travel insurance on chase sapphire card

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Full List of Travel Insurance Benefits for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card [2024]

Christine Krzyszton

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Table of Contents

Chase sapphire preferred card overview, car rental loss and damage insurance, trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, baggage insurance, roadside dispatch, travel accident insurance, travel and emergency assistance, no foreign transaction fees, filing a claim, how coverage compares, final thoughts.

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card is a solid choice for your first travel rewards credit card. The card’s strengths include its ability to earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards Points on every purchase, the variety of redemption options it offers, and even its shopping benefits.

In addition to the key benefits of strong earning power and travel redemption flexibility, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card has your back with travel insurance coverage that offers peace of mind and potential savings during your journey.

If you travel frequently, chances are you’ve used a travel insurance coverage or benefit and realize the value of having this protection. It’s reasonable to expect that a travel rewards card you use to pay for your travel will have associated trip benefits. Unfortunately, credit card issuers have recently cut back on both travel and shopping benefits.

While some other cards are cutting back, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers prominent travel insurance coverage and benefits. Whether you currently have the card or are considering it, you’re sure to find this information useful when comparing travel rewards cards.

To put the Chase Sapphire Preferred card ‘s coverage into context, it’s important to have a little background. Below, you’ll find important card information like any welcome bonus and annual fee.

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.

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC
• APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  None

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card shines at providing car rental insurance coverage when compared to other travel rewards cards.

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

Unlike most travel rewards cards, the coverage you receive with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is primary car insurance coverage compared to secondary, which means you do not have to file an insurance claim with your own auto insurance company first for coverage to be valid.

To activate the coverage on your card, simply reserve and pay for your rental car with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card , then decline the rental car agency’s collision damage waiver coverage.

The cardholder and any additional drivers you list on the rental agreement are covered.

Coverage You Can Expect:

• Damage to or theft of the rental car
• Loss of use charges imposed by the rental car company while the vehicle is being repaired
• Reasonable and customary towing charges

Conditions:

• Coverage is valid in most countries
• The rental period must not exceed or intend to exceed 31 consecutive days
• Coverage is primary

Exclusions:

• Exceptionally expensive, exotic, and antique vehicles are not covered
• Also excluded are open cargo bed vehicles, trucks, and recreational vehicles
• Motorcycles, mopeds, and motorbikes
• All limousines and vans that transport more than 9 people
• Losses due to off-road use of the rental vehicle
• Liability insurance coverage is not included

Bottom Line: According to the Insurance Information Institute , a car rental agency’s collision damage waiver coverage can cost $9 to $19 per day, even more depending on where you’re renting the vehicle. Having primary rental car insurance with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card could save you hundreds of dollars on a multi-week car rental. 

In addition to car rental insurance, one of the most valuable benefits to have on your travel rewards credit card is coverage when there’s a disruption during your travels.

Pay for your trip in full or in part with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card or Chase Ultimate Rewards points and receive up to $10,000 if a covered loss prevents you (or other covered persons) from traveling. The maximum benefit for each occurrence is $20,000 and $40,000 maximum per 12-month period.

Expenses covered include any non-refundable, prepaid transportation arrangements that were missed plus change fees.

The definition of who is covered for trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage is broad. The cardholder, spouse or domestic partner, and immediate family are eligible for coverage. Immediate family includes adopted or step-children, legal guardians/wards, siblings or siblings-in-law, parents or parents-in-law, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and nieces or nephews.

The trip cannot exceed 60 days in duration and the destination must be more than 1 mile from home for coverage to be valid.

Covered events include:

• Accidental injury, loss of life, or illness experienced by the cardholder, immediate family, or traveling companion
• Severe weather
• Change of military orders
• Terrorist events or hijackings
• Jury duty or subpoena that cannot be postponed or waived
• Finding that your residence has become uninhabitable
• You have been quarantined

Hot Tip: If you pay for your immediate family’s trip with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card or Ultimate Rewards points , they are eligible for trip interruption and trip cancellation insurance coverage, even if you are not traveling with them. For more card options that come with trip cancellation insurance, check out our full guide to the best credit cards for trip cancellation and interruption insurance .

If your trip is significantly delayed, you may be stranded overnight and need to purchase necessities or incur other unexpected expenses such as lodging and additional meals.

Trip delay reimbursement pays up to $500 per ticket for covered expenses that are not paid for by the common carrier. The delay must be overnight or greater than 12 hours in duration.

When traveling on a common carrier, if your baggage is delayed more than 6 hours, you could receive up to $100 reimbursement per day , for up to 5 days, for incidentals purchased.

You can expect to be reimbursed for essential items such as:

• Cell phone charging cable (1)

Lost Luggage

If your luggage is lost or damaged, lost luggage coverage will pay to repair or replace the luggage plus the cost of personal items lost, up to $3,000 per person, per trip.

You must report the loss to the common carrier first as the Lost Luggage benefit is in excess of any payments you receive from that carrier.

If you’re stranded on the side of the road, lock your keys out of your car, or your car fails to start, you’ll find Roadside Dispatch a welcomed benefit. The coverage provides 24/7 roadside assistance that is just one call away.

Services You Can Expect:

• Changing your flat tire when you have an inflated spare
• Delivery of up to 5 gallons of fuel
• Jump starting
• Lockout service
• Standard towing up to 5 miles
• Standard winching

Service extras such as towing beyond 5 miles, the cost of a replacement key, or the cost of the actual fuel being delivered, are additional charges and the responsibility of the cardholder. However, you won’t pay more than the pre-determined flat rate fee of $69.95 for the initial service call, as it is set in advance.

It’s painful to think about something serious happening during your travels, but there are benefits available in case you’re faced with such a tragic event.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is one of a few cards to offer travel accident insurance . The cardholder and immediate family members are covered even if the cardholder is not traveling with the immediate family. The ticket must be paid for in full or partially with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card or Ultimate Rewards points.

Chase’s travel accident insurance is divided into 2 coverages:

• Common Carrier Travel Accident Benefit — Covers you while you are a passenger on any common carrier or at the airport, terminal, or station immediately before or after your trip.
• 24-Hour Travel Accident Benefit — Provides coverage as soon as you embark on your trip, during your qualifying trip, and until you return for accidental death, dismemberment, and loss of speech, sight, and hearing.

Coverage on the Common Carrier benefit is limited to up to $500,000 and $100,000 maximum on the 24-hour travel accident benefit. Only 1 benefit can apply per trip.

You’re just one call away from assistance or referral help anytime you need it 24/7. Calling the toll-free number when in the U.S. or the collect-call phone number on the back of your card when traveling out of the country is the fastest way to receive assistance.

In addition to you (the cardholder), your spouse or domestic partner and dependent children under 22 can also use the service.

Referral assistance is complimentary, but the cardholder is responsible for the actual goods or services provided .

• Emergency Message Service — Record and relay emergency messages to travelers
• Medical Referrals — Referral to an English-speaking medical practitioner to monitor your progress and serve as a patient liaison
• Legal Referrals — Referral to an English-speaking attorney, U.S. Consulate or embassy, and assistance with bail bond arrangements
• Emergency Transportation — Help with making arrangements for emergency transport to the nearest medical facility
• Emergency Ticket Replacement — Assistance replacing a lost ticket with your carrier
• Lost Luggage — Provides assistance filing a lost luggage claim or help with replacement items
• Translation Services — Assistance with local language translation services
• Prescription and Valuable Documents Replacement — Assistance getting prescriptions filled at a local pharmacy or locating and transporting valuable documents
• Pre-trip Assistance — Includes help finding an ATM, assistance with visas, health precautions, and other pre-trip information

You don’t want to be hit with 3% fees when using your card during international travels. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees,  which is thankfully true of many cards nowadays.

If you spent $4,000 abroad on a family vacation, the savings would equal $120.

