10 Best Credit Cards for Travel Insurance of 2026

This list is for travelers who want their credit card to pay when a trip is canceled, delayed or goes wrong medically. Card travel insurance usually requires you to pay for the trip with the card, and each issuer sets its own limits and covered reasons. We compared the coverage each issuer publishes on its card pages and the annual fees shown there in November 2026; we did not apply for the cards or file claims. Rankozo weights value at 40%, features at 35% and ease of use at 25%, and the price shown is the annual fee. Where an issuer does not publish a dollar limit on its card page, we say so and score the card lower on features. Read the issuer's guide to benefits before you rely on any coverage.

1. 01Top value

   

   Chase Sapphire Preferred

   9.0/10

   Chase's $95 travel rewards card with trip cancellation, trip delay and baggage cover built in.

   Price

   $95annual fee

   $95 annual fee

   “$95 annual fee” Quoted from the pricing page, November 11, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   9.4

   Features (35%)

   8.6

   Ease of use (25%)

   9.0

   Best forMost travelers who want trip cancellation cover for a low annual fee

   The Sapphire Preferred gives the most trip insurance per dollar of annual fee on this list. Chase's card page says that if a trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather or other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per covered traveler and $20,000 per trip for prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours and hotels. That is the same cancellation limit Chase lists for the Sapphire Reserve, at about an eighth of the fee. Delay cover is weaker: trip delay reimbursement of up to $500 per covered traveler applies only when common carrier travel is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay. Baggage delay pays up to $100 a day for up to 5 days once bags are more than 6 hours late, and lost luggage is reimbursed up to $3,000 per covered traveler. The gap is medical: the card page lists no emergency medical or evacuation benefit, so anyone worried about getting sick abroad should look at the Reserve or buy a separate policy.

   • ✓Same $10,000 per traveler trip cancellation limit as the $795 Sapphire Reserve
   • ✓Covers prepaid tours and hotels, not only fares
   • ✓$95 annual fee

   • ✕Trip delay only starts after 12 hours, double the Reserve's 6 hour trigger
   • ✕No emergency medical or dental reimbursement listed on the card page
   • ✕No travel credits to offset the fee

   Annual fee:

   $95

   Trip cancellation:

   $10,000 per traveler, $20,000 per trip

   Trip delay:

   $500 per traveler after 12 hours

   Baggage delay:

   $100 a day for up to 5 days

   Bottom line: Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best choice for most travelers because it covers up to $10,000 per traveler in canceled trip costs for a $95 annual fee. Buy separate medical cover if you need it.

   Visit chase.com ↗

2. 02

   

   Chase Sapphire Reserve

   8.5/10

   Chase's premium travel card with the widest set of travel protections Chase publishes, including medical and evacuation cover.

   Price

   $795annual fee

   $795 annual fee; $195 per authorized user

   “$795 annual fee” Quoted from the pricing page, November 11, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   7.4

   Features (35%)

   9.7

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.5

   Best forFrequent and international travelers who want medical and evacuation cover from their card

   The Sapphire Reserve is the card to pick if the medical side of travel insurance matters to you. Chase's page lists emergency evacuation and transportation of up to $100,000 when you or a covered traveler are injured or become sick on a trip 100 miles or more from home, and emergency medical and dental reimbursement of up to $2,500, subject to a $50 deductible. Trip cancellation and interruption matches the Sapphire Preferred at up to $10,000 per covered traveler and $20,000 per trip, but trip delay kicks in after 6 hours rather than 12, with up to $500 per covered traveler. Baggage delay pays up to $100 a day for up to 5 days, lost luggage up to $3,000 per covered traveler, and travel accident insurance up to $1,000,000. The cost is a $795 annual fee plus $195 for each authorized user, partly offset by a $300 annual travel credit. The $2,500 medical cap is modest, so long trips abroad may still call for a dedicated medical policy.

