• long running

Citibank Credit Card Complimentary Travel Insurance to Extend Cover to Include COVID-19 from 15 June 2023

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They've taken their sweet time and it's convenient they've done this now and not a year ago like other banks, but for those it matters to, Citibank will start covering certain claims made in relation to epidemics and pandemics (such as COVID-19) on and after 15 June 2023.

EPIDEMICS AND PANDEMICS (SUCH AS COVID-19)
If, during the period of cover available, you (including your spouse and/or dependants who are eligible for cover) are positively diagnosed as suffering a sickness recognised as an epidemic or pandemic, such as COVID-19, cover is available to you under the following sections:
1.1 Overseas Emergency Assistance
1.2 Overseas Emergency Medical
2.1 Cancellation
3.1 Additional Expenses

If your travel companion is positively diagnosed as suffering a sickness recognised as an epidemic or pandemic, such as COVID-19, which impacts your journey, cover is available to you under the following sections:
2.1 Cancellation
3.1 Additional Expenses

Hopefully this helps someone.

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Comments

  • +1

    A question re this. Can we assume COVID cover on a cruise ships now be included in this insurance? From what I can tell there doesn't seem to be any insurance exclusions for cruise ships, and nothing specificially about COVID cover not being available on cruises (like other CCs). This would be very useful if correct as many cruise ships still demanding COVID cover onboard and for specific ports before allowing boarding.

    • +1

      Reading through, there doesn't seem there's an exclusion for cruises for the international travel insurance so you'd assume you'd be covered. The exclusion from cruises seem to be for transit accident insurance.

    • Interested to know this as well. We're sailing to south pacific at end of June and they require travel insurance that covers covid as well.

  • -4

    I mean who is Citibank anyway? They just look and smell more like NAB everyday which of course they are. Guess it's now understandably at the point whereby NAB are calling all the shots on policy or product choices on offer or to be announced.

    • +7

      I for one thank the new NAB overlords. It took them a matter of weeks (it seemed) to roll out Google Pay on credit cards when Citi OG stubbornly refused to do so for years, trying to keep flogging Samsung Pay (wtf?).

      Citi was shiti, now NAB is rad.

      • +1

        One negative I found after NAB took over is that they tighten the CC approval process. They’re more rejection than before.

        • that'll probably change soon. or maybe some have bad credit…

      • +2

        A lot to be missed on other banking services canned.

        Citi Plus / Multi currency / Global accounts

        • Exactly the reason why I banked with Citi to begin with. That and the personalised service from RMs which is long gone anyway.

      • The main drawcard with Citibank for me was Fee Free International Usage/ATM's..
        If they stop this then im just going full time Latitude..

        • +1

          for Fee Free International Usage/ATM's check out Macquarie. Great app too. Citi app is probably the worst banking app ever.

          • @marbss: Shall take a look, i wasnt to fussed on the App.. I put money in i withdraw it out.

          • @marbss: HSBC entered the chat.

  • Does it include trips we've already paid for?

    • +1

      No it won't

      • +1

        Are you sure it won't? The bottom of page 3 of the T&Cs indicates it will apply to travel already purchased.

        "Overseas travel tickets obtained through previous methods on or before 31 May 2023 will continue to be eligible for International Travel Insurance and for claims made on or after 15 June 2023."

        • We're talking about covid cover though.

          • +1

            @nightelves: And where exactly does it say covid cover is not available to travel paid in the past, and taking place after June 15th?

  • +1

    Westpac Altitude MasterCard has been having covid cover for awhile.

    • And some too like cba or bankwest

  • +4

    The other crap thing about Citibank is it requires you to pay your flight tickets in full with the card, whereas ANZ and Westpac only need you to pay over $500 on travel expenses.

    • What if you’re flights are cheaper than $500 ?

    • Wonder what amex requires

      • For international travel insurance, I think it's the full cost of your outbound ticket.

      • Yeah, full payment needed, but does Amex have similar coverage?

    • Agree. This is very limiting.

    • +1

      Yes, annoying but it also covers trips made with points if you have transferred 15k Citi points across.

