Chase united explorer card trip cancellation insurance

April 17, 2021

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13 min read

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Editor's Note

This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. 

Chase credit cards are often top of mind when travelers are booking trips because of their superior protections. Chase is one of very few major U.S. credit card issuers that offers a full suite of travel protections across its premium credit cards, including trip delay reimbursement and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

Trip delay reimbursement covers reasonable out-of-pocket expenses due to a lengthy trip delay that is not covered by the common carrier. Trip cancellation/interruption insurance provides reimbursement for covered travel expenses when you have to cancel a trip or end it early.

Now that more people are getting vaccinated and destinations are reopening borders to tourists, you may be planning trips for later this year or into next. This guide will walk through which Chase credit cards have these benefits, what is currently covered and how you can file a successful claim.

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Chase cards offering trip delay and trip cancellation/interruption insurance

Here is an overview of the Chase cards that offer trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation/interruption insurance or both:

The information for the United TravelBank Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Best credit cards for trip cancellation and interruption insurance

What is covered by trip cancellation/interruption insurance?

You can find the full terms and conditions of what is generally covered on your specific card in your Guide to Benefits, which can be found through your Chase account online. I'll use the Chase Sapphire Reserve Guide to Benefits as an example.

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Here is a rundown of the circumstances covered by Chase's trip cancellation/interruption insurance:

• Accidental bodily injury, loss of life or sickness experienced by you or a traveling companion that prevents you or a travel companion from traveling on the trip.
• Accidental bodily injury, loss of life or sickness experienced by an immediate family member of you or your traveling companion when it's considered life-threatening, requires hospitalization or requires care by you or your traveling companion.
• Severe weather that prevents a "reasonable and prudent person" from beginning or continuing a trip (terms about what constitutes as qualifying severe weather can be found in your Guide to Benefits).
• Named storm warning.
• Change in military orders for you or your spouse.
• Jury duty or a court subpoena, neither of which can be waived.
• You or your traveling companion's place of permanent residence being made uninhabitable, being burglarized or damaged by fire or flood.
• You or your traveling companion's lodging accommodations at the destination of the trip being made uninhabitable.
• Death or hospitalization of you or your traveling companion's host at destination.
• Quarantine of you or your traveling companion imposed by a physician or by a competent governmental authority having jurisdiction, due to health reasons.
• An organized strike affected public transportation which causes you or your traveling companion to either miss 20% or more of your scheduled trip or miss the departure of a prepaid cruise or scheduled tour (booked through a tour operator).
• Terrorism (there are exceptions here; exact terms on what types of terrorist incidents are covered for trip cancellation and interruption insurance are listed in your Guide to Benefits).

Chase does provide an extensive list of things that are not covered by trip cancellation/interruption insurance as well:

• Change in plans, financial circumstances and business obligations.
• Preexisting conditions.
• Any loss due to the voluntary surrender of unused vouchers, tickets, credits, coupons or travel privileges available prior to their expiration date.
• Travel arrangements scheduled to take place after the 26th week of pregnancy, or when a multiple pregnancy (such as twins or triplets) or pregnancy associated with an assisted reproductive program (such as in vitro fertilization) occurs prior to the initial deposit date or booking date of the trip.
• Any loss for a trip booked while on a waiting list for a specified medical treatment.
• Medical travel.
• Disinclination to travel due to civil unrest.
• Failure of you or your travel companion to obtain necessary visas, passports or requisite travel documents.
• Illegal activity.
• Suicide, attempted suicide or intentional self-inflicted injury.
• Drug use at the time of the loss (except if the drug is taken and used as prescribed by a physician).
• Disinclination to travel due to an epidemic or pandemic.
• Financial insolvency of a common carrier, travel agency, tour operator or travel supplier.
• War (not including terrorism).
• For trip cancellation only: Trips booked to any area known to be associated with terrorist activity.
• For trip interruption only: Travel arrangements canceled or changed by a travel supplier unless it's the result of severe weather or an organized strike that affects public transportation.

You'll note that "disinclination to travel due to an epidemic or pandemic" is specifically listed as not covered. At the time of writing, Chase had given no update that would change this, which means canceling a trip you can go on but just don't want to is not covered by your Chase travel insurance.

