chase freedom unlimited travel insurance claim

UNDERSTAND YOUR BENEFITS

Your Guide to Benefits has what you need to know about the travel and purchase protection benefits that come with your card* – what's covered, not covered, and how to file a claim.

* Certain restrictions, limitations, and exclusions apply.    Please see your Guide to Benefits for details.

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Credit Cards

A guide to Chase Freedom Unlimited benefits

Robin Saks Frankel

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 10:56 a.m. UTC Nov. 14, 2023

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• The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers an easy-to-earn welcome bonus and an introductory APR promotion to new cardholders.
• In addition to excellent rewards, the card also offers some basic protections for when you’re traveling and shopping, as well as entertainment and dining perks.
• Thoroughly understanding the card’s rewards structure can help you maximize the card’s value.

Chase Freedom Unlimited basics

For new cardholders, 1.5% back on everything bought in the first year on up to $20,000 in spending, which is worth up to $300 on the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card .

You’ll also get a 0% intro APR for the first 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% to 29.24%. An intro transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies in the first 60 days. After that, a fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer applies. This can give you extra time to pay down one or more large purchases or high-interest credit card debt.

Service and protection benefits

The Chase Freedom Unlimited offers some protections to keep your account safe. For starters, you’ll get zero-liability fraud protection, which means you’ll never be on the hook for unauthorized charges made with your card.

Chase also engages in 24/7 fraud monitoring to prevent such unauthorized charges and will text, email or call you if it detects unusual transaction attempts.

You can also sign up for Chase Credit Journey, the card issuer’s complimentary credit monitoring service, which comes with access to your VantageScore credit score, identity monitoring and personalized insights.

They’re not quite the same: Here’s the difference between a FICO Score and a VantageScore .

Travel benefits

Although the Chase Freedom Unlimited is a cash-back credit card , it offers a handful of benefits that can make it a good travel companion:

• Auto rental collision damage waiver: You can activate this perk on a rental car when you decline the car rental agency’s collision or loss damage waiver coverage, and it will cover costs associated with theft, damage, loss-of-use charges, administrative fees and reasonable and customary towing charges. The coverage is secondary to any personal auto insurance coverage you may have.
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: If a trip is canceled or interrupted due to a covered reason, you and your immediate family members may receive reimbursement of up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip worth of non-refundable prepaid travel expenses made with the card. Some of the covered reasons include accidental bodily injury, loss of life, illness, severe weather, terrorist incidents and warnings and more.
• Travel and emergency assistance services: If an emergency occurs while you’re traveling, the card’s benefits administrator can help you arrange medical referrals, transportation, ticket replacement, translation service, prescription assistance and more. Keep in mind, though, that it doesn’t cover the cost of these services.
• Roadside dispatch: If you encounter trouble on the road, the card’s benefits administrator can help arrange standard towing, tire changes, jump starts, lockout service, fuel delivery and standard winching. Note that there is a set price per service.
• Lyft rewards: If you opt for rideshare while traveling, the card offers 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025.

It’s important to note that each of these benefits comes with a set of limitations and exclusions, so it’s crucial to review your cardholder agreement to understand what’s covered and what isn’t.

Shopping benefits

The card also offers a couple of insurance protections that can give you some peace of mind when you shop. It also offers some savings on online grocery purchases:

• Purchase protection: When you purchase an eligible item with your card, you’ll be protected against theft, damage and involuntary and accidental separation from the item for 120 days after the purchase date. You can get up to $500 in coverage per claim and up to $50,000 in total.
• Extended warranty protection: When you buy an eligible item with a manufacturer’s warranty of three years or less, your card will automatically extend that warranty period for an additional year. Your coverage matches the original value of the item, less shipping and handling fees, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 in total.
• Instacart benefit: You can receive a three-month complimentary Instacart+ membership with enrollment, which includes a $0 delivery fee and reduced service charges on eligible orders. Enrollment ends July 31, 2024. You’ll also receive up to $10 in statement credits each quarter through July 31, 2024 on eligible Instacart purchases made with the card.

As with the card’s travel protections, its shopping protections have some limitations and exclusions to check before you make a purchase.

Entertainment and dining benefits

The card offers a complimentary three-month DoorDash DashPass membership, which includes a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders with DoorDash and Caviar upon enrollment. After the first three months, you’ll receive 50% off your membership for the next nine months. Enrollment ends December 31, 2024.

How to maximize your cash-back value

When the Freedom Unlimited was first introduced, the card offered a flat 1.5% cash back rewards rate on every purchase. Now, the card earns 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstore purchases and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Here are some ways you can make the most of your cash-back value with the card:

• Use the card for its bonus categories: Familiarize yourself with the card’s rewards structure, so you can ensure that you’re always getting the most out of each purchase. This is particularly important if you use multiple cards for different expenses.
• Avoid less valuable redemption options: Most redemptions with the Chase Freedom Unlimited, including cash back, statement credits, gift cards, travel and Apple product purchases, will net you 1 cent per point. In some cases, you can even get 1.1 cents per point on gift card redemptions. However, if you use your rewards to shop online via Amazon or PayPal, you’ll get just 0.8 cents per point.
• Pair it with another Ultimate Rewards® credit card: Chase allows cardholders to pool their points earned with their Ultimate Rewards® credit cards, which can be particularly beneficial if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card * The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . Each of these cards offers bonus value when you redeem your rewards for travel through Chase, and they also allow you to transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to several airline and hotel loyalty programs, where you may be able to get even more value.

To ensure that you get the most value out of your everyday spending, compare the rewards rate on the Freedom Unlimited with other top credit cards to find the best option for your spending habits.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Yes, the Freedom Unlimited can be a great credit card for people looking for their first rewards credit card . The card offers a high base rewards rate and solid benefits for no annual fee.

That said, if you don’t have some kind of credit history — such as responsible use of a non-rewards credit card or a history of on-time payments on an auto loan — or an existing relationship with Chase, you might have a better chance of approval for the Chase Freedom Rise℠ * The information for the Chase Freedom Rise℠ has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . The Freedom Rise is specifically designed for people without credit history.

Chase doesn’t disclose a maximum credit limit for the Freedom Unlimited credit card, and you won’t know yours until you apply and get approved.

To determine your limit, Chase will look at your credit score, payment history, income, current accounts, debt and other factors.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ * The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases. In contrast, the Freedom Unlimited earns 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstore purchases and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is best for people who want to earn bonus rewards without getting stuck with a measly 1% cash back on non-bonus spending. It can also be a great option for people who have multiple Chase Ultimate Rewards ® credit cards and want to make the most of their Ultimate Rewards points.

Keep in mind that you may not get approved for the card if you’ve opened five or more new credit card accounts, including authorized user accounts, from any issuer in the past 24 months. This is known as the Chase 5/24 rule .

You can use the Freedom Unlimited to maintain good credit by using the card responsibly and paying your bills on time. However, the card does require good or excellent credit to get approved, so it may not be a good starter card if you’re new to credit or you’re looking to rebuild a bad credit score .

