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Bupa Travel Insurance Review

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Updated: Aug 8, 2023, 1:29pm

Bupa is a well-known name in the Australian insurance scene, and its travel insurance option is no different. With no age limit on policies and unlimited medical cover (including dental), Bupa comprehensive travel insurance is a responsible choice for all types of trips and travellers. Bupa offers three kinds of coverage: comprehensive, essentials and domestic. This review focuses on the comprehensive policy.

• Unlimited medical, hospital and dental cover
• No maximum age limit
• All pre-existing conditions need to be assessed to determine if they will be covered
• Reviews state lengthy waits for claim payments

Table of Contents

About bupa travel insurance, what is covered, who should take out this insurance.

Featured Partners

Fast Cover Travel Insurance

On Fast Cover’s Secure Website

Medical cover

Unlimited, 24/7 Emergency Assistance

Cancellations

Unlimited, (Trip Disruption $50,000)

Key Features

25-Day Cooling Off Period, Australian Based Call Centre, 4.6 Star Product Review Rating

Cover-More Travel Insurance

On Cover-more’s secure website

Unlimited, with a $2000 limit to dental

Yes, amount chosen by customer

Bupa Travel Insurance is underwritten by Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd, and the policy is very similar to the Allianz Comprehensive Travel Insurance offering. The travel insurance policy offered to Australians by Bupa is via Bupa Asia Pacific, a part of the global Bupa Group.

Along with travel insurance, Bupa also offers Australians health insurance, car insurance, home insurance, pet insurance, landlord insurance, valuables insurance, among others.

In relation to its Bupa travel insurance policy, which is analysed in detail below, customers have rated the policy 3.9 stars out of 5 from 138 reviews via Australia’s independent consumer opinion site, ProductReview.

Bupa offers its comprehensive travel insurance policy to all Australians, with no age limits in place for travellers wishing to take out their comprehensive option, although pre-existing medical conditions require assessment before being covered. The lack of an age limit is particularly helpful to senior travellers as well as families, especially considering that dependent children are included in the policy up to the age of 25–provided they are not in full time employment and will be travelling with you 100% of the time.

In terms of financial cover, Bupa covers credit card fraud up to $5,000, while personal liability is covered up to $5 million.

Delays and missed connections are an inevitable risk of travel, which is why Bupa’s travel delay cover includes coverage for missed connections: for delays of more than six hours there is $250 per person allocation and a further $250 for each additional 24-hour period after the initial six hours. The delay cover, however, is limited at $2,000 total for all travellers on the policy, and maximum per person of $500 after the initial six-hour delay.

When taking out your Bupa Travel Insurance policy, travellers can also opt for cancellation cover, with the amount chosen by the customer.

Lost luggage

Bupa’s comprehensive travel insurance policy includes lost luggage cover up to $10,000, however, sub limits apply for certain items. Policyholders do have the option to increase item limits for high value items if required. Check the pds for further details.

The last thing you want to think about on a trip is having to access medical services, but it’s important for Australians heading overseas to ensure this is included on a travel insurance policy for peace of mind.

Bupa covers overseas medical and hospital expenses, so you will not be out of pocket if you need to access medical care while abroad. If you have a pre-existing condition, however, you will need to be assessed by Bupa prior to your trip to determine if they can be covered with the policy.

Is dental cover included in medical?

Yes, Bupa does include dental within its unlimited medical and hospital expenses cover. A lot of insurance providers don’t choose to include dental within medical cover, so it is a benefit of Bupa’s policy.

Does it Cover Me for Covid?

Yes, Bupa’s travel insurance includes covid cover under its medical expenses. In terms of cancellations, these are only covered due to Covid-19 if the trip cancellation is due to a government-enforced border closure or if the policyholder has to complete quarantine due to Covid.

What about Pregnancy?

If you’re pregnant while travelling, you’re going to want to ensure your travel insurance policy covers pregnancy. With Bupa, you are covered until week 24 of your pregnancy, provided that you do not have complications with the pregnancy or a history of complications.

This cover is included under the unlimited medical expenses, however, childbirth is not covered.

What about Sports and Activities?

When taking out Bupa’s travel insurance, there are 38 activities automatically included in your plan. These include golfing, river cruising, gymnastics and more. Certain conditions apply to these automatic inclusions, such as safety provisions and terrain restrictions (or claims made would be void).

In addition to the 38 included activities, policyholders can also add on activity packs to suit their trip type for an additional cost.

These are packs that cover activities designated for ‘adventure’, such as for cave tubing and rock climbing, ‘cruise’ for those going on a multi-day cruising holiday, and a ‘snow’ pack to cover certain winter sports.

Similar to the automatically included activities, certain restrictions apply to the purchase of the additional packs. Failing to meet these requirements could result in your claims being void, which is why it is essential to read your policy’s product disclosure statement.

Customer service

Bupa offers its customers 24/7 emergency assistance with Australian based doctors and nurses, so you can receive trusted medical guidance at any time while on your holiday.

For non-medical enquiries, Bupa has a separate contact telephone number and a call back option for those calling out of hours. Further, Bupa also has a WhatsApp channel which customers can use to get in touch with the Bupa customer service team while travelling.

Bupa has made the process of making claims easier for its customers, by allowing claims to be made online via the myBupa app (available on both iOS and Android, and via web browser).

Thanks to the well-known name and the non-existent age limit when taking out a policy, Bupa’s travel insurance is well suited to a wide variety of Australian families going on holidays together. This is especially true as children up to 25 years of age are included on the policy at no extra charge, pending the meeting of certain conditions. In any case, before you take out this insurance, Forbes Advisor recommends you read the product disclosure statement carefully so you can understand the various sub-limits and exclusions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is there a discount for bupa travel insurance.

While there is no automatic discount for Bupa travel insurance, pre-existing customers of Bupa (such as those with an active health insurance policy) can get 15% off their premiums.

Does Bupa Travel Insurance cover COVID?

Yes, Bupa Travel Insurance covers COVID-19 as a medical condition under its unlimited medical and hospital cover. It also covers trip cancellations caused by Covid, on the basis that there are government enforced border closures or the traveller is required to quarantine.

How do I make a claim with Bupa Travel Insurance?

Claims can be made via the myBupa app on your mobile or webpage. You can also call the 24/7 Australian-based customer service team to submit a claim over the phone on 1300 992 694.

Sophie Venz is an experienced editor and features reporter, and has previously worked in the small business and start-up reporting space. Previously the Associate Editor of SmartCompany, Sophie has worked closely with finance experts and columnists around Australia and internationally.

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Bupa Global

The next level of international health insurance for body and mind, at home or abroad.

Why Bupa Global?

With over 50 years of medical expertise and a network of just over 1.7 million healthcare providers worldwide, including the U.S., Bupa Global offers a premium range of private healthcare plans, meaning with us, you truly are a private patient - at home or away. At Bupa Global we believe that mental health and wellbeing are just as important as physical health. To support this, both annual and monetary limits across our plans for in-patient and day-patient mental health treatment are the same as for physical health. We also include cover for ADHD, addiction, and self-inflicted injuries. We also offer support via Global Virtual Care, available via the MembersWorld app, which provides you with access to a global network of doctors, offering medical guidance and consultations, plus same day virtual appointments – available 24/7.

Get direct access to specialist care from some of the world's leading medical experts without having to wait for a referral

The same premium level of medical cover for body and mind, whether you’re at home or abroad

Choose when and where you receive your treatment, within your area of cover

What else can my health plan include?

We don't cover everything though, so it’s important you understand the waiting periods, limitations and exclusions of your health plan .

How does Bupa Global support me?

Personal relationship manager to help you make the most of your plan

24/7 multilingual telephone assistance for support when you need it

The option to manage your health plan online via our MembersWorld website

Who is Bupa Global for?

Our premium health plans are designed for those wanting the highest level of cover available from Bupa; plans that suit their needs.

Ready to get International Health Insurance?

Global Virtual Care and Second Medical Opinion are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority nor by the Prudential Regulation Authority. These services are provided by a third party, directly to you. Bupa Global assumes no liability and accepts no responsibility for information provided by this third party; or the performance of the services. Support and information provided through this service does not confirm that any related treatment or additional support is covered under your health plan. These services are not intended to be used for emergency or urgent medical treatment.

Bupa Global is a trading name of Bupa Insurance Limited and Bupa Insurance Services Limited which are registered in England and Wales at Companies House under numbers 3956433 and 3829851 respectively. The registered offices are Bupa, 1 Angel Court, London EC2R 7HJ, UK. Bupa Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate the activities of Bupa Insurance Limited that take place outside of the UK. Bupa Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The Financial Registration numbers of Bupa Insurance Limited and Bupa Insurance Services Limited are 203332 and 312526 respectively.

