American Express Travel Insurance
Travel insurance distributed by American Express in New Zealand and issued and underwritten by Chubb Insurance New Zealand Limited.
Who provides this policy
Read from the insurer's own website and the Financial Service Providers Register on 30 September 2026.
- Issuer and underwriter
“American Express Travel Insurance is issued and underwritten by Chubb Insurance New Zealand Limited (Chubb) NZBN 9429040398037, FSP No. 35924 and distributed by American Express New Zealand Limited ®. NZBN 9429038035159, FSP No. 43608 (American Express).”
source: americanexpress.com- FSP registration
- FSP35924 — Chubb Insurance New Zealand Limited source: americanexpress.com
- FSP43608 — registered as American Express International (NZ), Inc. source: fsp-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz
- Official website
- americanexpress.com/nz/insurance/travel-insurance
- Phone
- 0800 743 699 (Chubb, Monday to Friday 10.30am to 7pm NZST)source: americanexpress.com
- Policy wording
- American Express Travel Insurance policy wording (PDF, Chubb)
Card insurance profile · Terms checked against the published documents on 30 September 2026
American Express Card Travel Insurance in NZ: What the Terms Say
Some American Express cards issued in New Zealand include complimentary travel insurance. The cover is not the same on every card, and it only applies when you meet the card's conditions — usually paying for the trip with the card. This page sets out what the published terms for three cards say, so you can check what you already hold before deciding whether you need a separate policy.
We do not rate card insurance against standalone policies, and nothing here is a recommendation. The terms are the contract; read them in full.
How card travel insurance works
Card travel insurance is a group policy: American Express holds the policy with the insurer, and cardmembers (and sometimes their family) are covered when they meet its conditions. You do not receive a Certificate of Insurance for each trip, so it is up to you to check before you travel that the trip qualifies — for example, that the fare was paid in the way the terms require and that the traveller is within the age and residency conditions.
Separately, American Express also sells a paid travel insurance product in New Zealand, which is a different policy from the complimentary card cover described here.
Three cards compared, term by term
Each cell summarises the card's terms and links to the page in the PDF. Limits, sub-limits, conditions and exclusions apply throughout.
| Term | Platinum Card | Airpoints Platinum Card | Gold Rewards Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurer | Chubb Insurance New Zealand Limited (FSP No. 35924), insurer of the group policy held by American Express International (NZ), Inc.Source: Platinum terms (1 July 2026), PDF p.19 | Chubb Insurance New Zealand Limited (FSP No. 35924).Source: Airpoints Platinum terms (1 April 2021), PDF p.11 | Chubb Insurance New Zealand Limited.Source: Gold terms (15 September 2022), PDF p.9 |
| How travel cover is triggered | You must be a New Zealand resident, 79 or younger when you make the qualifying travel purchase, and pay the full outbound ticket for a scheduled flight or cruise leaving New Zealand with the card, Membership Rewards points, frequent flyer points (where applicable) or a Travel Benefit.Source: Platinum terms (1 July 2026), PDF p.9 | Cover is effective when you pay the full fare for a trip on the Airpoints Platinum Card account or with Air New Zealand Airpoints.Source: Airpoints Platinum terms (1 April 2021), PDF p.4 | You must first purchase the full fare for a trip on your Gold Rewards Card account.Source: Gold terms (15 September 2022), PDF p.5 |
| Overseas emergency medical | Up to $5,000,000 on an international return trip. No medical cover on domestic trips.Source: Platinum terms (1 July 2026), PDF p.16 | Up to a maximum of $2,500,000.Source: Airpoints Platinum terms (1 April 2021), PDF p.19 | Up to a maximum of $2,500,000.Source: Gold terms (15 September 2022), PDF p.13 |
| Pre-existing medical conditions | Not covered under Sections A–F. We found no process in the terms for applying to have a condition covered.Source: Platinum terms (1 July 2026), PDF p.6 | No claims arising from any pre-existing medical conditions will be covered.Source: Airpoints Platinum terms (1 April 2021), PDF p.19 | No claims arising from any pre-existing medical conditions will be covered.Source: Gold terms (15 September 2022), PDF p.13 |
| Excess (medical) | $250, applied for each covered person and each event.Source: Platinum terms (1 July 2026), PDF p.5, 16 | $250 per claim.Source: Airpoints Platinum terms (1 April 2021), PDF p.7 | $250 per claim.Source: Gold terms (15 September 2022), PDF p.6 |
| Supplementary / additional cardholders | Covered: the definition of covered person includes an Additional Card Member, their spouse and dependent children (25 or younger).Source: Platinum terms (1 July 2026), PDF p.19 | Supplementary Card members are not covered for travel insurance benefits.Source: Airpoints Platinum terms (1 April 2021), PDF p.4 | Supplementary Card Members are not covered for complimentary insurance benefits.Source: Gold terms (15 September 2022), PDF p.5 |
Other conditions worth reading
- Trip length and one-way trips. The Platinum Card terms do not cover one-way trips, and a trip ends when it exceeds 180 consecutive days.Source: Platinum terms (1 July 2026), PDF p.7, 20
- Excluded sports and activities. The Platinum Card terms list excluded activities, including heli-skiing, ski-jumping, ski-racing and bob sleigh. The Airpoints Platinum terms have their own list of special sports.Source: Platinum terms (1 July 2026), PDF p.20Source: Airpoints Platinum terms (1 April 2021), PDF p.13
- Who counts as family. Definitions of spouse and dependent child differ between cards — for example, the dependent-child age is 25 or younger in the Platinum Card terms.Source: Platinum terms (1 July 2026), PDF p.19
- Other cards. We have not summarised cards other than the three above. If your card is not listed, find its insurance terms on the card's page at americanexpress.com/nz.
