Your credit card probably includes travel insurance. It is a concrete, often underrated perk that can be worth several hundred dollars a year if you travel regularly. But between « included » and « activated in your specific situation, » there is a policy to read carefully.
This guide helps you understand what your card actually covers, spot the activation conditions and common exclusions, and determine in which specific cases complementary coverage is useful. The goal is not to convince you to buy more insurance, but to let you travel with coverage you understand.
What cards cover, concretely
Premium credit cards in Canada generally include several types of travel protection. Here are the main ones, with what you can reasonably expect:
Emergency medical care abroad
This is the most valuable protection. The best cards on the Canadian market offer between $1 and $5 million of coverage for emergency medical care outside your province of residence or Canada. The National Bank World Elite Mastercard, for example, covers up to 60 days of emergency medical travel. The TD Ultimate Travel Visa Infinite offers up to $2 million, but for stays of up to 21 days for travellers under 65.
These ceilings cover the vast majority of common medical situations. They can, however, prove insufficient in the case of a prolonged hospitalization in a high-cost country (the United States, for example) or a specialized medical evacuation.
Trip cancellation and interruption
This protection reimburses non-recoverable costs if you must cancel before departure, or unused costs and the extra return cost if you must interrupt your trip along the way. Ceilings vary considerably: some cards offer $1,500 per person for cancellation, others go up to several thousand dollars depending on the trip.
Most premium cards also include protection for delayed or lost baggage, flight delay insurance (hotel and meal costs if your flight is delayed several hours), and collision coverage for rental vehicles. These protections, less costly to activate, often work more automatically than medical insurance.
The activation conditions to know
Your card’s travel insurance does not activate automatically the moment you leave home. Several conditions must be met at the same time.
Payment with the card
The most frequent condition: part or all of your trip must have been paid with your credit card. For emergency medical insurance, some cards only require that you be the cardholder. For cancellation insurance or baggage protections, payment with the card is almost always required.
This point deserves particular attention if you use reward points to pay for your trip. Some cards cover trips paid in points, others do not. Check this precise point in your card’s terms and conditions.
The maximum length of stay
This is often where the surprises happen. Each card imposes a maximum duration per trip beyond which coverage stops. Here are the common tiers on the Canadian market:
15 days: several mid-tier cards; some Scotia cards for travellers under 65
If your stay exceeds these limits, you are no longer covered for the excess portion. It is often possible to extend or top up the card’s coverage with an insurer, at a lower cost since you are not starting from scratch.
Age at departure
Most credit cards reduce the duration of medical coverage after 65, and some stop covering entirely after 75 or 80. The National Bank World Elite Mastercard covers ages 65-74 for stays of 31 days, with a $5 million ceiling. Other cards simply reduce the duration without changing the ceiling.
If you are 65 or older, our guide on travel insurance for those 65 and over presents the available options, including the rare cards that maintain full coverage past that age.
The most frequent exclusions
Knowing what your card does not cover is as important as knowing what it includes. Three categories account for most disputes.
Pre-existing medical conditions: most policies apply a stability clause. To be covered, your condition must have been stable (no change in medication, treatment or symptoms) for a defined period before departure, generally 90 to 180 days. If it is not, costs linked to that condition are excluded.
High-risk sports activities: backcountry skiing, technical mountain biking, scuba diving and climbing often appear in the exclusions. Alpine skiing at a resort is generally covered, with nuances depending on how the policy defines it.
Medical repatriation and ambulances: some policies cover transport to the nearest hospital, but not repatriation to your province. Repatriation costs can exceed $50,000 depending on distance and the level of care required.
If your vacation includes intense physical activities, read the « exclusions » section of your policy before you leave. Some cards allow adding a rider for excluded activities.
Not all cards offer the same level of protection. To help you assess your current coverage and identify the cards best suited to your needs, we keep two resources up to date:
If you are looking to optimize your card portfolio with insurance in mind, our guide on how to save on travel insurance explains how credit cards fit into an overall strategy.
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueAnnual fee rebated$150Total$150Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
With Milesopedia, take advantage of an exclusive offer: your first-year annual fees are refunded with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard. This offer is exclusively available on the Milesopedia network, from June 30 to November 4, 2026.
Refund of the first-year annual fee (a $150 value) for the primary cardholder. This fee is charged to your new card account, then refunded as a credit on your statement within five months of opening your account, provided it remains open and in good standing.
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is the best Mastercard credit card offered by NBC.
With this card, you earn up to 5 points per dollar on your purchases:
5 points per dollar for groceries and restaurants
2 points per dollar on gas and electric recharge purchases
2 points per dollar on recurring bills
2 points per dollar on À la carte Travel
1 point per dollar for all other purchases
And since it’s a Mastercard, you can use it at Costco.