It’s prudent to think about the claim process even before you embark on your journey . Should you need to make a trip interruption, trip delay, or trip cancellation claim, the process will be much easier if you have gathered the information and documentation you need during the event versus after the fact.

Contact the plan administrator as soon as possible during or after the disruption for guidance and to file a claim. You may be expected to provide any of the following when submitting a claim for a trip interruption, trip cancellation, or trip delay :

• A completed and signed claim form
• Credit card statement with the last 4 digits of the card or receipts showing you paid for the trip with an eligible card or points
• A copy of your transportation ticket and itinerary
• Medical documents or a death certificate for health-related claims
• A statement from the carrier stating why the trip was interrupted, canceled, or delayed
• Receipts for purchases and food expense receipts over $50
• Copy of the carrier, tour company, or travel supplier’s cancellation or refund policy
• Any additional documentation requested by the benefit administrator

The documentation needed is not requested by Chase, but by the third-party claim administrator, therefore Chase statements validating your trip purchase are necessary. Knowing this upfront allows you to store your trip receipts in advance for easy access should you need them.

Hot Tip: Prior to your trip, contact the benefits administrator for clarification of trip coverage and to inquire about any special destination information you should know. You can also be proactive by reviewing the claim process before your trip to learn about any required documentation that would be needed in case of an event.

Other Credit Cards

Travel protection and insurance vary greatly by the credit card issuer and can change periodically. In general, here’s what you can expect in the way of travel protections by major issuers:

Chase issues credit cards including the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, Chase Sapphire Reserve ® , and Ink Business Preferred ® Credit Card offer the comprehensive collection of trip protections reviewed in this article. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card additionally offers emergency medical evacuation, $2,500 in emergency medical and dental coverage, and a shorter delay for trip delay coverage.

American Express

American Express offers secondary car rental insurance versus primary coverage, accident insurance, premium roadside assistance, a Global Assist Hotline, and baggage insurance. There is also emergency medical evacuation coverage that comes with The Platinum Card ® from American Express . The issuer does not offer trip interruption, cancellation, or delay coverage .

Capital One

You’ll find secondary car rental insurance, roadside dispatch, accident insurance, lost and delayed baggage, and emergency travel assistance on some Capital One cards.

Bank of America

Bank of America travel rewards cards generally do not offer trip protection or major travel benefits.

Hot Tip: For more details, check out our guide to the best credit cards for travel insurance .

Travel Insurance Policies

Travel protections, benefits, and insurance that come complimentary on credit cards are not designed to take the place of a comprehensive travel insurance policy.

A comprehensive travel insurance policy allows you to select the type of coverage you need and the coverage limits that match your level of risk, whether you’re protecting a significant financial outlay or the potential physical risks associated with the trip. You can also purchase a travel insurance policy that can cover one specific trip or many trips over a specific time period.

With that said, by taking a few minutes to read through the trip protections offered on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you may find enough coverage to satisfy your trip protection requirements for your next trip. As always, you should review the card benefit coverages carefully before you travel and purchase any needed travel insurance to fill in any gaps.

Bottom Line: The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers a high level of travel protection and insurance compared to other travel rewards credit cards. This level of coverage may be more than sufficient for your trip. 

Having travel insurance brings with it the peace of mind to enjoy your journey without worry of any significant financial expense should something go wrong.

To avoid a false sense of security, however, you’ll want to call the benefits administrator (using the number on the back of your card) to ensure you have the coverage you need.

For example, you may assume you have coverage for emergency evacuation on that mountain trek, but the Chase Sapphire Preferred card does not carry this coverage. If the protection is important to you, you’ll want to be aware (and purchase separate coverage) before you embark on your journey.

Additionally, you may want to confirm that the country in which you’re renting is one that is covered under Chase’s car rental collision damage waiver, although most are.

While the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers some of the best travel protection and insurance benefits of any travel rewards card, these benefits are not a substitute for comprehensive travel insurance.

If you’re spending thousands on a vacation for an entire family, booking an expensive cruise, or planning a trip with several forms of transportation involved, you may want to make sure that card-provided benefits provide protection at a level with which you’re comfortable.

If not, you should purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy.

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 .

The information regarding the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the chase sapphire preferred card worth it.

Yes. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers the best travel insurance protection of any major credit card, but that is just one of the strong benefits of having the card.

First, the annual fee is lower than other travel rewards cards that offer similar benefits. Additionally, you’ll earn valuable Ultimate Rewards points which can be redeemed for 25% more value when used for travel.

You can also transfer points to airline and hotel partners, receive a statement credit, or purchase gift cards.

Finally, you’ll find shopping benefits such as purchase protection and extended warranty for eligible purchased items.

Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred card have travel insurance?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has a long list of travel protections and insurance . You’ll find the all-important primary car rental insurance, trip interruption, trip cancellation, and trip delay insurance, which can be difficult to find on other travel rewards cards.

In addition, the card offers travel accident insurance, lost and delayed baggage coverage, roadside assistance, and travel and emergency assistance.

Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred card have lounge access?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card does not come with a complimentary lounge access benefit.

However, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers complimentary Priority Pass Select membership which affords the cardholder access to over 1,300 worldwide lounge properties.

If the Chase Sapphire Preferred card better than the Chase Sapphire Reserve card?

Both cards offer a comprehensive collection of travel protections and benefits.

However, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is a premium travel rewards card that comes with premium travel rewards benefits including complimentary worldwide lounge access, travel statement credits, elevated earnings on travel and dining, and 50% more value when redeeming Ultimate Rewards points for travel.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card also comes with a much higher annual fee than the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

A good strategy, if you’re just starting out, is to start with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card with its lower annual fee.

If you then want more travel benefits, are comfortable paying a higher annual fee, and can utilize the travel benefits that come with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, it can be your subsequent move.

Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred card cover the Global Entry fee?

No. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card does not offer reimbursement for the Global Entry application or renewal fee.

Do the Chase travel benefits cover my trip if I use Ultimate Rewards points to pay?

Yes. You can purchase your trip in part or in full with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card, Ultimate Rewards points, or a combination of the two, and trip protections and benefits will still apply.

Be sure to check the benefits guide for details.

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About Christine Krzyszton

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. 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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The Guide to Chase Sapphire Reserve’s Travel Insurance Benefits

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Table of Contents

1. Trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance

2. trip delay reimbursement, 3. baggage delay insurance, 4. lost luggage reimbursement, 5. auto rental collision damage waiver, 6. roadside assistance, 7. travel and emergency assistance, 8. travel accident insurance, 9. emergency evacuation and transportation, 10. emergency medical and dental benefit, what if coverage is insufficient, the bottom line.

The last thing anyone wants to think about when going on vacation is getting into an accident, experiencing a trip delay, or having a bag lost or stolen. However, accidents happen, and being prepared before you travel can save you a lot of headaches. If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , you already have free travel insurance. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with these benefits so that you don’t unnecessarily purchase a standalone travel insurance policy.

Here’s what you need to know about the travel insurance benefits offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve® .

Note that to benefit from the protections outlined here, your trip must have been purchased with your Chase Sapphire Reserve® or with Chase Ultimate Rewards® points earned from that card.

Although these two benefits are grouped together, they are slightly different.

Trip cancellation insurance covers you before your trip begins. If a covered loss prevents you from traveling on your trip, Chase will reimburse you or your immediate family members up to $10,000. If the trip was booked using Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, reimbursement will be in the form of points.

Trip interruption insurance begins the moment your trip starts, including on the way to the point of departure or after departure. If a loss results in the interruption of your trip, this benefit offers up to $10,000 in reimbursement for cardholders and immediate family members. Reimbursable expenses include change fees as well as prepaid and nonrefundable airfare, hotels and cruises.

Valid reasons include:

Accidental bodily injury, death or illness experienced by the cardholder, a traveling companion or an immediate family member of the cardholder.

Extreme weather that prevents the start or continuation of a trip.