   • ✓Only card on this list whose issuer page lists both emergency medical and evacuation cover
   • ✓Trip delay starts after 6 hours instead of 12
   • ✓$300 annual travel credit offsets part of the fee

   • ✕$795 annual fee is the second highest here
   • ✕Emergency medical reimbursement tops out at $2,500
   • ✕$195 fee for each authorized user

   Annual fee:

   $795

   Trip cancellation:

   $10,000 per traveler, $20,000 per trip

   Emergency evacuation:

   Up to $100,000

   Emergency medical and dental:

   Up to $2,500, $50 deductible

   Bottom line: Chase Sapphire Reserve is the best choice for travelers who want medical cover because its page lists up to $100,000 for emergency evacuation and $2,500 for emergency medical and dental. The $795 fee only pays off for frequent travelers.

   Visit chase.com ↗

3. 03

   

   United Explorer Card

   8.2/10

   United's co-branded Chase card with trip cancellation, delay and baggage cover plus a free checked bag.

   Price

   $150annual fee

   $0 first year, then $150 annual fee

   “$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150” Quoted from the pricing page, November 11, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   8.6

   Features (35%)

   7.4

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.6

   Best forUnited flyers who want basic trip insurance and a $0 first year

   The United Explorer Card is the low cost way to get a full set of basic trip protections, as long as you fly United. Chase's page says you can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per covered traveler and $6,000 per trip for prepaid, non-refundable passenger fares if a trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather or other covered situations. That limit is far lower than the Sapphire cards, and it covers fares only, so prepaid hotels and tours are not protected. Trip delay reimbursement pays up to $500 per covered traveler after a delay of more than 12 hours or an overnight stay, baggage delay pays up to $100 a day for up to 3 days, and lost luggage is covered up to $3,000 per covered traveler. The card also carries primary Auto Rental Coverage up to $60,000. The annual fee is $0 in the first year and $150 after that. There is no emergency medical cover on the card page.

   • ✓$0 annual fee in the first year
   • ✓Primary Auto Rental Coverage up to $60,000
   • ✓Free first checked bag can cut fees on every United trip

   • ✕Trip cancellation only covers passenger fares, not hotels or tours
   • ✕Cancellation limit is $1,500 per traveler, far below the Sapphire cards
   • ✕$150 annual fee from year two

   Annual fee:

   $0 first year, then $150

   Trip cancellation:

   $1,500 per traveler, $6,000 per trip

   Trip delay:

   $500 per traveler after 12 hours

   Baggage delay:

   $100 a day for up to 3 days

   Bottom line: United Explorer Card is the best choice for United flyers on a budget because it adds trip cancellation, delay and baggage cover for $0 in the first year. Cancellation cover is limited to $1,500 per traveler in fares.

   Visit chase.com ↗

4. 04

   

   Chase Ink Business Preferred

   8.0/10

   Chase's $95 business card with trip cancellation cover for prepaid fares, tours and hotels.

   Price

   $95annual fee

   $95 annual fee

   “ANNUAL FEE $95” Quoted from the pricing page, November 11, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   8.6

   Features (35%)

   7.0

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.4

   Best forSmall business owners who book work trips on a company card

   The Ink Business Preferred is the business option on this list. Chase's card page says that if a trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather or other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $5,000 per covered traveler and $10,000 per trip for prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours and hotels. That is half the Sapphire Preferred's limit, but it applies to the same broad set of costs. The page also lists auto rental coverage for most vehicles with an MSRP of $125,000 or less, and cell phone protection of up to $1,000 per claim with a $100 deductible and a maximum of 3 claims in 12 months. What is missing is delay cover: the page lists no trip delay or baggage delay benefit, and no medical or evacuation benefit. For $95 a year it is a sensible card for owners who prepay conferences and client trips and want those costs protected.

