HSBC Platinum credit card benefits: which insurance actually pays out?

Covers the non-refundable prepaid travel and accommodation you lose if the trip is cancelled, disrupted or rescheduled for a reason outside your control, up to $100,000 in total. The list of covered reasons is broad: illness or injury, a relative's death or hospitalisation in Australia, retrenchment, natural disaster, severe weather, quarantine, jury duty and more. Epidemic and pandemic illness is included for cancellation. A $400 excess applies per claim, and the trip must have been activated by charging at least $500 of prepaid travel to the card.

Pays reasonable overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses from a covered injury or illness, up to $20 million, with a $400 excess per claim. Treatment is covered for up to 12 months from when the condition first arose. Allianz Global Assistance arranges hospital admissions and evacuation directly through its 24/7 line. Emergency dental for sudden acute pain is a small sub-limit at $750.

Emergency evacuation and repatriation are arranged and paid by Allianz Global Assistance, up to $20 million with no excess. The 24/7 line coordinates medical transfer to the nearest suitable hospital or, where needed, back to Australia. Repatriation of remains and reasonable funeral costs overseas are covered up to $15,000.

Covers emergency dental for sudden and acute pain (spontaneous toothache) to sound natural teeth, up to $750 with a $400 excess. It does not cover dental caused by decay, wear or an injury, which sits under the medical benefit instead. Cosmetic and preventative dental are excluded.

Pays $75 per person for each day you stay in hospital overseas beyond the first 48 continuous hours, up to a total of $2,250. It is a cash allowance for incidentals on top of the medical benefit, not a treatment payment. No excess applies.

Covers reasonable additional travel and accommodation when your trip is disrupted by a covered injury, illness or event, up to $100,000 with a $400 excess. It includes bringing a companion to you if you are hospitalised, and repatriating dependants left without supervision. Approval from Allianz Global Assistance is needed for major costs.

Reimburses reasonable meals and accommodation if your journey is delayed for at least 6 consecutive hours by something outside your control, up to $500 per cardholder or spouse. No excess applies. The 6 hour trigger and the low total mean an overnight airport delay is only partly covered.

Pays for alternative transport, up to $3,000 with a $400 excess, when your journey is interrupted by an unforeseen event and you would otherwise miss a special event such as a wedding, funeral or prepaid tour. It is there to get you to that fixed commitment on time, not for ordinary connections.

Covers the reasonable cost of flying home early if a relative in Australia dies or is hospitalised while you are away, up to $7,500 with a $400 excess. It also pays to resume the trip if more than 14 days or 25% of the cover period remains and you return within 30 days.

If a carrier delays or misdirects your luggage for more than 10 consecutive hours, this reimburses essential clothing and personal items, $600 per person up to a total of $1,100 for a cardholder travelling with family. No excess applies. Keep the receipts and the carrier's delay report.

Covers theft, accidental damage or permanent loss of luggage and personal effects, up to $25,000 per person with a $400 excess. Per-item sub-limits are $6,000 for computers, cameras and video gear and $6,000 for any other single item, including mobile phones. Depreciation applies for age and wear, and items left in a vehicle are limited to $1,000 and only in daylight from a concealed locked compartment.

Covers the cost to reissue essential travel documents, transaction cards or travellers cheques that are lost, stolen or destroyed, up to $600, plus up to $600 for loss from fraudulent use of stolen cards or cheques. No excess applies. Report the loss to police and the card issuer to claim.

Covers your legal liability, including legal costs, if you negligently cause death, injury or property damage to someone else while overseas, up to $2,500,000 per event. No excess applies. Liability tied to vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, your employment or your own family is excluded.

Pays a lump sum if you die from an injury during the trip, $30,000 for the cardholder, $30,000 for a spouse and $5,000 per dependant, up to a family total of $80,000. No excess applies. Permanent disability from an injury is covered separately at $30,000.

If an overseas injury leaves you unable to work after you return home, this replaces your verified weekly income up to a total of $8,500. Payments start from the 31st day after your return and only apply to a cardholder or spouse. Dependants are not covered for loss of income.

Covers cancellation of prepaid interstate travel, up to $3,000 with a $200 excess, when your domestic trip is cancelled or disrupted for a covered reason. To activate it, charge the whole return domestic flight ticket to the card, or spend at least $250 of prepaid domestic travel on it. Cover runs for up to 14 days per journey.

Reimburses meals and accommodation if your domestic flight is delayed 4 hours or more and no alternative transport is provided, $125 per person up to a total of $500. No excess applies. It covers the interstate leg only, not overseas connections.

No domestic additional-expenses cover. The domestic policy covers cancellation, flight delay and luggage only. Extra travel or accommodation from an interstate trip cut short by illness or disruption is out of pocket.

Covers loss, theft or damage to luggage on an interstate trip, up to $500 per item and $1,250 in total, with a $200 excess. It is a modest domestic add-on rather than a full personal-effects policy, so treat expensive gear as underinsured on domestic legs.

If your luggage is delayed 12 hours or more on a domestic trip, this reimburses essential items, $150 per person up to a total of $400. No excess applies. Keep receipts and the carrier's delay confirmation to claim.