Terrorist attack or hijacking.

Court subpoena or jury duty that can’t be waived or postponed.

Quarantine orders from a physician.

Bankruptcy of the cardholder’s travel agency, tour operator or travel provider.

Chase has identified various occurrences that are not covered, such as cancellations/interruptions due to changes in plans or financial circumstances, pre-existing medical conditions, war, traveling against doctor’s orders or trips longer than 60 days.

The primary cardholder as well as immediate family members not traveling with the cardholder are also protected. The fact that Chase provides coverage to family members even if they aren’t traveling with the primary cardholder is a unique and important point.

The maximum reimbursed amount for this benefit is $10,000 per covered trip, $20,000 per occurrence and $40,000 per 12-month period. Claims must be filed within 20 days of the occurrence. In the event of a medical issue resulting in trip cancellation, cardholders must inform the trip supplier within 48 hours.

» Learn more: The majority of Americans plan to travel in 2022

If your trip is delayed by more than six hours or requires an overnight hotel stay, you (and your family) are eligible for reimbursement up to $500 per person. Reimbursable expenses include meals, lodging, toiletries, medication and other personal use items.

Your trip will be covered as long as you are away from home for fewer than 365 days. Coverage is limited to one event per trip.

Covered events include:

Equipment failure.

Extreme weather.

Labor strikes.

Hijacking or skyjacking.

If a covered hazard was public or known to the cardholder before departure, reimbursement will not be provided. Coverage applies to the cardholder, a spouse or domestic partner and dependent children under age 22.

Claims must be filed within 60 days of the delay, and supporting documents must be submitted to Chase within 100 days of the delay.

» Learn more: What you need to know about Chase's trip delay insurance

If your bags are delayed by more than six hours, this benefit will cover up to $100 per day for up to five days for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing. Coverage applies to the cardholder, a spouse or domestic partner and immediate family members (even if they are not traveling with the cardholder).

There are several expenses that are specifically called out as not covered, including contact lenses, glasses or hearing aids. It’s always best to check the fine print of this policy before expecting reimbursement for your purchases.

You need to file a claim within 20 days of the delay and provide supporting documentation to Chase within 90 days of the delay.

» Learn more: Baggage insurance explained

Lost luggage reimbursement protects you in the event that your luggage is lost by the carrier or you incur costs to repair/replace baggage that is damaged by the carrier. Coverage is up to $3,000 per passenger and applies to the cardholder and immediate family members (even if the cardholder is not traveling on the trip).

The benefit includes a reimbursement of up to $500 per person for jewelry, watches, cameras, video recorders and other electronic equipment.

You must report the loss/damage immediately to the common carrier, and proof of the report must be included with the claim. Claims must be submitted within 20 days of the occurrence, and supporting documents need to be supplied within 90 days of the occurrence.

This auto rental collision damage waiver covers up to $75,000 in case of a car accident or theft when traveling within the U.S. or abroad. This benefit applies to rental periods up to 31 days.

Covered costs include:

Physical damage/theft of the rental car.

Towing charges to move the car to a repair shop.

Valid loss-of-use costs incurred by the car rental company.

This coverage is primary, which means that you do not need to purchase supplemental coverage or get your own insurance company involved in case of an accident. Importantly, if you accept the collision damage waiver offered by the car rental company, you will not be eligible for this benefit.

Covered persons include the cardholder, who must be listed as the primary renter, along with additional authorized drivers added to the rental agreement.

There are many vehicles that are not eligible for coverage, including:

Antique cars.

Vans built to transport more than nine people.

Motorcycles and trucks.

Motorbikes.

Limousines.

Recreational vehicles.

You must contact the benefit administrator immediately to report an accident or theft, and completed claim forms must be submitted within 100 days of the damage/theft. Any remaining supporting documents must be received within 365 day of the occurrence.

» Learn more: What your credit card rental car coverage doesn’t include

This benefit provides various roadside assistance services while traveling within the U.S. and Canada. Cardholders are covered up to $50 per incident four times per year for the following services:

Battery boost.

Flat tire service.

Fuel delivery.

Lockout assistance.

Coverage applies to the cardholder driving his/her own leased or owned car. Note that coverage is not available in areas that are not regularly traveled (off-road areas) or for heavy trucks/trailers and commercial vehicles.

To use Roadside Assistance, call 1-866-860-7978. The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

If you’re traveling and need any sort of emergency assistance (refilling a prescription, legal referrals or translation services, to name a few), this benefit is also available 24/7. Referrals are provided free of charge, but cardholders are liable for any costs incurred for using the recommended services.

Coverage applies to the cardholder, their spouse/domestic partner and dependents under age 22.

The following services are offered:

Emergency message service.

Medical referral assistance.

Legal referral assistance.

Emergency transportation assistance.

Emergency ticket replacement.

Lost luggage locator service.

Emergency translation service.

Prescription assistance.

Valuable document delivery arrangement.

Pre-trip assistance (offers information on exchange rates, local currency, health precautions and ATM locations).

We hope that our NerdWallet readers never have to rely on this benefit. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® ’s travel accident insurance provides up to $1 million in coverage for accidental death or dismemberment and loss of speech, sight or hearing. This benefit comprises two types of insurance:

Common carrier travel accident insurance — Applies when an accident is sustained when entering, exiting or riding as a passenger on the common carrier (airplane, train, cruise ship or bus). The maximum payout is $1,000,000.

24-hour travel accident insurance — Applies to any loss sustained starting on the departure date and ending on the return date. The maximum payout is $100,000.

Note that you cannot be reimbursed under both policies, and any payment received will be for the largest eligible benefit. Chase includes a list of events that are not eligible for coverage, such as:

Illegal acts committed by the covered person.

Emotional trauma.

Mental or physical illness.

Skydiving and flying on non registered aircraft.

Claims must be filed within 20 days of the occurrence, and supporting documentation needs to be provided within 90 days.

» Learn more: 4 best credit cards for travel insurance benefits

If you or any member of your immediate family get sick or injured on vacation and require emergency evacuation, this benefit will cover costs up to $100,000. Examples of covered services can include ambulance transportation (air and land), medical supplies and private motor vehicles.

To be eligible for coverage, a licensed physician must approve the emergency evacuation. Furthermore, all transportation arrangements need to be made by the benefit administrator. The length of the trip must be between five and 60 days, and you must be 100 miles or farther from home.

Travel for medical treatment is not covered and neither are nonemergency services or experimental treatments.

Coverage extends to the cardholder, their spouse/domestic partner and dependent children under the age of 18 (or 25 if a full-time student at an accredited institution).

A completed claim form and supporting documentation need to be submitted within 180 days of the event.

This benefit provides coverage during vacation of up to $2,500 for emergency medical or dental expenses that are not covered by your medical insurance. Cardholders are responsible for a $50 deductible.

If a physician determines that you cannot travel as a result of a medical or dental emergency, this benefit will reimburse you up to $75 per day for up to five days at a hotel. The trip must be between five and 60 days and you must be 100 miles or further from home.

Covered expenses include:

Services of a qualified doctor, nurse, dentist or osteopath.

Hospital/operating room costs.

Anesthesia, X-rays or lab tests.

Ambulance transportation.

Coverage applies to the cardholder, their spouse/domestic partner and legally dependent children under the age of 18 (or 25, as long as the child is a full-time student at an accredited institution).

Chase has also outlined certain expenses that are not covered:

Nonemergency services.

Experimental care.

Services in countries that the U.S. deems as unsafe for travel.

With regard to countries deemed unsafe for travel, the card's terms single out the following countries:

Afghanistan.

El Salvador.

Kampuchea (Cambodia).

North Korea.

Be sure to review the U.S. Department of State's travel guidelines for your destination before deciding to rely on this coverage, as travel advisories could be applied to countries beyond those listed above.

