Best Credit Cards with Complimentary Travel Insurance in Australia - Coverage, fees and more

Getting a credit card with travel insurance gives you one less thing to think about venturing overseas, or even interstate in Australia. Most credit cards now offer some form of complimentary insurance, giving you peace of mind that you are covered for unexpected events during your trips. It’s especially useful for frequent flyers.

This blog will provide a full breakdown of the top 6 credit cards for travel insurance, comparing a range of key metrics including coverage, fees, and other useful perks you’ll get along the way. We’ll also introduce Wise, a debit card that can help you save money when spending abroad.

Table of contents
How to choose the best credit card with travel insurance included What is the best credit card for travel insurance in Australia? American Express Platinum ANZ Platinum Westpac Altitude Black American Express Explorer NAB Rewards Platinum CommBank Smart Awards

How to choose the best credit card with travel insurance included

Travel insurance is one of the major perks offered with credit cards. Selecting the right card requires careful evaluation, balancing coverage, spending habits and travel preferences to find the most suitable option.

The first thing to be aware of is that coverage isn’t automatic. In almost all cases, you must meet specific spending requirements to access travel insurance. You may even need to ‘activate’ it prior to travelling.

Secondly, there are usually a number of exclusions — things that are not covered. Most providers will not cover pre-existing medical conditions, for example, or high risk activities like scuba diving or skiing.

Claim limits will also vary. Certain policies will have caps on the amount you can claim for. You can usually find a full rundown of these limits and any exclusions in a disclosure statement and booklet so be sure to keep an eye out for it. 

Finally, you may be wondering, “do I need travel insurance for domestic travel in Australia?”. It is highly recommended to have timely cover in the case of unexpected events. You’ll find a few cards that offer domestic travel insurance for this purpose.

Key factors to consider in choosing a credit card with travel insurance

When it comes to choosing a credit card for travel insurance in Australia, you should evaluate a few key factors. Generally, you’ll need to decide whether the card provides the insurance you need and offers value when traded off against the annual fees and requirements. Factors to consider include:

• Included policies: Do you need domestic travel and rental car excess insurance in addition to international coverage?
• Coverage scope: Does the card include coverage for flight delays, trip interruptions, and personal liability? Cross-check your needs against the policy details.
• Trip length: Some policies offer 3 or 6 month coverage for international trips. Consider whether any restrictions will affect your travel plans.
• Annual fee vs. benefits: Are you willing to pay a higher annual fee to access higher coverage limits and additional luxury perks?
• Eligibility: Some cards have minimum income limits and other requirements.

What is the best credit card for travel insurance in Australia?

Let's take a look at the top credit card providers in Australia:

Card	Activation Requirement	Types of Coverage	Annual Fee	Additional Perks
American Express Platinum Card	Pay full fare for return trip	International and domestic travel covering spouse and family members	$1,450	$450 travel credit, $400 dining credits, access to 1,400 airport lounges
ANZ Platinum Credit Card	Spend $250 on travel costs before leaving Australia	International and domestic travel, rental vehicle excess	$0 first year, then $87	24/7 personal concierge
Westpac Altitude Black	Spend at least $500 on prepaid travel costs with return ticket to Australia	International travel, interstate flight inconvenience insurance, rental vehicle excess in Australia	$295	2 lounge passes per year
American Express Explorer Credit Card	Purchase return trip on card	International and domestic travel	$395	$400 to spend on travel per year, 2 lounge passes per year
NAB Rewards Platinum Credit Card	Spend at least $500 on prepaid travel costs before leaving Australia	5 complimentary insurances, including international and domestic travel and rental vehicle excess in Australia	$45 first year, then $195	24/7 concierge service, Visa Premium Access
CommBank Smart Awards Credit Card	Spend at least $500 in single transaction on prepaid travel	N/A	$19 per month	Access to over 1,300 airport lounges

American Express Platinum Card

• 2.25 points per $1 spend on all purchases excluding government
• $450 travel credits and $400 dining credits
• Up to 44 days cash flow period

The American Express Platinum Card¹ is a great option if you want peace of mind for the entire family. While the $1,450 annual fee is steep, you get access to comprehensive international and domestic insurance for you, your spouse, and children. The coverage includes trip cancellations, lost baggage and money, and medical emergencies.

As you’d expect, there’s ample room for claims. There’s unlimited coverage for medical emergency expenses, up to $1,000,000 for events requiring repatriation or evacuation, and up to $30,000 for flight cancellations both international and domestic return trips². You also get access to some great perks, including travel and global dining credit, and lounge access.

Pros	Cons
Excellent coverage for all the family Great travel perks Earn rewards points	High annual fee 3% foreign transaction fee

ANZ Platinum Credit Card

• 20.99% interest rate and $6,000 minimum credit limit
• 55 days without interest on purchases

If you want ample coverage at a low price, it’s hard to look past the ANZ Platinum³. This credit card costs just $87 per year, though you can pay nothing when spending at least $20,000 over 12 months. There are 5 complimentary insurances, including international and domestic coverage. For overseas trips, you’ll need to spend $250 on travel costs, which is a lower threshold than competitors⁴.

One thing to note is that ANZ recently reduced the limit for international travel insurance from ‘Unlimited’ to $20,000, and increased the excess payable on claims to $350⁵. It’s an affordable card with few eligibility requirements, but more premium alternatives can offer higher claim limits and better perks.