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Bupa travel insurance review

There are 5 policies to choose from with bupa travel insurance, along with a heap of add-ons including adventure activities, snow sports and wide-ranging cruise cover..

In this guide

Compare your travel insurance quotes

What does bupa travel insurance include, bupa travel insurance features – an overview, comprehensive policy features, optional add-ons, more reasons to consider bupa, frequently asked questions.

Destinations

Our Verdict

• Enjoy the flexibility to pick between a wide range of policies and set your own trip cancellation limit
• If you're involved in an emergency while you're overseas, you can enjoy peace of mind you can contact Allianz Global Assistance for help at any time – 7 days a week.
• Bupa health insurance members can score a 15% discount on their travel insurance.
• Bupa's COVID-19 coverage is limited in comparison with brands such as Fast Cover and Southern Cross Travel Insurance.
• Its cover limit of $10,000 for theft or damage to luggage and personal belongings is decent, but some competitors offer $15,000.

Review by our insurance editor James Martin

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Bupa travel insurance is underwritten by Allianz. Bupa offers quality travel insurance that can bring peace of mind that you can make the most of your trip, while knowing you'll receive financial support if things do go wrong.

All policies come with a basic excess . In most cases, you'll pay this when making a claim. You have the option to vary this excess – by committing to a higher sum, you could reduce the cost of your insurance. Keep in mind that an additional $500 excess applies to Bupa's Adventure Pack and Snow Pack.

With Bupa, you can choose between a single, couple and family policy. This provider offers a cooling-off period of 14 days – you can cancel your policy within 2 weeks for a full refund.

• Overseas emergency assistance – unlimited
• Overseas medical expenses – unlimited
• Accidental death – up to $25,000 (or $50,000 with a family plan)
• Permanent disability – up to $25,000 (or $50,000 with a family plan)
• Trip cancellation costs – chosen by you
• Additional expenses – up to $50,000 (or $100,000 with a family plan)
• Travel delay expenses – up to $2,000 (or $4,000 with a family plan)
• Personal liability – up to $5 million
• Luggage, personal effects and valuables – up to $10,000 (or $20,000 with a family plan)
• Alternative transport costs – up to $5,000 (or $10,000 with a family plan)
• Travel documents, bank cards and traveller's cheques – up to $5,000 (or $10,000 with a family plan)
• Rental Vehicle Excess – up to $6,000
• Luggage & personal effects delay expenses – up to $500 (or $1,000 with a family plan)
• Theft of cash – up to $250 (or $500 with a family plan)

Additionally, Bupa offers multi-trip cover, a domestic policy and an entry-level Essentials plan. Finally, you can opt for a non-medical plan – a basic policy that's good if you want some insurance but without cover for a pre-existing condition .

• Adventure Pack . Available to those under the age of 75, this optional cover includes insurance for activities including abseiling, deep sea fishing, caving, quad bike riding, outdoor rock climbing and motorcycles/mopeds.
• Cruise Pack . Get cover while you cruise overseas and in Australian waters. In addition to features such as unlimited medical cover and unlimited evacuation cover, you can claim up to $1,000 if you need to cancel (for an unforeseen reason) any pre-booked tours.
• Snow pack . Available to those under 75, the Snow Pack comes with a range of snow sports activities including skiing and snowboarding. Overseas emergency assistance is capped at $100,000.

• Travelling when you know you are unfit or against medical advice
• Going to a country where a 'Do not travel' alert has been issued by the Australian government
• Breaking the law
• Being under the influence of alcohol or ilicit drugs
• Death, illness or injury from an existing condition (unless it's specifically covered by your policy)
• Any consequential loss or loss of enjoyment
• A loss caused by or in connection with a criminal or dishonest act
• Failure to take precautions after a public warning of strike, riot, civil commotion or natural disaster
• Driving a rental vehicle in an illegal or dangerous manner.

Be sure to read Bupa's PDS for a full list of exclusions. Learn more about travel exclusions here .

• Range of options. Bupa offers high-quality cover with a wide range of options to meet your travel needs. But you may also opt for lower-priced cover that will come with fewer and/or lower benefit limits.
• 24/7 assistance. If the unexpected happens while you’re travelling overseas, emergency help is available 24 hours a day. If you have any difficulties while you are travelling, you can contact the Emergency Assistance Hotline and you will be able to speak with one of Bupa's trained staff. You can call Bupa on +61 7 3305 7497 (overseas) or 1800 119 412 (within Australia).
• Discounts for existing members. Bupa health insurance members can receive up to a 15% discount on their travel insurance premiums.

Am I covered for pre-existing conditions?

You can get cover for some pre-existing illnesses. However, according to Bupa's policy wording, you'd need to have "disclosed the condition to Allianz Global Assistance and they have agreed in writing to include cover under your policy for the condition".

Be aware, you won't be able to get cover for pre-existing conditions under Bupa's Essentials or Non-Medical Plans.

Is there a cooling-off period?

Yes. If you change your mind about a policy, Bupa offers a 14-day cooling off period, in which time you can cancel your insurance and get a full refund, so long as you haven’t begun your travels or made a claim. If you wish to cancel or change your policy outside of this period, you can apply to Bupa online or over the phone.

How long do I have to make a claim?

If you wish to make a claim, you typically must phone Bupa within 30 days of completing or cancelling your journey.

James Martin

James Martin was the insurance editor at Finder. He has written on a range of insurance and finance topics for over 7 years. James often shares his insurance expertise as a media spokesperson and has appeared on Prime 7 News, WIN News, Insurance News, 7NEWS and The Guardian. He holds a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification, both of which meet the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full profile

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Bupa is an international healthcare services provider that also offers insurance to cover car, home, life and travel.

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4 Responses

I have benign irregular heart beat. cardiologist letter says fit for travel. Which cover can I buy that covers this? John

Thanks for your inquiry.

There are brands that offer travel insurance to people with heart conditions . You can compare the costs and get more details about the cover by clicking on the “Get Quote” button. It is also best to contact your chosen insurer if you want to discuss more the level of cover.

Before applying, please ensure that you read through the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you. You can also contact the provider if you have specific questions.

Hope this helps.

Cheers, May

Do you cover missed flights due to illness? and providing you a medical certificate for proof?

Hi Michelle,

Thanks for your question. finder.com.au is a comparison service and not an insurer. Bupa Travel Insurance do provide cover for cancellation and yes you will need to be able to provide them with substantiating evidence that a claimable event did happen.

I hope this was helpful, Richard

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Best Travel Insurance for Visiting the U.S.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Table of Contents

Travel insurance basics

Best visitors insurance policies, for the lowest price: trawick international, for customizing options: worldtrips, for pre-existing conditions: worldtrips, for highest medical coverage limit: img, other options to consider, the bottom line.

Since health care can be expensive in the U.S., it’s important that visitors have insurance coverage, aka visitors insurance or travel medical insurance, in case something happens that requires medical attention mid-trip.

Whether you have coverage for travel in the U.S. depends on your health care plan in your home country. But if you don't, you'll need to buy a policy from a third-party insurance provider. Several companies sell this kind of visitor insurance, and each company and policy is a bit different. Let’s look at which is best for you.

First, a few basics about visitor insurance. Two kinds are available: travel medical insurance and trip insurance.

Travel medical insurance covers medical expenses that you may incur while traveling internationally, like a visit to the doctor, a trip to the hospital and medical evacuation and repatriation.

Trip insurance usually covers limited medical expenses like emergency care and can compensate you if your trip is delayed, you need to leave the trip early or you have to cancel the trip. It is designed to help you protect the investment you’re making as you prepare to travel.

Standard trip insurance might not cover a visit to the doctor unless it is an emergency.

It’s important to make sure any pre-existing conditions are covered if the visitor has any. Some policies exclude them.

» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance

With so many kinds of visitors insurance policies, which is the best?

To make comparisons, we got quotes from several companies using Squaremouth , a website to search for different types of travel insurance in one place.

The parameters we set are for a 49-year-old citizen and resident of Spain traveling to the U.S. on May 1-31, 2024.

The quotes don't include cancellation coverage; these examples are for medical coverage only. To get a quote, the hypothetical deposit for the trip was paid on Feb. 15.

Since we’re looking for a policy that will cover medical care for visitors, there are several medical filters to select: emergency medical ($100,000 or more), medical evacuation ($100,000 or more) and coverage for pre-existing medical conditions.

The search came up with nine results ranging in price from $74.40 to $179.18.

The policy with the lowest cost was the Trawick International 's Safe Travels USA Cost Saver at $74.40.

Trawick policies use the FirstHealth PPO network.

The policy as quoted has a $250 deductible and includes $100,000 in emergency medical, $2 million in medical evacuation and $5,000 in interruption coverage. It has limited coverage for pre-existing conditions.

It is possible to change the deductible to as little as $0 or raise it to $5,000.