   • ✓$95 annual fee for a business card with trip cancellation cover
   • ✓Cancellation cover includes hotels and tours, not only fares
   • ✓Cell phone protection for phones on the business bill

   • ✕No trip delay or baggage delay benefit listed on the card page
   • ✕Cancellation limit is half the Sapphire Preferred's
   • ✕Business card, so you need a business to apply

   Annual fee:

   $95

   Trip cancellation:

   $5,000 per traveler, $10,000 per trip

   Cell phone protection:

   Up to $1,000 per claim

   Welcome offer:

   100,000 points after $8,000 in 3 months

   Bottom line: Chase Ink Business Preferred is the best choice for small business travel because it covers up to $5,000 per traveler in canceled trip costs for a $95 annual fee. It has no published delay or medical cover.

   Visit chase.com ↗

5. 05

   

   Bilt Obsidian Card

   7.9/10

   Bilt's $95 mid tier card that adds trip cancellation, trip delay and luggage cover to rent rewards.

   Price

   $95annual fee

   $95 annual fee

   “The Bilt Obsidian Card ($95/year” Quoted from the pricing page, November 11, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   8.4

   Features (35%)

   7.2

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.0

   Best forRenters who travel a few times a year

   Bilt's comparison table makes the trip insurance split across its three cards easy to read. The $0 Bilt Blue Card does not include trip cancellation and interruption protection, trip delay reimbursement or lost or damaged luggage insurance. The $95 Bilt Obsidian Card includes all three, and only the $495 Palladium Card adds baggage delay insurance. That makes the Obsidian the cheapest Bilt card that covers a canceled trip. Its main draw is still rent: all three cards can earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee on rent, mortgage and HOA, and the Obsidian earns 4X on hotels through Bilt Travel. The weakness is that the card page does not publish dollar limits for these protections, so you have to check the benefit guide to know how much a claim can pay. There is no medical or evacuation benefit in the table.

   • ✓Adds the main trip protections that the $0 Bilt Blue Card lacks
   • ✓Points on rent and mortgage payments
   • ✓No foreign transaction fees

   • ✕Baggage delay insurance is only on the $495 Palladium Card
   • ✕Coverage limits are not stated on the card page
   • ✕No medical or evacuation benefit listed

   Annual fee:

   $95

   Trip cancellation:

   Included

   Trip delay:

   Included

   Baggage delay:

   Not included

   Bottom line: Bilt Obsidian Card is the best choice for renters who travel because it adds trip cancellation, trip delay and lost luggage cover to rent rewards for $95 a year. Baggage delay cover needs the Palladium Card.

   Visit biltrewards.com ↗

6. 06

   

   Citi Strata Premier Card

   7.9/10

   Citi's $95 travel card with trip cancellation, trip delay, luggage and rental car protections.

   Price

   $95annual fee

   $95 annual fee

   “Annual fee - $95” Quoted from the pricing page, November 11, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   8.6

   Features (35%)

   7.0

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.2

   Best forCiti customers who want a $95 card with a full list of travel protections

   The Citi Strata Premier Card lists four travel protections on its card page: Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption (Common Carrier), Trip Delay, Lost or Damaged Luggage and MasterRental Coverage for car rentals. That is a broader set than the Ink Business Preferred for the same $95 annual fee, and Citi charges no authorized user fee. The trade off is transparency: the card page does not state the dollar limits, so you need Citi's benefit terms to see how much each protection pays. The card earns 10 points per dollar on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on cititravel.com, 3 points per dollar on air travel, restaurants, supermarkets and gas, and gives $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more once per calendar year when booked through Citi Travel. There are no foreign transaction fees. No medical or evacuation benefit is listed, so pair it with a separate medical policy for trips abroad.

   • ✓$95 annual fee with no authorized user fee
   • ✓Covers cancellation, delay, luggage and rental cars
   • ✓3x points on air travel, restaurants, supermarkets and gas

   • ✕Coverage limits are not published on the card page
   • ✕Cancellation cover is for common carrier travel
   • ✕No emergency medical or evacuation benefit listed

   Annual fee:

   $95

   Trip cancellation:

   Included, common carrier

   Trip delay:

   Included

   Foreign transaction fee:

   None

   Bottom line: Citi Strata Premier Card is the best choice for Citi customers because it bundles trip cancellation, trip delay, luggage and rental car cover for $95 a year. Check the limits in Citi's benefit terms before you rely on them.

