentation to that effect.
• Common Carrier Statement – This is proof that the trip was delayed, along with the reason for the delay.
• Original Itinerary – You’ll have to submit a copy of your original ticket.
• Settlement from Carrier – You are required to file a claim with the common carrier before submitting a claim with Chase. You’ll need a copy of the settlement from the carrier, your insurance and any other reimbursement you’ll receive from another party.

Trip cancellation/interruption insurance requires slightly different documentation:

• Completed and signed claim form — You can get a claim form by calling your Benefit Administrator, or by visiting Chase’s online filing application.
• Original Itinerary – You’ll have to submit a copy of your original travel itinerary, including any prepaid activities that you are including in your claim
• Confirmation of Cancellation/Interruption – You have to provide documentation that proves gives the reasoning for the cancellation/interruption, such as an official doctor’s note, death certificate, official military orders or other supporting documentation.
• Attending Physician’s Statement (APS) – This a document provided by a physician or medical facility that treated that essentially acts as proof that you were treated by them.
• Carrier Cancellation/Refund Policy – You’ll have to submit a copy of the cancellation or refund policies of the common carrier, tour operator or travel supplier.
• Expense Receipts – Keep the receipts of expenses incurred due to your trip interruption.
• Monthly Billing Statement – Rather than a fare receipt, you are required to submit a monthly billing statement showing the last four digits of the account number as proof of prepaid travel.
• Any unused vouchers, tickets or coupons — You can add these expenses to your claim, but you’ll need to be able to provide proof of purchase.

When you fill out the claims form online, you will be asked to upload these documents. You can scan in paper receipts when needed. Typically, you have up to 90 days to file a claim after a delay or cancellation.

A flight takes off as another lands at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on July 8, 2019, after a storm delayed flights. (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

Proof of flight delay or cancellation

One of the documents required to file for trip delay reimbursement is a verification form that outlines the reason for the delay or cancellation by the carrier. You can typically get this at the airport when the delay or cancellation is announced, but keep in mind that it may require a supervisor. Each U.S. major airline also has a process for requesting this information after the fact.

Here is an overview of the process different U.S. airlines require in order for you to receive a delay or cancellation verification form:

Airline:	Verification Form Process:
American Airlines	Fill out a contact form on the American Airlines website. In the Topic/Subject drop downs, select “Trip Insurance Verification” and “Verify Flight Cancel/Delay.” You’ll need your flight date and personal information so that the system can look up the records.
Delta	Delta has a Delay/Cancellation Verification form. If you use the search bar on the Delta homepage and type in “verification,” it should be the first option that pops up. You’ll need your ticket number, flight dates and personal information such as your frequent flyer number.
United	Send an email to delayletter@united.com with your request. Be sure to include the names of everyone in your party, flight confirmation number, flight numbers, travel dates and your contact information.
JetBlue	You can request a receipt for any flight taken in the past 13 months on the JetBlue website. Keep in mind that if you did not book your reservation through JetBlue, you’ll have to go through the third-party travel booking agency for a receipt.
Southwest	For proof of delay or cancellation, submit an online request through their contact page or call customer relations at 1-855-234-4654.
Alaskan Airlines	Reach out to Alaskan Airlines customer care at 1-800-654-5669.

 

Bottom line

Having a card with trip insurance can save you hundreds of dollars when unexpected hiccups happen in your travel plans, but it can be confusing to know what exactly is covered and the right documentation you need to file a claim.

Nothing is worse than getting through an entire claims process only to be denied or have to start over because you don’t have the required documentation for the insurance provider. Before you start filing a claim, make sure you have the documents listed above. Keep in mind that a provider may ask for additional documentation related to the incident, so you may have to collect receipts and other forms to help your case.

In times like these, the decision of whether or not to travel is a personal one. If you are planning on booking travel in the near future, it’s a good idea to consider booking refundable travel. Many airlines and hotels have established short-term policies that waive cancelation fees and/or change fees, which can make last-minute adjustments in the case of emergencies or new information regarding the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Stay updated on recent news on how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting travel domestically and abroad. Sign up for our daily newsletter and make sure to bookmark our dedicated coronavirus page. 

Featured photo by kieferpix / Getty Images.