If an emergency occurs, you must contact the benefit administrator immediately. A completed claim form and supporting documentation needs to be submitted within 180 days of the emergency.

» Learn more: Travel medical insurance: Emergency coverage while you travel internationally

If you don’t have a premium travel credit card that offers trip insurance or feel that the protections offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve® are insufficient, take a look at the insurance policies offered for your state. You can either check directly with an insurer you already know or browse an insurance comparison site, like Squaremouth.

Typically insurance comparison sites offer many options to choose from, including standalone medical insurance, Cancel For Any Reason , and long-term trip insurance.

The Nerds analyzed several factors before naming the Best Travel Insurance Companies . This can be a good first place to start understanding your coverage options.

Deciding which policy is best always depends on your particular circumstances, which benefits you’d like to have and the duration of your trip.

» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium travel card that offers several key travel insurance benefits. Although we hope you never need to use them, it’s good to know that the coverage is there.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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Chase Sapphire Preferred Travel Insurance (2024 Guide)

This page includes information about the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card and its benefits. The information featured in this guide was collected by the MarketWatch Guides team and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.

Alex Carver is a writer and researcher based in Charlotte, N.C. A contributor to major news websites such as Automoblog and USA Today, she’s written content in sectors such as insurance, warranties, shipping, real estate and more.

Tori Addison is an editor who has worked in the digital marketing industry for over five years. Her experience includes communications and marketing work in the nonprofit, governmental and academic sectors. A journalist by trade, she started her career covering politics and news in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her work included coverage of local and state budgets, federal financial regulations and health care legislation.

If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card, you can access a wide variety of travel insurance benefits when you book a trip using the card. Chase travel insurance can reimburse certain expenses in less-than-ideal travel scenarios involving trip cancellations, trip interruptions, lost baggage and more.

Learn more about the coverage offered by the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card so you can decide whether its benefits can cover your travel needs — or if you need a separate travel insurance policy for your vacation.

Our Thoughts on Chase Sapphire Preferred Travel Insurance

Chase offers travel insurance through the Sapphire Preferred credit card if you use the card to purchase trip expenses such as cruise bookings, airline tickets, hotel accommodations and more. The company’s travel insurance offering includes coverage for trip cancellations, interruptions and delays, accidents and more.

But while Chase has competitive luggage loss limits when compared with the top travel insurance providers, the Sapphire Preferred Preferred card doesn’t offer emergency medical and evacuation coverage like some other travel cards. And although Chase provides free travel insurance benefits with the Sapphire Preferred card, there is a $95 annual fee.

If you’re a Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card holder, we encourage you to compare its coverage with plans offered by competitors. This can help ensure you have travel protection that fits your vacation and your unique needs as a traveler.

How To Qualify to Use Chase Sapphire Preferred Travel Insurance

Qualifying for Chase Sapphire Travel Insurance is a relatively simple process based on our experience. If you do not have a credit card already, you will need to visit Chase’s website to fill out an application. You’ll need to provide personal information such as your name, date of birth, mother’s maiden name, home address, contact information, Social Security number, individual tax ID number, employment status and annual income. Chase states that if you have a high credit score, you can likely apply for any card of your choice — so prepare for the company to consider your credit score when applying for this card.

Available travel insurance when you book using your Chase Sapphire Preferred card includes protection for rental car damage, cruise line reservations and airfare, to name a few. Benefits also apply to the cardholder and their immediate family during their travels. Note that if you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you can also qualify for travel protection benefits. However, the benefits differ between the two cards, which we will address further in this article.

How Does Chase Sapphire Preferred Travel Insurance Work?

Chase Sapphire Preferred travel insurance coverage offers several protections at no extra cost to cardholders who book trips using their credit card. Benefits include trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance and trip delay reimbursement. Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders also receive travel and emergency assistance services if they need legal and medical referrals.

Chase notes that unaffiliated insurance companies underwrite the travel benefits, and these companies are solely responsible for the administration and claims of cardholders. Those so-called benefit administrators may enforce specific time limits and documentation requirements that apply to the claims process. Chase should provide cardholders with this information when they first open their account.

Coverage Benefits of Chase Sapphire Preferred Travel Insurance

Chase provides extensive travel insurance benefits through its Sapphire Preferred credit card, including protections you’d find with a traditional travel insurance policy . See the table below for a detailed breakdown of the Chase Sapphire Preferred travel insurance benefits and associated coverage limits.

* Information about benefits provided by the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card was collected by the MarketWatch Guides team and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.

Trip Cancellation

If you must cancel your trip for a reason covered under your policy, trip cancellation insurance can reimburse prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses. This often covers expenses such as lost airline tickets, cruise bookings, prepaid tours and hotel reservations.

Chase Sapphire Preferred travel insurance covers trip cancellations due to traveler sickness, severe weather and other situations, with reimbursement up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for prepaid, non-refundable expenses.

Trip Interruption

If you must cut your vacation short and return home, trip interruption insurance can provide a refund for unused, prepaid and non-refundable travel expenses.Much like trip cancellation insurance, coverage also applies to situations such as the injury, illness, or death of a family member or traveler.

Chase covers Chase Sapphire Preferred travelers up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for prepaid, non-refundable expenses.

Trip Delay Insurance

Trip delay coverage applies to travel delays caused by planes, buses, trains and other types of transport to your destination. Benefits for a covered trip will vary depending on the travel insurance plan but can extend to hotel rooms, meals and other necessities incurred if you must wait to resume your trip. Delay coverage does not extend to missing a flight due to poor planning or time management on behalf of the traveler. 

Chase will reimburse up to $500 per common carrier travel ticket purchased using your Chase Sapphire Preferred card if you experience a delay of more than 12 hours or require an overnight stay.  

Baggage Delay or Loss

Baggage coverage can pay for your travel bags if they become lost, stolen, delayed or damaged during your trip. Coverage is usually capped at a certain amount per bag, with some travel insurance plans offering higher limits than others. If you intend on bringing expensive or valuable items in your baggage, you might consider a policy with a high maximum coverage amount for lost luggage reimbursement or delays.

Chase provides Sapphire Preferred cardholders $100 per day for up to five days if they experience baggage delays with a common carrier such as an airline. If your carry-on or checked bags get lost, stolen or damaged, you could receive a reimbursement of up to $3,000 per person to cover your personal effects.

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

Car rental collision damage coverage is not a standard offering from travel insurance companies. This waiver provides Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders with reimbursement up to the actual cash value of a rental car, minus certain high-value and exotic car models. 

To qualify for this waiver, you will need to decline the rental car insurance provided by the rental company and charge the entire cost of your rental to your Sapphire Preferred card. This waiver covers both theft and collision damage.

Travel Accident Insurance

Travel accident insurance through Chase provides accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage when you pay for your air, bus, train or cruise transportation using your card. Coverage includes up to $500,000 in accident protection.

Emergency Travel Medical Coverage

Travel medical coverage helps cover medical bills if you fall ill or get injured during your vacation. It does not cover routine medical services — only sudden illnesses or injuries considered emergencies or that require treatment by a healthcare provider. Some emergency medical benefits also include emergency dental coverage.

While many travel insurance providers offer this type of coverage, Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders do not have access to these protections with the card’s benefits. You can, however, find this coverage with the Sapphire Reserve card.

If you’re looking for comprehensive travel medical insurance, we recommend International Medical Group (IMG), as the company offers coverage up to $8,000,000. IMG plans average $217 per trip.

Emergency Evacuation and Transportation

Emergency evacuation and transportation insurance can provide peace of mind if you need transportation to a hospital or medical facility while traveling. For example, if you fall ill or become injured in a remote location and require transportation or evacuation to a medical facility equipped to care for your needs. Chase doesn’t provide this coverage for Sapphire Preferred cardholders and their immediate family members.