Questions to answer before relying on card cover
- Did I pay for the trip exactly as my card's terms require?
- Is every traveller within the definitions of covered person, including age limits?
- Do I, or anyone travelling, have a pre-existing medical condition the terms exclude?
- Is the medical limit and the rest of the cover enough for my destination and activities?
- Am I doing any activity on the excluded list?
If the answer to any of these leaves a gap, compare it with what a standalone travel policy's wording covers.
Compare standalone travel insurers, or ask for help with a quote.
Cover limits and excesses
We have not yet published cover limits, excesses or prices for American Express Travel Insurance. They depend on the plan and options you choose, and they are set out in the policy wording and on your quote. Use the checklist below when you read it.
What to check in the American Express Travel Insurance wording
SafeTravel, the Government's travel advice service, recommends checking that a policy covers the activities you have planned, your destinations and the needs of everyone travelling (SafeTravel — Travel insurance). These are the points worth comparing between any two policies:
| Feature to check | Where to find it in the wording | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Overseas medical and evacuation | Table of benefits; the overseas medical and emergency expenses section | Treatment and evacuation overseas can be expensive, and the New Zealand Government will not pay these costs (SafeTravel). Check whether the limit is stated as a dollar amount or unlimited, and any sub-limits. |
| Pre-existing medical conditions | Pre-existing conditions section, and the insurer's medical assessment process | Some conditions may be covered automatically, some need an assessment and some are excluded. An undeclared condition can put a claim at risk. |
| Cancellation and amendment | Cancellation section and the list of covered reasons | Only the reasons listed are covered, usually only for events after you bought the policy. Check the limit against what you have prepaid. |
| Excess | Schedule / certificate of insurance and the excess clause | The amount you pay towards each claim. A higher excess usually lowers the premium, and some sections may carry their own excess. |
| Luggage and personal items | Luggage section; item and category limits in the table of benefits | Per-item limits are often much lower than the section total. Phones, cameras and jewellery may have their own limits or conditions. |
| Activities and sports | Activities list, general exclusions, and any add-on options | SafeTravel advises buying a policy that covers the activities you have planned. Skiing, diving, scooter or motorbike riding and cruises often have conditions or need an add-on. |
| Destinations and travel advisories | Region definitions on the schedule; general exclusions | Many policies will not cover travel to countries or regions SafeTravel advises against visiting. The region on your quote must match your trip. |
| Age and trip-length limits | Eligibility section; annual multi-trip conditions | Insurers set their own maximum ages and trip lengths, which can differ by plan. |
| Rental vehicle excess | Rental vehicle section (sometimes an option) | Covers the excess charged by a rental company after damage or theft, within the policy's conditions. |
| General exclusions | General exclusions section | Applies across the whole policy — for example alcohol or drug-related events, unlicensed driving, or known events at the time you bought cover. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues and underwrites American Express Travel Insurance?
Travel insurance distributed by American Express in New Zealand and issued and underwritten by Chubb Insurance New Zealand Limited. The insurer's own website states: "American Express Travel Insurance is issued and underwritten by Chubb Insurance New Zealand Limited (Chubb) NZBN 9429040398037, FSP No. 35924 and distributed by American Express New Zealand Limited ®. NZBN 9429038035159, FSP No. 43608 (American Express)."
Where can I read the American Express Travel Insurance policy wording?
The insurer publishes it at https://edocs.chubbtravelinsurance.com/app/documents/alias/NZAMEX_PW/download. The policy wording, together with your certificate of insurance, sets out exactly what is covered, the limits and excesses, and the exclusions. Read it before you buy, and check that the version matches the date you are buying.
How do I contact American Express Travel Insurance?
The insurer's website lists 0800 743 699 (Chubb, Monday to Friday 10.30am to 7pm NZST). Its website is https://www.americanexpress.com/nz/insurance/travel-insurance/. For emergencies while travelling, use the emergency assistance number printed in your policy documents.
Is this page a recommendation of American Express Travel Insurance?
No. This page is general information about who provides the policy and where to read its wording. To request a quote through this site, use the quote form: your details go to Evolve Group Limited (FSP711891), who will contact you.
Who underwrites American Express card travel insurance in New Zealand?
The Platinum Card, Airpoints Platinum Card and Gold Rewards Card insurance terms all name Chubb Insurance New Zealand Limited as the insurer. American Express holds a group policy; cardmembers do not buy their own policy.
Do I have to book on my Amex card to be covered?
Yes, each card sets a qualifying purchase. The Platinum Card terms require the full outbound ticket for a scheduled flight or cruise leaving New Zealand to be paid with the card, points or a Travel Benefit. The Airpoints Platinum and Gold Rewards terms require the full fare for the trip to be paid on the card account (or with Airpoints, for Airpoints Platinum).
Does Amex card travel insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?
The terms for all three cards we checked exclude claims arising from pre-existing medical conditions, and we found no process in them for applying to have a condition covered.
Sources
- American Express Platinum Card Insurances New Zealand Terms and Conditions (cover effective from 1 July 2026)
- American Express Airpoints Platinum Card Protection Insurance Terms & Conditions (effective from 1 April 2021)
- American Express Gold Rewards Card and Gold Credit Card Insurance Terms & Conditions (effective from 15 September 2022)
- Platinum Card page, americanexpress.com/nz
- Airpoints Platinum Card page, americanexpress.com/nz
- Gold Credit Card page, americanexpress.com/nz
Checked on 30 September 2026. Page numbers are PDF page numbers. Card terms change; the terms in force when you travel are the ones that apply. This page is general information, not financial advice.
Request a quote
This page is general information about who provides American Express Travel Insurance; it is not a recommendation. To request a quote, send your trip details through the quote form; they go to Evolve Group Limited (FSP711891), who will contact you.