*The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠, Chase Freedom Rise℠ and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Ben Luthi is a freelance writer who covers all things personal finance and travel. His work has appeared in dozens of online publications. Ben lives in Salt Lake City with his two children and two cats.

Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint. Previously, she was a credit cards and personal finance deputy editor for Forbes Advisor. She has also covered credit cards and related content for other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney. She's been featured as a personal finance expert in outlets including CNBC, Business Insider, CBS Marketplace, NASDAQ's Trade Talks and has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC and CBS TV affiliates nationwide. She holds an M.S. in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University. Follow her on Twitter at @robinsaks.

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UponArriving

Chase Freedom Travel Insurance Coverage Explained [2019]

The Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Unlimited are two very popular cash back credit cards that offer great rewards and come with no annual fee. The Freedom earns a respectable 5% back on rotating quarterly categories and the Chase Freedom Unlimited earns a solid 1.5% back on all purchases. 

But beyond the rewards, these cards also offer some decent travel insurance benefits and coverage that many don’t know about. In this article, I will break down the Visa Platinum and Visa Signature benefits for these cards and also show you some alternative options you might want to think about for getting better protections for things like rental car insurance and baggage delay protection. 

Table of Contents

Does the Chase Freedom come with travel insurance?

The Chase Freedom cards (both the Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Unlimited) come with different types of travel insurance benefits depending on the type of Visa credit card that you are issued. I’ll go into detail below about these different types of travel insurances and tell you everything you need to know about them. 

Different types of Freedom cards

The Chase Freedom cards (Freedom and Freedom Unlimited) come in two forms: the standard (Visa Platinum) version and the upgraded Visa Signature version. You can’t apply for one version and instead you will be approved for one or the other when you apply based on Chase’s standards. If you are approved for a Visa Signature version, you’re usually given a minimum credit line of $5,000. 

These different versions of Visa cards come with different types of benefits and travel insurance and I’ll go into detail below. 

Rental car insurance (Collision damage waiver)

Both the Freedom cards come with rental car insurance (also known as Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver). The Auto Rental CDW benefit provides reimbursement for damage due to collision or theft up to the actual cash value of most rental vehicles

This is secondary coverage in your country of residence which means it supplements, and applies in excess of, any valid insurance. In other words, Auto Rental CDW will not pay for theft or damage reimbursable by your own insurer, employer, employer’s insurance, or any other valid and collectible reimbursement. But you can get coverage for deductibles and other charges such as administration fees. 

Outside your country of residence or if you do not have automobile insurance, you do not have to claim payment from any other source of insurance before receiving coverage under this benefit. This essentially turns the coverage into primary rental car coverage but only outside your country of residence.

If you want primary rental car coverage everywhere you go, you’re much better off to go with a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred ( full review here ). 

The cards offer coverage for you (the cardholder) and any additional drivers permitted to operate the vehicle under the terms of the rental agreement (basically other people who have signed the contract). 

It’s also worth noting that there are some exceptions to the coverage such as renting certain vehicles. Excluded worldwide are:

• antique automobiles
• certain vans
• vehicles that have an open cargo bed
• motorcycles
• recreational vehicles.

Also, the benefit only covers vehicle rental periods that do not exceed or are not intended to exceed 31 consecutive days within or outside of your country of residence.

Trip cancellation and interruption

When people talk about travel insurance, they are often thinking mostly about trip cancellation and interruption. These protections are very valuable because they reimburse you for pre-paid, non-refundable costs in the event that certain circumstances prevent you from traveling.

For example, you might book a trip with pre-paid airfare and hotel stays that are all non-refundable (the non-refundable rates are usually always the cheapest). But then you get sick and can’t travel. If you have trip cancellation, you can get reimbursed for all of those expenses (with certain cards). I’ve used this perk when I’ve had to cancel big trips before and it has saved me thousands of dollars before. 

But the amount that you can get covered depends on the type of Freedom card that you have (Platinum versus Signature). 

Chase Freedom Visa Platinum travel insurance 

The standard Visa Platinum offers protection up to $1,500 for each covered person per trip.  Here are what its terms state:

Trip Cancellation and Interruption benefits reimburse non-refundable passenger fares charged by an airline, cruise line, railroad, or any other Common Carrier up to one thousand five hundred ($1,500.00) dollars for each Covered Person per Trip to a maximum of six thousand ($6,000.00) for all Covered Persons traveling together on the same Trip, if a Loss results in cancellation or interruption of the travel arrangements.

Chase Freedom Visa Signature travel insurance 

The Visa Signature offers protection up to $5,000 for each covered person per trip.  Here are what its terms state:  

If a Trip Interruption occurs, the Company will reimburse you for up to the maximum Benefit Amount of five thousand ($5,000.00) dollars for: the forfeited, non-refundable pre-paid land, air and/or sea transportation arrangements that were missed

Chase Sapphire Reserve travel insurance 

If you really want better travel insurance coverage you should look into the Chase Sapphire Reserve, a Visa Infinite Card. That’s because you can get coverage up to $10,000 . Here are what its terms state : 

Trip Interruption insurance reimburses you or your Immediate Family Members for up to ten thousand ($10,000.00) dollars for each Covered Trip if a Covered Loss causes interruption of the Covered Trip on the way to the point of departure or after the departure of the Covered Trip. Covered Trip means any pre-paid tour, trip or vacation[…]

One major difference between the two types of Freedom cards is the type of expenses covered by trip cancellation. Compare all of the expenses covered by the Freedom Platinum versus the Freedom Visa Signature. 

Chase Freedom Visa Platinum

What types of expenses are eligible for reimbursement? Airline, cruise line, railroad and other Common Carrier fares. 

Chase Freedom Visa Signature

Some of the prepaid travel arrangements that are eligible for reimbursement include, but are not limited to, airline tickets, train tickets, bus tickets, prepaid tours, hotels, and rental cars.

Thus, based on the terms and conditions, it appears like the Chase Freedom Visa Signature version offers much more expansive coverage (though you may want to inquire to see if the Visa Platinum list is exhaustive). 

You’ll need to pay special attention to the terms to make sure that your specific type of loss is covered. The following types of reasons for cancelling your trip may be honored: 

• Accidental Bodily Injury, Loss of Life, or Sickness experienced by You or a Traveling Companion
• Accidental Bodily Injury, Loss of Life, or Sickness experienced by an Immediate Family Member of You or a Traveling Companion when the Accidental Bodily Injury or Sickness is considered life threatening, requires hospitalization, or such Immediate Family Member requires the care of the Covered Person or Traveling Companion
• Change in military orders 
• An organized strike
• Severe Weather

Some types of situations where you won’t get coverage include times when you’re dealing with a pre-existing condition and other scenarios so make you’re aware of those. 

You will need to supply documentation for these protections to kick in. For example, if you got sick and couldn’t travel you should expect to supply a doctor’s note. You will also need to keep all of the documents related to all of your travel expenses because they will likely request you to show them everything you can. 

