Which travel insurance should I choose?

Hi there, Do you know of any good travel insurance? Usually, I go with the one from the agency. But this time, I want to travel independently, and I'm a bit lost.

Some people told me that when you pay with a credit card, you get the bank's insurance. But after checking with the bank, that's not true. Or else, you have to add an extra option and pay for it monthly.

So, I'm looking for insurance that covers cancellation, repatriation, lost luggage, etc. Thanks for your tips!

hi Cora, Did you check with your insurer? I’m insured with Axa (home, car, etc.), and when I travel, I get my travel insurance from them too. I’ve been lucky—I’ve never had any issues, so I’ve never had to contact them. I can’t really give you advice, but here are some links: https://www.assurance-voyage.axa-assistance.fr/ https://www.assurance-voyage.axa-assistance.fr/conseils-infos/tout-savoir-assurance-voyage/assurance-bagages

A Visa Premier card does come with some perks, for example: https://www.caisse-epargne.fr/comptes-cartes/carte-visa-premier/

Hi, Get a Gold Mastercard from Fortuneo (for example), but other online banks also have cards that offer roughly the same level of assistance and insurance coverage. Fortuneo's card is free, and on top of that, they give you a 80 € gift. What’s covered under insurance and assistance is very well explained.

https://www.fortuneo.fr/compte-bancaire/carte-gold-mastercard

Hi there,

If you have a Visa or MasterCard debit/credit card from a French bank, you get medical assistance and repatriation coverage. That’s not the same as insurance, though. Cancellation or baggage insurance is only included with Gold or Premier cards, and it’s only valid if you pay with the card.

Michel

Hello, Do you know of any good travel insurance? Usually, I go with the one from the agency. But this time, I want to travel independently, and I’m a bit lost. Some people told me that when you pay with a bank card, you get the bank’s insurance. But after checking with the bank, that’s not true. Or else, you have to add an extra option and pay for it monthly. So, I’m looking for insurance that covers cancellation, repatriation, lost luggage, etc. Thanks for your advice!

Regarding the bank, you need to subscribe to a Visa Premier or Mastercard Gold card. It’s indeed more expensive than a "basic" card, but definitely more reliable, and in any case, worth comparing to the cost of other options. Just check how long you have to keep the Gold card before you can cancel it and switch back to a "normal" one. And make sure to pay with that card, of course, otherwise the insurance won’t apply.

I’ve been doing this for years when buying flight tickets or hotel services. For example, I’ve already been reimbursed for medical expenses (luckily, I’ve never had issues with flight delays or lost luggage). However, I usually still take out extra insurance for car rentals.

Regarding the bank, you need to subscribe to a Visa Premier or Mastercard Gold card. It’s indeed more expensive than the "basic" card, but certainly more reliable, and in any case, it’s worth comparing to the cost of another solution.

Where did you see that these cards are paid? With all online banks, they’re completely free (they even offer an 80 or 100 euro bonus after signing up!), and no fees are charged for purchases or withdrawals abroad. No need to switch banks either. I kept my own (without a bank card because it was paid) and applied for a MasterCard Gold with Fortuneo. Not only is it completely free with no payment or withdrawal fees in any country, but they also gave me 80 € three months after I received my card.

Hi there,

I don’t know where you’re getting the idea that you have to pay with the card for medical assistance and repatriation. Besides, that wouldn’t make any sense. Pay for what? Cancellation insurance, on the other hand, yes—definitely. As for prices... I have a Gold Fortuneo card and a Premier Ultim Boursobank card. They don’t cost me anything.

Michel

Also, if you take out additional insurance for a car rental, it overlaps with the coverage from your gold card. For example: On Réunion Island, I found my rearview mirror broken in a parking lot—it wasn’t covered by the rental company’s insurance. (I hadn’t taken the "additional" coverage offered by the rental company.) I filed a claim with my MasterCard Gold insurance and was fully reimbursed the following week.

Hi there,

I don’t know where you’re getting the idea that you have to pay with the card for medical assistance and repatriation. Besides, that wouldn’t make any sense. Pay for what? Trip cancellation insurance, on the other hand, yes. As for prices... I have a Gold Fortuneo card and a Premier Ultim Boursobank card. They don’t cost me anything.

Michel

For the coverage to apply abroad, you just need to have paid for the trip with the card—that’s all.

If you also take out additional insurance for a car rental, it overlaps with the coverage from your gold card. For example: In Réunion, I found my rearview mirror broken in a parking lot—it wasn’t covered by the rental company’s insurance. (I hadn’t taken the "additional" coverage offered by the rental company.) I filed a claim with my MasterCard Gold insurance and was fully reimbursed the following week.

Yeah, it’s probably overkill. I mainly get the rental company’s insurance to reduce the deductible. And it doesn’t usually cost much.

Yes, but Gold MasterCard and other free cards of the same type reimburse this deductible. That was the case for me in Réunion.

Hello,

In any case, with a bank card, make sure to get the booklet detailing the current year's Insurance/Assistance coverage and read it carefully. The bank uses an insurance company that can change from one year to the next (we’ve seen this happen), so the guarantees, their amounts, or the services offered may differ from year to year with the same card/bank.

Regarding assistance, some services may require an ADVANCE payment of a certain amount, which will need to be reimbursed.

For your info, there are also very comprehensive, specialized travel insurance policies, like the one offered by Chapka Assurances, to be taken out when paying for your trip.

Best regards,

Puma2A

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