Does Costco Sell Travel Insurance? The Truth About Policy Options and Citi Card Coverage

Planning a vacation brings a lot of excitement and joy. You might be looking at the Costco Travel portal for your next big vacation package. Many members ask themselves, does costco have travel insurance to protect their vacation investments?

It is very easy to lose money if a flight gets cancelled or if you get sick abroad.

This guide explains how travel protection works for members in the United States and Canada.

Does Costco Sell Travel Insurance? Current Policy and Offerings

The short answer for residents in the United States is no, they do not sell it by itself. You cannot simply walk into a warehouse or log online to buy a standalone plan.

Instead, you can buy Costco Travel trip protection only when you purchase a vacation package, cruise, or rental car through their portal.

The protection plan must be added during the checkout process. If you choose to skip it during booking, you might miss out on their specific protection rates.

Understanding the Cover-More Zurich Insurance Costco Partnership

When you buy protection on the portal, Costco is not the actual insurance provider. The plans are administered by a company named Cover-More Inc. The actual policies are underwritten by Zurich American Insurance Company.

This means if you need to file a claim, you will deal directly with Cover-More customer service. They will review your documents and decide if your situation qualifies for a refund.

For example, if a sudden medical emergency prevents you from traveling, you will submit doctor notes directly to Cover-More.

Does Costco Citi Card Have Travel Insurance? The Post-2019 Reality

Many shoppers use their Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi to buy flights and hotels. A common point of confusion is whether the card automatically covers your trip.

Unfortunately, Citi removed almost all core travel protections from this credit card a few years ago.

This major shift surprised many cardholders who relied on old articles online.

Let us look at what the Citi Costco card travel benefits actually include today.

What the Citi Card Still Covers

The card does offer worldwide travel accident insurance up to $250,000. This benefit only applies if a tragic accident occurs while you are riding on a public plane, train, or bus paid for entirely with the card.

You also get car rental insurance Costco Visa coverage.

This rental coverage is secondary, meaning it pays for vehicle damage after your personal auto insurance pays its share.

What is Missing From the Credit Card

The card no longer offers trip cancellation insurance Costco members used to enjoy. There is no baggage delay protection or trip interruption coverage anymore. For example, if a severe storm cancels your flight, the Citi card will not reimburse your lost hotel stay.

This is why relying solely on your credit card can be risky.

These credit card travel protection changes mean you should consider buying the Zurich add-on plan at checkout.

Travel Medical Insurance Costco Canada: A Key Distinction

If you live in Canada, the rules are completely different. Canadian members can buy standalone plans without booking a trip through the portal. This service is provided through Manulife travel insurance Costco partnerships.

You can buy a plan that includes up to $5 million in emergency medical protection.

Executive members in Canada even get an extra 5% discount on these plan rates.

Can You Buy Travel Insurance From Costco Without Booking a Trip Through Them?

If you live in the United States, you cannot buy insurance without a direct travel booking. You must look at other insurance brokers if you bought your flights elsewhere. For Canadians, you can buy insurance independently at any time.

Knowing these geographic rules keeps you from making a costly mistake before your next holiday.

Does the Costco Citi Card Cover Flight Cancellations or Lost Luggage?

As mentioned earlier, the card does not provide coverage for flight cancellations. It also does not pay for lost, stolen, or delayed luggage. If an airline loses your suitcase, you must deal directly with the airline or your personal travel policy.

Knowing this helps you decide if you need to buy extra protection elsewhere.

Key Takeaways for Your Next Trip

Always check what your personal insurance or other premium cards cover before buying a vacation. Remember that the US portal plans must be bought within 21 days of your first trip deposit if you want protection for pre-existing medical conditions.

Take a few minutes to read the policy fine print so you know exactly what is covered.

Protecting your hard-earned vacation money gives you peace of mind while you travel.

Authority Sources

• Costco Travel Information Portal (costcotravel.com)

• Citi Credit Card Benefits Resource (citi.com)

• Manulife Costco Insurance Portal for Canada (manulife-insurance.ca)