Pros	Cons
Low annual fee Excellent travel insurance coverage	$20,000 cap on international travel insurance claims No airline miles

Westpac Altitude Black

• Up to 6 rewards points per $1 spent
• $15,000 minimum credit limit and 20.99% interest rate
• Up to 45 days interest free on purchases

The Westpac Altitude Black⁶ lets you rack up frequent flyer points while offering a wide range of complimentary travel insurances. You get up to 6 months cover for international trips for the family, plus some useful rental vehicle excess and domestic flight coverage in Australia. It’s a solid package, especially at the rather modest $295 per year fee.

There are no limits for insurance claims on overseas emergency assistance, medical treatment, and repatriation⁷. General exclusions do apply, though, but you’ll find those across most cards. With Westpac, other travel perks are thin on the ground, but you do get 2 free lounge passes. There’s also a $75,000 minimum income requirement.

Pros	Cons
Great insurance coverage options for the family Can earn frequent flyer points	Minimum income requirement 3% foreign transaction fee

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American Express Explorer Credit Card

• Earn up to 2 reward points per $1 spent on everyday purchases
• Up to 55 days interest free period
• 23.99% interest rate

The American Express Explorer⁸ will please frequent travellers who want to earn rewards points and access comprehensive insurance policies.

You’ll get domestic and international travel insurance — as long as you’re aged under 79. All you need to do is book a return trip on your card. The benefit limits are quite generous. You can claim up to $2,500,000 for medical emergency expenses, and up to $30,000 for trip cancellations⁹.

The $395 fee makes it cheaper than the American Express Platinum card. While there’s no dining credits on this card, you still get $400 to spend on flights and hotels. Any points you earn from eligible purchases can be transferred to multiple airline partner programs.

Pros	Cons
Great domestic and international travel insurance coverage Can earn frequent flyer points $400 annual travel credit	3% foreign transaction fee

NAB Rewards Platinum Credit Card

• Earn up to 1.5 rewards points per $1 spent on purchases
• $6,000 minimum credit limit and 20.99% interest rate
• Up to 44 days interest free period

As the entry level NAB Low Fee is no longer for sale¹⁰, you’ll have to plump for the Rewards Platinum Credit Card¹¹ to get complimentary travel insurance. There’s also the bonus of racking up points. The fee is just $45 for the first year. For this, you can access five complimentary insurances including international and domestic travel.

The NAB Rewards Platinum is a ‘Level 2’ card, giving you up to three months of coverage¹². NAB has a handy ‘eligibility portal’ for quick checks on insurance requirements.

There is unlimited overseas emergency assistance including medical evacuation with a $0 excess, plus unlimited overseas emergency medical with an $400 excess. You can also claim up to $50,000 for flight cancellations¹². However, there’s no transit accident insurance after this was discontinued in 2023¹³.

Pros	Cons
Cheap first year fee Five complimentary insurances Can earn frequent flyer points	Transit accident insurance discontinued

CommBank Smart Awards Credit Card

• Earn up to 1.5 reward points per $1 spent on purchases
• No monthly fee when spending $2,000 per month
• Up to 44 days interest free period

If you’re a regular credit card user, the CommBank Smart Awards¹⁴ is a compelling option. There’s no monthly fee when spending $2,000 per month. The complimentary insurance policies are impressive, too. You get overseas medical benefits for all the family and cover for flight cancellations, albeit with a $500 excess for both¹⁵.

Like other cards, there is an upper age limit. Anyone over 80 has to apply for ‘Upgrades Cover’. You also have to get additional policies for cruises, snow sports, motorcycle riding, and adventure activities¹⁵.

The CommBank Smart Awards has a few other tricks up its sleeve, though. You can earn Qantas points, access over 1,300 airport lounges, and enjoy no fees on international transactions — which is quite rare¹⁴.

Pros	Cons
No foreign exchange fees Can earn frequent flyer points Add extra cardholders for free	$19 per month if you don’t meet minimum spend requirements No domestic travel insurance included

Travel in peace with Wise - the most international debit card

Traveling with peace of mind starts with the right card. Many credit cards offer complimentary travel insurance, but choosing the best one is crucial for full coverage.

While you’re comparing cards, keep in mind spending internationally with credit cards often comes with hidden costs like high foreign transaction fees. Instead, bring along the Wise card—a smart, low-fee debit card for spending overseas.

You can hold and exchange 40+ currencies in your Wise account, and all currency conversion uses the mid-market rate, with low, transparent fees. You can also get some free ATM withdrawals every month to make it easier and cheaper to get cash while you’re away from home.

🚀 Get your Wise card today

This material has been prepared by Wise Australia Pty Ltd (ABN 38 616 463 855) (AFSL 513764). The material presented is factual information only. The material is not intended to provide you with financial advice and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs.

Please see Terms of Use and product availability for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

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Sources:

1. American Express Platinum Card
2. American Express Patinum Card - Terms and Conditions
3. ANZ Platinum Credit Card
4. ANZ Platinum Card - Complimentary Insuances
5. ANZ Platinum and Black - Complimentary Insurance Terms and Conditions
6. Westpac Altitude Rewards Black
7. Westpac Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance
8. American Express Explorer Credit Card
9. American Express Credit Card Insurance
10. NAB Low Fee Platinum Card
11. NAB Rewards Platinum Credit Card
12. NAB Card Insurance
13. NAB Complimentary Transit Accident Insurance.
14. CommBank Smart Awards Credit Card
15. CommBank Credit Card International Travel Insurance

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