Does Your Credit Card Actually Cover Trip Cancellation?
Probably, but not certainly. This is the gap that surprises Canadians most, and a handful of popular premium cards leave it out entirely.
The Amex Cobalt has no trip cancellation at all
The Cobalt costs roughly $192 per year and is marketed to travellers, but its Certificate of Insurance confirms the gap: out-of-province emergency medical, flight and baggage delay, lost baggage, rental car, and common carrier accident are included. Trip cancellation and trip interruption are absent.
The BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite goes further
No trip cancellation, no trip interruption, no flight delay, no baggage insurance. The only travel coverage is emergency medical (cardholders 64 and under), rental car collision, and common carrier accidental death. A package cancelled the week before departure is covered by nothing on this card.
Most other premium cards do include cancellation
Typical limits are $1,500 per person up to $5,000 to $10,000 per trip. BMO World Elite and Amex Gold or Platinum carry higher per-trip ceilings, up to $25,000 combined. The specific dollar limit matters once you book a high-value package.
The practical rule is simple
Check the Table of Contents in your card's Certificate of Insurance before you book. If trip cancellation is not listed there, it is not covered, no matter what the marketing says.
Full Coverage Comparison: 15 Major Canadian Credit Cards
Here is how 15 Canadian credit cards stack up on the five coverage dimensions that matter most for travel. All figures in CAD and taken from each card's current Certificate of Insurance.
| Card | Annual fee | Emergency medical | Trip cancellation | Trip interruption | Medical age cut-off | Medical duration cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Platinum | $799 | $5,000,000 | $2,500/person | $2,500/person | 65 (zero at 65) | 15 days |
| Amex Gold Rewards | $250 | $5,000,000 | $1,500/person | $1,500/person | 65 (zero at 65) | 15 days |
| Amex Cobalt | $192 | $5,000,000 | None | None | 65 (zero at 65) | 15 days |
| Scotiabank Gold Amex | $120 | $1,000,000 | $1,500/person | $1,500/person | 65 (3 days only) | 25 days |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite | $150 | $2,000,000 | $1,500/person | $2,500/person | 65 (3 days only) | 25 days |
| CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite | $139 | $5,000,000 | $1,500/person | $2,000/person | 65 (3 days only) | 15 days |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 | $5,000,000 | $1,500/person | $2,000/person | 65 (3 days only) | 15 days |
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite | $120 | Unlimited | $1,500/person | $5,000/person | 65 (3 days only) | 15 days |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 | $2,000,000 | $1,500/person | $5,000/person | 65 (4 days only) | 21 days |
| TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite | $139 | $2,000,000 | $1,500/person | $5,000/person | 65 (4 days only) | 21 days |
| BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite | $120 | $5,000,000 | None | None | 64 (zero at 65) | 15 days |
| BMO World Elite Mastercard | $150 | $2,000,000 | $2,500/person | $2,000/person | 65 (zero at 65) | 21 days |
| National Bank World Elite | $150 | $5,000,000 | $2,500/person | $5,000/person | 76 (tiered by age) | 60 days (age 54 and under) |
| MBNA Rewards World Elite | $120 | $2,000,000 | None | $2,000/person (relative death only) | 65 (zero at 65) | 21 days |
| Tangerine Money-Back | $0 | None | None | None | N/A | N/A |
All figures in CAD. Source: individual card Certificates of Insurance, July 2025 to November 2026 effective dates. RBC Avion emergency medical maximum confirmed unlimited per COI. MBNA Rewards World Elite does not include standard trip cancellation or interruption; its per-person benefit applies only to returning home when an immediate relative dies during the trip (Unexpected Return Home benefit, Guide to Coverage Part 3, Group Policy TGV014).
Compare this against your own card by pulling its Certificate of Insurance PDF from the issuer's insurance page. If a coverage type is not in the Table of Contents, it is not covered.
Four Things Credit Card Travel Insurance Does Not Cover
These are the four gaps that surprise Canadians most after a claim is denied. Each is spelled out in the Certificate of Insurance, but rarely in the marketing.
Pre-existing conditions that were not stable before you left
Most cards require that any medical condition was stable for 90 days before departure. If a medication changed, a new diagnosis was made, or symptoms worsened within those 90 days, a related claim can be denied. For cardholders 65 and over, the stability window extends to 180 days on Amex, CIBC, RBC, and Scotiabank cards. A routine blood pressure medication adjustment three months before a trip can void coverage for a cardiac event abroad.
Trips you did not pay for on the card
Scotiabank, TD, and most Visa Infinite cards require that at least 75 per cent of your trip cost was charged to the card. American Express requires the full fare. If you booked flights with Aeroplan points and did not charge anything to the linked card, coverage may not attach at all.
Luxury and large rental vehicles above the MSRP ceiling
BMO, National Bank, Scotiabank, and MBNA cards stop rental car coverage at a vehicle MSRP of $65,000. Amex, CIBC, and TD extend that to $85,000. An upgrade to a full-size SUV or convertible at the counter in Phoenix or Miami can push you past those limits, leaving you with no rental car coverage at all.
