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You don’t embark on a journey thinking something bad will happen because chances are that the worst won’t happen.  It’s good to know, however, that if something did happen and you were severely injured or even worse, there is coverage available — and it comes complimentary on your credit card.
Travel Accident Insurance is widely available but seldom used. In fact, news and media provider Reuters reports that there were zero accidental deaths on scheduled commercial U.S. air carriers in 2017, which is the most recent data available.
And while you don’t normally base your credit cards on this coverage, it’s helpful to know which cards come with this coverage. Travel protections and benefits can save you money when you travel and provide peace of mind knowing you have coverage should something drastic happen during your trip.
Travel Accident Insurance, specifically, is one of those peace-of-mind coverages that can be a welcome resource should you need it.
Here’s a look into travel accident insurance with the objective of defining the coverage and letting you know which popular cards carry the protection as part of a broader package of travel protections and benefits.
Travel Accident Insurance is a complimentary travel protection that is offered on certain travel rewards credit cards. The coverage pays out a specified benefit should you or your immediate family become severely injured, including dismemberment, loss of sight, hearing, or speech, or death due to a covered accident on a common carrier during your travels.
The coverage works similar to life insurance in the case of accidental death. Dismemberment and severe injury is handled differently in that a percentage of the total death benefit is paid out depending on the severity of the injury. The limits of the benefit payouts are depicted in a table published within the Guide to Benefits for each specific credit card.
Travel Accident Insurance is different than trip cancellation, trip interruption, and trip delay insurance in that it only pays a benefit in the case of accidental death or specified severe injuries when traveling on a common carrier.
Also, unlike most travel insurance policies that come with your credit card, travel accident insurance is not secondary coverage. This means it will pay benefits in addition to other life, disability, or medical coverage you hold.
Primary and additional cardholders can generally designate a beneficiary for the accident life insurance portion of the coverage.
Bottom Line: Travel Accident Insurance comes complimentary on many travel rewards credit cards. It works similar to an accidental life insurance policy in the case of death and pays out a percentage of that benefit in the case of severe injury. 
The best credit cards for travel accident insurance coverage have travel protections and benefits beyond that of just travel accident insurance. The following travel rewards credit cards offer some of the best travel insurance packages available and all of the coverages come complimentary with the card.
Card
Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee
Travel Accident Insurance Benefits
Up to $500,000 for the Common Carrier Benefit, or $100,000 for the 24 Hour Benefit
Up to $500,000 for the Common Carrier Benefit, or $100,000 for the 24 Hour Benefit
Up to $1,000,000, complimentary emergency evacuation insurance up to $100,000 and $2,500 in emergency medical/dental expenses
Up to $500,000
United-Branded Credit Cards
 