If you do find yourself canceling or cutting a covered trip short, here are the basic guidelines provided by Chase on what types of expenses are covered for trip cancellation/interruption:

Non-Refundable prepaid travel expenses charged by a Travel Supplier (Travel Agency, Tour Operator, Provider of Lodging, rental car agency, Rented Recreational Vehicle Provider, commercial recreational excursion provider, Cruise Line, airline, railroad, and other Common Carriers). Eligible Travel Expenses also means redeposit fees imposed by a Rewards program administrator. Eligible Travel Expenses does not include Event Tickets or prepaid fees to theme parks, museums, golf courses, or other points of interest (unless such expenses are included as part of a travel package).

What is covered by trip delay insurance?

Trip delay insurance provides reimbursement for expenses incurred when your trip is delayed due to a covered hazard for more than six hours, or if a delay requires an overnight stay. It does not include expenses that are covered by the airline or other common carrier responsible for the delay. You and your family members are covered when you put at least part of a trip on your eligible Chase card.

Covered expenses include meals, lodging, toiletries and medication, but do not include any prepaid expenses related to a trip such as a tour or activity fees.

Chase defines covered hazards as equipment failure, inclement weather, strike and hijacking/skyjacking. The Guide to Benefits specifically exempts any delay due to a covered hazard that was made public or made known to you prior to your departure.

Filing a claim

When you have a delay or trip cancellation/interruption that you think qualifies for coverage, you can file a claim through Chase’s online claims center.

Trip delay reimbursement requires the following documentation:

• Expense receipts – Keep receipts from all of the expenses incurred due to the delay. Meal expenses more than $50 per covered traveler must be itemized.
• Fare receipt – You’ll need a receipt that proves you purchased at least some of the common carrier fare on your card.
• Multiple payment methods – If you used more than one method of payment for your fare, you must provide documentation outlining any additional currency, voucher, points or other payment method used. For example, if you used points to pay for your flight and just used your card for taxes and fees, you’d need to show documentation to that effect.
• Common carrier statement – This is proof that the trip was delayed, along with the reason for the delay.
• Original itinerary – You’ll have to submit a copy of your original ticket.
• Settlement from carrier – You are required to file a claim with the common carrier before submitting a claim with Chase. You’ll need a copy of the settlement from the carrier, your insurance and any other reimbursement you’ll receive from another party.

Trip cancellation/interruption insurance requires slightly different documentation:

• Completed and signed claim form — You can get a claim form by calling your benefit administrator, or by visiting Chase's online filing application.
• Original itinerary – You’ll have to submit a copy of your original travel itinerary, including any prepaid activities that you are including in your claim.
• Confirmation of cancellation/interruption – You have to provide documentation that gives the reason for the cancellation/interruption, such as an official doctor’s note, death certificate, official military orders or other supporting documentation.
• Attending physician’s statement – This a document provided by a physician or medical facility that essentially acts as proof that you were treated by them.
• Carrier cancellation/refund policy – You’ll have to submit a copy of the cancellation or refund policies of the common carrier, tour operator or travel supplier.
• Expense receipts – Keep the receipts of expenses incurred due to your trip interruption.
• Monthly billing statement – Rather than a fare receipt, you are required to submit a monthly billing statement showing the last four digits of the account number as proof of prepaid travel.
• Any unused vouchers, tickets or coupons — You can add these expenses to your claim, but you'll need to be able to provide proof of purchase.

When you fill out the claims form online, you will be asked to upload these documents. You can scan in paper receipts when needed. Typically, you have up to 90 days to file a claim after a delay or cancellation.

Proof of flight delay or cancellation

One of the documents required to file for trip delay reimbursement is a verification form that outlines the reason for the delay or cancellation by the carrier. You can typically get this at the airport when the delay or cancellation is announced, but keep in mind that it may require a supervisor. Each major U.S. airline also has a process for requesting this information after the fact.

Here is an overview of the process different U.S. airlines require in order for you to receive a delay or cancellation verification form:

Bottom line

Having a card with trip insurance can save you hundreds of dollars when unexpected hiccups happen in your travel plans, but it can be confusing to know what exactly is covered and the right documentation you need to file a claim.

Nothing is worse than getting through an entire claims process only to be denied or have to start over because you don’t have the required documentation for the insurance provider. Before you start filing a claim, make sure you have the documents listed above. Keep in mind that a provider may ask for additional documentation related to the incident, so you may have to collect receipts and other forms to help your case.

Featured image by Getty Images/iStockphoto

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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