Depending on which card you book your flights with, you may already be receiving travel insurance on your trip. Different cards have different stipulations as to what "activates" their travel insurance coverages (i.e. round trip tickets vs. full fare vs. taxes and fees charged to the card), what is actually covered, and how much they will reimburse you.

Many travel credit cards offer at least some basic protection for lost baggage, cancellation, flights delayed over six or twelve hours, some medical evacuation insurance, and more.

Travel insurance benefits on our favorite starting card

The card_name has the best all-around travel insurance of a credit card with an annual fee of $100 or less which is one reason it is our top starter cards and a card we recommend keeping long-term.

Even paying just for airline taxes with your card_name will activate the travel insurance benefits for yourself and your family members traveling with you.

What these benefits mean

Trip cancellation and interruption

Under what circumstances trip cancellation and interruption insurance kicks in varies depending on your card. Policies typically include injury or illness of one of the covered individuals or an immediate family member. Other policies may also cover severe weather or a named storm, default of the airline carrier, jury duty, military orders, a terrorist incident, and more.

Trip delay reimbursement

Trip delay reimbursement means that you and your family can be reimbursed for expenses, such as meals and lodging, during an airline delay.

Baggage delay reimbursement

If the airline carrier mishandles your bag, some credit cards will cover the purchase of "essential" items while you wait for your baggage.

Lost luggage reimbursement

Lost luggage reimbursement allows you to be reimbursed for the contents of lost checked luggage or carry-on baggage.