Up to $500,000
Capital One Visa Signature and Mastercard Rewards Cards
 
Up to $250,000
Visa Infinite Credit Cards
 
Up to $500,000
Wells Fargo Visa Signature Cards
 
Up to $1,000,000
Chase actually has 2 types of travel accident insurance:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred provides up to $500,000 for the Common Carrier Benefit, or $100,000 for the 24 Hour Benefit. In addition to travel Accident insurance, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers additional travel insurance.
A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
Chase Ultimate Rewards
The Ink Business Preferred card provides up to $500,000 for the Common Carrier Benefit, or $100,000 for the 24 Hour Benefit.
The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.
The Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card is a powerhouse for earning lots of points from your business purchases, especially for business owners that spend regularly on ads.
Plus the card offers flexible redemption options, including access to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners where you can achieve outsized value.
Business owners will also love the protections the card provides like excellent cell phone insurance, rental car insurance, purchase protection, and more.
Chase Ultimate Rewards
In addition to Travel Accident Insurance of up to $1,000,000, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers complimentary emergency evacuation insurance up to $100,000 and $2,500 in emergency medical/dental expenses.
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options out there.
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.
Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Pay for your transportation ticket with your World of Hyatt card and receive up to $500,000 in travel accident insurance due to a covered loss.
The World of Hyatt card offers a fast track to Hyatt elite status, an annual free night, and up to 9x points per $1 on Hyatt stays.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card makes your Hyatt stays more rewarding and helps you get coveted World of Hyatt elite status faster. This card is a must-have for any traveler who regularly stays at Hyatt hotels, or even for anyone who’s able to take advantage of the card’s annual free night certificate.
When you factor in all the benefits the World of Hyatt card offers, it’s easy to see why it is one of the best co-branded hotel credit cards on the market.
World of Hyatt
With priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees and more, MileagePlus members will definitely enjoy their partnered card.
You travel United all the time, but you have heard that there could be ways to make your travel experiences even better, including priority boarding, free bags, and more miles.
You should consider the United℠ Explorer Card, because this card does all that and more!
United MileagePlus Frequent Flyer Program
Perfect for frequent United flyers who want premium perks like United Club access and free baggage benefits.
The United Club℠ Infinite Card is a premium card designed for the most dedicated of United frequent flyers who are looking for a card that provides the opportunity to earn extra United MileagePlus miles and receive lounge access via a yearly United Club membership.
United frequent flyers will find that the United Club Infinite card provides an enhanced experience on their United flights thanks to the money saved on each flight and the conveniences it provides.
The United Quest card is a fantastic option for United flyers looking to earn more miles and enhance their flights.
The newest addition to United’s lineup of cards is the United Quest℠ Card. With it, you can bolster your United MileagePlus miles, thanks to the bonus categories, while enjoying the card’s many perks designed to help save you money on each United flight.
With an annual fee that falls between the United℠ Explorer Card and United Club℠ Infinite Card, the United Quest card makes for a fantastic card option for United frequent flyers.
The United Gateway card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without paying an annual fee.
The United Gateway℠ Card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without wanting to pay a credit card annual fee. Plus, the card offers other solid benefits like a 25% back on United inflight purchases, purchase protection, and rental car insurance.
The United Club Business card is a great option for frequent United flyers looking for United Club access.
The United Club℠ Business Card is a premium card option for dedicated United loyalists seeking a card that offers complimentary United Club access, helps them earn and retain status, and doesn’t skip on the benefits.
From free checked bags to upgrades on award tickets and the ability to earn Premier qualifying points, there is plenty to the United Club Business card that United flyers are sure to love.
These United-branded credit cards come with complimentary travel accident insurance of up to $500,000.
The primary cardholder, additional cardholder, and immediate family members are covered for Chase Travel Accident Insurance.
Immediate family is defined as you (the cardholder), your spouse or domestic partner, you or your domestic partner’s children, including adopted children or step-children. Additionally, legal guardians or wards, siblings or siblings-in-law, parents or parents-in-law, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts/uncles, and nieces/nephews are covered.
Bottom Line: Many Chase credit cards come with travel accident insurance, and since the definition of covered persons is so broad, benefits are provided for even extended family members.
There are several other travel rewards cards that offer Travel Accident Insurance to varying degrees.
Capital One-Issued Rewards Cards — All of Capital One’s Visa Signature and Mastercard Rewards cards come with Travel Accident Insurance coverage. Charge your entire travel fare to your card and receive up to $250,000 in benefits. You can read about our recommended Capital One Cards here.
Visa Infinite Credit Cards — Cardholders and dependents are covered when the common carrier ticket is purchased with the eligible card. Coverage is provided up to $500,000 for accidental death or dismemberment.
Wells Fargo Visa Signature Cards — Pays up to $1,000,000 when your common carrier ticket is paid for in full with your card.
Note that since so many credit cards offer Travel Accident Insurance, this list is highlighting just some of the most popular cards and not supplying an exhaustive list. You’ll want to access your specific card’s Guide to Benefits or call the number on the back of your card to determine if you have coverage and the limits of that coverage.
Filing a claim for accidental death or severe injury is straightforward regardless of the issuing credit card institution. The first step is to contact the benefits administrator as soon as possible after the accident, generally no later than 30 days, by calling the number on the back of your card.
You could be asked to submit any of the following for documentation:
Bottom Line: Regardless of the credit card issuer, you’ll want to submit your claim on a timely basis and confirm that all the required documentation has been received by the benefits administrator to avoid any chance your claim being delayed or denied due to lack of information. 
Travel Accident Insurance is just one travel protection offered complimentary on travel rewards credit cards. Look for these additional travel benefits when selecting a travel rewards card.
Bottom Line: Finding a card that has a package of complimentary travel protections and benefits you can use brings extra value that can save you money or provide peace of mind during your travels.
No one likes to think about having a severe accident happening during their travels. Chances are, you’ll never have to worry about using the travel accident insurance that comes with your card. However, just knowing it exists is enough.
It is not a key travel insurance coverage that causes you to weigh one travel rewards card over another. Selecting a card that offers a broader collection of travel protections and benefits you can use is a more prudent approach.
Always compare the coverage that comes on your card with a comprehensive travel insurance policy to determine if the complimentary coverage is adequate for your trip. If not, you can supplement the complimentary coverage easily and inexpensively.
All information and content provided by Upgraded Points is intended as general information and for educational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as medical advice or legal advice. For more information, see our Medical & Legal Disclaimers.
Travel accident insurance is an ancillary coverage that comes complimentary with many credit cards. It functions like a life insurance policy in the case of accidental death and pays a benefit in case of severe accidental injury (dismemberment or the loss of sight or hearing).
Coverage can range from $100,000 to $1,000,000 depending on the credit card for accidental death or severe injury when traveling on a common carrier such as a plane, train, or cruise ship.
The definition of who is covered also differs by credit card. Some cards cover only the cardholder, spouse, and dependent children under a certain age.
Other cards extend coverage to immediate family including in-laws, and step-children.
Travel accident insurance is not a secondary excess coverage. This means that even if you have other insurance coverage it will still pay the full appropriate benefit.
Some cards require that you pay for your entire common carrier ticket with your eligible card, others require that only a portion of your ticket be paid for with your card.
The easiest way to find out if you have travel accident insurance is to call the number on the back of your card.
You can also access your printed Guide to Benefits that came with your card or go to your online credit card account and access the information there.
Additionally, you can request a copy of the Guide to Benefits be sent to you.
Travel accident insurance does not cover accidents that happen with rental cars. However, chances are you have coverage for damage to the rental car either on your own auto insurance policy, car rental coverage that comes with your credit card, or coverage you purchased from the rental car company.
Travel accident insurance also does not cover accidental death or severe injury from an accident involving a rental car. Coverage is limited to accidents involving common carriers such as planes, trains, and cruises.
Chances are you will never have to use travel accident insurance. However, having it can give you peace of mind that if something drastic should happen during your travels, the coverage is there.
Travel accident insurance is just one benefit among many travel insurance benefits you should look for when selecting a travel rewards card.
It often comes included with other important travel benefits such as car rental insurance, trip interruption, trip cancellation, trip delay reimbursement, emergency travel assistance, and roadside assistance, plus others.
Selecting a card that has a full package of travel benefits you can use will bring the most value.
The information regarding the United Club℠ Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
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Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services offices. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.
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