Lost luggage with the Chase Freedom

With the Chase Freedom Visa Signature card you can also get coverage for costs you incur to repair or replace Checked Baggage and/or Carry-On Baggage and personal property contained within due to physical loss or damage, if the loss (including theft) or damage occurs during a Common Carrier Covered Trip. 

You, the Primary Insured Person and your Immediate Family Members are covered  $3,000.00 for each Insured Person for each Common Carrier Covered Trip but only up to $500 for each Insured Person for each Common Carrier Covered Trip for jewelry, watches, cameras, video recorders, and other electronic equipment.

If you want more luggage protections such as baggage delay protection then you’ll want to consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Both of those cards will allow you to go out on the town and purchase things like clothes and toiletries while you await for your luggage to be returned. Baggage delay for the Sapphire Reserve kicks in after only six hours which is one of the best policies. 

Chase Freedom roadside assistance 

With the Chase Freedom Visa Signature card you can get roadside assistance. Help is available by calling Cross Country Motor Club at 1-866-860-7978, toll-free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  You are covered up to a maximum of $50 for each service event, up to four events each year.

Coverage is provided while traveling in the U.S. and Canada and includes:

• Battery Boost – If your vehicle won’t start due to a dead or weak battery.
• Flat Tire Service – If you have a flat tire, we’ll install your inflated spare.
• Fuel Delivery – If you run out of gas, an emergency supply will be delivered to you. The cost of fuel is covered for up to 2 gallons
• 24 Hour Towing Assistance – In the event of a vehicle breakdown that requires a tow, a call to the toll-free assistance line will put you in contact with a customer service representative who will arrange to transport the vehicle to the nearest repair facility or location of the motorist’s choice.
• 24 Hour Lockout Assistance – Should you accidentally lock yourself out of your vehicle, a qualified locksmith will be dispatched to remedy the situation. 

Travel accident insurance 

The Chase Freedom Visa Signature cards come with travel accident insurance which is basically a way to get coverage when some seriously tragic events take place like a loss of life or some type of permanent disfigurement.

Travel and Emergency Assistance Services

With both of the Freedom cards you also get Travel and Emergency Assistance Services. If you call the benefit administrator you can get referrals for certain emergency services.

For example, if you’re in a foreign country and you need to locate a physician or even something like a lawyer they can help. They can also assist with replacing lost tickets, lost luggage, translations, and other requests. The key to know here is that you are 100% responsible for all of the services that they refer you to. 

Emergency Medical and Dental Benefit

If you were looking for coverage for certain health-related, the Chase Freedom Visa Signature version allows you to be eligible to receive up to a maximum of $2,500.00 (subject to a $50.00 deductible) for medical expenses not paid or payable by your medical insurance or other reimbursement incurred as a result of Emergency Treatment of a sickness or accidental injury occurring during the course of Your Trip.

Certain terms apply to the treatment but you can get coverage for things like: 

• The services of a legally qualified physician, surgeon, graduate nurse, dentist, or osteopath.
• Charges for hospital confinement and use of operating rooms.
• Charges for anesthetics (including administration), x-ray examinations or treatments, and laboratory tests.
• Ambulance services.
• Drugs, medicines, and therapeutic services and supplies.

If you need to be evacuated in the event of an emergency you can also get Emergency Evacuation and Transportation benefits up to $100,000.00.

Final word 

Overall, the Chase Freedom cards do offer some level of decent travel protections. But if you really want more comprehensive travel benefits and higher limits, I’d highly suggest that you look into a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Chase Sapphire Reserve. You’ll feel a lot better about the comprehensive nature of those travel protections. 

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo . He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio .

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Benefits of the Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom Unlimited

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The Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® are $0 -annual-fee cash-back credit cards with similar-sounding names and a lot of the same benefits — but also a few big differences.

With either card, you'll earn valuable and flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards® points that are worth a penny each when you redeem for cash. The primary difference is how you rack up those points based on spending.

Here are the benefits of the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® .

» MORE: Chase Freedom Flex vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited: Pick your style

Points for spending

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in rotating bonus categories each quarter you activate. It also earns 5% on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining at restaurants and on drugstore purchases, and 1% on all other purchases.

» MORE: Current and previous quarterly bonus categories

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns 5% on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining at restaurants and purchases at drugstores, and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Main difference? Quarterly rotating 5% categories vs. an extra 0.5% on the “everything else” spending.

» MORE: Full review of the Chase Freedom Flex℠

» MORE: Full review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Multiple redemption options

Rewards earned on the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® can be redeemed for straight cash back — the most flexible reward of all — at a rate of a penny per point. You can take your earnings as a statement credit, or choose a direct deposit into most U.S. checking or savings accounts.

There's no minimum to redeem for cash back, so you can help yourself to your rewards whenever you like.

You can also redeem points for gift cards, travel or Apple purchases through the Chase portal, or redeem them on Amazon.com to pay for all or part of your purchase. Point values may vary depending on how you spend them.

» MORE: Complete card details for the Chase Freedom Flex

» MORE: Complete card details for the Chase Freedom Unlimited

Transfers to other Chase cards

If you also have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or a Chase Sapphire Reserve® , you can transfer the Chase Ultimate Rewards you earn from your Freedom card to one of those Sapphire cards and get a higher value per point for travel redemptions made through Chase.

Points transferred from either Freedom card to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through the Chase travel portal. Points transferred to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® are worth 50% more when used for travel that way.

» MORE: Chase Sapphire showdown: Reserve vs. Preferred

Sign-up bonus

Getting something extra for your spending is always nice, and these cards come with a bonus offer for new cardholders:

Chase Freedom Flex℠ : Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

Chase Freedom Unlimited® : Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

Benefits of the Alaska Airlines credit card

Benefits of the American Express Gold Card

Benefits of the American Express Green Card

Benefits of the American Express Platinum Card

Benefits of the Bank of America Travel Rewards card

Benefits of the Capital One Savor cards

Benefits of the Capital One Venture card

Benefits of the Capital One Quicksilver card

Benefits of the Capital One Platinum card

Benefits of the Chase Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited cards

Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card

Benefits of the Citi Costco credit card

Benefits of the Citi Custom Cash Card

Benefits of Citi Double Cash Card

Benefits of Delta Air Lines credit cards

Benefits of the Discover it Cash Back

Benefits of Marriott Bonvoy credit cards

Benefits of Southwest Airlines credit cards

Benefits of United Airlines credit cards

Benefits of the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

Benefits of the Wells Fargo Autograph

Benefits of the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey

0% intro APR offer

When you need a little extra breathing room to pay off a big purchase, a 0% introductory APR offer could help.

Chase Freedom Flex℠ : 0% intro APR on purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months, and then the ongoing APR of 20.49%-29.24%, Variable APR .

Chase Freedom Unlimited® : 0% intro APR on purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months, and then the ongoing APR of 20.49%-29.24% Variable APR .

