Does credit card travel insurance cover monkeypox or COVID-19 cancellations?

If you're hesitant about upcoming travel plans, you're not alone. Many Americans are second-guessing vacations due to growing monkeypox and coronavirus concerns.

The World Health Organization has declared monkeypox a global health emergency, with more than 23,000 cases confirmed around the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although there are no monkeypox-related travel restrictions in place, the spread has spurred various travel warnings and restrictions that may cause you to rethink an upcoming trip. Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations have also been on the rise again.

If you purchased travel with a credit card that offers trip cancellation and interruption insurance, you may be covered under certain circumstances, which we explain below.

Select dug through the terms of top credit card travel insurances to list what coronavirus coverage you can expect to receive in the event of a trip cancellation.

It depends — the key is whether you choose to cancel a trip, or if you have no control over the decision and the choice is made for you.

Credit card travel insurance has a lot of quirks when it comes to what is and what isn't covered. In most cases, travel insurance covers prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses including passenger fares, tours and hotels. These eligible travel expenses will only be covered when the full amount of each expense was purchased with your eligible travel credit card. 

Assuming these factors are true, your credit card will cover a canceled trip when you meet "covered situations," which typically include:

• Accidental bodily injury, loss of life or sickness experienced by you, a traveling companion or an immediate family member
• Severe weather that prevents the start or continuation a trip
• Terrorist attack or hijacking

Precautionary cancellations aren't likely to be covered. So if you're worried about traveling for fear of contracting monkeypox or coronavirus and choose to cancel or change your trip, there are slim chances your credit card travel insurance will provide reimbursement.

For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®'s guide to benefits states that "your disinclination to travel due to an epidemic or pandemic" is not covered by its trip cancellation and trip interruption.

There is a circumstance in which your canceled travel would likely be covered for monkeypox or coronavirus — and that's if you actually have either of the viruses.

If you become ill or receive notice from your physician that travel is not advised to an infected area, or because of your health condition, your credit card travel insurance will likely cover cancellations. And if an authoritative power, such as a governor or mayor, imposes travel restrictions, you may also be covered.

The Sapphire Reserve states, "quarantine of you or your travel companion imposed by a physician or by a competent governmental authority having jurisdiction, due to health reasons," is a covered event. Likewise, it states in The Platinum Card® from American Express guide to *trip cancellation and interruption insurance that a "quarantine imposed by a physician for health reasons" is a covered loss.

So if you are prevented from traveling due to contracting monkeypox or coronavirus, or if your plans were interrupted by a politician's or physician's orders — you may be covered.

The best credit cards for travel insurance

Below are some of Select's picks of credit cards that offer robust travel insurance. It's important to know that each card's benefits may vary, so read the terms and conditions to see if you're situation will be covered.

Many airlines travel providers allow customers to change or cancel their bookings for free. Just note that basic economy bookings are usually excluded from this flexibility.

If you want to cancel a trip over coronavirus concerns and you're not covered by your credit card travel insurance, contact the airline, other form of transportation or hotel.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Please visit americanexpress.com/ benefitsguide for more details.

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