Credit Card Travel Insurance in Canada 2026: What's Covered and What's Not
Many Canadian credit cards include travel insurance worth hundreds of dollars a year. But what exactly is covered? Here's what you need to know before relying on it.
Many Canadians don't realize the travel insurance included on their credit card can be worth $300–$500+ annually. But credit card travel insurance has limitations that standard travel insurance doesn't — and relying on it without understanding the fine print can be costly. This guide breaks down what's covered, what's not, and which cards offer the best coverage.
What Credit Card Travel Insurance Typically Covers
Most Visa Infinite and World Elite Mastercard products include: emergency travel medical insurance (typically $1M–$5M, for trips up to 15–21 days), trip cancellation and interruption, flight delay coverage (meals/hotel after a set delay period), lost or delayed baggage, and rental car collision/damage waiver (CDW). Some premium cards also add accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
Important limitation: pre-existing conditions
Most credit card travel medical policies exclude pre-existing conditions diagnosed or treated in the 6–12 months before your trip. Always read the certificate of insurance carefully, and consider supplemental coverage if you have ongoing health conditions.
Trip Length Limits
This is the most commonly overlooked limitation. Most credit card travel medical policies cover trips up to 15–21 days. If you're travelling for 30 days, your coverage may expire halfway through your trip. Some premium cards (like the Amex Platinum) extend coverage to longer periods, or you can purchase a top-up policy.
Rental Car Insurance: What's Covered
Most premium credit cards include rental car collision/damage waiver (CDW), which means you can decline the rental company's LDW/CDW coverage (saving $20–$40/day). Important: credit card rental car coverage is typically for collision and theft only. Third-party liability (if you hit another car and injure someone) is NOT covered by credit card insurance — you need either your own auto insurance or the rental company's liability coverage.
Best Travel Insurance Coverage by Card Tier
Entry-level cards ($0–$99/year): typically no travel insurance. Mid-range ($120–$150/year): emergency travel medical + delayed baggage + rental car CDW. TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite and Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite are strong in this tier. Premium ($399–$799/year): comprehensive coverage including longer trip lengths, higher medical limits, and trip cancellation. Amex Platinum is the gold standard in Canada for travel insurance breadth.
Cards Mentioned in This Article
American Express Platinum Card
American Express · Amex
Earn 30,000 American Express Rewards
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card
Scotiabank · Visa
Earn 10,000 Scene+
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