Travel Reward Credit Card Medical Insurance Coverage

Guide to Credit Card Emergency Medical Insurance Coverage

Last Updated on June 24, 2024

In the mid-2000s Emergency Travel Medical Insurance coverage began to emerge as a new insurance benefit on premium travel rewards credit cards and now it is even being added to cash back cards. Also called Out of Province Medical Coverage this type of insurance benefits covers medical needs that should arise if you are travelling outside of your home province. Think of this insurance as something like your provincial health care plan but for outside of your province. Coverage varies by card and the primary condition set out by all of them is the age of the cardholder. Ever since this type of insurance was introduced on credit cards we started receiving and still receive requests from some of Rewards Canada's 'seasoned' readers about coverage once they hit 65 years old. We first looked into this around 2010 and at that time personally responded via email to those who asked. But somehow when 2013 hit, we started to receive so many emails asking about which credit cards provide Emergency Travel Medical Insurance coverage for people over the age of 65 that we figured it was best to summarize all the information into one post.

Common Question:
Do I have to pay for my travel with the credit card to receive Emergency Medical Insurance Coverage?

No you do not have to.
This is one type of insurance provided by credit card companies that covers you simply by having the card and are in good standing on that card (no missed payments etc.) This does not apply to other insurance coverages like Flight Delay, Baggage Insurance etc. All those other types of coverage do require you to pay for the said travel with the card to be covered.

We have gone through all of the major Travel Rewards and Cash Back credit cards in Canada that provide this insurance benefit and summarized their age coverage in the chart below.

We do want to stress however that if you are picking a card primarily for the Travel Medical Insurance coverage be sure to read the policy before you get the card to see what is and what isn't covered, what the coverage periods are and more as each card has their own 'exclusions' and such. Here are some of the things that stood out for us:

Most of the plans will only cover you for pre-existing conditions (known or unknown in some cases) when those conditions are/were considered stable prior to traveling. Now the difference comes in in the time period that you have to be stable, I found most cards require 90 days to 180 days prior to travel but some require 365 days for older age groups (65+ or 75+). Now a pre-existing condition can be different than a Medical or chronic condition which is controlled, but once again during that 90,180, 365 day period the condition can't usually see any changes or other treatment for it. This includes changes to the dosage of your medication - if it is increased or decreased this constitutes a change and you will not be covered if that pre-existing condition is the source of your emergency. Some of the insurance plans will also not cover routine care for a chronic condition.
If you are traveling 9 weeks prior to or after giving birth many of the cards will not cover you if any medical issues arise that are related to the pregnancy.
If you are young (or young at heart) and go party in Cancun during Spring Break, many of the cards will not cover you for medical emergencies that happen while you are intoxicated.
Certain dangerous or professional sports are not covered, even Scuba Diving is an exclusion unless you hold a basic designation from a certified school or licencing body.

These are only a few of the conditions and/or exclusions. Key word here in many of the cases is Emergency, so if you are getting routine care for something prior to travel there is a possibility it may not be covered. Also, many of the policies require you to contact the insurer as soon as possible and get approval for the treatment except where the emergency is life threatening. This excerpt is taken from the CIBC Avenutra Visa Infinite policy:

"In the event of an emergency, you must call Global Excel before seeking treatment. If it is not reasonably possible for you to contact Global Excel before seeking treatment due to the nature of your emergency, you must have someone else call on your behalf or you must call as soon as medically possible. Failure to do so may limit the benefits payable to you."

So please, before you choose a card based solely on the medical insurance please read the policies carefully of those cards that you are considering before making your decision.

Extending coverage

Many of the cards also allow you to extend your coverage for a fee should you be travelling for a period of time that exceeds the maximum time allowed by a card.

COVID-19

You will also want to check the policies regarding the COVID-19 pandemic as many will not cover you if you choose to travel when there is an advisory not to travel (ie avoid all non-essential travel) or if you travel to an area that is not recommended for travel.

Emergency Travel Medical Insurance Coverage Periods by Age:

Maximum coverage by age group:

54 and under: 60 days - multiple cards
55 - 59: 60 days - multiple cards
60 - 64: 31 days - multiple cards
65 - 75: 15 days - multiple cards (for comparison you will still find the HSBC card listed at 21 days)
76+: 10 days - multiple cards (for comparison you will still find the HSBC card listed at 21 days)
Stabilization period refers to how long before your departure any pre-existing medical conditions must be stable