» MORE: NerdWallet's best 0% APR credit cards

Partner perks

Both cards give you:

Lyft: For new and existing cardholders through March 31, 2025, both cards will also earn 5% back on qualifying Lyft services purchased through the Lyft app.

Shopping portal: Earn 1% to 15% cash back at select merchants when you purchase through the Chase online bonus mall .

Shopping/travel/fraud protections

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® also come with some peace-of-mind benefits when you use them to make a purchase or buy travel services.

Purchase protection: Your new purchase is covered for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.

Extended warranty protection: On eligible warranties of three years or less, you'll get an additional year of coverage on the manufacturer's warranty.

Rental car insurance: Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage is provided for theft and collision damage for most cars in the U.S. and abroad. In the U.S., coverage is secondary to your personal insurance.

Trip cancellation insurance: Get reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable passenger fares if your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations.

Credit score/ID theft: Access your credit score any time and get free identity restoration services with the online account tool called Chase Credit Journey.

Visa or Mastercard perks

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® runs on the Visa payment network, while the Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a Mastercard. In terms of acceptance, it doesn't matter much if you carry a Visa or a Mastercard.

» MORE: Visa vs. Mastercard: Why it doesn’t make much difference

But Visa and Mastercard do offer some differing side perks. Of particular interest for holders of the Chase Freedom Flex℠ , which is an upper-tier World Elite Mastercard :

Cell phone protection : Get up to $800 per claim and $1,000 per year in cell phone protection against covered theft or damage for phones listed on your monthly cell phone bill when you pay it with your Chase Freedom Flex℠ . You can make a maximum of two claims in a 12-month period with a $50 deductible per claim.

Discounts on services like Lyft, Boxed, Postmates, Shoprunner, Fandango and more.

Hotel benefits via the Mastercard Luxury Hotel and Resorts program.

Remember that you don't necessarily have to choose between the Chase Freedom Flex℠ or the Chase Freedom Unlimited® . If you have both, you can use them in tandem to punch up your earning potential.

True, there’s overlap in some of the bonus categories, but you can turn to the Chase Freedom Flex℠ for spending in the 5% bonus categories and cell phone protection, and use the Chase Freedom Unlimited® for its 1.5% “everything else” rewards.

» MORE: Card coupling: Pair up your credit cards to maximize rewards

More about these cards

Chase Freedom Flex℠ : Complete card details | NerdWallet review

Chase Freedom Unlimited® : Complete card details | NerdWallet review

on Chase's website

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1%-5% Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Earn 5% on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.

$200 Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

Find the right credit card for you.

Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.

Chase paid for my $1,100-per-night hotel room thanks to built-in trip delay coverage

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

It all started so well. It was the winter holidays, we were skiing, the snow was falling and then ... we were stuck in Colorado. It doesn't take much for flights out of the Aspen-Pitkin Airport (ASE) to screech to a halt during the winter and that's exactly what happened to us. Well, there were a few more things that happened as we were ultimately stranded on the side of the road and then at the Vail police station .

But today's story is about what happened when we were stuck an extra night in pricey ski territory during the peak holiday season because of flight cancellations. Luckily, I had charged our round-trip airfare into Aspen to my Chase Sapphire Reserve, so we had some automatic built-in travel protections. If our flights were canceled or delayed by six hours or more (or overnight), the card would theoretically reimburse reasonable expenses related to the delay of up to $500 per ticket.

In our case, we charged four tickets for our family to the card, so we had up to $2,000 in coverage to work with during the delay. The airline wasn't going to cover our expenses since it was a weather-related situation.

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But it was also New Year's Day and we were in the Aspen/Vail area of Colorado when the planes stopped flying. That's extreme peak season in ski towns. Hardly any lodging was available and nothing available last-minute was remotely affordable. We made it as far as Vail when we couldn't get any farther and booked one of the last rooms for four in the area at the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort . We just needed a place to stay, but it wasn't going to come cheap.

The basic room for the night was an astonishing $1,100 with taxes and fees.

On top of that massive, unplanned expense (we had been staying on Marriott points at the Westin Snowmass, which had no additional availability), we had a couple of relatively modest meals during the delay and a $200 car transfer to the Vail-Eagle (EGE) airport. In total, we submitted $1,401.74 for our overnight delay expenses for four people. I'd never spent $1,000 for one night in a hotel in my life, so I was just praying that the card's benefit services team would deem those expenses not only covered but also "reasonable."

Related: Best credit cards for booking airfare

How to make a Chase trip delay claim

First things first -- if you experience a delay of six hours or more, start saving receipts of your expenses immediately. You'll also want to take screenshots of your flight delay or cancellation because you're going to need proof of everything. You can ask the airline for a statement, but I didn't go that far. For me, screenshots of the cancellation status screen from the airline's site worked just fine.

The Sapphire Reserve covers: "Reasonable additional expenses incurred for meals, lodging, toiletries, medication and other personal use items due to the covered delay." It does not cover a whole new ticket home, so keep that mind when deciding how to manage your own airline delay . Also know that you don't have to charge your additional expenses to the Chase card you used to book the trip for them to be reimbursed.

What matters for coverage, in this case, is simply what card you used to book the airline tickets. To make the actual Chase trip delay claim, head to the Card Benefit Services website. You'll enter your name and your credit card number to get started with a new claim.

As part of the claim, you'll type out what happened and upload documents to support the claim. For example, you'll provide proof of the delay, proof you charged the original tickets to this credit card (screenshot an electronic copy of that statement) and upload receipts for expenses.

It didn't take more than 20 minutes to complete the claim online, including necessary uploads. After that, I waited and hoped that a $1,000-per-night hotel was considered "reasonable."

Related: What to do when your flight is delayed or canceled

Getting paid out by a Chase trip claim

A few days later, I was called by a representative of the company that processes these claims. She needed a different version of one receipt and left her direct work email address for me to use. I sent over the full receipt the next day and heard nothing further until I received an email a few days later.

Exactly 26 days after I made my initial claim, and less than a week after I provided the last piece of requested information, the Chase trip delay claim was approved for the full amount of $1,401.74!

Other than providing an additional view of the car service receipt, there were no questions asked and no problems with reimbursing the sky-high rates we paid to stay in the area an extra night after all of the flights were canceled.

Bottom line

Does paying $550 per year to keep my Chase Sapphire Reserve sting a bit? Yes. But the card just paid for itself several times over with a hassle-free successful claim from what was otherwise a very stressful and expensive experience. There's no way that card is leaving my wallet anytime soon .

The delay was long enough that even the trip delay protections on the $95-per-year Chase Sapphire Preferred Card would've likely been sufficient since the only material difference is that it takes 12 hours of delays for the Preferred's version of coverage to kick in, versus six hours for the Reserve.

