Does Chase Sapphire have travel insurance?
Imagine this: You’ve spent months planning the ultimate bucket list trip to Italy—hopping between Rome, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast. Your flights and hotels are booked, your itinerary is set, and you even splurged on that dreamy lakefront Airbnb in Positano. But the night before departure, you wake up with a 103-degree fever. Your doctor says you’re not going anywhere.
Cue panic.
Would your Chase Sapphire travel insurance swoop in to save the day? Or would a third-party travel insurance plan be a better safety net?
Let’s break it down.
Chase Sapphire Travel Insurance Coverage
If you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred®, your card has built-in travel protections that cover travel disruptions ranging from trip cancellations to rental car damage. However, the level of coverage depends on which card you have—the premium Reserve card offers more robust benefits. In contrast, the Preferred card provides basic coverage but lacks medical and evacuation benefits.
🏆 Chase Sapphire Reserve – Premium Protection for Frequent Travelers
The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers higher limits and emergency medical benefits for travelers who want more substantial coverage, making it the better choice for international trips or expensive vacations.
Here’s a snapshot of what’s included:
- Trip Cancellation & Interruption: If your trip is canceled for a covered reason, you can receive up to $10,000 per person (a maximum of $20,000 per trip) for non-refundable expenses like flights, hotels, and tours.
- Trip Delay Reimbursement: If your flight is delayed more than 6 hours, you can be refunded up to $500 per ticket for meals, hotels, and other essentials.
- Baggage Delay Insurance: If your bags are delayed for more than 6 hours, you can be reimbursed up to $100 per day (a maximum of 5 days) for essential purchases like clothing and toiletries. You’ll need to buy the items first and then submit a claim with receipts to get reimbursed (up to $500).
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement: If your luggage is lost or damaged, you can be reimbursed up to $3,000 per passenger.
- Emergency Medical & Dental: Covers up to $2,500 for medical expenses incurred while traveling—a rare benefit among credit cards.
- Emergency Evacuation & Transportation: This program provides up to $100,000 for emergency evacuation or transportation due to a medical emergency.
- Rental Car Insurance: Primary coverage up to the car’s cash value if stolen or damaged.
💳 Chase Sapphire Preferred – Basic Coverage with Some Gaps
The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers similar trip protections but lacks medical coverage and emergency evacuation benefits. It’s a great budget-friendly option but may not be enough for travelers who need higher medical limits or more comprehensive trip protection.
Here’s what it offers at a glance:
- Trip Cancellation & Interruption: The same as Reserve—up to $10,000 per person, $20,000 per trip.
- Trip Delay Reimbursement: Covers $500 per ticket, but only after a 12+ hour delay (Reserve kicks in after just 6 hours).
- Baggage Delay Insurance: Covers $100 daily (max 5 days) for delayed luggage.
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Up to $3,000 per passenger if your baggage is lost or damaged.
- Rental Car Insurance: Primary coverage for theft or damage up to the car’s cash value.
- ❌ No Emergency Medical or Evacuation Coverage – If you get sick or injured abroad, you must pay out of pocket or rely on a separate travel insurance plan.
The Catch? Know the Limitations
While Chase Sapphire travel insurance is a great perk, there are some significant limitations:
- You must pay for at least part of your trip with your Chase card to activate coverage.
- Pre-existing medical conditions are not covered, so if you cancel your trip due to a health issue you’ve been treated for recently, you’re on your own.
- Coverage limits may be insufficient for expensive international medical care, long trips, or trips exceeding $10,000 per person.
Chase’s coverage is enough for some travelers, but a third-party travel insurance plan with higher limits and medical benefits is the safer bet for others.
Let’s dig in a little more to help you make an informed decision.
Chase Sapphire vs. Third-Party Travel Insurance: What’s Better?
Chase Sapphire travel insurance is reliable and trusted, but is it enough? Here’s how it stacks up against top third-party travel insurance plans:
| Feature | Chase Sapphire | Third-Party Travel Insurance |
| Trip Cancellation & Interruption | Up to $10,000 per person | Up to 100% of trip cost (at least $100K) |
| Trip Delay Coverage | $500 after 6-12 hours | Up to $2,000 after 3-12 hours |
| Baggage Delay Coverage | $100/day (5 days) | Up to $500 per day |
| Medical Coverage | $2,500 (Reserve only) | Up to $500,000 |
| Emergency Evacuation | Up to $100,000 (Reserve only) | Up to $1,000,000 |
| Rental Car Insurance | Primary | Varies, often secondary |
| Pre-existing Conditions | Not covered | Covered if bought within 14-21 days |
When Third-Party Insurance Is the Better Choice
While Chase Sapphire travel insurance offers solid perks, it falls short in key areas, especially for travelers needing higher medical coverage, pre-existing condition protection, or extended trip coverage. Based on our data, here’s when a third-party travel insurance plan is the better option:
🚑 You need strong medical coverage – Third-party travel insurance policies recommended by Squaremouth typically offer $100,000 to $500,000 in medical coverage, far exceeding Chase’s $2,500 limit on the Reserve card (and no coverage at all on the Preferred card).
🌍 You’re traveling internationally – Medical care abroad can be costly, and a medical evacuation from Thailand or Europe can easily exceed $50,000. Squaremouth recommends at least $100,000 in medical evacuation coverage—Chase only covers up to $100,000, which may not be enough for remote destinations.
⏳ Your trip is longer than a few weeks—Many third-party travel insurance plans cover longer trips (typically up to 90+ days), while credit card coverage may have trip length limits that vary by issuer. Squaremouth recommends checking policy details to ensure your entire trip is covered.
📜 You need pre-existing condition coverage – If you have asthma, diabetes, or heart issues, a third-party plan can cover cancellations and medical emergencies related to pre-existing conditions—as long as you purchase a policy within 14-21 days of your first trip payment. Chase Sapphire does not cover pre-existing conditions at all.
💰 Your trip costs more than $10,000 per person – Squaremouth recommends insuring the full cost of your trip. Since Chase Sapphire only covers up to $10,000 per person ($20,000 per trip), travelers with luxury cruises, extended itineraries, or first-class airfare may need third-party insurance to ensure full reimbursement in case of cancellation.
When Chase Sapphire Insurance Might Be Enough
💳 Your trip is domestic and under $10,000 – If you’re flying to Florida for a week, Chase may provide all the coverage you need.
👜 You only want basic rental car and baggage protection. Chase’s rental car primary coverage is better than most credit cards offer.
🌟 You don’t want to buy extra insurance – If you already have a Chase Sapphire card, you’re automatically covered for specific issues.
Bottom Line: Should You Rely on Chase Sapphire Travel Insurance?
Chase Sapphire’s travel insurance is a great perk. Still, we do not recommend it as a complete replacement for a dedicated travel insurance plan—especially if you’re taking an expensive trip, traveling internationally, or need strong medical coverage.
Chase’s coverage might be enough for a quick weekend trip to New York. But a third-party plan is the safer bet if you’re booking a luxury cruise, heading to Europe, or have a pre-existing condition.
Ready to start exploring? Compare top travel insurance plans with higher medical limits and pre-existing condition coverage at squaremouth.com