The insurance accompanying your credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) are more like assistance contracts that help you in case of incidents, for a short period of time without offering you very important health insurance coverage and in any case if you stay more than 3 months or 90 consecutive days abroad.
Some examples of cases
Without going into too much detail, here are some examples of the application and limits of the insurance offered by your bank card:
- Concerning the insured: This generally includes the cardholder, his or her spouse or partner, dependent children under 25 years of age for tax purposes and ascendants and descendants.
- concerning the place of application of the guarantees: The insurance guarantee, applies to more than 100 Km from the home or the usual place of work.
- concerning the duration of the guarantees: The assistance guarantees are applicable for the first 90 days of the stay. ATTENTION: if your stay exceeds 3 months your “standard” credit card will not cover you.
- Concerning the amount of health expenses covered: The ceilings proposed by credit cards are derisory compared to the medical expenses that can be incurred in certain foreign countries such as the United States, as well as the deductibles. For example, with a deductible of 50€, if a doctor’s consultation costs you 60€, you will only be reimbursed between 0 and 10€ with your credit card.
- concerning assistance and repatriation services : TO KNOW With supplementary health insurance, there are no such low ceilings that result in very poor coverage in case of major health problems, for which it is essential to be well covered.
- Regarding Trip Cancellation Coverage: Trip cancellation coverage is not generally available with “standard” cards.
- regarding flight or baggage delays: The “standard” cards do not generally offer compensation.
- Regarding theft and damage to luggage: Standard cards do not compensate you for problems with your luggage.
- regarding liability: You are not covered with the standard cards for liability. Don’t forget that if there is an accident, 1,5M€ in some countries like the United States go very quickly between medical expenses, legal fees…etc.
- concerning the death or disability benefit: The application of this benefit is generally subject to the use of your card to purchase your transportation ticket
For more details on your credit card travel health insurance.