Related: Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred

I'm very grateful things worked out the way they did and for those curious ... yes, I kept both the Marriott Bonvoy points and credit card points earned on that $1,100 one-night Marriott stay.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Travel Insurance – 10 Frequently Asked Questions [2024]

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Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Overview

Recap of chase sapphire preferred card travel insurance, travel accident insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, 2. does chase sapphire preferred card travel insurance cover cruises, 3. what does the chase sapphire preferred card baggage insurance cover, 4. what does the chase sapphire preferred card medical insurance cover, 5. does the chase sapphire preferred card cover hotel cancellations, 6. does the chase sapphire preferred card cover airbnb cancellations, 7. does chase sapphire preferred card travel insurance cover rental cars in other countries, 8. does the chase sapphire preferred card cover turo or zipcar rentals, 9. how do i file a chase sapphire preferred card travel insurance claim, 10. do i need travel insurance if i have the chase sapphire preferred card, final thoughts.

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card remains one of the most popular travel rewards credit cards for numerous reasons. Alongside excellent earning rates and a fair amount of benefits that justify the $95 annual fee, the card also offers numerous shopping and travel insurance benefits.

If you’re like most people, you hear the word “insurance,” and your eyelids start feeling heavy. Let’s be honest: Insurance isn’t thrilling. The terminology can feel confusing, leaving you with many questions about what exactly the travel insurance on your Chase Sapphire Preferred card does and doesn’t cover.

You have questions, and we have answers. Here’s a simple look at your most common questions about travel insurance on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide
• $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel portal
• 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
• Excellent travel and car rental insurance
• 10% annual bonus points
• No foreign transaction fees
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Before moving any further, let’s ensure you’re familiar with the long list of travel protections built into the Chase Sapphire Preferred card :

• Auto rental collision damage waiver
• Baggage delay insurance
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Travel accident insurance
• Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance
• Trip delay reimbursement

You’ll also enjoy several other cardholder benefits and protections beyond travel insurance :

• Extended warranty protection
• No foreign transaction fees
• Purchase protection
• Roadside dispatch
• Travel and emergency assistance

Some of the benefits seem more obvious than others. And, as with all insurance, there are always specific terms to understand, exclusions to mind, and coverage limits . Let’s clear some of those up.

1. What Flight Insurance Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Have?

When flying, you’ll have 2 types of insurance: travel accident insurance and trip cancellation and interruption insurance. Both types are in effect for trips for which you paid at least a portion of the cost with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card. Let’s look at each benefit.

Travel accident insurance applies to you and your immediate family members if one of you becomes permanently injured or dies while traveling. The cardholder benefit guide lists specific dollar amounts that you can be paid for specific injury types. The coverage is further divided into 2 categories: traveling on a common carrier and 24-hour coverage .

Coverage related to a common carrier covers both injuries and death resulting from your travel on a licensed air, land, or sea transport that regularly carries paying passengers . Think planes and ferries, for example. You’ll also be covered while at an airport, terminal, or station immediately before or after a trip, including courtesy transport to or from these places if provided as part of your trip. If your flight booking includes the airline picking you up from the hotel, this could be covered if all other conditions are met.

The 24-hour coverage applies around the clock and is valid on trips of up to 30 days. If you take a trip longer than this, coverage will end 1 minute after midnight on the 31st day, though it would come back into effect when you are in transportation to the airport for your flight home. If you drive yourself to the airport, coverage should resume once you are inside the airport .

This benefit reimburses you for the money you lose when a trip paid for (in whole or part) with your card is interrupted or canceled. Trip interruption is when you’ve started the trip and must end it early for a covered reason; trip cancellation applies to canceling a trip before it begins. The maximum benefit payout here is $10,000 per person and up to $20,000 per trip. Both the cardholder and immediate family members are covered.

Trip cancellation coverage begins when you make your first deposit toward the trip and ends when you depart on your scheduled departure date. Trip interruption starts on your scheduled departure date and ends on your scheduled return date. However, if these dates or times are adjusted for reasons beyond your or the carrier’s control, the benefit will adjust automatically .

What expenses are reimbursable? They include nonrefundable, prepaid travel expenses by a licensed supplier, such as a travel agency, hotel, shore excursion agency, etc. When canceling for a covered reason, you’re also covered for redeposit fees to get your airline miles back. Unfortunately, this benefit doesn’t cover lost money you paid for tickets to shows or theme parks, tee times at golf courses, museums, or other entrance fees unless they’re part of a tour package.

You’ll be covered for a few more situations with trip interruption coverage only . These include fees for returning a rental car early or to the nearest facility and up to $250 of expenses to transport you for necessary medical treatment. However, that doesn’t include medical transport (such as ambulances or medevac).

What if you paid with Chase Ultimate Rewards points and are due a refund under these benefits? You’ll be reimbursed according to the value on your travel supplier’s confirmation receipt, assuming that’s listed. If there’s no trip value listed on the receipt after you paid with points, you’ll be reimbursed at a value of 1 cent per point.

Covered Reasons

Not every reason for canceling a trip or ending it early is covered under these benefits. Covered reasons include accidental death or injury, a sickness requiring hospitalization, severe weather, a named storm warning, a change in military orders, a subpoena or call to jury duty, your home being burglarized or becoming uninhabitable, your hotel becoming uninhabitable, a public transportation strike that makes you miss 20% of a trip or a scheduled tour departure, and more. Consult the Chase Sapphire Preferred card benefits guide to see if your specific cancellation or interruption reason is covered.

Trip cancellation insurance doesn’t cover everything. For example, changing your mind about a trip is not covered. If your plans are subject to change, you may want to purchase Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) travel insurance .

This part is a bit confusing, but yes. Chase’s benefits guide for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card states explicitly that cruise lines aren’t included in the definition of a “common carrier.” However, cruise lines are included in the definition of a “travel supplier.”

Why does this matter? Many of the trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits only apply to travel with a common carrier, which doesn’t include cruise lines. However, some benefits do apply to cruises . These include stolen luggage benefits or even canceling a trip if delays mean you’ll miss at least 20% of the trip or that you’ll miss the departure of your cruise ship.

The travel accident and injury benefits also apply while you’re cruising, but it’s worth noting that returning late to your cruise ship, only to find it’s left for the next island without you, isn’t a covered expense. You’ll be on your own for the costs of catching up to your ship.

There are 2 types of baggage protection here: coverage for delayed bags and coverage for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage. Baggage delay insurance covers up to $100 per day for up to 5 days when your bags are delayed by at least 6 hours, covering each additional 24 hours past that until the maximum of 5 days is reached. This benefit applies to you and your immediate family members when you pay for at least part of your trip with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card. You don’t need to be traveling with your immediate family members for them to be covered , as long as at least part of their trip was paid for with your card, which can be a nice perk if you book travel for relatives.

Coverage begins on the scheduled departure date and ends on the scheduled return date, though coverage adjusts automatically if there are changes outside your or the travel provider’s control. There’s also a list of non-covered items, such as medical devices, losses due to war/conflict, electronics, and cash equivalents. In case of baggage delay, you must report it to the travel provid er as soon as possible and keep receipts for necessary expenses you incur ; you’ll submit these for reimbursement afterward.