With this card, you have access to a $150 annual travel credit that you can use in any of these categories:
Airport parking
Baggage fees
Seat selection
Access to airport lounges
Airline ticket upgrades
What’s more, you can enjoy access to DragonPass airport lounges and unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau.
Finally, Milesopedia has named the National Bank World Elite Mastercard as the Best Travel Credit Card in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Legal
® Mastercard and World Elite are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. National Bank is an authorized user.
® The À LA CARTE REWARDS logo is a registered trademark of National Bank of Canada.
® NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA LOUNGE is a registered trademark of National Bank of Canada.
® À LA CARTE REWARDS PLAN is a registered trademark of National Bank of Canada.
® Apple Pay is a registered trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Apple Inc. is not a sponsor of or participant in National Bank Mobile Banking Solutions.
® Google Pay is a registered trademark of Google LLC. Use of this trademark is subject to Google Inc. Permissions.
TM À LA CARTE TRAVEL is a trademark of National Bank of Canada. The À la carte Travel agency is owned by Transat Distribution Canada Inc. and holds a Quebec permit (No. 753141).
TM À LA CARTE REWARDS is a trademark of National Bank of Canada.
® THE TOTAL, THE CONNECTED and NATIONAL BANK are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.
* Mastercard® World Elite®
The National Bank® World Elite® Mastercard® credit card was voted best Mastercard credit card by Milesopedia in 2026, 2025 and 2024.
The National Bank® World Elite® Mastercard® credit card was voted best travel credit card by Milesopedia in 2026, 2025 and 2024.
Every year, Milesopedia reviews credit card offers from major financial institutions and establishes its Ranking based on over 150 criteria such as fees, welcome offer, minimum income required, number of points per category, account credits, insurance, airport lounge access, etc.
Certain restrictions apply. For more information, see the Rewards Plan section or the Plan Rules applicable to point accumulation.
Grace period: No interest is charged on purchases made during the month if the cardholder pays the full balance of their account within twenty-one (21) days of the statement date. This grace period does not apply to cash advances and balance transfers. Minimum payment: if your account balance is less than $10, you must pay the balance in full. If you reside in the province of Quebec, your minimum payment is 5% of your account balance plus any overdue amount, or $10, whichever is greater. If you reside outside Quebec, your minimum payment is 2.5% of the credit card account balance plus any overdue amount, or $10, whichever is greater. Account statement: an account statement is sent monthly.
Table of examples of credit fees calculated over a 30-day period
Annual interest rate
$500
$3,000
22.49%
$9.24
$55.45
20.99%
$8.63
$51.76
13.2%
$5.53
$33.16
9.2%
$3.78
$22.68
*Variable interest rate in effect as of September 1, 2021.
Balance transfers and cash advances are subject to National Bank credit approval. Each amount transferred cannot be less than $250.
Exclusive to World Elite Mastercard cardholders. Presentation of the physical credit card and boarding pass is required to access the lounge. The National Bank® Lounge is accessible to customers traveling on international flights only (excluding flights to Canada and the United States). You benefit from free and unlimited access with one guest and two children aged 12 and under. Until October 4, 2026 (date subject to change), customers can enter the National Bank Lounge three hours before their flight departure time. From October 5, 2026 (date subject to change), access will be authorized for a maximum duration of 2 hours (3 hours for customers who hold a Private Banking 1859® World Elite® Mastercard® credit card). National Bank customers who are not World Elite ® Mastercard ® cardholders can also access the current lounge based on current rates and benefit from a 25 % discount on these rates : 63,24 $ taxes included for adults (excluding discount) $40.24 taxes included for children aged 2 to 12 (excluding discount) free for children under 2 (excluding discount) The entry fee is subject to change without notice and is the responsibility of the lounge operator.
Subject to providing the required supporting documents in the manner and within the prescribed timeframe. Certain conditions may apply. Only the primary cardholder of a National Bank World Elite Mastercard (Cardholder) whose account is in good standing can request a « Travel Fee Reimbursement ». « Account in good standing » means an account linked to the credit card that does not violate the Credit Card Agreement in any way and on which no restrictions apply. For example, and without limitation, the associated annual fees must have been paid in full. The maximum reimbursement of $150 can be requested from January 1 to December 31 of each year. Eligible expenses are: airport parking baggage fees seat selection airport lounge access worldwide airline ticket upgrades A reimbursement request must be made within 60 days of the purchase date. Travel expenses must be charged to the National Bank World Elite Mastercard credit card account. The maximum reimbursement of $150 is applicable per account. Please allow up to 7 business days for the reimbursement to be processed from the date your request is submitted. National Bank reserves the right to request additional supporting documents for validation purposes (e.g., invoices). You must keep all receipts and supporting documents for a period of 12 months from the date you made your reimbursement request. An unused reimbursement in one year cannot be carried over to the next year. You can make your request online at rewards.nbc.ca or by calling 1-800-341-8083 (toll-free) for an agent to assist you with your travel fee reimbursement request.