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Insurance

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is not the only credit card Chase offers with travel insurance benefits. Chase’s Sapphire Reserve card also provides benefits for cardholders who book their trips with their credit card. See the table below for a comprehensive breakdown of what each Chase credit card offers in travel insurance benefits.

* Information about benefits provided by the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit cards were collected by the MarketWatch Guides team and have not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.

How To File a Travel Insurance Claim with Chase

Filing a travel insurance claim with Chase will vary based on your credit card and the type of coverage you’re filing a claim for. But the typical process follows these steps:

Generally, the first step is to contact the appropriate number listed in your credit card’s benefits guide. You can also file a claim online through eclaimsline.com if you prefer a fully digital experience.

Chase will likely ask you to prepare documentation that proves your losses to support your claim. These documents may include receipts for prepaid expenses, proof of lost, damaged or stolen items, or proof of travel delays from your airline or other transportation carriers.

Once you’ve submitted your claim, you then wait for approval and reimbursement, which may vary in time. Note that Chase enforces specific time limits in addition to documentation requirements for claims filing, so submitting your claim as soon as possible is recommended.

Should You Get a Chase Sapphire Preferred Card For Travel Insurance?

Signing up for a Chase Sapphire Preferred card strictly for its travel insurance benefits is a personal decision. However, getting a credit card for travel insurance is not your only option — you may also opt for a policy with a standard carrier such as Travelex . Chase’s coverage limits are not as high as limits from some other providers offering comprehensive travel insurance policies. Taking on an additional expense in the form of the Sapphire Preferred card’s $95 annual fee may also not be worth it if you don’t plan on using the card for anything other than infrequent travel.

If you’re looking for coverage for emergency medical expenses, evacuations and more, you may consider a plan from some of the other dedicated travel insurance companies. Chase does not specialize in travel insurance and lacks unique protections such as cancel for any reason (CFAR) and extreme sports coverage that other travel insurance companies may provide. 

If you already have the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and feel satisfied with its travel insurance coverage limits, you can take advantage of these benefits by booking your trip using the card. Regardless, we recommend considering your travel needs and budget before choosing travel insurance coverage.

Chase Sapphire Travel Insurance: Frequently Asked Questions

Does chase travel insurance cover family members.

Yes, Chase travel insurance through its Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve cards covers the cardholder and immediate family members traveling with them.

What reasons for trip cancellation does Chase cover?

Covered cancellations related to trip cancellation insurance vary by travel insurance provider. Chase states that covered cancellations for trips purchased with Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve cards include sickness, severe weather and other situations. Check your card benefits guide for more information on specific scenarios.

Do I need travel insurance if I have a credit card?

If you have a credit card with a company such as Chase, Citi or Capital One, your card may come with travel insurance benefits if you use the card to purchase your trip components. If you’re unsure whether your credit card comes with these perks, check with your card issuer.

What other benefits come with the Chase Sapphire card?

The Chase Sapphire card comes with more than just travel rewards. It also includes benefits such as the ChaseUltimate Rewards program, which adds points for qualifying purchases that cardholders can redeem toward future travel expenses. In addition, new card members can receive 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of card ownership.

Methodology: Our System for Rating Travel Insurance Companies

Our team researched and reviewed dozens of travel insurance providers and created a scoring system to judge each company based on coverage, quality and service. We also collected sample quotes from each company, both over the phone and on the Internet, to better understand the customer experience. Here are the factors we take into consideration when rating providers:

• A 30-year-old couple taking a $5,000 vacation to Mexico
• A family of four taking an $8,000 vacation to Mexico
• A 65-year-old couple taking a $7,000 vacation to the United Kingdom
• A 30-year-old couple taking a $7,000 trip to the United Kingdom
• A 19-year-old taking a $2,000 trip to France
• A 27-year-old couple taking a $1,200 trip to Greece
• A 51-year-old couple taking a $2,000 trip to Spain
• Plan availability (10%): We look for insurers offering a variety of travel insurance plans and the ability to customize a policy with coverage upgrades. Providers that offer six or more plans will earn top marks in this category.
• Coverage details (29%): We review the standard coverage each company offers in its cheapest comprehensive plan. A provider with robust coverage will earn full points, with a focus on baggage delay and loss, COVID-19 coverage, emergency evacuation and medical coverage, trip delay and cancellation coverage, and more. Companies also receive points for offering a variety of policy add-ons such as accidental death and dismemberment, extreme sports, valuable items, cancel for any reason coverage and more.
• Coverage times and amounts (34%): We compare each company’s waiting periods and maximum reimbursement amounts for baggage, travel and weather delays. Companies that will reimburse customers after fewer than 12 hours of delays earn full points in this category. We also reward travel insurance providers that cover more than 100% of trip costs in the event of cancellations or interruptions.
• Company service and reviews (17%): We look for indicators that a company is well-prepared to respond to customer needs. Companies with an established global resource network, 24/7 emergency hotline, mobile app, multiple ways to file a claim and concierge services score higher in this category. We assess reputation by evaluating consumer reviews, third-party financial strength and customer experience ratings, specifically from AM Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

AM Best Disclaimer

More Chase Bank Resources

• Chase Bank Review
• Chase Auto Loan Review
• Chase Bank CD Rates
• Chase Savings Account Rates
• Chase Banking Promotions and Bonuses

If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at  editors@marketwatchguides. com .

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What does chase freedom® travel insurance cover.

The Chase Freedom ® family of cards come with several attractive features, such as 1.5% cash back on purchases. But did you know that Freedom cards also come with travel insurance benefits that can help you book a vacation with greater peace of mind?

It's true, common carrier expenses such as a plane ticket or cruise line booking can be reimbursed — if certain covered situations arise that interrupt your vacation or force the cancellation of your reservation. Read on to learn more about these benefits, as well as some important facts to know before you purchase your next vacation using your Freedom card.

Do Chase Freedom credit cards come with travel insurance?

All three currently issued Freedom cards: Chase Freedom Unlimited ® , Chase Freedom Flex ® and Chase Freedom Rise ® offer their cardmembers basic travel insurance covering trip interruption or cancellation. This covers certain ‘‘what if’’ situations that may impact your travel plans, providing reimbursement after a claim is filed and processed.

For the Freedom family of cardmembers, the maximum amount of this reimbursement benefit is up to $1,500 per cardmember, their immediate relative or domestic partner. The maximum reimbursement benefit per trip is $6,000.

In order to be covered, the flight or cruise trip must be paid in full or partially using your Chase Freedom card or accumulated Ultimate Rewards ® . Immediate family members do not necessarily need to be traveling with the Freedom cardmember who booked the trip for the trip interruption or cancellation benefit to apply.

What’s the difference between trip interruption and trip cancellation?

Trip interruption insurance is a form of reimbursement for unused, prepaid and non-refundable travel expenses if a trip needs to be cut short by covered situations that come up during or after departure.

Trip cancellation insurance is a pre-departure benefit that can reimburse trip costs if a traveler needs to cancel their trip altogether due to unforeseeable and non-refundable circumstances.

There can be some subtle differences between the coverage provided in trip interruption versus cancellation insurance-covered situations. For more information, consult your Chase Freedom Guide to Benefits. The following is a summary of some applicable trip interruption or cancellation situations:

What is covered by Chase Freedom’s travel insurance?