   Visit citi.com ↗

7. 07

   

   Capital One Venture X

   7.5/10

   Capital One's premium Visa Infinite travel card with trip cancellation and travel accident cover.

   Price

   $395annual fee

   $395 annual fee

   “Annual Fee $395” Quoted from the pricing page, November 11, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   7.6

   Features (35%)

   7.0

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.0

   Best forTravelers who book through Capital One Travel and want a lower premium fee

   The Venture X is a strong premium travel card whose insurance is less clearly documented than Chase's. Capital One's Venture X overview says trip cancellation and interruption coverage will reimburse eligible travel expenses if plans are affected by a medical emergency such as the illness or death of an immediate family member, and it lists travel accident insurance, an auto rental collision damage waiver and cell phone protection of up to $800 subject to a deductible. Neither the card page nor the overview states dollar limits for cancellation, and neither describes trip delay or baggage cover, so you need the Visa Infinite guide to benefits for the details. The value case rests on other perks: a $300 annual Capital One Travel credit, 10,000 bonus miles every anniversary and lounge access, against a $395 annual fee. Choose it for rewards and lounges, and treat the insurance as a backup rather than the main reason.

   • ✓$300 travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles offset most of the fee
   • ✓Lounge access through Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass after enrollment
   • ✓2X miles on every purchase

   • ✕Card pages do not publish trip cancellation limits
   • ✕No trip delay or baggage cover described on the card pages
   • ✕No emergency medical or evacuation benefit listed

   Annual fee:

   $395

   Trip cancellation:

   Included, limits in benefits guide

   Travel accident insurance:

   Included

   Cell phone protection:

   Up to $800

   Bottom line: Capital One Venture X is the best choice for travelers who want a premium card under $400 because its $300 travel credit offsets most of the $395 fee. Its insurance limits are not published on the card pages.

   Visit capitalone.com ↗

8. 08

   

   United Quest Card

   7.5/10

   United's mid tier Chase card with the same trip protections as the Explorer and two free checked bags.

   Price

   $350annual fee

   $350 annual fee

   “ANNUAL FEE $350” Quoted from the pricing page, November 11, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   7.0

   Features (35%)

   7.8

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.0

   Best forUnited flyers who check two bags

   The United Quest Card shares its insurance terms with the cheaper United Explorer. Chase's page lists trip cancellation and interruption of up to $1,500 per covered traveler and $6,000 per trip for prepaid, non-refundable passenger fares, trip delay reimbursement of up to $500 per covered traveler after a delay of more than 12 hours or an overnight stay, baggage delay of up to $100 a day for up to 3 days, and lost luggage of up to $3,000 per covered traveler. What the extra fee buys is mostly airline perks, such as free first and second standard checked bags on United and United Express flights. For travel insurance alone, the $350 annual fee is hard to justify over the Explorer, and the cancellation cover still excludes prepaid hotels and tours. There is no emergency medical or evacuation benefit on the card page. Pick it if two free bags per trip will save you more than the fee difference.

   • ✓Two free checked bags on United flights
   • ✓Same baggage and delay cover as the Explorer
   • ✓500 Premier Qualifying Points promotion for new cardmembers

   • ✕$350 annual fee for the same insurance limits as the $150 Explorer
   • ✕Cancellation cover is fares only, up to $1,500 per traveler
   • ✕No medical cover listed

   Annual fee:

   $350

   Trip cancellation:

   $1,500 per traveler, $6,000 per trip

   Trip delay:

   $500 per traveler after 12 hours

   Lost luggage:

   Up to $3,000 per traveler

   Bottom line: United Quest Card is the best choice for United flyers who check two bags because it adds a second free checked bag to the Explorer's trip protections. Its insurance limits are the same as the $150 Explorer.

   Visit chase.com ↗

9. 09

   

   The Platinum Card from American Express

   7.4/10

   American Express's premium charge card with trip cancellation, trip delay and a 24/7 emergency assistance hotline.

