All You Need to Know About Credit Card Insurance (2024)

3 min read Sep 29, 2023

All You Need to Know About Credit Card Insurance (1)

Thanks to Credit Cards, our spending habits have transformed massively. In addition to the convenience they offer, Credit Cards come loaded with tons of different features and benefits. You may choose a Credit Card that gives you special privileges and lounge facilities or one that is 'lifetime free'.

In addition to these features, you must look into one crucial feature the Credit Card offers: insurance benefits.

Different types of credit insurance

Let’s look at the different types of insurance available on credit cards

1. Credit Insurance

Credit Cards are mainly used as an alternative payment option that allows you to pay for your purchase later. Sometimes, you might face unexpected situations such as a job loss, being involved in an accident, or sudden disability.

A few Credit Card companies offer complimentary credit insurance on some of their Credit Cards, whereas some charge a monthly fee for this coverage. This insurance comes to your rescue during such unforeseen events, helping you settle your dues and ensuring your credit rating does not take a hit.

2. Zero-liability cost cover

Losing your credit card can be very stressful, as anyone can misuse the card for fraudulent transactions. In such situations, the zero-liability cost cover protects you and ensures you are not liable for fraudulent transactions on your credit card. However, such coverage is usually only applicable in cases where the OTP/PIN/Password has not been compromised by the customer.

3. Travel Insurance

Travelling is not always smooth; sometimes, flight cancellations or delays occur for various reasons. Few card issuers offer insurance coverage against situations like:

  • Baggage delay/loss / stolen
  • Loss of passport/travel documents
  • Air accident

4. Air Accident Cover

Most credit cards offer life insurance in the case of loss of life due to an air accident. To avail of the benefit, you must submit your insurance nomination form to the bank.

5. Purchase protection

Some cards offer protection against fire or burglary within 90 days of purchases made on the credit card and if the fire is in the residential premises of the cardholder. Jewellery and perishable commodities are not covered in this insurance.

Many banks also offer insurance on document replacement, rental cars and accidents. The insurance offered works just like any other insurance product.

Conditions to keep in mind

Most cards have conditions that should be met to avail of the insurance coverage.

  • For instance, in case of air accident cover, the sum insured will be paid only provided the cardholder has performed at least one POS transaction 90 days before the accident and if the air ticket has been booked using that card. Also, the bank must be informed of the accident within 30 days of the event and the required documents must be submitted within 90 days of the incident.
  • Similarly, card protection insurance may be available only if a transaction (purchase/EMI/payment transaction) is made at least once within 90 days before the occurrence of the incident, for which the claim is being made. Inactive cards and cards that are overdue for payment will not qualify.

[Also Read: Your debit, credit cards have inbuilt personal accident, air insurance covers]

Conclusion

Credit Cards are a blessing in times of financial crisis. However, you must keep your credit cards secure to avoid misuse. Remember never to share or compromise your secret credentials like PIN/OTP/Password, avoid clicking on suspicious links and always use the customer care number mentioned on the Bank’s official website. Credit Card Insurance is one such way of ensuring peace during chaotic scenarios.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purpose only. The views expressed in this article are personal and do not necessarily constitute the views of Axis Bank Ltd. and its employees. Axis Bank Ltd. and/or the author shall not be responsible for any direct / indirect loss or liability incurred by the reader for taking any financial decisions based on the contents and information. Please consult your financial advisor before making any financial decision

All You Need to Know About Credit Card Insurance (2024)

FAQs

All You Need to Know About Credit Card Insurance? ›

If your credit card offers insurance policies, read your cardholder agreement carefully to understand what is covered by the insurance and what isn't. Most policies have exclusions and limitations on coverage. For example, your card's insurance may cover a stolen cellphone but not a lost one.

How does insurance on a credit card work? ›

This insurance policy pays all or a portion (i.e. monthly payment) of the outstanding debt if an event that is named in the policy occurs (i.e. death, disability or involuntary unemployment of the insured). The insurance company usually pays the money directly to the creditor or lender.