Lost luggage reimbursement is different; it covers lost, stolen, or damaged luggage during your trip. Both checked and carry-on bags are covered up to a maximum of $3,000 per person per trip. However, there’s a limit of $500 for jewelry, watches, and electronics.

There are some specifics to understand about this coverage, however. First, it doesn’t cover items you leave behind by accident . Second, coverage applies to you and immediate family members (even if you aren’t traveling with them) so long as you paid for at least part of the trip with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card. Coverage is available from the scheduled start to the scheduled end of your trip, but it is automatically adjusted if there are uncontrollable delays to either date.

Coverage applies to common carriers and cruise lines, and you must report the loss, theft, or damage within the timeframe specified by your travel provider. Then, the coverage on your Chase Sapphire Preferred card will cover any difference in the value of your monetary loss (after depreciation of the items) and the payment you receive from the travel provider . Thus, this is secondary coverage. It’s worth noting that documents, furs, tickets, and cash-like items aren’t covered.

Accidents can happen on any trip, from accidentally slipping on the wet deck of a cruise ship to spending nights in a hospital at a far-flung destination. Does your health insurance at home cover you when you head to Florida? What about South America? These are questions worth asking. If your medical coverage won’t be in effect, it’s worth considering medical travel insurance .

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card includes travel accident insurance for you and your immediate family members . It’s in effect if you pay at least part of the airfare for your trip with this card. You’ll receive varying maximum payouts depending on the type of injury (or death) encountered during your trip, and the maximum limit also depends on whether the accident occurs while traveling on a common carrier or at some other point during your trip . The 24-hour benefit provides maximum coverage of $100,000, increasing to $500,000 when traveling on a common carrier.

But how does this work in practice?

If more than 1 person is injured , the benefits administrator will pay no more than 2 times the maximum limit for each type of injury. That sum will be divided among all covered persons eligible for benefits payments.

In case of death , the benefits administrator will give the money to your named beneficiary. If you haven’t named a beneficiary, the order of preference goes from a spouse or domestic partner to children, then parents, siblings, and finally, your estate. If you go missing and haven’t been found after a year, then this will trigger the “loss of life” benefit.

Coverage begins either when you reach the airport, station, or terminal for travel on a common carrier or when you enter courtesy transportation provided to take you to the point at which your trip begins, such as a train station or airport. If you didn’t buy your tickets in advance but are purchasing them when you arrive at the station, coverage begins once you make the payment for travel. Coverage ends after you leave the transportation vessel or exit the courtesy transportation provided afterward.

The 24-hour coverage functions a bit differently. It’s in effect around the clock for up to 30 days, starting from your scheduled departure for air travel. If your trip is longer than 30 days, coverage will pause 1 minute after midnight on the 31st day and resume when you reach the airport for a flight home or are in courtesy transportation to the airport for the flight home.

Obviously, there are exclusions. You aren’t covered if you’re a pilot or crew member on a flight, you get injured while committing a crime, you get injured while skydiving, your injury is self-inflicted, or you’re injured in a war.

Lastly, you may wonder how COVID-19 factors in . The benefits guide says this under covered losses: “Quarantine of you or your traveling companion imposed by a physician or a competent governmental authority having jurisdiction, due to health reasons.”

Thus, your illness could be covered if a doctor or government requires quarantine related to COVID-19. COVID-19 is generally covered under most travel insurance policies in the same way sicknesses are covered. However, not traveling to avoid COVID-19 risks isn’t covered. As the benefits guide says, “Your disinclination to travel, a country closing its borders, or a travel supplier canceling or changing travel arrangements due to an epidemic or pandemic.”

Hotels aren’t treated separately under the Chase Sapphire Preferred card travel insurance terms. If you must cancel or interrupt a trip for a covered reason, then your hotel cancellation fees can be covered. This would include situations like forfeiting a first night’s room cost for canceling your hotel booking at the last minute, assuming you couldn’t arrive for a covered reason, such as a travel delay or a last-minute injury that made you unable to travel.

While you won’t find the word “Airbnb” or even “vacation home” in the benefits guide, you will find a description that covers these types of rentals :

“Provider of Lodging – a hotel, inn, motel, bed and breakfast, or hostel; a Provider of Lodging includes non–commercial time shares, condominiums, or rentals of a private residence; such rental shall require a written contract between You and the property owner or management company, executed in advance of the commencement of the rental period …” Chase Sapphire Preferred card benefits guide.

So long as you’ve reserved your rental in advance and have a written contract — which Airbnb provides at the time of booking, courtesy of your confirmation details — your vacation home rental should count as a type of lodging. The contract must state the cancellation provisions, must not include a rental of more than 60 days, and your booking must be made directly with a licensed website or agent — not with the homeowner directly (unless that person is a licensed agent).

Airbnb is a covered lodging type, meaning your booking should qualify for trip interruption, trip cancellation, and trip delay coverage .

In short, yes. However, there are some exclusions. Since your personal auto insurance policy may not cover you abroad, it’s great to know that paying with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card and declining the rental company’s collision damage waiver can provide protection on your next rental .

You can be covered up to the actual cash value of most rental cars against theft or collision damage. Coverage can include administrative fees, loss-of-use charges, and even towing charges. Coverage applies to rentals up to 31 days and covers you plus any additional drivers listed on the rental contract .

You’ll need to use your card (or your points) to pay for the entire cost of the rental , and most vehicle types are covered by this primary insurance. However, coverage doesn’t apply to exotic or antique cars, high-value vehicles, cargo vehicles, motorcycles, RVs, or vans with seating for more than 9 people (including the driver). Note that Teslas qualify as high-value vehicles, so these aren’t covered .

The benefits guide doesn’t spell out any specific excluded countries . However, Visa typically excludes coverage in Israel, Jamaica, and Northern Ireland, plus you may not be able to use your card to pay for a rental (and thus coverage won’t be in effect) with U.S. Treasury Department monetary embargoes . These destinations include places where your credit cards won’t work, such as Cuba, Sudan, Syria, and North Korea.

Unfortunately, no. Because Turo and Zipcar rentals aren’t considered rentals from a rental car agency, most credit card rental car insurance doesn’t cover them .

To file a claim, you should first gather all of the documents related to your claim . These can include receipts, accident reports, police reports, photos, hospital records, or anything else pertinent to the type of claim you’re making.

Next, you can call the benefits administrator at 866-390-9735 or visit eclaimsline.com to submit online . Different claims have different required timelines. For example, auto claims must be filed within 100 days of the incident. However, you need to file within 90 days for baggage delays or losses, but you’re supposed to contact the benefits administrator within 20 days of these incidents to at least provide notice, even though you have 90 days to finish submitting the claim.

This question will be subjective, and different people will arrive at different conclusions. Travel insurance can be useful for the unexpected, but no 2 trips are equal. The best way to decide whether you need additional insurance beyond what the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers is to look at what it doesn’t cover.