The same company has another policy, the Trawick International Safe Travels USA Comprehensive policy, that is better at covering pre-existing conditions and costs a little more — $89.59.

The general coverage is the same as the less expensive policy, and the Safe Travels USA Comprehensive option adds coverage for acute onset of a pre-existing condition. it is possible to change the deductible amount to $0 or go up to $5,000.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Some policies are sold as is, while others allow some flexibility depending on what is important to you.

The WorldTrips Atlas Premium America policy for $179.18 allows a lot of customization.

It was also the most expensive of the nine policies Squaremouth suggested.

It’s possible to customize the emergency medical coverage and pre-existing condition coverage and medical deductible. The policy also includes $15,000 in trip interruption coverage, the highest of any of the nine policies available.

If the traveler has a pre-existing condition, policies from WorldTrips Atlas America are your best bet. The WorldTrips Atlas America policy in our comparison costs $101.06.

The policy as quoted covers $100,000 in emergency medical care and $25,000 in medical evacuation for an unexpected recurrence of a pre-existing condition.

The deductible is also available for customization from $0 to $5,000.

The PPO network for Atlas America Insurance is United Healthcare.

The WorldTrips Atlas Premium America policy mentioned above is also good for pre-existing condition coverage.

While eight of the nine policies had $100,000 in secondary medical coverage, one had a limit of $2 million.

The IMG Patriot America Platinum policy has a premium of $172.36 along with a high medical evacuation limit of $2 million and interruption coverage of $10,000.

If $2 million in medical coverage is not enough, it’s possible to increase that amount to an $8 million policy limit.

It’s not possible to change the level of coverage for preexisting conditions from the high $1 million limit in emergency medical care and $25,000 in medical evacuation for an unexpected recurrence.

It is possible to change the deductible from $0 all the way up to $25,000.

Our comparison also included policies from two additional companies, Seven Corners and Global Underwriters .

Seven Corners had two policies come up in the results, the Seven Corners Travel Medical Basic for $98.27 and the Seven Corners Travel Medical Choice policy for $136.71. Both of the Seven Corners policies include coverage for hurricane and weather, and the less expensive policy covers acts of terrorism.

Having insurance to cover unexpected medical expenses for anyone visiting the U.S. can be a smart money move.

An illness or accident could cause financial problems for visitors because of potentially having to pay for full health care costs. When planning your travel, be sure to check your current health insurance to find out if it will cover you in the U.S.

For a monthlong stay in the U.S., the lowest-priced visitors insurance policy was around $75 (Trawick International Safe Travels USA Cost Saver) and the highest was about $180 (WorldTrips Atlas Premium America). That’s about $2.42 or $5.81 a day, depending on the policy.

How to maximize your rewards

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on Chase's website

1x-10x 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.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 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.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-2x Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

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International Citizens Insurance

Medical, Life and Travel Plans!

U.S. 877-758-4881 - Intl. +44 (20) 35450909

Bupa Global

International Citizens Insurance (ICI) introduces prospects to Bupa Global (BG). ICI do not carry out any activities on behalf of BG other than displaying marketing material provided by BG and collecting your basic data and information to be passed on. ICI will not carry out any other activities on your behalf beyond those necessary for the initial introduction. BG contact eligible individuals in the UK and EEA to discuss your needs, and to carry out all activity prior to and after any insurance contract is concluded.

Bupa Global Overview

We provide our customers with premium international coverage with a range of exceptional products and services, giving them direct access to world-leading specialists and medical providers, at home or abroad.

Our founders were medical professionals. Their focus on quality care and service still drives all that we do today. Bupa continues to remain free of shareholders, re-investing profits back into our healthcare services around the world. This means our focus is on the needs and care of our customers and it fuels our drive to improve our services and offering access to cutting-edge care.

With over 50 years of medical expertise, we’re dedicated to helping you live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world.

Why Bupa Global?

Richness of cover.

With Bupa Global your health plan travels with you, providing you with the same level of cover whether at home or abroad. If the treatment you need isn't available where you are, we can evacuate you to a hospital where you can receive the treatment you need.

Our plans provide a truly private health journey with direct access to any recognised private provider, clinic or hospital in the world without having to wait for a GP referral, including in- hospital cover for private rooms at renowned facilities such as London’s Harley Street and Cromwell Hospital.

Global Virtual Care

We know how important it is to get the healthcare you need when you need it. In addition to the extensive network of doctors and facilities available on your health plan, Global Virtual Care provides you with on demand access to a team of international doctors 24/7, and in multiple languages, by telephone or video call.

Second Medical Opinion

When you’re facing unexpected health challenges, you want to know that every option has been explored before making any big decisions on your care pathway. That’s why we’ll connect you with leading independent medical experts to provide a full review of your situation, giving you extra reassurance when you need it most.

24-Hour Medical Help

We have a team of advisers, doctors and nurses based around the world, helping us provide a multilingual service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our specialised teams enable easy access to medical professionals, approval of treatment, health advice and evacuation services.

Bupa Global Health Plans

• International Private Medical Insurance for persons residing in United Kingdom, EEA, and Monaco
• Five distinct health plans
• 24/7 access to global support

ICI acts as an introducer. Request for your quote will be handled by Bupa Global who will be in touch to discuss your needs.

Global Virtual Care and Second Medical Opinion are provided by a third party, Teledoc Health, directly to you. Bupa Global assumes no liability and accepts no responsibility for information provided by this third party, or the performance of the services.

In this document, Bupa Global is a trading name of the insurer Bupa Insurance Limited (BINS) and insurance intermediary Bupa Insurance Services Limited (BISL), in addition to the insurer Bupa Global Designated Activity Company (Bupa Global DAC).

BINS is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Arranged and administered by BISL, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales No. 3829851. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London, EC2R 7HJ.

Bupa Global DAC is a designated activity company limited by shares registered in Ireland under company number 623889. Registered office: Second Floor, 10 Pembroke Place, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Bupa Global DAC is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Global Virtual Care and Second Medical Opinion are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority or by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Get a fast, free, international insurance quote.

Global medical plans, specialty coverage, company info, customer service.

By clicking Get Started, you authorize Niva Bupa to call/SMS on your registered mobile number and also consent to override your existing registry in DNCR. Further, you agree to get quote and policy details on WhatsApp.

Trip Cancellation

Coverage for financial loss incurred due to cancellation of trip before its onset

Emergency in-patient Medical treatment

Covered up to sum snsured

Destination Specific Plans

Separate plans for Asia Pacific region, Europe, USA & Canada and worldwide

Hospital daily cash allowance

Up to $50/day

Download Resources

Travelassure brochure.

Download the brochure to understand TravelAssure better

TravelAssure Policy Wordings

Find out all you need to know about the plan here

TravelAssure Claim Form

Download the form to make a hassle-free claim

TravelAssure Application Form

Download the form to avail the services of any of our network hospitals

What is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance is a type of insurance that is custom-made for people going on domestic and international travels. It addresses the various risks that one may face during travels, including hospitalisation, medical expenses, loss of luggage or documents, cancellation or disruption of flights, and various other costs. Travel insurance covers you from the date of departure till your arrival back at the place of origin. For frequent fliers, a travel plan that remains effective for a certain period is more suitable as it covers multiple travels during the policy period.

How to Buy Travel Insurance Plan?

You can buy a travel insurance policy online or by visiting the insurer’s office. While applying online, you need to fill in the basic details like dates of travel, traveler details, coverage required, etc. Then you receive the quote, based on which you can select the travel insurance policy that suits your requirement. There are different types of travel plans customized for different travel needs. These include corporate, single, family, senior citizen, or student travel plans. You can purchase a travel plan that suits you the best. You can also buy travel insurance plans from insurance brokers and agents. However, ensure that they are licensed by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India. It is worth noting that you may be eligible for discounts if you buy a travel insurance plan online directly from the insurer.

Why choose Niva Bupa Travel Insurance Policy?

Niva Bupa is one of the leading insurance providers in India, offering unique and comprehensive policies which cover the diverse needs of Indian travellers. With coverage for dozens of risks, Niva Bupa’s policies offer cashless claims for medical expenses and compensation for other covered incidents. With an expanding list of covered destinations, Niva Bupa ensures that your travels are safeguarded wherever you go. So buy travel insurance online from Niva Bupa and get the best coverage against numerous risks.

When to Buy Travel Insurance?

If you plan to embark on multiple trips, you should buy a travel plan in advance to cover all the upcoming trips. Even in the case of a single trip, buying a travel plan in advance is advisable. Typically, it could be on the date of booking the tickets or a few days after that. You can also buy travel plans at the last minute. But you may miss out on crucial coverages. For instance, travel insurance offers cancellation coverage. But you will miss out on the same if the cancellation happens before the policy start date. In other words, buy your travel insurance well in advance to avail all benefits.