Is it good to get credit card insurance? ›

Credit card balance protection insurance can help safeguard credit card users in some situations where paying their credit card bill may be a financial challenge. Unanticipated events such as job loss or illness can make it difficult to make regular credit card payments.

What does your credit card insurance cover? ›

Credit card protection can help in the following scenarios: If an item you've bought arrives faulty or damaged and you can't get a refund or replacement through the retailer. Your item arrives and doesn't match the product description. Your item isn't delivered but you've still been charged.

Is credit card balance protection worth it? ›

These can be very valuable benefits if you're short on savings and dealing with long-term financial hardship. Your protection insurance fee will incur monthly. The cost generally depends on your monthly spending; the more you spend, the higher your fee.

Is credit insurance worth it? ›

While credit insurance can cover you in case of a life-altering event, it's often not worth the cost. The premium is often included in the total loan amount, meaning you'll pay interest on it over the life of the loan.

How much does credit card insurance cost? ›

Typically, the monthly cost for this type of insurance is about 99 cents (plus taxes) per $100 of your average daily credit card balance; or 59 cents per $100 of your average daily credit card balance if you're 66 years of age or older.

Can I get a refund for balance protection insurance? ›

Can I cancel the insurance coverage? If you cancel within the first 30 days, the insurer will issue a full refund of any amount paid for the Plan to your credit card. If you cancel any time after that, the insurer will refund any amount paid for the period after the cancellation date.

Does credit card insurance cover loss? ›

Some cards also provide the added benefit of insurance. Upon the occurrence of an event covered by the insurance, it may partially reimburse you for eligible travel expenses, or loss or damage to car rentals or qualifying purchases.

How to calculate credit card insurance? ›

This approach adds up all the daily balances on your credit card statement for a month, divides the total by the number of days in the month and then multiplies this number by the premium (which is a percentage rate). The premium is usually 0.80-1.20% of the average daily balance.

What is the rule 75 on credit cards? ›

What is Section 75? It's part of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 that means your credit card provider is jointly and severally responsible for any breach of contract or misrepresentation by a retailer or trader.

Do we really need a card protection plan? ›

Fraud protection: In case of a fraudulent activity, the CPP card protection plan covers all types of financial losses incurred due to the fraud. Emergency cash assistance: In case of loss or theft of your cards while traveling, the plan provides emergency cash assistance.

What are the risks covered by credit insurance? ›

The Credit Insurance Policy of National is an annual policy that covers Commercial and Political Risks from the date of shipment falling within the policy period. For the purpose of the policy, Commercial Risk includes insolvency and/or default of the approved buyers.

How does credit card insurance work? ›

Credit card balance insurance benefits apply to the amount you owed on your card at the date of loss. This means the date of death, unemployment, total disability, or your critical illness diagnosis. Credit card balance insurance benefits won't cover purchases you make on your credit card after the date of loss.

What credit cards have death benefits? ›

In other cases, some issuers, such as American Express, allow rewards to be passed on to the deceased's estate for the benefit of their named heirs (typically within a specified time frame after the cardholder's death) while other issuers forfeit remaining rewards, leaving no benefit to heirs.

Is it better to have no credit card balance? ›

In fact, having a zero balance or close-to-zero balance on your credit cards can be beneficial in many ways. A few of the most important benefits are: reducing debt, improving one's credit score and avoiding late payments and/or interest charges.

Does credit card insurance cover lost items? ›

A credit card's purchase protection typically covers theft and damage to a tangible item within a specific time frame from when you purchased the item. For an item to qualify for purchase protection, you must buy it with the credit card that you plan on filing a claim under.

How does payment protection insurance work? ›

Payment protection insurance, or PPI for short, is a type of policy designed to help consumers repay debts over a short-term, fixed period. It provides coverage for issues like accidents and illness, which is why it's often referred to as accident, sickness, and unemployment insurance.

Are items bought on a credit card insured? ›

Credit card payment protection

This means that if there's an issue with the product you've bought or the company you've bought from goes into administration, the credit card company has equal responsibility to make sure you're not left out of pocket.

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