The Chase Freedom card may cover trip interruption or cancellation from:

• Hurricanes, tornadoes, or other severe weather either impacting the point of origin or destination of your trip, as well as the airspace or route between the two points, that causes the cessation or cancellation of service by the airline or another type of common carrier, such as a cruise line. This also applies to hotels and resort destinations you may have booked when they are impacted by severe storms.
• Accidental bodily injury , or a severe illness prior to or during a trip that impacts the cardmember traveler, their traveling spouse or domestic partner, or their immediate relative—see cardmember Benefits Guide for details
• An organized strike impacting the common carrier (airline) or public transportation that causes you or your spouse or domestic partner to miss at least 20% of your booked itinerary
• A change in military orders for you, your spouse or domestic partner that requires you to cut short or cancel your trip

What’s not covered by Chase Freedom travel insurance

The following is a short list of common exclusions from Chase Freedom travel insurance:

• Trip interruption and cancellation insurance does not apply to trips lasting more than 60 days
• Trip interruptions or cancellations caused by the financial insolvency of a booked airline, tour operator or travel agency
• Any pre-existing medical conditions are not covered

Please note that these benefits are payable over and above any amount due from valid or collectible insurance, such as a travel insurance policy you may have taken out from an insurance company to insure you trip. Please also be aware that these benefits will not apply if you fail to contact the common carrier such as an airline and address any compensation you may be owed from the airline. Nor do these benefits apply to a voluntary situation when a cardmember accepts compensation in miles from an overbooking airline to take a later flight.

What Travel and Emergency Assistance Services are available to Chase Freedom cardmembers?

Chase through its Benefits Administrator offers a Travel and Emergency Assistance line that can be reached 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This helpline can assist you with pre-trip information about your destination, such as currency exchange rates and the required visas and immunizations to visit a country. The Travel and Emergency Assistance help line can also assist with certain stressful situations that can arise while traveling in a foreign country, such as:

• Medical referral assistance to hospitals, doctors and dentists
• Legal referral assistance
• Arranging for emergency ground transportation to leave the country

Although the Travel and Emergency Assistance helpline can direct you to legal, medical, dental and transportation providers in the foreign country you are visiting, all costs associated with these services will be your responsibility.

Chase Freedom card coverage benefits for rental cars

The Chase Freedom Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver (ARCDW) that comes with your Chase Freedom card can reduce some of the stress involved in renting a car, by offering some protection against damage or theft to domestic rental cars. Your cardmember benefit also can provide primary coverage for damage or theft to international car rentals. Note that in order for this coverage to apply, you must waive the rental car company’s own collision damage waiver coverage when reserving your vehicle and picking it up at the rental car counter.

Car rentals that last more than 31 days, as well as high-performance or luxury cars and boat rentals are not covered. Rental car provider, country and vehicle type restrictions apply—see your Guide to Benefits terms and conditions for details.

If there’s been a collision damaging your rental car, please report the damage to the rental car company before contacting the Benefits Administrator.

How to file a Chase Freedom travel insurance claim

If your flight or cruise line trip is interrupted or cancelled, contact the common carrier first to see if they can address the situation first, before contacting the Benefits Administrator.

In order to qualify for these benefits and file a claim for an interrupted or cancelled trip with the Benefits Administrator, you must:

• Take action within 20 days of your trip being cancelled or interrupted, by calling the Benefit Administrator using the number on the back of your card, or logging on to eclaimsline.com
• Provide the Freedom card statement for the travel expenses charged and any necessary documentation from your trip, such as your travel itinerary, unused or cancelled flight plane tickets or medical treatment records
• Submit all documentation requested by the Benefits Administrator within 90 days of your interrupted or cancelled trip

Final thoughts: What to know before you go

The trip interruption and cancellation insurance coverage that comes with booking holiday travel or vacations using your Chase Freedom card shouldn’t be viewed as a replacement, but as a supplement to any travel insurance policies you may purchase through an insurance company. Researching and purchasing a travel insurance policy is highly recommended if you plan to travel internationally for more than several weeks. Exclusions apply for trips that exceed 60 days duration — see your cardmember Benefits Guide for details.

Knowing that help is just a phone call away can be a relief when you are traveling to an unfamiliar destination or a foreign country. So too can be knowing you have collision damage coverage when renting a car in the U.S. or abroad using your Chase Freedom credit card.

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5 reasons why I love my Chase Sapphire Preferred

Ashley Barnett

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Robin Saks Frankel

Published 5:50 a.m. UTC June 27, 2024

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is consistently recognized as one of the best travel rewards cards and has been a staple in my wallet for over a decade.

While the card may not have the highest earning rates or the most extensive benefits, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card provides cardholders with a comprehensive range of benefits, earning potential and valuable features for a reasonable $95 annual fee. 

Here are five reasons I love my Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and why I will keep it in my wallet for years to come.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Welcome bonus.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Regular APR

Credit score.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Editor’s take

• Flexible points that can be transferred to 14 travel partners or redeemed through Chase Travel℠ at 1.25 cents each.
• $50 annual statement credit toward Chase Travel hotel bookings.
• Valuable travel protections.
• $95 annual fee.
• Category bonuses are limited and not competitive against other travel cards.
• Transfer partner list is limited compared to programs like Amex Membership® Rewards and Citi ThankYou®.

Card details

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

1. Strong earning rates

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is highly appealing due to its impressive earnings rates across a wide range of categories.

You can accumulate rewards based on the following rates:

• 5 points per $1 on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
• 3 points per $1 on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs).
• 2 points per $1 on all other travel purchases.
• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

While dining out, I normally use my American Express® Gold Card (terms apply, rates & fees ), which has a strong earning rate of 4 Membership Rewards points per $1 at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 4 points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point), 3 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express travel and 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases and a $250 annual fee. However, when I travel abroad, which I do frequently, I use my Chase Sapphire Preferred Card to pay for meals because I can earn 3 points per $1 spent on dining and, because the card is a Visa, it is accepted at significantly more dining establishments globally than my Amex.

Also, Chase has a broad definition of what counts as a travel purchase that includes a lot of transactions that I make on a regular basis, like parking, rideshares and toll costs. Because of this, earning those 2 points per $1 on a wide range of travel purchases is valuable to me.

In addition, if I book travel through Chase Travel℠ or take a Lyft ride, I can earn 5 points per $1 on these expenses when paying with my Chase Sapphire Preferred, which can add up to a wealth of points.

2. Attractive transfer partners

The Chase Ultimate Rewards® program is highly versatile, making it a sought-after rewards program. This program allows Chase Sapphire Preferred and other eligible cardholders to transfer their points to 14 partner airlines and hotel loyalty programs . As a result, members can transfer their Ultimate Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly to any of these transfer partners.

A favorite Chase transfer partner of mine is the World of Hyatt program. Since I hold top-tier Globalist elite status with World of Hyatt, I frequently transfer my Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. This allows me to book Hyatt awards at very reasonable rates and enjoy additional perks, thanks to my high-level elite status.

There is some overlap with other transferable travel rewards programs such as American Express Membership Rewards® and Citi ThankYou® Points , such as British Airways, JetBlue and Singapore Airlines. However, on occasion, I will transfer points to Southwest and United — two airlines that are exclusively Chase transfer partners — in order to top off my account balance and redeem miles for flight awards.

3. Offers excellent redemption potential

I love the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card because it earns highly-valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards and I like having the option to book travel directly through Chase Travel or transfer my points at a 1:1 ratio to one of Chase’s travel transfer partners , which include 11 airlines and 3 hotel chains, and get some outsized value in return.

Cards such as the Chase Freedom Unlimited® , or one of Chase’s other no-annual-fee cards, function as excellent cash-back credit cards on their own. However, these cards have limitations when converting cash back into points for valuable travel redemptions.

For starters, there’s no rewards boost when booking travel through Chase on those cards, and only the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card * The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. allow you to transfer your rewards to Chase’s travel loyalty partners. I find it essential to have a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which allows me to transfer my Ultimate Rewards to eligible partners, in order to maximize the value of my Chase points.

With my Chase Sapphire Preferred, I get the added benefit of being able to redeem points at a value of 1.25 cents. That means that if I don’t want to transfer my points to a transfer partner for redemption, I can use them to purchase airline, hotels, car rentals, or other travel expenses through Chase Travel , albeit at a somewhat lower value.

With the 25% points boost a $200 flight booked through Chase Travel would only cost 16,000 points.

4. It offers primary car rental coverage

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card stands out for its exceptional travel protection, surpassing the offerings of most other cards. This card offers a highly valuable and often overlooked benefit of primary car rental coverage protection.