Will you be skydiving? Do you have significant trip expenses related to Turo rentals or short connections that could cause domino effects if you miss a departure time? Are you renting an RV or going camping — types of travel not covered by the Chase Sapphire Preferred card?

If you have prepaid, nonrefundable expenses that wouldn’t be reimbursed by your credit card’s travel insurance in the event of delays or cancellations, getting a travel insurance policy that covers these could be a good idea and could provide peace of mind. That said, not every travel activity is covered by every travel insurance policy, so you want to make sure you choose a policy that covers your expenses for your particular trip .

If you look at your trip and decide that your flights, hotel plans, and simple plan of just relaxing at the beach will be covered by the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, then purchasing an extra policy probably isn’t necessary.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers numerous protections for purchases and trips. Insurance terms can feel confusing, but hopefully, the explanations of these policies should clarify what is and isn’t covered, as well as policy limits, in a way that helps you know whether the coverages are sufficient for your upcoming travels.

Want to learn more about what else this card offers beyond travel insurance? Consult our full Chase Sapphire Preferred card review .

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the chase sapphire preferred card have trip insurance.

Yes, it has several types of travel protections. Cardholders get rental car insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost and damaged luggage reimbursement, travel accident insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and trip delay reimbursement.

How to file a claim with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card travel insurance?

You can call the benefits administrator at 866-390-9735 or visit eclaimsline.com to submit online. Each claim type has different required documents and a different required submission timeline, so check your benefits guide for your specific claim type.

Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred card reimburse for travel cancellation?

Yes, you can be reimbursed for monetary losses of up to $10,000 per person and up to $20,000 per trip if you cancel for a covered reason. You’ll need to pay for at least part of your trip with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card, and the cancellation must be for a covered reason, such as death, injury, or being called to active military duty.

What insurance does Chase Sapphire Preferred card cover?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has several types of travel protections. Cardholders get rental car insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost and damaged luggage reimbursement, travel accident insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and trip delay reimbursement. Cardholders also get shopping insurance benefits, such as purchase protection and extended warranty protection, plus other benefits like roadside dispatch and travel and emergency assistance services (though these are pay-per-use benefits).

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About Ryan Smith

Ryan completed his goal of visiting every country in the world in December of 2023 and now plans to let his wife choose their destinations. Over the years, he’s written about award travel for publications including AwardWallet, The Points Guy, USA Today Blueprint, CNBC Select, Tripadvisor, and Forbes Advisor.

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Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Chase Freedom Flex: A Comparative Analysis

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate credit cards to write unbiased product reviews .

The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Chase Freedom Flex℠. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

Introduction

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited® are similarly named and have a lot in common, but they're geared to different types of spenders.

If you're considering a new cash-back credit card or a balance transfer card , you'll want to compare the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to see how they stack up.

Overview of Chase Freedom cards

Chase offers some of the best cash back credit cards on the market, thanks to their lucrative rewards schemes and lack of annual fees.

Both Chase Freedom cards earn 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase and 3% back on dining and drugstores.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ also offers rotating quarterly bonus categories for earning up to 5% cash back on up to $1,500 per quarter (then 1%) after activation.

Meanwhile, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® doesn't come with rotating categories; instead, non-bonus category spending earns 1.5% cash back.

Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Earn 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months

20.49% - 29.24% Variable

Earn $200 cash bonus

Good to Excellent

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No annual fee
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous bonus cash-back categories
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Great welcome bonus
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Booking through Chase Ultimate Rewards portal can restrict outside earning potential
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Varying percentages and rotating calendar categories require extra attention
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. 3% foreign transaction fees

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a great pick if you want one of the best no-annual-fee cards with big earning potential and impressive benefits. It's an even better choice if you already collect Ultimate Rewards points with other Chase cards, because you can combine your points and potentially get even more value.

Earn 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Solid flat cash-back rate
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. You can combine cash-back rewards with Ultimate Rewards points if you have an eligible card
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Some other cards offer a higher rate of cash back on certain types of purchases

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a great choice for credit card beginners and experts alike. With no annual fee and a high earnings rate, it's worth considering as an everyday card — and it's even better when you pair it with an annual-fee Chase card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

• Intro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
• Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
• Member FDIC

Card features

Both cards offer nearly identical fees and rates, as you'll see below. 

Annual fees

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a $0 annual fee, and the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has a $0 annual fee as well. 

Interest rates

Chase Freedom Unlimited® cardholders get an intro APR of 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, followed by 18.49% - 24.49% Variable APR.

Chase Freedom Flex℠ cardholders can also get an intro APR of 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, followed by 20.49% - 29.24% Variable APR.

Reward structures

The earning rates on each card are where they really set themselves apart.

Chase Freedom Unlimited® rewards

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® doesn't offer rotating categories, but it also earns 5% back on travel booked through Chase, 3% back on dining, and 3% back on drugstore purchases. All other purchases earn 1.5% back.

Chase Freedom Flex℠ rewards

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is unique because you get 5% back (5x points) on up to $1,500 spent in quarterly bonus categories (then 1% back) once activated. You also earn 5% back on travel booked through Chase, 3% back on dining, 3% back on drugstore purchases, and 1% back on everything else you buy.

Sign-up bonuses

Welcome bonuses, often called sign-up bonuses, allow new cardholders to earn a big initial boost of rewards after meeting a certain spending requirement within a designated timeframe. 

Bonus offers for new cardholders

Both the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® have generous welcome bonus offers:

• Chase Freedom Flex℠ — $200 cash bonus (received as 20,000 bonus points) after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
• Chase Freedom Unlimited® — additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year)

Both cards also let you rack up 5% cash back on purchases made with Lyft through March of 2025. 

Benefits and perks

Several major benefits apply to both the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. These include:

Introductory 0% APR

Both the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited® come with a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then a 20.49% - 29.24% Variable APR for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and a 20.49% - 29.24% Variable APR for the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. This is an excellent 0% intro APR offer that can help you save money on interest if you have large purchases to make that you want to pay off over time, or if you have high-interest balances on other cards you want to consolidate and pay off.

Instacart benefits

With both the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you can activate a complimentary three-month Instacart+ membership, and receive up to $10 per quarter in statement credits on Instacart.com purchases (once activated).

If you don't intend to keep the membership after three months, set a calendar reminder for yourself to cancel before the expiration date. Otherwise, you'll be charged the regular rate for a full-year membership after your complimentary subscription expires. Activation is required by July 31, 2024.

Complimentary three months of DoorDash DashPass

Both cards come with three months of free DoorDash DashPass membership . After that, you'll receive 50% off your membership for the following nine months. DashPass membership gets you free delivery and discounted service fees on orders of $12 or more and normally costs $9.99 per month. Enrollment is required by December 31, 2024.

Purchase protection

Freedom cardholders get coverage against damage or theft on eligible new purchases  for 120 days (up to $500 per claim and up to $50,000 per account).