Card / Age Group	up to 54	55 - 59	60 - 64	65 - 75	76+	Stabilization Period
Air France KLM World Elite MasterCard® powered by Brim Financial	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	3	3	90 days (180 days for 65+)
*American Express® Aeroplan® Reserve Card**	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	0	0	90 days
*American Express® Aeroplan® Business Reserve Card**	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	0	0	90 days
*American Express® AIR MILES® Reserve Credit Card**	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	0	0	90 days
American Express Cobalt® Card	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	0	0	90 days
American Express® Gold Rewards Card	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	0	0	90 days
ATB World Elite Mastercard®	22 Days	22 Days	22 Days	0	0	180 days
BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* MasterCard®*	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	0	0	180 days (stated as 6 months in the policy)
BMO CashBack® World Elite®* MasterCard®*	08 Days	08 Days	08 Days	0	0	180 days (stated as 6 months in the policy)
*BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card**	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	0	0	90 days
*BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card**	22 days	22 days	22 days	03 days	03 days	90 days up to 64 180 days for 65+
BMO World Elite™* MasterCard®*	21 Days	21 Days	21 Days	0	0	180 days (stated as 6 months in the policy)
Brim World MasterCard	08 Days	08 Days	08 Days	0	0	90 days
Brim World Elite MasterCard	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	03 days	03 days	90 days up to 64 180 days for 65+
Business Platinum Card® from American Express	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	0	0	90 days
Cathay World Elite® Mastercard® – powered by Neo	14 Days	14 Days	0	0	0	180 days (stated as 6 months in the policy)
CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Card	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	03 days	03 days	90 days up to 64 180 days for 65+
*CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege Card**	31 Days	31 Days	31 Days	10 days	10 days	90 days up to 64 180 days for 65+
*CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite Card**	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	03 days	03 days	90 days up to 64 180 days for 65+
*CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite Privilege Card**	31 Days	31 Days	31 Days	10 days	10 days	90 days up to 64 180 days for 65+
*CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa Card**	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	0	0	90 days
*CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite Card**	10 Days	10 Days	10 Days	0	0	90 days
Collabria Travel Rewards Gold Card	60 Days	60 Days	31 Days	10 Days	0	90 days (stated as 3 months in the policy) up to 54 180 days (stated as 6 months in the policy) for 55+
Collabria World Card	60 Days	60 Days	31 Days	10 Days	0	90 days (stated as 3 months in the policy) up to 54 180 days (stated as 6 months in the policy) for 55+
Collabria Visa Infinite Card	60 Days	60 Days	31 Days	10 Days	0	90 days (stated as 3 months in the policy) up to 54 180 days (stated as 6 months in the policy) for 55+
Desjardins Cash Back World Elite®Mastercard®	03 Days	03 Days	03 Days	03 Days	03 Days	90 days up to 54 182 days or 55+
Desjardin Odyssey® Gold Visa*	60 Days	60 Days	31 Days	15 Days	0	90 days up to 54 182 days or 55+
Desjardin Odyssey® World Elite® Mastercard®	60 Days	60 Days	31 Days	15 Days	0	90 days up to 54 182 days or 55+
*Desjardin Odyssey® Visa Infinite Privilege**	60 Days	60 Days	31 Days	15 Days	0	90 days up to 54 182 days or 55+
HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® (This card is no longer available to new applicants)	31 Days	31 Days	31 Days	21 Days	21 Days	180 days up to 64 365 days for 65+
Laurentian Bank Visa Infinite	31 Days	31 Days	31 Days	15 Days	0	90 days
MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®	21 Days	21 Days	21 Days	0	0	90 days
*Meridian Visa Infinite Cash Back Card**	48 Days	48 Days	23 Days	15 Days	0	90 days (stated as 3 months in the policy) up to 54 180 days (stated as 6 months in the policy) for 55+
*Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card**	48 Days	48 Days	23 Days	15 Days	0	90 days (stated as 3 months in the policy) up to 54 180 days (stated as 6 months in the policy) for 55+
National Bank of Canada World Elite Mastercard	60 Days	31 Days	31 Days	15 Days	0	90 days (stated as 3 months in the policy) up to 60 180 days (stated as 6 months in the policy) for 61+
National Bank of Canada World Mastercard	60 Days	31 Days	31 Days	15 Days	0	90 days (stated as 3 months in the policy) up to 60 180 days (stated as 6 months in the policy) for 61+
National Bank of Canada Platinum Mastercard	10 Days	10 Days	10 Days	10 Days	0	90 days (stated as 3 months in the policy) up to 60 180 days (stated as 6 months in the policy) for 61+
PC Financial World Elite Mastercard	10 Days	10 Days	10 Days	0	0	180 days
The Platinum Card® from American Express	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	0	0	90 days
RBC Avion Visa Infinite	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	03 days	03 days	90 days up to 74 180 days for 75+
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	03 days	03 days	90 days up to 74 180 days for 75+
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege	31 Days	31 Days	31 Days	07 Days	07 Days	90 days up to 74 180 days for 75+
RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card	31 Days	31 Days	31 Days	07 Days	07 Days	90 days up to 74 180 days for 75+
RBC Cathay Pacific Visa Platinum Card	31 Days	31 Days	31 Days	07 Days	07 Days	90 days up to 74 180 days for 75+
Rogers World Elite Mastercard	10 Days	10 Days	10 Days	03 Days	0	180 days (stated as 6 months in the policy) up to 64 365 days (stated as 12 months in the policy) for 65+
Scotia Gold American Express Card	25 Days	25 Days	25 Days	03 Days	03 Days	180 days up to 74 365 days for 75+
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card	25 Days	25 Days	25 Days	03 Days	03 Days	180 days up to 74 365 days for 75+
*Scotiabank® Platinum American Express® Card**	31 Days	31 Days	31 Days	10 days	10 days	180 days up to 74 365 days for 75+
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business card	25 Days	25 Days	25 Days	10 days	10 days	180 days up to 74 365 days for 75+
*Scotia Momentum® VISA Infinite card**	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	0	0	180 days up to 74 365 days for 75+
Servus Credit Union World Elite® Mastercard®	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	0	180 days
Servus Credit Union Gold Mastercard®	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	0	180 days
SimplyCash™ Preferred Card from American Express	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	0	0	90 days
*TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Card**	21 Days	21 Days	21 Days	04 Days	04 Days	90 days up to 64 180 days for 65+
*TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege Card**	31 Days	31 Days	31 Days	04 Days	04 Days	90 days up to 64 180 days for 65+
*TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite Card**	21 Days	21 Days	21 Days	04 Days	04 Days	90 days up to 64 180 days for 65+
*TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card**	10 Days	10 Days	10 Days	04 Days	04 Days	90 days up to 64 180 days for 65+
*Vancity enviro™ Visa Infinite Privilege card**	22 Days	22 Days	22 Days	03 days	03 days	180 days up to 64 365 days for 65+
WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard	15 Days	15 Days	15 Days	03 days	03 days	90 days up to 74 180 days for 75+

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This feature was first posted on February 19, 2013 and is updated on a regular basis

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