Why Buy Travel Insurance Policy?

Some of the common reasons that make a travel insurance important are:

• People are more prone to medical problems in a foreign land, be it within India or overseas, due to changes in food habits and environmental reasons.
• Travel insurance helps tackle such circumstances with ease.It protects in case of baggage losses at airports and theft or travel scams in many tourist destinations.
• Travel insurance protects the policyholder in the event of flight delay or cancellation. It protects you in the event of natural calamities, man-made disasters, flight hijacking, etc. Student travelers can also opt for study interruption coverage in their travel plans.
• Travel insurance may cover fatalities and repatriation of mortal remains.
• Travel insurance is a mandatory requirement in more than 30 countries. It is a prerequisite for visa processing while travelling to these countries.

Who Should Buy a Travel Insurance Plan?

While it is mandatory to have travel insurance before visiting certain countries, people travelling to any country, in general, should buy a travel insurance plan. Along with, it is advisable for the following travelers to buy a travel insurance plan: Individual travelers and families Senior citizens - because of their higher medical susceptibility Corporate travelers can cover their travel risks while travelling on behalf of their organization Students can buy student-specific travel plans with longer validity People travelling in groups can insist on the purchase of travel insurance by their tour organizer Domestic travelers can buy travel plans designed to cover travel risks within the country

What’s Covered Under Niva Bupa's Travel Insurance?

Niva Bupa offers extensive coverage, protecting travellers from various risks they might be exposed to while travelling.

• Delay or loss of checked-in baggage This travel insurance coverage offers reimbursement for significant delay or loss of checked-in baggage.
• Missed connecting flight This coverage under travel insurance reimburses you for the extra accommodation and travel costs to reach the next destination if you miss a pre-booked connecting flight due to a late primary flight.
• Loss of Passport This coverage reimburses you for the cost of applying for a new passport if the original is lost.
• Dental Treatment This travel insurance coverage reimburses pain-relieving dental treatment under anaesthesia. However, this coverage is only applicable in cases of emergency, such as accidents and sudden acute pain.
• Trip delay, cancellation, interruption These three separate coverages offer reimbursement for part of the travel and accommodation costs if your travel is delayed, cancelled, or interrupted due to certain conditions mentioned in the policy document.
• Medical emergency (hospitalisation): This travel insurance coverage offers cashless claims and reimbursement for the cost of medical treatment.
• Emergency outpatient treatment This travel insurance covers and reimburses any emergency treatment under OPD
• Medical evacuation This coverage offers cashless claims and reimburses the cost of transferring patients from one hospital to another if the primary hospital does not provide appropriate care
• Emergency trip extension If the trip is extended due to certain exceptional circumstances, this coverage offers an extension of the policy up to $20,000
• Personal accident This coverage offers a payout of up to the benefit limit as per the selected plan for accidental death or disability.
• Repatriation of mortal remains This coverage reimburses you for the cost of transporting the mortal remains of the traveller or the cost of cremation in the city/country of death.

Niva Bupa offers these coverages bundled in curated plans for each country, offering specific coverage options. When considering these plans, remember that some covers may require specific criteria to claim them, so it is advised to properly read the policy document to understand whether you fulfil these criteria.

What’s Not Covered Under Niva Bupa's Travel Insurance?

Exclusions are specific risks and activities that an insurance provider does not cover. If a policyholder incurs a loss due to participating in such activities, their claim might be rejected. These exclusions are clearly stated under the travel insurance policy document and thus need to be considered when purchasing a policy. By considering these exclusions, travellers can accurately plan their journeys and take adequate measures to protect themselves from these risks. Here is a list of activities and risks which Niva Bupa does not cover.

• These include treatment for any injury or illness resulting from nuclear or radiological emissions, war or rebellion, and specific acts of terrorism.
• Active participation in military exercises, war games, or engagement with the enemy.
• Any loss or injury due to committing or attempting to breach the law with criminal intent
• Expenses for cosmetic or plastic surgery or any treatment to change appearance, including obesity or weight control programs. Unless in certain circumstances as listed in the policy document
• Maternity expenses
• Non-prescription or unproven drugs or treatments
• The provision of fitting of hearing aids, spectacles or contact lenses, including optometric therapy, any treatment, and associated expenses for alopecia, baldness, wigs, or toupees, medical supplies including elastic stockings, diabetic test strips, and similar products.
• If the insured person is travelling against the advice of a Doctor or is receiving or on a waiting list for specified medical treatment
• Death, injury, medical condition, or disability resulting from suicide or attempted suicide, self-inflicted wound or illness, consumption of alcohol or drugs, and depression.
• Countries with travel restrictions for Indians.
• Medical Tourism
• Damages due to adventure sports unless part of coverage
• Expenses related to any admission specifically for diagnostics and evaluation purposes that are not related or incidental to the current diagnosis and treatment.

However, remember that this list is just a summary of the exclusions, and the policyholder needs to refer to the policy document for the complete list. It is always vital to check the policy document before participating in an activity that can result in financial loss or harm policyholders’ well-being.

Features of Travel Insurance in India

The following are some of the features of Niva Bupa Travel Insurance:

• Extensive coverage- Plans under travel insurance cover a diverse range of risks. These risks include trip delay, interruption, cancellation, loss of checked-in baggage, medical emergencies, personal accidents, medical evacuation, etc
• Pre-existing disease coverage- Niva Bupa offers 100% pre-existing disease coverage for student travellers as an add-on, allowing them to study with peace of mind. Travellers with single-trip travel insurance policies are also covered for pre-existing diseases up to 5% of the total sum assured, up to a maximum of US $2500.
• No pre-policy check-up- Plans offered under TravelAssure require no pre-policy check-up, offering convenience and peace of mind.
• Simple and intuitive purchase process- Niva Bupa offers a simple and intuitive way to purchase policies directly from our website.
• Sum assured- Niva Bupa offers a total claim limit of up to US $500,000 for single-trip policies and student travel policies.
• COVID-19 coverage- TravelAssure plan comes with coverage against hospitalisation expenses resulting from COVID-19.
• Hassle-free claims process- Niva Bupa offers cashless claims for medical expenses and compensation for loss borne due to other covered risks.

Get the most value from TravelAssure

Extension of the Policy Period for a Single Trip Policy

In order to extend the policy, policyholders can apply for an extension by contacting Niva Bupa’s customer care center or online by paying their premium and submitting all the required documents. This must be done before the policy expires. Once our team has verified the information, they will grant permission for an extension. Customers can also extend the geographical coverage of their policy by paying an extra premium.

Contact Details for extending coverage

Niva Bupa Health Insurance Contact No: 1860-500-8888; Fax No.: 011-30902010 Customer Service Portal - Insta Assist (https://rules.nivabupa.com/customer-service/)

Types of Travel Insurance Plans in India

There are various types of travel insurance plans offered by insurers in India:

• Basic Travel Policy: These plans cover basic travel risks that most insurers provide. The premium amount is comparatively low due to the limited coverage.
• Comprehensive Travel Policy: Comprehensive plans offer a host of optional covers, like medical expenses or repatriation of mortal remains, many insurers may not provide. etc. Notably, Niva Bupa Travel Insurance offers over 40 travel-related covers, including the ones mentioned above.
• Single Trip: One-time travelers can buy this policy before or after booking their tickets. This policy remains applicable for the duration of that trip.
• Multi-trip: If the policy buyer has several trips planned for the year, they can opt for a multi-trip policy that offers coverage for a specific period instead of the trip duration. Frequent fliers opt for this plan to avoid buying plans repeatedly.
• Student: Students can buy a travel plan that offers coverage for the study duration. Covers like sponsor protection and study interruption can be opted for to make the plan more student-friendly.
• Policy buyers can opt for a single, family, group, or any other plan as per their requirements.

How to Claim Niva Bupa Travel Insurance

When faced with unexpected travel expenses due to emergencies, travellers need to get a simple and hassle-free claim experience. By following the given steps, travellers can request a claim with Niva Bupa:

• To file a travel insurance claim, you first need to contact your insurer, Niva Bupa.
• You may also contact the global third-party administrator if you are travelling overseas.
• No requirement for pre-policy medical check-ups.
• You can raise a claim for travel insurance online, through mail, or even physically. You can do so both while overseas or when you return to India.
• You must submit a duly filled claim form along with the required documents based on the type of claim—for example, loss of baggage, trip cancellation, medical emergency, or death.

Besides this, one can make two types of claims in the case of a medical emergency.

Niva Bupa is partnered with Europ Assistance, a global third-party administrator, to provide cashless claims to hospitals and healthcare centres worldwide.