   Price

   $895annual fee

   $895 annual fee

   “The annual fee for the Platinum Card ® is $895” Quoted from the pricing page, November 11, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   6.2

   Features (35%)

   8.8

   Ease of use (25%)

   7.4

   Best forLuxury travelers who will use the hotel, lounge and airline credits

   The Platinum Card's travel insurance is strong on cancellation and delay. American Express says Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance can reimburse non-refundable expenses purchased with the card, up to $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 per card per 12 consecutive month period. Trip Delay Insurance pays up to $500 per trip when a round trip paid entirely with the card is delayed more than 6 hours, with a maximum of 2 claims per card per 12 months. Both are provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. For medical problems, the Premium Global Assist Hotline offers 24/7 referrals more than 100 miles from home, and emergency medical transportation may be provided at no cost only if approved and coordinated by the hotline. The issue is cost: the $895 annual fee buys a large set of credits and lounge access, and the insurance alone does not justify it when the Sapphire Reserve publishes similar limits for less.

   • ✓Cancellation limit of $10,000 per trip matches the Sapphire cards
   • ✓Trip delay starts after 6 hours
   • ✓Coverage is underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company

   • ✕$895 annual fee is the highest on this list
   • ✕Trip delay requires a round trip paid entirely with the card
   • ✕Medical transportation is only free when the hotline approves and coordinates it

   Annual fee:

   $895

   Trip cancellation:

   $10,000 per trip, $20,000 per 12 months

   Trip delay:

   $500 per trip after 6 hours

   Emergency assistance:

   Premium Global Assist Hotline

   Bottom line: The Platinum Card from American Express is the best choice for luxury travelers because it pairs up to $10,000 per trip in cancellation cover with lounge and hotel benefits. Buy it for the credits, not the insurance alone.

   Visit americanexpress.com ↗

10. 10

    

    Citi Strata Elite Card

    7.2/10

    Citi's premium card with enhanced trip cancellation, trip delay and luggage protection.

    Price

    Check price

    See vendor pricing (USD check pending)

    US price check pending. Vendor pricing page

    Free plan

    No

    Value (40%)

    6.8

    Features (35%)

    7.6

    Ease of use (25%)

    7.2

    Best forCiti Travel bookers who want premium perks with travel protections

    The Citi Strata Elite Card is Citi's premium answer to the Sapphire Reserve. Its card page lists travel insurances including Trip Delay Protection, Enhanced Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Protection, Lost or Damaged Luggage and MasterRental Coverage. As with the Strata Premier, the page does not give dollar limits, so you need Citi's benefit terms to compare it directly with Chase and American Express. The rest of the card is built around Citi Travel: 12 points per dollar on hotels, car rentals and attractions and 6 points per dollar on air travel booked on cititravel.com, $300 off a single hotel stay of 2 nights or more once per calendar year, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit of up to $120 every four years. There are no foreign transaction fees. Our USD fee check is pending because the fee only appears after the page renders. For insurance alone, the $95 Strata Premier lists most of the same protections.

    • ✓Citi labels its cancellation cover as enhanced compared with standard protection
    • ✓12 points per dollar on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on cititravel.com
    • ✓Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit up to $120 every four years

    • ✕Coverage limits are not stated on the card page
    • ✕High annual fee compared with the $95 Strata Premier
    • ✕No medical or evacuation benefit listed

    Annual fee:

    $595 (rendered page)

    Trip cancellation:

    Enhanced, limits in benefit terms

    Trip delay:

    Included

    Foreign transaction fee:

    None

    Bottom line: Citi Strata Elite Card is the best choice for heavy Citi Travel users because it pairs enhanced trip cancellation cover with 12 points per dollar on hotels booked through Citi. Travelers who only want insurance should pick the Strata Premier.

    Visit citi.com ↗

Questions or corrections: editorial@rankozo.comSee our disclosure. Prices change; confirm on the vendor page before buying.