Point accumulation on grocery and restaurant spending depends on the total gross monthly amount charged to the credit card account, across all categories. Earn 5 points per dollar spent on eligible grocery and restaurant purchases. The 5 points per dollar accumulation is valid for the first $2,500 of gross monthly purchases charged to the account. Beyond this amount, eligible grocery and restaurant spending will earn 2 points per dollar. The calculation of the gross monthly purchase amount is based on monthly billing. A grocery purchase means a purchase made at a merchant whose primary business is selling food, such as a grocery store, delicatessen, supermarket, fruit store, or specialty food store. Meal kit subscriptions and meal delivery services are eligible. Therefore, this definition excludes, among others, retail stores and big-box stores whose primary business is selling non-food items. Some merchants may sell products or services identical or similar to those of eligible merchants, or are separate merchants located on the same premises as eligible merchants, but are classified by Mastercard in different categories. Purchases made from other merchants only earn base reward points. A restaurant purchase means a purchase made at a restaurant, including quick-service restaurants, bars, discotheques, nightclubs, and taverns. To view the full list of Mastercard codes associated with eligible merchants, download the À la carte Rewards Plan® terms and conditions document.
These protections apply if the purchases or rental are paid for in part with the card before departure, except, if applicable, for out-of-province medical-hospital insurance for which it is not necessary to charge the purchase of an à la carte trip and for baggage delay protection where the full cost of transport must have been charged to the card. All these protections apply to the primary cardholder, their spouse and/or their dependent children when they (spouse and dependent children) travel with the cardholder. Extended warranties apply to most new items purchased with the card, in Canada or abroad, provided the manufacturer’s warranty exists and is valid in Canada. Certain conditions, limitations and restrictions apply. For more information and details regarding your insurance coverage, please consult the insurance certificate linked to your card.
Subject to credit approval by National Bank.
Certain conditions apply. Visit mastercard.ca for more information. See all credit card terms and conditions.
To earn 2 points per dollar spent, you must pay for your gas or electric charging purchases at a gas station or certain big-box stores. Some merchants may sell products or services identical or similar to those of eligible merchants, or are separate merchants located on the same premises as eligible merchants, but are classified by Mastercard in different categories. Purchases made from other merchants only earn base reward points. To view the full list of Mastercard codes associated with eligible merchants, download the À la carte Rewards Plan® terms and conditions document.
Recurring bill payments are defined as payments made monthly or regularly that are automatically charged by the merchant to your National Bank World Elite Mastercard. Not all merchants offer recurring payments, and not all recurring payments are considered recurring bill payments. Therefore, some payments may not qualify for accelerated reward points.
To earn 2 points per dollar spent, you must pay for your eligible purchases through the À la carte TravelTM agency section of our À la carte RewardsTM site.
For example, if you spend $400 monthly on groceries, $200 on gas, $100 on recurring bills and $150 on other purchases, the $850 spent will generate 2,750 points, broken down as follows: 2,000 points for grocery spending (since the total gross monthly amount is $850, which is less than $2,500), 400 points for gas spending, 200 points for recurring bills and 150 points for other purchases.
Insurance up to $1,000 in case of breakage, loss or theft of mobile devices for a maximum period of 2 years following the date of purchase. Subject to purchasing the device with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard or a phone service subscription paid by recurring payments from your National Bank Platinum Mastercard starting September 1, 2022. For all conditions, please consult the insurance certificate linked to your card.
Annual fee
Primary card$150
Additional card$50
Annual income required
Individual$80,000
Household$150,000
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
5xRestaurants
5xGroceries
2xGas
2xBills & recurring payments
2xTravel
1xAll spending
Value
1st Year Value$778
2nd Year Value$923
Card benefits
Airport lounge access$400
Travel creditsIncluded
Travel insurance
Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 60 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 31 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Trip CancellationUp to $2,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Travel AccidentIncluded
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+2 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days
Situations where complementary protection helps
For a standard two-week trip, paid with a premium card, with no pre-existing condition, the included coverage is enough in the vast majority of cases. But some situations create real gaps:
Long-duration trips
If you leave for more than 60 days, including snowbirds who winter in Florida or the Caribbean, no Canadian card maintains full medical coverage for the whole duration. You must either extend your coverage through your card issuer or take out separate insurance for the excess period. Our guide on snowbirds and travel insurance covers this case in detail.