      My latest understanding was:

      CBA no spend just activate
      NAB/Westpac $500 spend
      ANZ $250 spend
      Amex return flight/booked on points
      Citi return flight/booked on points (if transferred 15000pts in last 12 months)

      • +1

        Wow really?! Where does it say it covers if you pay with points?

        • +1

          Page 20
          International Travel Insurance - who is eligible
          Section 4 c)

          Copy and pasted:
          4. before leaving Australia the card holder obtains their overseas travel ticket (but not taxes or airport or travel agent charges) by one or a combination of the following methods:

          a] charging the cost of the overseas travel ticket to the account holder’s card account; or

          b] obtaining the overseas travel ticket under the Citi Travel Program; or

          c] obtaining the overseas travel ticket via the cardholder’s airline frequent flyer program, provided that a minimum of 15,000 points were transferred to that frequent flyer program from points earned on a Citi branded card or via Citi Rewards, over a 12 month period prior to obtaining the overseas travel ticket;

    • $250 on ANZ?

    • What if you redeem flights with frequent flyer points?

    • +2

      This is changing in November. In similar fashion a $500 spend on travel expenses is enough.

      https://www.citibank.com.au/global_images/complimentaryinsur… -

      1. before leaving Australia you:
        • spend at least $500 on your prepaid travel
        costs (i.e. your travel costs that you pay for
        before leaving Australia) and you charge these
        costs (e.g. cost of your return overseas travel
        ticket; and/or airport/departure taxes; and/or
        your prepaid overseas accommodation/travel;
        and/or your other prepaid overseas itinerary
        items) to the accountholder’s card account; or
  • -2

    Do you need to be vaccinated to qualify?

    • Not that I can see from the T&C.

      PS: I didn't neg you.

  • Oh crap neither of my trips fall into their eligible conditions. Doh. Now to go work out which one to buy.

  • +1

    Thanks OP for reading and posting!

    I received the notice regarding changes to T&C's but didn't read cos it was long and boring; assumed they were taking things away!

  • do you have to spend all travel costs with this card to be able to claim back?
    or does this card's travel insurance covers only items that purchased with this card?

    • You have to purchase the air ticket in full using this card (or using points associated with the card) to activate the credit card travel insurance for you.

      Once activated, it's just like a purchased travel insurance policy with various things it does or does not cover.

      • so the $500 spending to activate cards, has to be return flight ticket (in my case?)
        I've purchase main flight return ticket (AUS <> Japan), and still need to purchase a few individual flight tickets for my trip (between Japan <> Korea <> other countries) and accommodations, if I purchase other individual flight tickets with this card, then it wouldn't cover my flight for AUS <> Japan ticket?
        sorry it's a bit too detail..

        • Hi - no. For you the Citibank card cover will not apply as my memory of the policy is that you need to pay the entire cost of the airfare FROM Australia and return for it to apply.
          I could be wrong and if so can someone else correct me.

          If you have a NAB credit card (and from above other comments also ANZ and Westpac, simply spend $500 or more before you travel on pre-paid transport, tours, and/or accommodation - then the travel insurance policy will be activated and can be claimed on if necessary.

          • @pencilman: Thanks for comment mate, will looking into ANZ, Westpac stuff.

            • +1

              @SWill: No probs. I went through this last year also for a trip to Japan and Korea. Ha ha. Ended up activating the NAB credit card insurance by prepaying accommodation on it and made sure the transactions were completed on my credit card before departure.

  • if this credit card free and also have a rewards program? being looking for one for a while. there used to free lots of those earlier

  • I don't think I've ever dealt with a lender as bad as Citibank. Ever.

    Other than Harvey Norman, they are at the top of my list of boycotted companies. Truly the devil's work if there ever was one.

  • +1

    City bank charge 3% extra on overseas transaction?

    • +1

      Yep my citi credit card definately does. They occasionally will charge an international transaction fee for Australian purchases so you'll need spend 20 mins or so on the phone to get a credit back.

