There are no guarantees when you travel, but having travel insurance can help you be prepared should something unexpected happen. Before you take out a travel insurance policy, however, it’s worth noting that some credit cards offer included or complimentary international travel insurance as one of their perks.

To make sure you’re covered for everything you’ll need when travelling, it’s important to have a good understanding of how included international travel insurance works. Ask yourself these questions to help choose the right credit card that will offer you the right coverage.

Is your credit card eligible?

Not all credit cards offer included or complimentary travel insurance. If you’re looking at taking out a credit card, and international travel insurance is important to you, keep this front of mind when deciding on your card. If you already have a credit card, check with your provider whether or not it includes international travel insurance.

Some CommBank credit cards have included international travel insurance.

For eligible credit cards​

To receive cover, including Overseas Medical cover#, before you leave Australia you must:​

  1. Spend at least $500 in a single transaction on your prepaid travel costs using your eligible credit card; and​
  2. Activate your travel insurance​

​You will also qualify if the $500 worth of prepaid travel costs is redeemed using CommBank Awards points.​ You will need to provide a copy of the letter/statement/email confirming the redemption.​

​For World Debit MastercardTM ​

You need to activate your insurance to receive comprehensive cover.  ​

Overseas Medical cover, which includes overseas emergency medical assistance and hospital expenses and personal liability cover is automatically included.  

Is it the right type of coverage for you?

Every insurer offers different level of coverage for different things. Just as you would when looking to take out any other insurance policy, check what you would – and would not – be covered for with the credit card’s included international travel insurance. Key things worth knowing include:

  • Who is covered?
  • What are the cover limits?
  • What are the excesses?
  • Are there any exclusions?
  • Are you covered for any pre-existing medical conditions?

If there are some specifics you want to be covered for – to cover emergency rescue caused by extreme weather conditions during a skiing trip, for example – with the international travel insurance available with some CommBank credit cards you can add them in for a cost and effectively top up your insurance policy.

Does the included international travel insurance need to be activated?

Every policy is different, but it’s likely you’ll need to activate the travel insurance on your credit card before you travel.

With CommBank, you can easily activate your credit card’s included international travel insurance in NetBank or through the CommBank app^. We’ll then provide you with a unique policy number and Certificate of Insurance and comprehensive coverage – including for cancellation fees and lost deposits.

CommBank emergency details

  • Lock, Block, Limit your CommBank credit card or lock your Travel Money Card for added security
  • Cancel and order replacement CommBank cards in NetBank or the CommBank app
  • Call us 24/7 on +61 2 9999 3283 to report lost or stolen CommBank cards

For 24 hour travel insurance emergency assistance, call Cover-More in Australia direct and toll free on +61 2 8907 5641. You can also call from:

  • Canada on 1844 345 1662
  • New Zealand on 0800 632 031
  • UK on 0808 234 3737
  • USA on 1844 345 1662

Charges apply if calling from a pay phone or a mobile phone.

Explore our range of travel insurance products

Tell me more

Things you should know

This article is intended to provide general information of an educational nature only. It does not have regard to the financial situation or needs of any reader and must not be relied upon as financial product advice.

Insurance issued and managed by Cover-More Insurance Services Pty Ltd (AFSL 241713, ABN 95 003 114 145) on behalf of the insurer Zurich Australian Insurance Limited (AFSL 232507, ABN 13 000 296 640) for Commonwealth Bank of Australia (‘CBA’) (ABN 48 123 123 124, AFSL 234945). CBA and its related bodies corporate do not issue or guarantee this insurance. It does not represent a deposit with or liability of either CBA or any of its related bodies corporate.

#For eligible credit cards, you will need spend at least $500 in a single transaction on your prepaid travel costs (e.g. the cost of your return overseas travel ticket, prepaid accommodation, cruise, travel or tour) by charging the cost for that trip on your eligible card account before leaving Australia and activate to receive any cover, including Overseas Medical cover. You will also qualify if the $500 worth of prepaid travel costs is redeemed using CommBank Awards points. You will need to provide a copy of the letter/statement/email confirming the redemption.

Terms, conditions, exclusions, (including for pre-existing medical conditions and persons aged 80 years or over for international travel insurance included with an eligible CommBank credit card or persons aged 74 years or over for CBA Travel Insurance) limits and excesses apply.

Before activating the international travel insurance included in your CommBank credit card please read the Credit Card Insurances Product Disclosure Statement and Information Booklet for more information.

If you have activated international travel insurance included in your CommBank credit card on or before 6 February 2024, please refer to the Credit Card Insurances Product Disclosure Statement and Information Booklet – effective 2 June 2023.

Before activating the international travel insurance included in your World Debit Mastercard, please read the World Debit Mastercard insurances Product Disclosure Statement and Information Booklet (PDF) for more information.

Before making a decision on CBA Travel Insurance please read the CBA Travel Insurance Combined Product Disclosure Statement and Financial Services Guide for more information. 

We (CBA) do not provide any advice on this insurance based on any consideration of your objectives, financial situation or needs. If you purchase or upgrade a policy, we (CBA) receive a commission which is a percentage of your premium.