• The customer intimates the claim to Europ Assistance via a toll-free number or email.
• The TPA - Europ Assistance will contact the customer and provide them with the required travel insurance details.
• Europ Assistance will then initiate the GOP (Guarantee of payment) process with the hospital where the customer will receive treatment.
• Europ Assistance will ask for the documents from the hospital or the customer and, after assessing the claim, will send them to Niva Bupa for approval/rejection/query/investigation.
• Our medical team will approve the claim by e-mail.
• The GOP will be released to the hospital as per the amount claimed.
• The hospital will contact the Europ Assistance team if any additional amount is required.
• At discharge, documents will be sent to Europ assistance and approved accordingly.
• After discharge, the hospital will send the documents to Europe Assistance for settlement to the hospital.
• 1. Claim form
• 3. Cancelled cheque of the proposer
• 4. Discharge summary
• 5. Final bill along with break up
• 6. Payment receipt
• 7. All investigation reports

Eligibility Criteria for Travel Insurance

The various eligibility criteria for Niva Bupa Health Insurance's TravelAssure plan include:

• Adults should be between the age of 18 and 70
• Dependent children can be up to the age of 25
• Travelers must possess and furnish mandatory documents like copies of passport, visa, income proof, and other relevant papers

Considerations Before Buying Travel Insurance Policy

Some of the factors that you need to consider before buying a travel insurance policy are:

• Duration: If you are planning to travel again, it is advisable to opt for a long duration multi-trip travel insurance plan. If your single trip is for a longer duration, the premium will be higher, so plan your trip accordingly.
• Nature of the Trip: Choose the plan as per the nature of your trip. Someone planning to do sky diving would have different optional covers compared to someone travelling to attend business meetings.
• Sum Assured: Estimate your travel risk and finalize your sum assured accordingly. The higher the sum assured, the higher will be the premium.
• Optional Covers: Go through the list of covers available and select judiciously. Selecting unnecessary covers will only escalate the premium.
• Exclusions: There may be specified circumstances or conditions where the travel insurance is not applicable. Always familiarize yourself with the exclusions before buying the travel plan.

COVID-19 Coverage

Due to the global scale of the COVID-19 pandemic, most leading insurance companies offer COVID-19 specific coverages in their travel plans. Niva Bupa TravelAssure provides COVID-19 hospitalisation coverage up to the sum assured. Accordingly, if you are infected or test positive for COVID-19 during your overseas stay, the travel insurance plan will bear the cost of your treatment and hospitalisation. In almost all countries, a COVID-19 infection leads to the applicability of strict isolation rules and gets addressed as per their SOP when detected. Therefore, adequate COVID-19 coverage can be handy in times of need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does travelassure plan provide coverage against covid 19, is there any tax benfit that one can avail while purchasing travel insurance, is a medical check-up necessary before buying this policy, is it mandatory to buy travel insurance for visa, how to extend international travel insurance policy, can you buy travel insurance after booking your trip, can i buy insurance if i am going on a work permit abroad, can i file a claim after getting back to india, what are the age criteria for which you issue a travel insurance policy online in india, how to file for a claim for international travel insurance, how to claim travel insurance, when, where, and how to choose travel insurance plan, how to calculate travel insurance premium, how to compare travel insurance premium, countries where travel insurance is necessary/mandatory.

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Health insurer Niva Bupa to file for ₹3,000 crore IPO within the next month

Niva bupa would be the second standalone health insurer, after star health insurance, to list on the stock exchanges..

14 Best Travel Credit Cards of May 2024

Best travel cards main takeaways.

• Money has evaluated hundreds of credit cards, comparing their fees, benefits, welcome offers, travel insurance policies and more.
• The top credit cards for travel offer high rewards on travel purchases, which can be redeemed for airfare, hotel nights, cash back, statement credits or more.
• Our picks feature the best travel cards for every budget and include no-annual-fee, low-annual-fee, premium and business cards.

Why Trust Us?

Our editorial team has spent well over a thousand hours analyzing, evaluating and comparing the top credit card offers in the market. We carefully vet each card’s fine print in order to understand their features, limitations and potential benefits for consumers. We review cards independently, ensuring our content is accurate and guided by editorial integrity. Read our full methodology to learn more.

• 46 travel credit cards evaluated
• 10+ data points used, including ongoing fees, reward programs and welcome offers
• 100+ sources reviewed

Money.com has partnered with CardRatings.com for our coverage of credit card products. Money and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. O ur top picks are listed strictly in alphabetical order.

Our Top Picks for Best Travel Credit Cards

Best no-annual-fee travel credit cards.

• Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card – Best no-annual-fee travel card for flat rate rewards
• Bilt Mastercard® – Best no-annual-fee travel card for paying rent
• Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card – Best no-annual-fee card for travel partners
• Chase Freedom Unlimited® – Best no-annual-fee travel card for domestic travel
• Discover it® Miles – Best no-annual-fee travel card for simple rewards
• Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card – Best no-annual-fee travel card for everyday spending

Best low-fee-annual-fee travel credit cards

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – Best travel card for flat-rate rewards
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – Best travel card for flexible rewards

Best premium travel credit cards

• American Express® Gold Card – Best travel card for dining
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Best low-cost premium travel card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® – Best premium travel credit card
• The Platinum Card® from American Express – Best travel card for lounge access

Best business travel credit cards

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express – Best business travel card

Best airline travel credit cards

• United℠ Explorer Card: Best airline credit card

Best Travel Credit Cards Reviews

Our top picks are listed in alphabetical order.

Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Cards

• No annual fee
• No foreign transaction fees
• Earns 1.5x points on all purchases
• No bonus category for travel
• Few benefits compared to other cards
• Limited redemption options

Why we chose it: The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card is an easy-to-use card best suited for travel reward beginners or those who are already Bank of America customers.

Some cardholders can earn up to 75% more points if they are Bank of America Preferred Rewards members — that’s up to 2.62 points for every dollar spent.

However, the card doesn’t offer hotel and airline point transfer partners, travel insurance or extended warranty and purchase protection. Additionally, you can only redeem your points as statement credit to cover travel and dining purchases.

All information about Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Money.com

• No annual or foreign currency conversion fee (Click herehttps://www.wellsfargo.com/credit-cards/bilt/terms/">here; for rates and fees)
• Use it to pay your rent and earn rewards without incurring any processing fees
• You can earn double points on all purchase categories (except rent payments) on the first of every month (up to 10,000 points)
• Earn 2x points on travel (when booked directly through an airline, hotels, car rental agencies and cruise lines)
• No welcome bonus or introductory APR period
• Points redeemed for statement credits are worth 0.55 cents each
• You must make at least five transactions in a statement period to earn points
• Rent payments can only be made to one rental property per month

Why we chose it: The Bilt Mastercard® lets you earn travel rewards on rent payments without incurring any processing fees — unlike most credit cards that typically charge around 2.5% to 2.9% per rent payment.

You can use the card to pay rent without worrying about surcharges. Once you get approved for the card, all you have to do is set up an account through the Bilt app or website and use your assigned routing and account number to pay rent through your usual payment portal. You can also use your card even if your landlord only accepts checks, and Bilt will send a check on your behalf.

Additionally, Bilt doubles the card’s rewards rates on the first of every month, which means you can earn 6x points on dining, 4x points on travel and 2x points on other purchases (up to 10,000 points per month). However, this bonus doesn’t apply to rent rewards.

On the downside, the Bilt Mastercard® doesn’t offer a welcome bonus, and points redeemed for statement credits are only worth 0.55 cents each.

• Can transfer your miles to 16 travel partners
• Earns 5x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Doesn't earn bonus points on airfare
• No domestic travel partners

Why we chose it: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a great option if you’re looking for a no-annual fee travel credit card with a simple rewards structure.

You can use your miles to book travel through the Capital One Travel portal or as a statement credit to cover travel purchases made from airlines, hotels, rail lines, car rental agencies and more.

You can also transfer your points to one of Capital One’s 16 travel partners, which include international airlines such as Avianca and British Airways. This option is notable since travel credit cards with no annual fee don’t typically offer the option to transfer your reward to airline and hotel partners.

However, the card’s list of bonus categories is limited compared to some other no-annual-fee credit cards, and Capital One doesn’t offer bonus points on airfare booked through Capital One Travel.

• Includes trip cancellation/interruption and car rental insurance
• Features a high flat cash back rate combined and popular bonus categories
• 3% foreign transaction fee

Why we chose it: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is the best credit card for traveling domestically. It offers a 1.5% flat cash back rate on most purchases plus it has several appealing bonus categories, including travel and dining.

This card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, that is, on any transactions made in currency other than US dollars. However, if you mostly travel within the U.S., this card is an excellent option.

For one, you’ll earn an additional 1.5% on each of the card’s bonus categories during the first year of card membership (or up to the first $20,000 spent).

Also, although using this card abroad is not recommended, you can still use it to book international trips while you’re home, and you’ll earn 5% cash back if you book it through Chase Travel℠.

