American Express Centurion Travel Insurance: A Comprehensive Guide

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If you're a Centurion cardmember, you're likely aware of the excellent travel insurance benefits that come with your card. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the ins and outs of American Express Centurion travel insurance.

American Express Centurion travel insurance provides coverage for trip cancellations, interruptions, and delays, as well as medical emergencies and evacuations. This coverage can be a lifesaver if you encounter unexpected travel disruptions.

One of the key benefits of Centurion travel insurance is that it covers trip cancellations due to unforeseen circumstances, such as illness, injury, or even terrorism. This means you can cancel your trip and receive reimbursement for non-refundable expenses.

With Centurion travel insurance, you can also receive up to $100,000 in medical evacuation coverage, which can be a huge relief if you're traveling in a remote area with limited medical facilities.

How It Works

American Express Centurion travel insurance is a benefit that comes with being a Centurion cardholder. It activates automatically when you use your card to purchase travel.

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For most Centurion cardholders, coverage is provided automatically when you receive your card. The benefits are always available and don't require extra time or money researching and buying separate travel insurance.

Standalone travel insurance from American Express works like other travel insurance plans but may offer different levels of coverage. However, depending on your needs, these standalone plans might not provide as much coverage as policies from other insurance companies.

In some countries, you can buy standalone American Express travel insurance without being a cardholder, but this is not available for Centurion customers in the United States. Coverage details can vary by location.

Card-based insurance for U.S. customers typically doesn't include extensive medical coverage for emergencies while traveling.

Coverage and Benefits

American Express Centurion travel insurance offers a range of features and benefits, including baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage coverage, and trip delay coverage.

For cardholders, the Global Assist Hotline provides 24/7 support for travelers facing problems or emergencies, and is included with Amex Gold cards. Most Amex Platinum cards and higher offer the Premium Global Assist plan, which provides concierge-level personal support.

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Baggage insurance and car rental loss and damage coverage are also available, with over 50 Amex cards offering this benefit. This coverage can be especially helpful for infrequent travelers who need only basic coverage and want to avoid the hassle of buying separate insurance.

Here are some of the key coverage features of American Express Centurion travel insurance:

  • Baggage Insurance
  • Car Rental Loss and Damage Coverage
  • Trip Delay Coverage
  • Global Assist Hotline
  • Trip Cancellation and Interruption
  • Medical and Dental Emergency
  • Medical Evacuation or Repatriation

Note that not all American Express cards include travel insurance, and those that do may not offer all the benefits listed above.

What Is Covered?

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance covers a range of unforeseen events that might force you to cancel or cut your trip short, such as a family emergency, accidental bodily injury, or inclement weather.

Accidental bodily injury or loss of life or sickness of either the eligible traveler, traveling companion, or a family member of the eligible traveler or traveling companion is a covered loss.

Trip delay coverage provides reimbursement for reasonable additional expenses incurred when your trip is delayed due to a covered hazard for more than six hours, with a limit of $500 per trip.

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Here are some examples of what is covered by trip cancellation and interruption insurance:

  • Accidental bodily injury or loss of life or sickness of either the eligible traveler, traveling companion, or a family member of the eligible traveler or traveling companion
  • Inclement weather, which prevents a reasonable and prudent person from traveling or continuing on a covered trip
  • The eligible traveler or his or her spouse's change in military orders
  • Terrorist action or hijacking
  • Call to jury duty or subpoena by the courts, either of which cannot be postponed or waived
  • The eligible traveler or traveling companion's dwelling made uninhabitable
  • Quarantine imposed by a physician for health reasons

On the other hand, here are some examples of what is not covered by trip cancellation and interruption insurance:

  • Pre-existing conditions
  • The eligible traveler's suicide, attempted suicide, or intentionally self-inflicted injury
  • A declared or undeclared war
  • Mental or emotional disorders, unless hospitalized
  • The eligible traveler's participation in a sporting activity for which he or she receives a salary or prize money
  • The eligible traveler's being intoxicated at the time of an accident
  • The eligible traveler being under the influence of any narcotic or other controlled substance at the time of an accident
  • The eligible traveler's commission or attempted commission of any illegal or criminal act
  • The eligible traveler parachuting from an aircraft
  • The eligible traveler engaging or participating in a motorized vehicular race or speed contest
  • Dental treatment except as a result of accidental bodily injury to sound, natural teeth
  • Any non-emergency treatment or surgery, routine physical examinations
  • Hearing aids, eyeglasses, or contact lenses
  • One-way travel that does not have a return destination
  • A counterfeit scheduled airline or train ticket
  • Any occurrence while the eligible traveler is incarcerated
  • Loss due to intentional acts by the eligible traveler
  • Financial insolvency of a travel agency, tour operator, or travel supplier
  • Any expenses that are not authorized and reimbursable by the eligible traveler's employer

