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

The spread of monkeypox has made travelers wary — but trip cancellation is not automatically covered. Select explains the terms of the top credit card travel insurance coverage you could expect in the event of canceled travel.

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Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

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.

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Will my credit card travel insurance cover any trip cancellations or changes from monkeypox or coronavirus?

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.

Who will be covered by credit card travel insurance because of monkeypox or coronavirus?

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.

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.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Guide to Benefits

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.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

On the American Express secure site
  • Rewards

    Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 1X points on all other eligible purchases

  • Welcome bonus

    Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.

  • Annual fee

    $695

  • Intro APR

    None

  • Regular APR

    See Pay Over Time APR

  • Balance transfer fee

    N/A

  • Foreign transaction fee

    None

  • Credit Needed

    Excellent/Good

  • See rates and fees, terms apply.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

On Chase's secure site
  • Rewards

    Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.

  • 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 Ultimate Rewards®.

  • Annual fee

    $95

  • Intro APR

    None

  • Regular APR

    21.49% - 28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers

  • Balance transfer fee

    Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

  • Foreign transaction fee

    None

  • Credit needed

    Excellent/Good

  • Terms apply.

 

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

On Chase’s secure site
  • Rewards

    Earn 5X total points on flights and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025

  • Welcome bonus

    Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

  • Annual fee

    $550

  • Intro APR

    None

  • Regular APR

    22.49% - 29.49% variable

  • Balance transfer fee

    5%, minimum $5

  • Foreign transaction fee

    None

  • Credit needed

    Excellent

  • Terms apply.

 

Other ways to be reimbursed for travel cancellation

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.

Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
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