Scotiabank Gold American Express Card Travel Insurance Coverage

If you’re searching for a great travel card, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card travel insurance package is worth checking out. You’ll get the full complement of travel insurance with generous coverage limits.

Our review of the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card walks you through every type of insurance it includes and explains when you might need to file a claim, so you feel confident using the insurance that comes with this great travel credit card.

Eligibility

Before we get into the details of insurance that’s included, we want to stress that you must book your travel with the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card in order to get the insurance coverage. Depending on the type of insurance coverage, you may need to pay for at least 75% of the travel with your card.

At this time, travel insurance through the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is only available to:

• The primary cardholder and their spouse
• Dependent children
• An additional cardholder, plus their spouse and dependent children

What’s included

The Scotiabank Amex Gold includes a generous insurance package, along with mobile device and purchase coverage up to specified limits.

Take some time to read through your policy so you understand exactly how each specific type of insurance relates to your situation.

Comparing Scotiabank insurance coverage

We estimate that Scotiabank’s insurance coverage averages at about $546 in value, which is high compared to other banks. However, the value varies from card to card.

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card insurance coverage offers slightly less than the Scotiabank American Express Platinum Card, which has a significantly higher annual fee. However, both cards completely overtake the Scotiabank American Express Card, which has no annual fee but only offers the most basic purchase and mobile insurance coverage.

Coverage details: Before the trip

Take some time to prepare for your trip by reviewing the coverage you may need to use.

Trip cancellation insurance

• Maximum coverage per person per trip: $1,500 per person per covered trip

If you book at least 75% of the trip using your Scotiabank Gold American Express Card and you have to cancel the trip for a qualifying reason, trip cancellation insurance will kick in. If approved, you’ll get up to $1,500 per person (or up to $10,000 for the whole trip) to reimburse you for the cost of the trip.

Scotiabank insurance will cover trip cancellation caused by these reasons:

• Death in the immediate family
• Accidental injury or illness
• Hospitalization due to an accident or unexpected illness
• Jury duty
• Government-issued travel advisories
• Work transfer requiring relocation
• Natural disasters
• Delays caused by mechanical problems
• Quarantine or hijacking
• Call to military service

If you’re not sure whether your situation qualifies, thoroughly review your policy or reach out to Scotiabank.

Coverage details: When you're en route

Even when you’ve planned for everything, something can happen to disrupt your trip. Here’s how travel insurance covers you while you’re heading to your destination.

Lost or delayed luggage insurance

• Maximum coverage per person per trip: $1,000 total for all insured people on the same trip

To get this coverage, charge the full cost of your trip to your Scotiabank Gold American Express Card. If your baggage is delayed by more than four hours after your arrival at your destination or the luggage is declared lost, you can file a claim to be reimbursed for up to $1,000 for all of the luggage lost in your group.

For instance, imagine you’re flying out for vacation with your spouse and kids. After waiting at the baggage carousel, you realize your luggage is not there. The airline might promise to send it to you at your destination, which may or may not happen if it’s lost. Either way, if your luggage is over four hours late, you can file a claim for up to $1,000 total.

Common carrier travel accident insurance

• Maximum coverage per person per trip: $500,000 of coverage for covered losses up to $1,000,000 per occurrence

Common carrier is just another way of saying a common mode of transportation like a ferry, cruise ship, airplane, bus, train, taxi, limo, etc. If you charge at least 75% of your trip on a common carrier with your Scotiabank Gold American Express Card and have an accident while travelling, this coverage pays up to $500,000.

For instance, if a cardholder was in a serious accident while riding a ferry and lost an appendage, they would be able to file a common carrier travel accident claim and could be reimbursed $500,000.

Flight delay insurance

• Maximum coverage per person per trip: $500

Everyone dreads flight delays, but they’re a fairly common travel nuisance. If your flight is delayed by more than four hours and the airline has not made alternative travel arrangements for you, you can file a claim with Scotiabank. If approved, you’ll be reimbursed $500, which can help pay for food and services you might have had to purchase while waiting for your flight.

Coverage details: When you're on site

Once you’ve reached your destination, travel insurance is still in effect, although the coverage types are a little different.

Travel emergency medical insurance

• Maximum coverage per person per trip: Up to $1 million of coverage for the first 25 days

Scrambling for healthcare while you’re travelling can be stressful and expensive, but if you’re travelling outside of your home province or Canada, travel emergency medical insurance has you covered.