Baggage Protection

If you're worried about losing your luggage, American Express has got you covered with their baggage protection plans. Some cards offer up to $3,000 in coverage per person for carry-on luggage and up to $2,000 per person in coverage for some types of checked baggage.

The Platinum Card from American Express offers a high level of coverage, with up to $3,000 in coverage for carry-on luggage and up to $2,000 for checked baggage. This can be a huge relief if you're traveling with expensive or irreplaceable items.

To qualify for baggage insurance, you typically need to pay for your travel with your American Express credit card. The amount of coverage you receive will depend on the specific card you have.

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Here are some American Express cards that offer baggage insurance:

  • The Platinum Card from American Express (including various versions)
  • American Express Gold Card (including various versions)
  • American Express Green Card (including various versions)
  • Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
  • Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
  • Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
  • Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
  • Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
  • Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
  • Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card
  • The Plum Card from American Express

Some business cards from American Express also offer baggage insurance, including The Business Platinum Card from American Express and the American Express Business Gold Card.

Cardholder Benefits and Plans

As an American Express Centurion cardholder, you have access to a range of travel benefits and plans that can make your trips more enjoyable and stress-free.

You can enjoy several useful travel benefits, particularly helpful for infrequent travelers who need only basic coverage and want to avoid the hassle of buying separate insurance.

The Global Assist Hotline is available to all cardholders, providing 24/7 support for travelers facing problems or emergencies.

Most Amex Platinum cards and higher, including the Centurion, offer the Premium Global Assist plan, which provides concierge-level personal support.

U.S. cardholders benefit from strong coverage for car rental damage and loss via Amex insurance, available with over 50 Amex cards.

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Here are some notable Amex credit cards with travel insurance:

  • Travel Rewards & Perks: The Platinum Card from American Express
  • Travel & Restaurants: American Express Green Card
  • Initial Bonus Offer: American Express Gold Card
  • No Annual Fee: Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
  • Cash Back: Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express

The amount of coverage you'll receive depends on the card you have, with options like the Platinum Card offering up to $3,000 in coverage per person for carry-on luggage and up to $2,000 per person in coverage for some types of checked baggage.

Making a Claim and Concierge

Filing a claim with American Express Centurion Travel Insurance is relatively easy, and following a few steps can ensure your claim is processed smoothly.

To document an incident, keep receipts, medical reports, and other relevant documentation, as these will be required to support your claim.

Notify the insurer as soon as possible by contacting the American Express customer service number, which is 1-800-338-1670 if you're in the USA or 440-914-2950 worldwide.

You can also file a claim online through the American Express website, but it's best to contact them first to get instructions on how to proceed.

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To file a claim, you'll need to submit a claim form obtained from American Express, along with the required documentation, which may include receipts, medical records, police reports, and proof of travel purchase.

The insurance company will review your submitted claim, and you may be asked to provide additional information during this time.

Processing times vary depending on the nature of the claim involved.

If your claim is approved, you'll receive a reimbursement check or direct credit for the covered costs, depending on the method you have chosen.

The American Express Concierge Service is a valuable benefit for cardholders, offering assistance with tasks such as securing concert tickets, delivering flowers, and making reservations.

You can contact the concierge service by phone at (800) 525-3355 or by sending an email.

There are no service charges for using the Amex concierge, as it's a complimentary benefit.

Here is a list of required documentation for a trip delay claim:

  • Proof of loss
  • Receipts (including a statement from the common carrier, charge receipt, copies of common carrier ticket(s), and receipts for travel expenses)

Here is a list of required documentation for a trip cancellation/interruption claim:

  • Proof of loss (including court subpoenas, orders to report for active duty, physician orders, etc.)
  • Receipts (including copies of your common carrier tickets and travel supplier receipt, your eligible card billing statement showing the charges for the covered trip, and a copy of travel supplier's cancelation policy)

Delay

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Delay can be a real drag, especially when you're on a trip and your flight is delayed. Fortunately, some credit cards offer trip delay insurance, which can help reimburse you for necessary expenses.