Extended warranty

Eligible items with a manufacturer's warranty of three years or less can receive an additional year of extended warranty coverage when you pay with your Freedom card.

Auto rental collision damage waiver

Freedom cardholders can qualify for auto rental coverage when they pay for their rental car with their card. Coverage is secondary, rather than primary , to your personal insurance policy.

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance

If you pay for your travel with your card, you can receive reimbursement for up to $1,500 per person and up to $6,000 per covered trip when your travel plans are canceled or interrupted for a covered reason. Coverage is good for prepaid and nonrefundable travel expenses you pay with your credit card.

Travel and emergency assistance services

Cardholders receive access to a hotline for emergency help when traveling, such as medical or legal referrals or travel and emergency assistance. The service itself is free, but any third-party costs are the cardholder's responsibility.

Free credit score

Both cards let you access your credit score for free at any time with Chase Credit Journey.

Cash back opportunities

You can earn additional cash back on both cards by utilizing online shopping portals to maximize rewards . Most shopping portals are unaffiliated with Chase, and allow you to earn extra rewards by shopping with select retailers through affiliate links. Our guide to shopping portals can help you understand more.

Additional cardholder benefits: Chase Ultimate Rewards

Both Chase credit cards earn points in the valuable and flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards® program , which lets you redeem your rewards for cash back, statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, and travel through the Chase portal. You'll get 1 cent per point in value for each of these options.

Also note that, if you pair either of these cards with a Chase travel credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card , or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can pool your points in your premium card account and get more value for travel when you book through the Chase portal, or transfer your points to Chase's airline and hotel partners like United MileagePlus or Marriott Bonvoy .

Chase Freedom Flex℠: World Elite Mastercard benefits

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is unusual because it's a World Elite Mastercard rather than a Visa card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (and most other Chase cards). World Elite Mastercards offer unique benefits, including:

• Cellphone insurance — The Chase Freedom Flex℠ comes with cellphone insurance worth up to $800 per claim and up to $1,000 per year. This coverage is good for damage or theft when you pay your cell phone bill with your credit card, and there's a $50 deductible with a maximum of two claims per 12-month period.
• Lyft credits — World Elite Mastercard cardholders earn $5 per month in Lyft credits when they use their card to pay for three rides (and have the latest version of the app installed).
• ShopRunner membership — Cardholders can enroll for a complimentary ShopRunner membership, which gets you free two-day shipping and free returns at dozens of popular retailers.
• Fandango — When you spend $20 on movie tickets from Fandango or at home on Vudu with your card, you'll receive a $5 Fandango Reward toward your next movie ticket purchase or at-home movie or TV show.

Considerations for choosing

Both the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® are worth considering if you want to earn cash back on every dollar you spend, but it really boils down to how you want to earn rewards.

Your spending habits

When evaluating your spending categories, consider if you prefer fixed but lower rewards, or rotating but more complicated earning structures and bonus rates. 

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ lets you earn 5% back on up to $1,500 spent in quarterly bonus categories (then 1%) as well as 1% back on regular purchases.

Meanwhile, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers a flat 1.5% back on all purchases that don't fall into the upgraded bonus categories. Both cards earn 5% back on travel booked through Chase and 3% back on dining and drug stores.

Preferred rewards structure

Both of these cards can help you rack up a ton of rewards you can redeem for cash back, or combine with a Chase travel card for better travel redemptions. However, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ does come with World Elite Mastercard benefits that can boost its overall value if you use them.

Make sure to think long and hard about how much you would earn in rewards with either card, and also check out the top cash-back credit cards from other issuers before you decide.

Lifestyle and shopping preferences

If you prefer simplicity in your everyday purchasing habits, the Chase Freedom Unlimited®'s flat-rate 1.5% back is your dream card. If you prefer juicing every possible reward out of each dollar you spend, Chase Freedom Flex℠ with its 5% bonus categories (then 1%) is the way to go. 

Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Freedom Flex frequently asked questions

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a Visa card offers 1.5% flat rate cash back rate on all purchases. The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a Mastercard that offers 5% cash back on rotating categories, and 1% on others. 

Neither the Chase Freedom Unlimited® nor the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has an annual fee.

What kind of sign-up bonuses do the cards offer?

Both cards offer a generous reward of cash back for meeting certain spending requirements within the first few months of account opening. 

If you prefer simple, flat-rate cash back on all purchases, choose the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. If you don't mind a little extra work to maximize your rewards, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ should be your pick. 

Yes, you can hold both credit cards. This strategy allows you to maximize rewards by using each card for its respective highest earning categories.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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Slate Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver Protection

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• Purchase Benefits
• Account Protection
• Travel Benefits
• More Benefits

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

The following information is a summary only. Please see your Guide to Benefits for complete details.

Need to know more?

Download your complete Guide to Benefits here . Or call 1-877-445-4153 for information or to file a claim. You can also file a claim online at eclaimsline.com

Benefit overview

Provides reimbursement for damage due to collision or theft for most rental vehicles when traveling within the U.S. and abroad.

• Within your country of residence, coverage is secondary when renting for personal reasons and supplements any valid and collectible insurance or reimbursement from any source. Outside your country of residence, you do not have to claim payment from any other source of insurance before receiving coverage under this benefit.
• Initiate and pay for the entire rental transaction using the covered Chase card and decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver or loss damage waiver.

If you have questions about a specific vehicle or rental, check with the Benefit Administrator prior to your travel.

Who’s covered

• Cardmember (name is embossed on the card and listed as the primary renter)
• Additional drivers permitted by the rental agreement (authorized persons)

Coverage amount/period

• Up to the actual cash value of the rental car
• Vehicle rental periods that do not exceed nor intend to exceed 31 consecutive days

What’s covered

• Physical damage and/or theft of covered rental vehicle
• Reasonable and customary towing charges related to a covered loss to take the vehicle to the nearest qualified repair facility
• Valid loss-of-use charges incurred by the rental car agency

What’s not covered

This is not an exhaustive list. Examples include:

• Expensive, exotic and antique automobiles; vans designed to carry more than 9 people; vehicles that have an open cargo bed; trucks (other than pickups); motorcycles, mopeds and motorbikes; limousines; and recreational vehicles
•  Expenses reimbursed under your personal auto insurance policy, your employer or your employer’s insurance
• Any obligation you assume under any other agreement
• Injury of anyone or anything inside or outside of the vehicle
• Leases, mini leases and car-share services
• Any violation of the auto rental agreement
• Loss or theft of personal belongings

Important claim information and timeframes

• If you, the Cardmember, have an incident, contact the Benefit Administrator immediately to report theft or damage, regardless of whether your liability has been established
• You must notify the Benefit Administrator within 60 days of the damage or theft
• The Benefit Administrator will send you a claim form when you report your loss or you can complete it online at www.eclaimsline.com ; you must submit a completed claim form and supporting documentation within 100 days after the damage or theft
• Submit all required supporting documentation within 365 days of the damage or theft

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