Your card includes up to $1 million of medical coverage for the first 25 days of your trip. If you’re over 65, note that you’ll only get coverage for the first three days of your trip. Unlike other types of travel insurance, you don’t have to submit a claim after the fact. Instead, travel medical coverage can pay for ambulance fees, emergency medical procedures, and more.

For instance, if you’re travelling for a friend’s wedding and you collapse in the hotel lobby, your insurance coverage would pay for an ambulance to transport you to a hospital to receive care. As long as the medical emergency happens within the first 25 days of your trip (if you’re under 65), you can get coverage up to $1 million.

Trip interruption insurance

• Maximum coverage per person per trip: $1,500 per person per covered trip

If you book at least 75% of a trip with your Scotia card and your travel is delayed or you have to change plans, you can be reimbursed $1,500 per person per covered trip.

For example, if you’re out of the country for a work trip, but your spouse has a medical emergency back in Canada, you can make new travel plans to return home as quickly as possible, with trip interruption insurance reimbursing you.

Hotel/motel burglary insurance

• Maximum coverage per person per trip: $1,000 for Canadian or U.S. hotels/motels

If you booked a hotel or motel in Canada or the U.S., you can submit a claim for up to $1,000 if someone broke in and stole your personal belongings. Note that this coverage doesn’t apply to private rentals like Airbnb.

Rental car collision/loss damage insurance

• Maximum coverage per person per trip: Coverage up to 48 days

Never assume your personal auto insurance policy covers rental cars; many do not unless you add coverage. Fortunately, if you charge the rental car to your Scotiabank Gold American Express Card and don’t purchase the rental car company’s Collision Damage Waiver, your Scotiabank Gold American Express Card covers collision and damage for up to 48 days of renting the vehicle.

As long as the rental car’s manufacturer’s suggested retail price is under $65,000, you’re covered for collision and loss.

Miscellaneous

Travel insurance isn’t the only coverage included with your Scotiabank Gold American Express Card. Don’t overlook these valuable policies included with your card.

Purchase security and extended warranty protection

• Purchase protection maximum coverage: 90 days
• Extended warranty protection: one year

Like many credit cards, your Scotiabank Gold American Express Card includes protection for purchases you make with the card. If something you buy is accidentally damaged or stolen within 90 days of the purchase date, you can submit a claim to get the item replaced.

An extended warranty simply extends the manufacturer’s warranty on an eligible item by one year, which can be useful when buying high-end items like furniture or electronics.

Mobile device insurance

• Maximum coverage: $1,000

Mobile device insurance can be a lifesaver. If you charged the full cost of a new phone to your Scotia card, you’ll get up to $1,000 in coverage if your phone is accidentally damaged, lost, or stolen.

For instance, if you drop your new phone before you’ve put a protective cover on it and the phone’s glass shatters, you can file a claim to repair or replace it.

How to make an insurance claim with the Scotiabank Amex Gold Card

Now that you understand what your Scotiabank Gold American Express Card covers, here’s how you could contact the insurance provider if you need to file a claim.

You can call 1-855-297-4371 toll-free from Canada or the U.S. or email [email protected] to file a claim. You can also log into the Online Claims Portal managed by Manulife to start the process. Just file your claim within the acceptable time frame or it may be denied.

FAQ

What does Amex Gold Card insurance cover?

With the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card card, you’ll enjoy a full travel insurance package that includes emergency medical and trip interruption coverage, as well as mobile device coverage, and standard purchase protection.

Does Scotiabank Amex cover car rental insurance?

Yes, if you pay for the rental car with your Scotiabank Gold American Express Card and don’t purchase the Collision Damage Waiver, you’ll get collision and damage coverage for up to 48 days when renting the vehicle.

Does the Amex Gold Card have travel insurance?

Yes, you’ll get standard travel insurance like trip interruption/cancellation, travel medical insurance (including for people over age 65), flight delay, baggage loss and delay, rental car insurance, hotel burglary, and more.

What is a covered reason for trip cancellation with an Amex card?

You can be reimbursed for a trip that you cancel for a number of reasons, including: a death in the family, illness, accident, jury duty, government-issued travel advisories, work transfer, natural disasters, military service, quarantine, and more.

How do I file an Amex Gold travel insurance claim?

Log into the claims portal operated by Manulife, call the Scotiabank travel claims customer service at 1-855-297-4371, or send an email to [email protected]. Submit a claim as soon as possible or within 90 days of the covered event.