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| Make sure you enjoy that golf course in Palm Springs knowing that you are properly covered by your Credit Card travel insurance |
With the emergence of Credit Card Emergency Travel Medical Insurance coverage over the past few years, I have been receiving more and more requests from some of Rewards Canada 'seasoned' readers about coverage once they hit 65 years old. I did look into this a few years back and just personally responded via email to those who asked. But somehow when 2013 hit, I have already received numerous emails asking about which credit cards provide Emergency Travel Medical Insurance coverage for people over the age of 65. So I figured it was best to summarize all the information into one post.
I have gone through all of the major Travel Rewards credit cards in Canada that provide this insurance benefit and summarized their age coverage in the chart below.
I do want to stress however that if you are picking a card primarily for the Travel Medical Insurance coverage be sure to read the policy before you get the card to see what is and what isn't covered, coverage periods and more as each card has their own 'exclusions' and such. Here are some of the things that stood out for me:
- Most of the plans will only cover you for pre-existing conditions (known or unknown in some cases) when those conditions are/were considered stable prior to traveling. Now the difference comes in in the time period that you have to be stable, I found most cards require 90 days prior to travel but some were as high as 180 days. Now a pre-existing condition can be different than a Medical or chronic condition which is controlled but once again during that 90 or 180 day period there usually can't be any changes or other treatment for the condition. Some will not cover routine care for a chronic condition
- If you are traveling 9 weeks prior to or after giving birth many of the cards will not cover you if any medical issues arise that are related to the pregnancy
- If you are young (or young at heart) and go party in Cancun during Spring Break, many of the cards will not cover you for medical emergencies that happen while you are intoxicated.
- Certain dangerous or professional sports are not covered, even Scuba Diving is an exclusion unless you hold a basic designation from a certified school or licencing body.
"No benefits will be payable for surgery or invasive procedures (such as cardiac catheterization) without prior approval by Scotia Assist, except in extreme circumstances where a request for prior approval would delay surgery needed in a life threatening medical crisis."So please, before you choose a card based solely on the medical insurance please read the policies of those that you are considering before making your decision.
Emergency Travel Medical Insurance Coverage Periods by Age
Bolding represents the best offer for the age category
| Card / Age Group | 54 or under | 55-59 | 60 - 64 | 65 - 75 | 76+ |
| American Express AeroplanPlus Platinum Card | 15 Days | 15 Days | 15 Days | No Coverage | No Coverage |
| American Express Gold Rewards Card | 15 Days | 15 Days | 15 Days | No Coverage | No Coverage |
| The Platinum Card from American Express | 15 Days | 15 Days | 15 Days | No Coverage | No Coverage |
| BMO World Elite MasterCard | 21 Days | 21 Days | 21 Days | No Coverage | No Coverage |
| CIBC Aerogold Visa Infinite | 15 Days | 15 Days | 15 Days | 3 Days | 3 Days |
| CIBC Aventura Visa Infinte | 15 Days | 15 Days | 15 Days | No Coverage | No Coverage |
| CIBC Aventura World MasterCard | 15 Days | 15 Days | 15 Days | No Coverage | No Coverage |
| CUETS Platinum Class MasterCard | 31 Days | 31 Days | 31 Days | 31 Days | No Coverage |
| CUETS Gold MasterCard | 31 Days | 31 Days | 31 Days | 31 Days | No Coverage |
| Delta SkyMiles® World MasterCard® from Capital One® | See Application | ||||
| Desjardins Odyssey GOLD | 48 Days | 48 Days | 23 Days | 15 Days | Please Contact them |
| Desjardins Module GOLD | 3 Days | 3 Days | 3 Days | 3 Days | 3 Days |
| Desjardins Elegance GOLD | 3 Days | 3 Days | 3 Days | 3 Days | 3 Days |
| HSBC Premier MasterCard | 17 Days | 17 Days | 17 Days | Unknown | Unknown |
| National Bank of Canada Platinum MasterCard | 60 Days | 31 Days | 31 Days | 15 Days (to 74) | No Coverage |
| Priority Club® World MasterCard® from Capital One® | See Application | ||||
| RBC British Airways Visa Infinite | 31 Days | 31 Days | 31 Days | 7 Days | 7 Days |
| RBC Cathay Pacific Visa Platinum | 31 Days | 31 Days | 31 Days | 7 Days | 7 Days |
| RBC Rewards Visa Preferred | 31 Days | 31 Days | 31 Days | 7 Days | 7 Days |
| RBC Visa Infinite Avion | 15 Days | 15 Days | 15 Days | 3 Days | 3 Days |
| Scotiabank American Express Card | 8 Days | 8 Days | 8 Days | 3 Days | 3 Days |
| Scotiabank Gold American Express Card | 25 Days | 25 Days | 25 Days | 10 Days | 10 Days |
| Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card | 31 Days | 31 Days | 31 Days | 10 Days | 10 Days |
| Scotiagold Passport Visa | 31 Days | 31 Days | 31 Days | No Coverage | No Coverage |
| TD First Class Visa Infinite Card | 15 Days | 15 Days | 15 Days | 4 Days | 4 Days |
| WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard | 15 Days | 15 Days | 15 Days | 3 Days | 3 Days |