You can redeem your rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and even transfer them to other cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. It’s also worth noting that this card is one of the few no-annual-fee credit cards with rental car coverage and trip cancellation and interruption insurance.

• No annual or foreign transaction fees
• Discover matches the total miles you earned at the end of the first year
• Earns 1.5x miles on all purchases
• See your FICO score on the Discover mobile app, online and on statements
• Few benefits compared to other travel cards
• Doesn't include extended warranty or purchase protection

Why we chose it: The Discover it® Miles Credit Card is a no-frills card ideal for travelers who don’t want to keep track of bonus categories, earning caps or redemption values.

The card earns a flat 1.5x miles on all eligible purchases without any annual caps. You can redeem your miles for statement credits and account deposits at a rate of 1 cent per mile. You can also use your rewards through Amazon and PayPal checkout with the same value.

Also, the card’s welcome bonus is easily one of the best in the market: Discover matches every mile you’ve earned at the end of your first membership year — without any spending requirements.

However, while the Discover it® Miles Credit Card is a great starter travel card, its lack of bonus categories could hinder your reward-earning potential in the long run. Additionally, Discover cards aren’t as widely accepted internationally as Visa Signature and World Mastercard, for example.

All information about the Discover it® Miles Credit Card has been collected independently by Money.com.

• Earn 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, select streaming services and cell phone plans
• Includes cell phone protection plan
• No airline or hotel transfer partners
• Doesn't include travel insurance
• Netflix and HBO are not eligible for streaming bonus

Why we chose it: The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is the best travel reward card for everyday spending, offering high rewards on several popular spending categories, including travel, dining, gas, streaming services and cell phone plans.

Its travel bonus category is particularly noteworthy because you can earn points regardless of where you make your reservations, whether it’s directly with an airline or through a third-party travel site like Booking.com. (Most travel credit cards limit travel rewards to bookings made exclusively through the card issuer’s travel portal.)

The card also includes rental car insurance and a cell phone protection plan when you use it to pay your monthly bill.

All information about the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card has been collected independently by Money.com.

Best Low-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Cards

• Earn 2x miles per dollar on most purchases
• Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck(R)
• Includes travel accident and car rental insurance
• Fewer bonus categories than other cards with a similar annual fee ($95)
• Doesn't offer travel rewards for flights
• Car rental insurance is secondary

Why we chose it: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is the best credit card for travel miles if you want to earn a high reward rate and not worry about bonus categories.

The Capital One Venture Rewards is ideal for those who want to get the most out of their spending without worrying about tracking bonus categories and spending caps.

You can redeem your miles on the Capital One travel portal and as statement credits to cover travel purchases at a value of one cent per mile. Additionally, you may transfer your miles to more than 15 airline and hotel partners.

However, keep in mind that Capital One doesn’t have domestic travel partners, which can be a drawback if you mainly travel within the U.S.

• Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel purchases through Chase TravelSM
• Receive a point bonus each account anniversary
• Includes primary rental car insurance
• Earn 3x per $1 on dining, including eligible delivery and takeout meals, select streaming services and grocery purchases
• $95 annual fee
• Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck(R) application fee credit

Why we chose this card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best travel credit card for frequent travelers who want to earn valuable rewards while paying a low annual fee.

The card features six reward categories that offer outstanding rewards on flights, hotels, restaurants and more. You can redeem your points for statement credits, account deposits, gift cards and more. But you can get the most bang for your buck by redeeming them for travel purchases through the Chase Travel℠ portal, which increases your point’s usual one-cent value by 25%.

You can redeem your points for statement credits, account deposits, gift cards and more. But you can get the most bang for your buck by redeeming them for travel purchases through Chase Travel℠, which increases your point’s usual one-cent value by 25%.

You can also transfer your points to one of Chase’s 14 travel partners at a 1:1 ratio (one Chase point equals one hotel point or airline mile). These include popular airlines and hotels like JetBlue, Southwest, United, Marriott and Hyatt.

Best Premium Travel Credit Cards

• Earns 4x points on restaurants worldwide, takeout and food delivery within the U.S.
• Up to $120 in annual dining credits, issued as a $10 statement credit per month for select restaurants (enrollment required)
• Up to $120 as Uber Cash annually ($10 per month) for food delivery orders and rides in the U.S. after you add the American Express(R) Gold Card to your Uber account
• Earn 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x)
• High annual fee ($250)
• Includes few travel perks and insurance policies compared to similarly priced cards

Terms apply. Please click here for applicable rates and fees.

Why we chose it: The American Express® Gold Card is ideal for foodies, offering a high reward rate at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, takeout and food delivery. (Terms apply.)

The American Express® Gold Card also offers statement credits worth up to $240 combined — almost enough to offset the card’s $250 annual fee. These include:

• Up to $120 every year in dining credits ($10 per month) for select restaurants and food delivery services. The list includes Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and Shake Shack (Enrollment required)
• Automatically get $10 monthly in Uber Cash to use on Uber Eats or Uber rides in the U.S. (after you add the American Express® Gold Card to your account)
• $100 credit for dining, spa services and other activities when you book a two-night minimum stay at a hotel from The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel
• Terms apply

However, note that the American Express® Gold Card offers fewer travel perks than some other premium cards — for instance, it doesn’t offer trip cancellation and interruption insurance or TSA PreCheck® or CLEAR® Plus fee credits.

• 10,000 bonus miles every year
• Statement credit of up to $300 for bookings made through Capital One Travel
• Up to a $100 credit on Global Entry or TSA PreCheck(R)
• Skip the line and get car upgrades when renting a car with Hertz
• High annual fee ($395)
• Fewer bonus categories than other premium cards
• No domestic airline transfer partners

Why we chose it: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the best credit card for travel miles if you want to earn a high reward rate and not worry about bonus categories.

The Capital One Venture X also includes noteworthy perks such as:

• 10,000 bonus miles every year (starting on your first anniversary)
• $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
• Up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges worldwide with Priority Pass™ Select and Plaza Premium Group
• Authorized users at no extra cost (many cards have an annual fee of $75 or more for each additional user)

All in all, the Venture X is a solid option that can easily compete with other premium travel cards, especially considering its more affordable annual fee.

• Up to $300 in statement credits each anniversary year to cover travel purchases
• Transfer your points to 14 travel partners (including United, Southwest, JetBlue and Marriott)
• Points worth 50% more when redeemed for travel expenses through Chase TravelSM
• Comprehensive travel insurance coverage, including emergency dental insurance
• High annual fee ($550)
• Doesn't include a cell phone protection plan

Why we chose it: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the best credit card for travelers looking for a high reward rate on travel and additional benefits like comprehensive travel insurance and airport lounge access worldwide.

Your points are worth 50% more when you redeem them for travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal. This means each point is worth 1.5 cents per point instead of one cent, like most travel cards. Also, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides several high-end benefits such as:

• $300 annual travel credit to cover travel-related purchases like airfare, hotels, car rentals, rideshares, buses, trains, tolls and/or parking
• Access for you and two guests to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide (after a one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select)
• Statement credit of up to $100 every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or Nexus

The Sapphire Reserve does have a $550 annual fee. But if you take advantage of the $300 annual credit and other perks, the benefits can definitely outweigh its cost.

• Access to the widest network of airport lounges of any card
• Complimentary elite status in the Marriott and Hilton hotel loyalty programs
• Hundreds of dollars in annual statement credits for travel, dining and more
• High annual fee ($695)
• Doesn't include baggage delay, travel accident and primary rental car insurance
• Limited bonus categories

Terms apply. Click here for rates and fees.

Why we chose this card: The Platinum Card® from American Express offers a list of premium benefits that no other travel card offers, including the widest network of airport lounges and room upgrades at Hilton and Marriott hotels. (Terms apply.)

The Platinum Card® from American Express features an impressive list of high-end travel benefits, including:

• Complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges, including Priority Pass, Delta SkyClub and Amex’s own Centurion lounges (enrollment required)
• Gold status in the Marriott and Hilton loyalty programs, which makes you eligible for room upgrades, free breakfast and late checkouts (enrollment required)
• $200 back each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings made through American Express Travel and paid with your Platinum Card® (Hotel Collection bookings require a minimum two-night stay)
• Up to $200 per year when incidental fees, such as checked bags, are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card® (with one selected qualifying airline)
• Complimentary premium status in Avis Preferred®, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards®, and/or National Car Rental® Emerald Club (must enroll through your Amex online account using your card)

The Platinum Card® from American Express does have a hefty $695 annual fee. However, for people who travel often and will take advantage of its annual credits and travel perks, it might almost pay for itself.