Whenever I rent a car, I always decline the car rental company’s insurance offer of “Collision Damage Waiver” or CDW because the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers primary car rental coverage. I simply pay for my car rental with my Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, and am granted the peace of mind to know I’m protected in the event of an accident. 

Additionally, this car rental protection also covers any authorized users who use their card to pay for the rental, as well as any additional drivers listed in the rental agreement.

5. It’s accepted virtually everywhere

As mentioned before, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is accepted worldwide because it is part of the Visa network. I frequently travel internationally and often encounter difficulties when trying to use my American Express card. However, Visa is highly recognized and accepted worldwide compared to other payment networks.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card never fails me, as I can use it to make purchases or dine out anywhere in the world that takes credit cards.

Bottom line

I absolutely love my Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for its excellent earning rates across various categories, along with highly valuable travel rewards points and additional perks that more than make up for its modest annual fee.

For rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card please visit this page .

*The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Juan is a freelance editor and writer who specializes in topics such as credit cards, travel, and loyalty programs. You can find his writing on a variety of websites like CNN, Forbes, The Points Guy, and many more. When Juan isn’t busy creating content, he loves going on exciting travel adventures around the world with his wife and three young daughters. You can connect with Juan on Twitter and Instagram as @doubledutydaddy.

Ashley Barnett has been writing and editing personal finance articles for the internet since 2008. Before editing for USA TODAY Blueprint, she was the Content Director for an international media company leading the content on their suite of personal finance sites. She lives in Phoenix, AZ where you can find her rereading Harry Potter for the 100th time.

Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint. Previously, she was a credit cards and personal finance deputy editor for Forbes Advisor. She has also covered credit cards and related content for other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney. She's been featured as a personal finance expert in outlets including CNBC, Business Insider, CBS Marketplace, NASDAQ's Trade Talks and has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC and CBS TV affiliates nationwide. She holds an M.S. in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University. Follow her on Twitter at @robinsaks.

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Comparing Insurance Between the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®

August 31, 2021

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The Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are two of the most popular credit cards for frequent travelers due to their rewarding bonus categories and the valuable Ultimate Rewards points they earn. However, these two cards also provide a host of often-overlooked protection policies that can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in case of misfortune.

To take advantage of these protections, you’ll need to have paid for your trip with the Sapphire card you’re filing a claim under (or through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal with points attached to that card). Generally, this means using your card or points to pay for your transportation – plane ticket, cruise ship, train or bus – not necessarily other pieces like hotels or activities. If you file a claim, you can still be reimbursed for items paid for with other cards, as long as your travel was booked with your Sapphire card.

Since the Sapphire Reserve’s annual fee is so much higher than the Sapphire Preferred, you might expect it to have significantly better coverage. In some cases, that’s true – but the Sapphire Preferred holds its own in many categories. Here’s a rundown of the different travel and purchase protections offered by Chase’s Sapphire credit cards.

Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption

Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption protection can reimburse you for nonrefundable reservations if you are forced to cut short a trip or cancel it entirely as the result of situations outside your control such as illness or injury, severe weather, terrorism, jury duty, or death of a traveler or family member. It covers the cardholder and their immediate family members, even if not traveling together, and applies to trips up to 60 days.

Both the Sapphire Reserve and the Sapphire Preferred cover up to $10,000 per covered trip, with a maximum of $20,000 per occurrence (for example if multiple family members have to cancel a trip for the same extenuating circumstance) and $40,000 per rolling 12-month period.

Winner: Tie

Auto Rental Coverage

Both Sapphire cards provide primary rental car coverage, which means that if you use your card to pay for a rental car and it’s damaged or stolen, Chase will cover the cost of repair or replacement as well as towing fees and “valid loss-of-use charges” from the rental agency. This coverage applies to rentals up to 31 consecutive days. The Sapphire cardholder (who can be an authorized user) must be the primary renter, but additional authorized drivers are also covered.

The two cards are nearly identical in their protections, with two small differences that won’t apply to most renters. The Sapphire Preferred has no stated maximum value for the cost of a car replaced under the policy, but “expensive” and “exotic” vehicles are not covered. The Sapphire Reserve card does not exclude expensive and exotic vehicles, but its coverage is limited to $75,000.

Winner: Sapphire Reserve (by a hair)

Trip Delay Reimbursement

Trip Delay Reimbursement can cover unexpected expenses like lodging, meals, toiletries, and medicine if your flight, train, bus, or cruise is delayed. You can be reimbursed up to $500 per ticket purchased, and can only file one claim per trip.

Both the Sapphire Reserve and the Sapphire Preferred offer coverage if you’re forced to stay somewhere overnight due to your delayed trip. For delays that don’t require an overnight stay, the Sapphire Reserve’s coverage kicks in if your trip is delayed for six hours, while with the Sapphire Preferred, you’ll have to experience a 12 hour delay.

Winner: Sapphire Reserve

Baggage Delay Insurance

If your baggage is delayed or misdirected for more than six hours, Chase will reimburse you up to $100 per day for essential items including clothing, toiletries, and one cell phone charging cable, for up to five days. This coverage is secondary, meaning that Chase will only cover expenses not paid for by the carrier or by a separate travel insurance policy. Both Sapphire cards have identical coverage.

Lost Luggage Reimbursement

If your luggage gets damaged, never makes it back to you or you leave something on board and the carrier doesn’t find it, Chase will reimburse you up to $3000 for your lost items (electronics and jewelry are subject to a lower cap of $500). Like the baggage delay insurance, this coverage kicks in after any reimbursement from the carrier or a travel insurance policy, and both Sapphire cards offer identical coverage.

Roadside Assistance

If you have a roadside emergency, Chase will help you get a tow, jumpstart, tire change, locksmith or gas. If you’re a Sapphire Reserve cardholder, they’ll cover up to $50 per incident up to four times per year; if you have the Sapphire Preferred, they’ll send someone to help, but the cost of the service will be charged to your card.

Unsurprisingly, the Sapphire Reserve comes out as the winner in this comparison, beating the Sapphire Preferred in 6 of the 9 categories. However, it’s a helpful reminder that despite the Sapphire Preferred being $455 less expensive than the Sapphire Reserve, it still has a lot of similar or even identical insurance options.

Emergency Evacuation and Transportation

This is one of those benefits that you hope you never have to use, but makes a huge difference if you need it. If you, your spouse/partner, and/or your dependent children experience an injury or illness away from home that’s so severe it requires medical transportation or evacuation, Chase will cover up to $100,000 in expenses if you paid for the trip with your Sapphire Reserve card.

The Sapphire Preferred card does not offer this benefit.

Pro tip: If emergency evacuation coverage is important to you, the American Express Platinum Card offers unbeatable coverage: there’s no cap on the amount they’ll pay, and you’re covered just for being a Platinum cardmember regardless of whether you used the card to pay for the trip.

Travel Accident Insurance

Okay, this is really the one you never want to have to use. Both Sapphire cards provide insurance in case of “accidental death or dismemberment, or a combined loss of speech, sight or hearing” while traveling on an airplane, bus, train, or cruise ship, or while you’re away from home if you’ve flown somewhere.

Both cards offer up to $100,000 in coverage for covered incidents between the day you leave and the day you return home. If the accident happens while you’re on board, boarding, or exiting one of the aforementioned carriers, Sapphire Preferred cardholders get up to $500,000 in coverage while Sapphire Reserve cardholders are covered up to $1,000,000.

Emergency Medical and Dental Coverage

This benefit is one of the rarest and most interesting travel protections available on a credit card. If you’re traveling at least 100 miles away from home and require emergency medical or dental care, Chase will step in and reimburse you for expenses not covered by your health insurance, up to $2,500. They have a deductible of just $50, and will even pay $75/day for a hotel for up to five days if a doctor says you need time to recover before traveling back home.