    • My understanding is companion diners doesn’t Have international transaction fees.
      If you are not using the companion diners card then my understanding is it is 3.4% for merchants not based in Australia

      Copy and pasted:
      We charge you an International Transaction Fee of 3.4%, debited to your Account on the Transaction Date, of which a service and assessment fee of up to 1.1% is payable by us to Mastercard or Visa (as applicable), for any Retail Purchase or Cash Advance transaction in:
      Foreign currency once converted to Australian dollars; and/or
      Australian dollars (or any other currency), when either the merchant or its financial institution/payment processor is located or registered overseas, including transactions that involve dynamic currency conversion (that is where a transaction denominated in a foreign currency is converted to local currency which is a service that is offered by certain ATMs and merchants). The process of conversion and the exchange rates applied will be determined by the relevant ATM, merchant or dynamic currency conversion service provider as the case may be. We do not determine whether a Card transaction will be converted into local currency by the merchant or ATM and you may have to check with the relevant merchant or ATM provider.
      Note: It may also not always be clear that the merchant or its financial institution / payment processor is located or registered outside Australia.

      • I think the companion Diners card applies it's own exchange rate though, which works out to be 1-2%.

        • Thanks. Didn’t realise. Will need to test it out at some point.

  • need to pay flights with the card to get the insurance?

    • From the pdf

      before leaving Australia the cardholder obtains their overseas travel ticket (but not taxes or airport or travel agent charges) by one or a combination of the following methods:
      a] charging the cost of the overseas travel ticket to the account holder’s card account; or
      b] obtaining the overseas travel ticket under the Citi Travel Program; or
      c] obtaining the overseas travel ticket via the cardholder’s airline frequent flyer program, provided that a minimum of 15,000 points were transferred to that frequent flyer program from points earned on a Citi branded card or via Citi Rewards, over a 12 month period prior to obtaining the overseas travel ticket

  • From reading the document if booking one way with card you get 31 days of cover if you have a one way ticket. But, if you have a return ticket booked before leaving cover lasts up to six months if you have a Prestige card.

    Cover under all sections ends:
    if you have a one way overseas travel ticket,
    when the first of the following occurs:
    • when you return to your home; or
    • thirty one (31) consecutive days from the
    departure date shown on your overseas travel
    ticket.

    I might stay overseas more than 31 days. I am wondering if I book a return refundable ticket three months out, would that extend the cover?

    If you have a return overseas travel ticket, when the first of the following occurs:
    • when you return to your home; or
    • at midnight on the date when you are due to return to your home as shown on your return overseas travel ticket;
    • three (3) consecutive months for Citibusiness Gold Cards or six (6) consecutive months for Citi Prestige Card, Citi Premier Card, World Card and Citi Rewards Card cardholders after the date of departure shown on your return overseas travel tickets; or
    • when you cancel your return overseas travel ticket.

  • So I just bought tickets. Travel is in September.
    Am I covered for COVID as it's after June, or not because I bought my tickets beforehand?

    • You will be covered for a COVID claim as the update to T&C specifies (bolding is mine):

      Description of Insurance Cover Terms and Conditions booklet with an effective date of 1 June 2022 and will apply to claims made on or after 15 June 2023.

  • Hey there - “ c] obtaining the overseas travel ticket via the cardholder’s airline frequent flyer program, provided that a minimum of 15,000 points were transferred to that frequent flyer program from points earned on a Citi branded card or via Citi Rewards, over a 12 month period prior to obtaining the overseas travel ticket”

    Hoping to seek some clarity re this condition - I have the Citi prestige card and have transferred 200k Citi points into my KrisFlyer account to redeem flights out of Aus - does this mean I am covered?
    Cheers

    • Did you earn 15k points minimum through a Citi card or Citi Rewards over the 12 months prior to obtaining the ticket?

      You left out the whole "provided that…" portion of the cover clause statement.

      • Yes I did as part of the Citi prestige bonus points deal. So are you saying I am covered if that’s the case? Thanks

  • If I book return tickets AUS<>US, then am I only insured in the US? If I go there then book a domestic to go to Mexico for a few days, using another card, am I covered by Citi whilst in Mexico?

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