Best Business Travel Credit Cards

• 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
• Around $1,000 in yearly statement credits for select business purchases
• Access to a wide network of airport lounges (terms apply)
• Around $600 in perks in Fine Hotels + Resorts(R) locations booked through American Express Travel (for stays of two nights)
• Secondary rental car coverage**

Why we chose it: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express features an extensive list of benefits that make it an ideal travel and business credit card.

With this card, you can access over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, comprehensive travel insurance and extra amenities at hundreds of hotels, like daily breakfast and free internet access. Additionally, you get a $200 credit to cover baggage fees, in-flight refreshments and more and up to $100 for Global Entry or $85 for TSA PreCheck® every four or 4.5 years respectively. (Terms apply.) (Enrollment required.)

The card also offers several yearly statement credits for business-related purchases that include up to $400 per year ($200 between January and June and $200 between July and December) for U.S. purchases with Dell.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express does have one of the steepest annual fees ($695) among travel credit cards, but its extensive list of benefits makes it a no-brainer for business owners who travel frequently.

Best Airline Travel Credit Cards

• Free first checked bag for you and a companion
• Up to $100 as a statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck(R) or NEXUS every 4 year
• 25% back as a statement credit on food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights
• Complimentary priority boarding for you and companions traveling on the same reservation
• $95 annual fee (after the first year)
• No intro APR period
• Rewards are only valuable when used with United

Why we chose it: The card_name has a low annual fee and gives you valuable benefits that make up for it, such as priority boarding for everyone on the reservation and a free checked bag for you and one companion.

Other perks the card includes are:

• Two one-time passes for United Club℠ airport lounges each account anniversary year
• 25% back as a statement credit on in-flight purchases like food, beverages and Wi-Fi
• Up to $100 every four years to cover the cost of TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry or NEXUS
• Comprehensive travel insurance (auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation/interruption insurance and trip delay reimbursement)

The United℠ Explorer Card earns miles on United purchases, including tickets, inflight food, beverages, Wi-Fi and more. You also earn rewards at restaurants and select hotel stays.

You can use your miles to book flights on United Airlines or its partners, including Avianca, Lufthansa and Air Canada. You can also redeem them for seat upgrades, inflight Wi-Fi passes and more — although United miles are usually more valuable when used for airfare.

Travel Credit Cards Guide

The best credit cards for travel do more than offer high reward rates on flights and hotel stays. They also provide rewards for everyday spending and perks such as travel insurance , airport lounge access and annual statement credits.

Here’s a rundown of how these cards work:

What is a travel credit card?

Travel credit cards offer benefits and rewards geared towards individuals who travel frequently or want to earn travel benefits.

They provide high rewards for travel-related expenses such as flights, hotels, rental cars and dining. You can then use these rewards (in the form of points or miles) to book travel reservations. Some cards also let you transfer your rewards to hotel and airline partners or redeem them for statement credits, cash back, gift cards and more.

On top of the rewards, these cards often feature several travel-related perks, such as no foreign transaction fees, hotel discounts, travel insurance, free checked bags and airport lounge access.

How do travel credit cards work?

Travel credit cards give you a certain number of points or miles per dollar on eligible purchases. They often offer around 5x points or more for airfare, hotel rooms, rental cars and more. Some cards may also count parking, bus fares, taxis, tolls and ferries as travel purchases.

Besides travel, you’ll typically get bonus points in additional spending categories. For example, some cards may offer 3x points per dollar on dining, groceries, drugstores or streaming services. All other eligible purchases usually get at least one point (1x) per dollar.

You can then redeem your points for flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises and more. Card issuers also usually let you redeem your points for non-travel options like statement credits, cash back or gift cards.

How to use credit card points for travel

Travel credit cards have rewards programs through which you can earn points (or miles). Well-known point programs include Chase Ultimate Rewards®, American Express Membership Rewards® and Citi ThankYou® Rewards.

To redeem your points, go to your travel card’s rewards program portal. The process may differ across credit card issuers, but you’ll usually be able to access it through your online account on the issuer’s website or app.

Points are usually worth one cent each. However, some issuers increase their value if you redeem them for travel. For example, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card points are worth 1.25 cents when used to book flights through the Chase Travel℠ portal.

Points may also be worth less than a cent, depending on how you redeem them. For example, some cards allow you to use your points at Amazon checkout. While this might sound convenient, this option may bring down the value of points to around 0.8 cents.

Some cards also allow you to transfer your rewards to select airline and hotel partners. Typically, you can transfer rewards to these loyalty programs on a 1:1 ratio, meaning that 1,000 credit card points are worth 1,000 loyalty program points.

Difference between points and miles

You’ll earn points or miles depending on which travel credit card you have. For example, Chase travel credit cards earn points, while Capital One travel cards earn miles. Miles and points typically have similar value (around one cent each) and redemption options.

However, keep in mind that several cards that earn miles are tied to a specific airline — like the United℠ Explorer Card. In this case, you can only use your rewards for purchases with the issuing airline such as flights, seat upgrades, inflight dining and more.

Pros and cons of travel credit cards

• Some cards offer up to 10x points per dollar on travel purchases.
• Many have additional bonus categories for dining, grocery shopping and more.
• They may include travel benefits like priority boarding, airport lounge access and late hotel checkouts.
• Points or miles can also be redeemed for cash back, statement credits, gift cards and more.
• Highest reward rates are usually limited to purchases made through the card issuer's travel portal.
• They might not offer high rewards on spending outside of the travel category.
• Some of the best ones can have steep annual fees and require good to excellent credit
• Redeeming points or miles for anything other than travel can reduce their value to less than one cent per dollar.

Types of travel credit cards

Here’s a rundown of the differences between the three main types of travel credit cards:

Airline credit cards

Airline credit cards are ideal for people who regularly fly with the same airline. These cards earn miles you can redeem for flights, seat upgrades, inflight dining, airport lounge access and other travel-related purchases but typically only with the issuing airline.

Some of the best airline travel credit cards include benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding and discounts on in-flight purchases.

Hotel credit cards

With hotel credit cards, you can only redeem your points for stays, discounts and other benefits with one particular hotel chain.

For example, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card earns points for Hilton’s loyalty program, which you can redeem for free nights in the company’s properties, including Hilton Garden Inn and Waldorf Astoria hotels.

Hotel credit cards may also offer complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, late checkouts and bonus points for purchases made during your stay.

General travel credit card

General travel credit cards are more flexible than airline or hotel cards. They aren’t affiliated with a single airline or hotel chain, so their points can be used to book flights, hotel stays, rental cars and more from different companies.

These cards may also offer useful perks for frequent travelers, like airport lounge access. They can also cover the cost of a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership, which allows you to skip the long lines at airport security or customs.

How to choose a travel credit card

Picking the best travel rewards credit card boils down to how often you travel, which cardmember perks you’d benefit the most from and the categories you spend the most on.

Here are some factors to keep in mind when choosing the best card for you:

• Do you travel often? A travel rewards credit card offers high reward rates on travel spending, and you’ll get the most bang for your buck when you use their points on flights, hotels and car rentals. If you don’t take trips often but want to pile up rewards, a cash-back credit card might be a better fit.
• Assess your everyday spending. Many travel cards have additional bonus categories other than travel, like dining, supermarkets, streaming services and drugstores. Consider your day-to-day spending habits and pick a card with bonus categories that fit your lifestyle.
• Consider the card’s annual fees. No-annual-fee travel cards usually have few travel benefits. The best travel credit cards charge annual fees of at least $90 and can go as high as $700. However, these are often best for those that travel enough to take advantage of their benefits.
• General travel card vs co-branded cards. General travel cards have more flexible redemption options. On the other hand, co-branded cards are often tied to a specific airline or hotel, which can limit your options. Still, they do provide valuable perks like free checked bags, in-flight discounts and hotel upgrades.
• Compare extra travel perks. Some cards offer extras like annual statement credits for flights and hotels or upgrades when renting cars. Take the time to compare each card’s roster of add-ons and pick one that will best suit your travel plans.
• Compare insurance policies. The best credit card travel benefits include insurance policies that cover travel accidents, rental cars, trip cancellations and more. These policies can vary widely based on the issuer and the card’s annual-fee tier.
• Beware foreign transaction fees. Most travel credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees. Some cash-back cards may offer outstanding rewards for travel purchases but charge around 3% fees on purchases outside the U.S.
• Look beyond welcome offers. A 60,000-point welcome bonus can be enticing. However, it shouldn’t be your deciding factor, especially if you’ll end up paying a high annual fee without getting your money’s worth.

How get the most out of your travel credit card

To get the most out of your travel credit card, you need to use it as often and strategically as possible. This way, you can earn points or miles with each purchase, which you can then redeem for free or discounted flights, hotels and more.

Use your travel card to pay most of your purchases and bills and then pay your card off in full each month. This will help you earn points while avoiding interest charges and high credit card debt , which can impact your credit score.