If your flight is delayed by more than six hours, you can be reimbursed for up to $500 per trip for hotel stays, meals, and other miscellaneous required expenses. This can be a huge help if you're stuck at the airport and need a place to stay.

To qualify for American Express trip delay coverage, you need to pay for your round-trip travel expenses with a common carrier using your credit card. This is a pretty standard requirement for most credit cards with trip delay insurance.

The maximum reimbursement for trip delay insurance varies depending on the card, but it's usually up to $500 per trip. Some cards, like the Amex Platinum Card, offer a higher limit of up to $2,000 for all covered persons.

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Here are some American Express cards that come with trip delay coverage:

  • The Platinum Card® from American Express
  • American Express® Gold Card
  • American Express® Green Card
  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
  • Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
  • Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
  • Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
  • The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
  • American Express® Business Gold Card
  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
  • Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

You can file up to two claims every 12 consecutive months, so don't worry if you need to make a claim twice in a year.

Medical Assistance

If you're an American Express cardholder, you might be surprised to learn that some of the premium cards offer medical assistance benefits. These benefits can be a lifesaver in case of an emergency.

The Premium Global Assistance benefit is available to cardholders of certain premium cards, including The Platinum Card from American Express, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, and American Express Corporate Platinum Card. This benefit can help you arrange emergency medical referrals.

If you're traveling and have an immediate family member with you, this benefit can also provide assistance. The level of coverage and access to the Premium Global Assist Hotline varies depending on the card you have.

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Here are some American Express cards that offer medical assistance benefits:

  • The Platinum Card from American Express
  • The Business Platinum Card from American Express
  • American Express Corporate Platinum Card
  • Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
  • Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
  • Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card
  • Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
  • American Express Centurion Card
  • American Express Business Centurion Card

Making a Claim

Making a claim with American Express travel insurance is relatively straightforward. You can start by documenting the incident carefully, keeping receipts, medical reports, and all other relevant documentation.

You'll need to notify the insurer as soon as possible, which can be done through the American Express website or by calling the customer service number on the back of your card (1-800-338-1670 if you're in the USA or 440-914-2950 worldwide).

To file a claim, you'll need to complete a claim form and submit it along with the necessary documents, which may include receipts, medical records, police reports, and proof of travel purchase.

Processing times vary depending on the nature of the claim involved, but you can expect to receive a reimbursement check or direct credit for the covered costs once your claim is approved.

Here's a summary of the required documentation for trip delay and cancellation/interruption insurance:

You have up to 180 days to file a claim after a delay or cancellation, and you can file up to two claims every 12 consecutive months.

How the Concierge Works

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The American Express concierge service is a virtual assistant that helps cardholders with various tasks, including securing concert tickets, delivering flowers, and making reservations. It's an exclusive benefit for certain American Express cardholders.

You can contact the concierge service by phone at (800) 525-3355 or by sending an email. There are no service charges for using the Amex concierge, as it's a complimentary benefit.

Return

Making a claim for baggage insurance through American Express is relatively straightforward. To be eligible, you must have paid for the entire fare with an eligible American Express card or used Membership Rewards points to book tickets through Amex Travel.

You'll need to report the loss or damage to American Express within 30 days of the incident. If you're unable to provide documentation, you'll need to submit a written statement detailing the loss or damage.

You can file a claim online or by phone, and American Express will guide you through the process. You'll need to provide proof of purchase, a police report if applicable, and any other required documentation.

The process is designed to be hassle-free, with claims typically processed within 30 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to pay for AmEx insurance?

No, there is no additional charge for American Express insurance benefits. They're included with your Card at no extra cost.

Teresa Halvorson

Senior Writer

Teresa Halvorson is a skilled writer with a passion for financial journalism. Her expertise lies in breaking down complex topics into engaging, easy-to-understand content. With a keen eye for detail, Teresa has successfully covered a range of article categories, including currency exchange rates and foreign exchange rates.

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