Unstabilized pre-existing conditions
If your health does not meet your card policy’s stability criteria, your medical coverage is in fact partial. Some specialized insurers offer protections that explicitly cover eligible pre-existing conditions, with more flexible stability criteria or a personalized health declaration.
Activities excluded by your card
If your stay includes activities your credit card explicitly excludes (diving, climbing, technical mountain biking, combat sports), complementary coverage targeted at these activities is a less expensive option than taking out a full policy.
Travellers 65 and over
While cards reduce coverage duration after 65, the need for coverage does not shrink. For active retirees, our guide on the best credit cards for retirees identifies the options that maintain meaningful protection past 65.
soNomad, to complement your card
For the situations described above, soNomad is a Canadian platform that lets you get travel insurance in minutes, with no intermediary. You enter your destination, your dates and your traveller profile, and you get a price immediately.
soNomad is particularly suited to complementing card coverage in four specific cases: a trip exceeding your card’s maximum duration, an eligible pre-existing condition to declare, a sports activity excluded from your policy, or age over 65 with stay lengths beyond what your card offers. It does not replace your card’s coverage for standard trips; it fills the specific gaps that coverage creates.
Our full review of soNomad, with a direct comparison to common credit card coverage, is available in our soNomad review.
Frequently asked questions
Does my card’s travel insurance activate automatically?
Not always. For emergency medical insurance, some cards consider it active as soon as you are a cardholder and travelling. For cancellation and interruption, paying part of the trip with the card is almost always required. Read the « eligibility conditions » section of your policy to know exactly what triggers each protection.
How many days does my credit card cover me for?
It depends on your card and your age at departure. Common durations are 15 days (some Scotia cards), 21 days (TD Ultimate Travel), 31 days (several RBC and CIBC cards) and 60 days (National Bank World Elite, Desjardins Odyssey World Elite for under 59). These durations are generally reduced after 65. See our comparison of the best cards for travel insurance for an up-to-date table.
Is my trip paid in points covered?
Not necessarily. Some cards cover trips paid through their reward program, others require a partial cash payment with the card. This varies by issuer and type of protection. Check the « eligibility » section of your policy or contact your card’s customer service before you leave.
What is a pre-existing medical condition?
It is generally any health issue for which you received care, saw a doctor, changed medication or showed symptoms in the 90 to 180 days before your departure, depending on the policy. If your condition is not stable under these criteria, medical costs linked to it may be excluded from your coverage, even if you are otherwise insured.
Is alpine skiing covered by my credit card insurance?
Resort alpine skiing is generally covered by policies tied to credit cards. Backcountry skiing, ski touring and freestyle skiing may appear in the exclusions depending on the policy. Check the list of excluded activities in your policy; when in doubt, ask your issuer for written confirmation before you leave.
Does soNomad replace my credit card insurance?
No. soNomad is designed to complement your card’s coverage in specific cases: a stay exceeding your card’s maximum duration, a pre-existing condition to declare, an excluded sports activity, or age over 65 with uncovered stay lengths. For a standard trip under 60 days, with no pre-existing condition, your premium card generally offers sufficient protection.
How do I know which card offers the best insurance?
Do you need travel insurance if you only travel within Canada?
Yes, for the same fundamental reasons as abroad. If you live in Quebec, RAMQ reimburses emergency care received elsewhere in Canada, but only at its own rates, not those of the treating facility. Ambulances, air evacuations and medical repatriation are not covered. Our guide on RAMQ and travel outside Quebec details these limits.
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$469Annual fee rebated$120Total$589Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card is one of the best Visa Infinite rewards credit cards in Canada. Its welcome offer lets you earn up to 70,000 BMO Rewards points, for a total value of up to $1,150*.
It also includes a monthly statement credit for streaming services, an annual $50 lifestyle credit, and no annual fee for the first year (a $120 value)*.
With the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card, you also get:
5x BMO Rewards points for every dollar spent on groceries, meal delivery or takeout, rideshare, public transit, and gas*
1 BMO Rewards point for every dollar spent on all other purchases*
10% more points when you add an authorized user to your account*
Mobile device insurance offering coverage up to $1,000*
The Pay with Points feature, which allows you to redeem your points on recent purchases starting at $1*
Six months of Instacart+ membership plus a monthly $10 Instacart credit with an eligible card*
Legal
*Terms and conditions apply
BMO is not responsible for updating the content of this site. For the most up-to-date information, please click on the Online Application link.
Annual fee
Primary card$120
Additional card$50
Annual income required
Individual$60,000
Household$100,000
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
5xTransit
5xGas
5xRestaurants
5xGroceries
1xAll spending
Value
1st Year Value$1,128
2nd Year Value$365
Travel insurance
Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 21 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 21 days
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days
Our editorial integrity
Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.