This benefit is exclusive to the Sapphire Reserve.

Bottom Line

Unsurprisingly, the Sapphire Reserve comes out as the winner in this comparison, beating the Sapphire Preferred in 6 of the 9 categories. However, it’s a helpful reminder that despite the Sapphire Preferred being $455 less expensive than the Sapphire Reserve, it still has a lot of similar or even identical insurance options. Hopefully, you’ll never need to use any of these policies – but if you do, any of them could easily make up for many years’ worth of credit card annual fees.

New to the world of points and miles? The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best card to start with.

With a bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. , 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel SM Portal and 3x points on restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), this card truly cannot be beat for getting started!

after you spend $4,000 in 3 months

after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.

Editors Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

bonus points

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Ultimate Rewards® Points

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Venture Miles

after you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.

American Express® Gold Card

Membership Rewards® Points

after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months. Terms apply.

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New to travel rewards? Here’s the perfect beginner card combo

Editor's note : This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Getting started with credit card rewards can be incredibly overwhelming. Should you start with cash back or points and miles? Which card family should you choose first? Or should you try cards from different families? Will the annual fee on cards be worth it ?

It's easy to fall down a rabbit hole of research and questioning to determine which card is truly the right one for you.

When beginners ask for help building a card portfolio , we always recommend looking at card programs that can scale — meaning cards that can be paired with others later to build a comprehensive card strategy without sacrificing the old card to the sock drawer.

You'll find that transferable points are incredibly valuable for avid and aspiring travelers because rewards can be redeemed across a wide variety of airline and hotel partners. But those travel credit cards generally have stricter approval requirements, so they aren't always an option as a first rewards credit card . The good news is that some issuers offer certain families of credit cards that allow you to start with a no-annual-fee credit card that can pair with a higher-tier card later on for maximum value.

The straightforwardness of Chase Ultimate Rewards — along with Chase's 5/24 rule — make this program a good place to start for points and miles newbies. And when choosing credit cards to earn Ultimate Rewards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card make a powerful duo.

Read on to learn how these two cards can jump-start your award travel.

Why this combo?

We'll break down the full benefits of each card below, but here's a quick explanation of why you'll want to start with these two in particular. The top reason is that Chase limits the number of credit cards for which you can successfully apply. This is due to the issuer's 5/24 rule.

In short, if you've opened five or more personal cards across all banks in the past 24 months, it's unlikely you'll be approved for most cards in Chase's portfolio, including the Freedom Unlimited and Sapphire Preferred .

If you're starting out, it's best to cover the most important bases first. If you already have a solid credit score, you'll likely want to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred first because it earns those valuable transferable points. But if you are newer to the rewards credit card game, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is also a great place to start to earn cash back.

The best part? The Freedom award points can later be transferred to the Sapphire Preferred when you apply for it down the line.

Related: What credit score do you need for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card?

Chase Sapphire Preferred highlights

Current bonus for Chase Sapphire Preferred : Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Earning rates: Earn 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining as well as select streaming services and online groceries (excludes Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel and 1 point per dollar everywhere else.

Perks: The Sapphire Preferred comes with no foreign transaction fees , and cardholders can enjoy perks like a 10% points bonus on their cardmember anniversary and a $50 annual hotel credit for reservations made through Chase Travel. The card also includes numerous travel protections like primary auto rental insurance, baggage delay reimbursement , trip delay reimbursement , trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance , extended warranty protection and purchase protection .

Annual fee: $95

Reasons to get it: TPG values the bonus of 60,000 points at $1,230, based on maximizing the points with hotel and airline transfer partners.

The great thing about this card is that a wide variety of items fall within the travel category — from airline purchases, taxis and tolls to parking lots and travel agencies. So, even if your day-to-day travel is limited to transportation, you can rack up Ultimate Rewards points quickly. You'll also get excellent travel protections on these purchases.

As for using those points, you have multiple travel partners to choose from. You can also redeem Ultimate Rewards points directly for several eligible purchases through the Chase Travel portal at a rate of 1.25 cents apiece .

Related: After 15 years, why the Chase Sapphire Preferred should still be your first rewards card

Chase Freedom Unlimited highlights

Current bonus for Chase Freedom Unlimited : Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 in cash back.

Earning rates: Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% on dining, 3% at drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases; 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months from account opening (after that 20.49% - 29.24 variable APR applies).

Annual fee: $0.

Reasons to get it: This card offers arguably better everyday earning categories than the Sapphire Preferred. What really makes the Freedom Unlimited worthy of a slot in your wallet is that if you have a full-fledged Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning card (such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card ), you can redeem your cash back as Ultimate Rewards points.

And even if you don't have one of those cards right now, you can always apply for one later and then combine your points into the Ultimate Rewards account of the more premium card.

TPG's latest valuations peg the value of Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents each. That means the 1.5% cash back you'll earn on non-bonus purchases becomes 1.5 points per dollar spent (for a return of over 3%).

If cash back is ultimately what you're after, consider some other of the best cash-back credit cards , such as the Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees ) that gives you a better return on everyday purchases. With the Citi Double Cash Card, you'll get 2% cash back (1% when you buy and another 1% as you pay down your balance). You can also convert the cash back earned on the Citi card to ThankYou Rewards points via a linked ThankYou account.

Using the cards together

As mentioned above, the rewards earned by Freedom Unlimited (and its sibling, the no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Flex®) become much more valuable when you also hold a higher-end Chase card. This is because you can only convert your cash back into transferable points with a card that earns Ultimate Rewards points outright.

So, to redeem rewards earned with the Freedom cards as points that can be transferred to partners, you need to hold a higher-tier card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Another option is the premium Chase Sapphire Reserve for those who think the $550 annual fee is worth the card's better earnings, additional benefits and $300 annual travel credit .

Related: Chase Sapphire showdown: Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve

The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card can also be a great alternative — or addition — for small-business owners.

Even if you don't plan on transferring points to travel partners such as United, Hyatt, Southwest, British Airways and more, these cards guarantee 25% to 50% in extra value when redeeming points through the Chase Travel portal for travel at a fixed value . In other words, rather than redeem each point for 1 cent each with just a Freedom card, you'll be able to redeem them at a rate of 1.25 or 1.5 cents apiece by also having the Sapphire Preferred or Reserve card.

If you simply want cash back and never plan on pairing your cards, you should check out some of our other best cash-back credit cards with higher returns. But those looking to build a card strategy long-term can utilize the Chase Freedom Unlimited pairing capabilities with a card that unlocks Ultimate Rewards redemptions .

Related: The best Chase credit cards

Using these two cards strategically puts you in a good position to earn and redeem travel rewards for maximum value.

For starters, all travel purchases not made through the Chase Travel portal (e.g., Uber rides and Airbnb stays ) should go on the Chase Sapphire Preferred to earn bonus points and get excellent travel protections . You should also use the Sapphire Preferred for dining, select streaming services and online grocery purchases to earn 3 points per dollar. And, since the card waives foreign transaction fees, you'll want to use it for all purchases outside the U.S.

Then, you'll use the Freedom Unlimited for drugstores and all other everyday purchases.

When it's time to redeem your hard-earned points, see this guide to getting the maximum value out of your awards and this guide for finding sweet spots in the Ultimate Rewards program .

Bottom line

The Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card make a great Ultimate Rewards points-earning team . While the latter isn't always the best option for your spending, it opens up some great transfer-partner options on the redemption side. Plus, with its current 60,000-point sign-up bonus, the Sapphire Preferred can boost your Ultimate Rewards points balance — perfect for those just starting in the world of rewards travel.

If you're starting to earn travel rewards with credit cards, these two cards should be your top priority when it comes to applications — but make sure you pay attention to the issuer's 5/24 rule to optimize your chances for approval.

For additional information, check out our full reviews of the Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Sapphire Preferred .

Apply here: Chase Freedom Unlimited

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred