What are the best credit cards with trip cancellation insurance?

The best credit card with trip cancellation insurance is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card because it offers up to $10,000 in trip cancellation coverage per person and $20,000 per trip. Cardholders can get reimbursed for eligible travel expenses like airfare and car rentals if a trip is cancelled or interrupted due to sickness, severe weather, and other unforeseen circumstances. Chase Sapphire Preferred also has an annual fee of only $95, which is a bargain compared to other credit cards with similar trip cancellation coverage.

5 of the Best Cards with Trip Cancellation Insurance

Having trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance coverage on your credit card can be a real plus for travelers. However, each card offers varying degrees of coverage, so make sure to check your card’s guide to benefits for more details.

The best credit cards for trip cancellation insurance come with generous rewards, too. Most of them also require at least good credit for approval. To get a better picture, it’s worth taking a closer look at WalletHub’s picks.

Learn More About the Best Cards With Trip Cancellation Insurance

Coverage amount: Up to $10,000 per person, with a maximum of $20,000 per trip

Covered: Trips cancelled due to unforeseeable circumstances like accidental bodily injury, sickness, death, or severe weather

Not covered: Trips cancelled due to pre-existing conditions, changes in plans or financial circumstances, and failure to obtain documents required for travel (visas, passports, etc.), among other things

Rewards: 5 points per $1 spent on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 2 points per $1 on all other travel purchases, 3 points per $1 on dining and online grocery purchases, 3 points per $1 on select streaming services, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

Annual fee: $95

Recommended credit: Good credit

Coverage amount: Up to $10,000 per person, with a maximum of $20,000 per trip

Covered: Trips cancelled due to unforeseeable circumstances like accidental bodily injury, sickness, death, or severe weather

Not covered: Trips cancelled due to pre-existing conditions, changes in plans or financial circumstances, and failure to obtain documents required for travel (visas, passports, etc.), among other things

Rewards: 8 points per $1 spent on purchases made through Chase Travel℠ (including The Edit℠), 4 points per $1 on direct bookings with airlines and hotels, 3 points per $1 on dining, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

Annual fee: $795

Recommended credit: Excellent credit

Coverage amount: Up to $10,000 per trip and $20,000 per eligible card every 12 consecutive months*

Covered: Trips cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances such as accidental bodily injury, loss of life, sickness, weather conditions, or quarantines imposed by physicians

Not covered: Trips cancelled due to pre-existing conditions, self-inflicted injuries, illegal or criminal acts, among other things

Rewards: 5 points per $1 spent on flights booked with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 spent per year), 5 points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases

Annual fee: $895

Recommended credit: Good credit

Coverage amount: Up to $5,000 per person, with a maximum of $10,000 per trip

Covered: Trips cancelled due to unforeseeable circumstances like accidental bodily injury, sickness, death, or severe weather

Not covered: Trips cancelled due to pre-existing conditions, changes in plans or financial circumstances, and failure to obtain documents required for travel (visas, passports, etc.), among other things

Rewards: 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent per year on travel and select business expenses, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

Annual fee: $95

Recommended credit: Good credit

How Trip Cancellation Insurance Works on Cards

Trip cancellation insurance generally covers trips cancelled or cut short by sickness or severe weather. After such an event, the cardholder can file a claim and get reimbursed for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses, including airfare, tours, and hotels. Most credit card trip cancellation insurance policies cover both the primary cardholder and any authorized users, plus immediate family members traveling with the primary cardholder or the authorized user.

To receive reimbursement, you must use your covered credit card to pay for the travel expenses. Most credit cards also have a limit on the amount of money that you can be reimbursed for. So, make sure to check your card’s guide to benefits for more details.

How to File a Trip Cancellation Insurance Claim

1. Call the benefits administrator.Call your credit card’s benefits administrator and notify them of your intention to file a claim, or do so by visiting the card’s benefits website. You’ll be able to find the phone number and/or web address in the benefits guide that came with your credit card. You may also find this information on your credit card company’s website.
2. Stick to deadlines.Generally, you must give notice of your claim within 20 to 60 days after the cancellation to be eligible for reimbursement, but the exact window will depend on your card issuer’s rules.
3. Submit your evidence.After you give notice of your claim, the benefits administrator will give you further instructions to file your claim. You will likely need to submit documentation, such as ticket receipts, billing statements, notes from your doctor, and anything else that may validate your claim. There is also a window of time to provide these documents. This time frame will depend on your card issuer, but it’s usually 90 to 180 days after the trip is cancelled.

Trip cancellation/interruption insurance perks give great peace of mind when booking a trip. If you are interested in other types of travel insurance, like coverage for travel accidents, lost luggage, or travel delays, you could check out our editors' latest picks for the best credit cards with travel insurance.

* Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.