Flight delays that pay less than your hotel room
Most cards cap flight delay reimbursement at $500 to $1,000 combined, shared across flight delay, baggage delay, and hotel burglary. A single night at an airport-area hotel during a rebooking can cost $200 to $400 on its own. That combined aggregate can be exhausted in one night.
FIND A TRIP WITH PROTECTION BUILT IN
See Vacation Deals Across Canadian Travel Sites
Knowing your card's gaps is the first step. For the rest, browse current vacation deals from Sunwing, Air Canada Vacations, WestJet Vacations, Transat, and more in one search.
6 Things To Do Before Your Next Trip
Run through these six checks before every trip. Each one takes a few minutes and surfaces the gaps credit card coverage actually leaves open.
Read the Table of Contents in your Certificate of Insurance
Every card issuer publishes a Certificate of Insurance PDF, usually linked from the card's insurance page. The Table of Contents lists every coverage type included. If trip cancellation or trip interruption is not listed there, the card does not cover it.
Check whether you are under 65 at the departure date
Your age on the day you leave determines which coverage tier applies. If you will be 65 or older when you depart, check the specific age rules on your card. For six cards in the comparison above, that means zero emergency medical coverage, regardless of annual fee.
Count the days in your trip
If your trip is longer than 15 days and your card caps at 15, you are uninsured from day 16 onward. A 21-night trip through Southeast Asia exceeds the cap on Amex, CIBC, RBC, and BMO Eclipse cards. Top up with a standalone policy or choose a card with a longer cap before booking.
Verify how much of the trip you are charging to the card
If you are mixing points, gift cards, or multiple payment methods, confirm the minimum percentage rule is met. Most Visa Infinite cards require 75 per cent of trip cost on the card. American Express requires the full fare. Failing that test can void coverage entirely.
Review the pre-existing condition stability period
If any medical condition, prescription, or treatment changed in the 90 days before departure, that condition may be excluded from emergency medical coverage. For travellers 65 and over, the window extends to 180 days on Amex, CIBC, RBC, and Scotiabank cards. Consult your card's Certificate of Insurance for the exact language.
Consider a standalone top-up for the gaps
Credit card coverage is a solid base layer for many trips. It rarely covers everything. For longer trips, travellers 65 and over, or any booking where trip cancellation is essential, a standalone policy fills the gaps credit cards leave open.
Credit Card Travel Insurance FAQ
Does my credit card cover trip cancellation?
Not always. Most Visa Infinite and World Elite cards include trip cancellation, but some popular cards do not. The Amex Cobalt has no trip cancellation or trip interruption coverage, despite its nearly $200 annual fee. The BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite also has no trip cancellation, no trip interruption, no flight delay, and no baggage insurance. Always check your card's Certificate of Insurance before booking.
What age does credit card travel insurance stop?
Emergency medical coverage ends entirely at age 65 on the Amex Platinum, Amex Gold, Amex Cobalt, BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite, BMO World Elite Mastercard, and MBNA Rewards World Elite. Other cards, including Scotiabank, CIBC, RBC, and TD, reduce coverage from 15 to 25 days down to 3 to 4 days once you turn 65. National Bank World Elite is the most generous for older travellers, offering 15 days of coverage from age 65 to 75.
How long does credit card travel insurance last per trip?
Most cards cover the first 15 consecutive days of a trip. TD Aeroplan and TD First Class extend to 21 days. Scotiabank Gold Amex and Scotiabank Passport cover 25 days if you are under 65. National Bank World Elite covers 60 days if you are 54 or under. A three-week trip to Europe already exceeds the 15-day cap on Amex, CIBC, RBC, and BMO Eclipse cards.
Do I need to book the trip on my credit card to get coverage?
Yes, for most cards. Scotiabank, TD, and most Visa Infinite cards require at least 75 per cent of the trip cost to be charged to the card. American Express requires the full fare on the card. If you use Aeroplan points without putting any amount on the card, coverage may not attach. Check your card's eligibility conditions before you book.
What is a pre-existing condition stability period?
Most cards require that any medical condition was stable for 90 days before your departure date to be eligible for emergency medical coverage. If a medication dose changed, a new prescription was added, or new symptoms appeared within 90 days of travel, a related claim can be denied. For travellers 65 and over, the stability window extends to 180 days on Amex, CIBC, RBC, and Scotiabank cards.
Does credit card travel insurance cover rental cars?
Most premium Canadian credit cards include collision and loss damage waiver coverage for rental cars. Coverage ceilings vary: Amex, CIBC, and TD cover vehicles with an MSRP up to $85,000. BMO, National Bank, Scotiabank, and MBNA cap coverage at $65,000 MSRP. Luxury or large SUV rentals can exceed those thresholds. The MBNA Rewards World Elite rental period cap is 31 days, shorter than the 48-day cap on most other cards.
Is a no-fee credit card enough for travel insurance?
No. The Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card, as a no-fee baseline, includes no travel insurance at all. Its certificate covers only purchase assurance and extended warranty. There is no emergency medical, trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage coverage, flight delay, rental CDW, or accidental death and dismemberment coverage. If you are booking travel on a no-fee card, consider purchasing a standalone travel insurance policy.