Here are some other tips to maximize your rewards and benefits:

• Consider adding an authorized user to your account. They’ll earn points with every purchase they make, and those will get added to your overall total. However, make sure to pick someone who will use the card responsibly since you’ll be legally liable if they ever fail to pay their monthly bills.
• Redeem your rewards for travel through the card issuer’s website. This redemption option usually offers the highest value compared to gift cards or merchandise, for example.
• If your card offers travel protections (like travel accident or luggage insurance), use it to pay for your passenger fares. This way, you could be reimbursed in the event of an accident or lost luggage, for example.
• Use your airline or hotel card to sign up for the company’s frequent flyer or frequent guest loyalty program. You’ll often earn extra points or miles when you’re a member and use your co-branded card to pay for flights, hotel stays and more.
• If you can transfer points from other credit cards to your travel card, take advantage of this feature. This way, you can accumulate extra points for travel booking and sometimes even increase their value.

Best Travel Credit Cards FAQs

What is the best travel credit card, what is the best credit card for international travel, how to travel for free with credit cards, what is the best credit card for travel miles, what is a welcome bonus on a credit card, how we chose the best travel credit cards.

We ranked the best credit cards for travel based on their annual fees, benefits, reward rates and redemption flexibility.

Fees: We compared interest rates and foreign, cash advance and balance transfer fees for more than 50 credit cards. We also considered their annual fee, looking for those that offered the most for the money.

Ongoing benefits: Intro APR and bonus offers are attractive, but they can only get you so far. We focused on cards with year-round benefits such as travel insurance or cell phone protection plans.

Reward rates: We preferred cards that allow you to earn extra points from travel expenses, as well as those that provide significant bonus rewards in popular spending categories, like dining, supermarkets or streaming services.

Redemption flexibility: Our picks don’t limit your redemption options to just travel. Some let you use your points for Amazon purchases, for example. We also preferred issuers that allowed cardholders to transfer their points to airline and hotel partners.

Summary of Money’s Best Travel Credit Cards of May 2024

• Discover it® Miles Credit Card – Best no-annual-fee travel card for simple rewards

Money.com has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Money.com and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

To see rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card, visit this link . Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express, visit this link . Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, visit this link . Terms apply.

* Insurance disclosures for American Express Cards on this page:

Trip Delay 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.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption 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.

Baggage Insurance Plan: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Global Assist Hotline: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

** Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

*** Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

© Copyright 2024 Money Group, LLC . All Rights Reserved.

This article originally appeared on Money.com and may contain affiliate links for which Money receives compensation. Opinions expressed in this article are the author's alone, not those of a third-party entity, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed. Offers may be subject to change without notice. For more information, read Money’s full disclaimer .

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Why Is Car Insurance So Expensive?

Soaring premiums have become a prominent driver of inflation, and insurers say that more increases could be on the way. How did it get like this?

• Share full article

By Emily Flitter

If your car broke down two years ago, it probably became a bigger problem than you bargained for.

A confluence of forces were to blame: The Covid pandemic disrupted supply chains, pushing used car prices to record highs and making spare parts hard to get; out-of-practice drivers emerging from lockdowns caused more severe wrecks; and technological advancements like motion sensors made even the simplest parts, like a fender or a rim, expensive to replace .

Things have since improved for car owners — except when it comes to insurance bills. Car insurers are still raising prices steeply: The price of motor vehicle insurance rose more than 22 percent in the year through April, the fastest pace since the 1970s, according to a report the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday. According to calculations by the Insurance Information Institute, a trade group, the average 12-month premium for car insurance was $1,280 in 2023, the industry’s most recent figures.

That has made car insurance a prominent factor preventing overall inflation from cooling more quickly, which could force the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates higher for longer even as the prices for many other essential goods and services have slowed.

Geico recently reported a big jump in quarterly profit on higher premiums and lower customer claims. The share prices of other big auto insurers, like Allstate and Progressive, have beaten the rise in the overall market this year.

That has attracted scrutiny from economists . A key reason car insurance costs are rising so fast right now has to do with how the industry is regulated.

How does insurance regulation work?

Insurers are regulated by the states, not the federal government. In all 50 states, insurance companies must follow specific rules about how and when they can raise the price on their policies.

Each state’s laws are broadly similar, and require insurers to ask regulators for permission to raise prices. Insurers have to make a case — with data to back it up — that the increase is necessary and that they will not make too large a profit on the re-priced policies. This application, known in the business as a “rate filing,” involves complicated paperwork that may take weeks or months to resolve.

The data has to include an analysis of loss trends from the past couple of years, as well as projections for replacement costs and profits. If insurers are deemed to profit too heavily, regulators can make them return money to customers.

The threat of returning money is not an idle one. At the height of pandemic lockdowns in 2020, when many cars sat idle, insurers returned almost $13 billion to customers through dividends, refund checks and premium reductions for policy renewals, according to the insurance ratings agency AM Best.

California was one of the most active states: Insurers there returned $3.2 billion to customers in 2020.

Ricardo Lara, the state’s insurance commissioner, “directed the department to do a very close analysis to make sure that drivers weren’t overcharged,” said Michael Soller, a spokesman for the California Department of Insurance. But starting in late 2021, the state became the poster child for a new problem: an epic backlog of insurers’ requests to raise prices.

How a massive paperwork jam explains rising prices.

When the pandemic shut down most economic activity, it messed up insurers’ ability to use the past to predict the future. For months, they were frozen. They did not submit new rate filings to regulators for a spell — until they did, all at once, in the second half of 2021.

The prices of cars and parts were jumping and drivers were back on the roads and crashing left and right after a hiatus behind the wheel.

“You went from this period of incredible profitability to incredible losses in the blink of an eye,” said Tim Zawacki, an analyst who focuses on insurance at S&P Global Market Intelligence. No companies were willing to stick their necks out by offering lower premiums in the hope of winning new business, he said.

“Everyone was together in significantly pushing for rate increases.”

In California, the most populous U.S. state, insurers were getting creamed by expensive claims.

But the state’s regulator did not start approving insurers’ requests to raise rates until near the end of 2022. The backlog grew so large that the average wait time for approvals was longer — by several months — than the six-month policies that insurers wanted to sell.

“When state regulators delay or prevent companies from accurately pricing insurance, insurers may not be able to absorb the costs,” said Neil Alldredge, the president of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, a trade group that represents many home and auto insurers. The squeeze can lead insurers to leave some states or stop some business lines, he added. “Inefficient regulatory environments in states like California, New Jersey and New York, combined with inflation and increased catastrophic losses, have left consumers with fewer choices of insurers and higher costs,” he said.

California is still the slowest state in the continental United States for auto insurance rate filings, taking an average of 219 days to approve a price proposal for a personal auto policy, according to S&P data provided by Mr. Zawacki.

“We fight for consumers by analyzing all of the data, not just what insurance companies spoon-feed us,” Mr. Soller, the California Department of Insurance spokesman, said.

The S&P analysis showed that New Jersey, the 11th-most populous state, had the sixth-longest wait time, while New York, with the fourth-largest population, had the 7th-longest wait times.

“The department performs a comprehensive review of requests to amend rates or rating systems to ensure compliance with New Jersey law,” said Dawn Thomas, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance.

Ms. Thomas said the regulator needed to ensure that each proposed premium increase was “reasonable, adequate, and not unfairly discriminatory,” and that sometimes the insurers’ requests needed to be challenged or denied.

A spokeswoman for New York’s regulator declined to comment.

When will the jam clear?

Shortly before the pandemic, the umbrella organization for state insurance regulators, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, formed a team of data scientists to help regulators deal with their rate filings, which has gotten more complicated in recent years.

The data team became fully operational in 2021 and its mission is now to help speed up the review process: 37 states have signed up to use it.

This month, during a call with analysts to discuss Allstate’s earnings, company representatives said they had recently reopened their California auto insurance business after getting permission to charge higher rates. The company still wanted to raise prices in other states.

In New York and New Jersey, for example, “even with the rate approvals that we got late last year, we still don’t feel like we’re at the appropriate rate level to want to grow in those two states,” said Mario Rizzo, the president of Allstate’s property-casualty business.

How much higher will premiums go?

In 2021, insurers’ personal auto businesses started recording losses. According to David Blades, an analyst for AM Best, the industry lost $4 billion in 2021, $33 billion in 2022 and roughly $17 billion last year.

According to Dale Porfilio, the chief insurance officer at the Insurance Information Institute, the trade group, many companies still need to raise prices to make up for those bad years.

Last year, insurers raised auto premiums by 14 percent, the biggest increase in over 15 years. Mr. Porfilio’s best guess is that premiums this year will rise another 13 percent.

“It’s going to take time for every company to get their rates to where they want to be,” he said.

Emily Flitter writes about finance and how it impacts society. More about Emily Flitter