ASB Platinum travel insurance: what does the Visa Platinum Rewards really cover?

Covers non-refundable prepaid deposits with no dollar cap if you have to cancel or change the trip before you leave New Zealand, from the day you activate cover. Covered reasons include your own or a travelling companion's unforeseeable illness, injury or death, a natural disaster or severe weather hitting your scheduled transport, the death or hospitalisation of immediate family in New Zealand, and other unforeseeable events outside your control. A $200 excess applies per event.

Unlimited overseas medical and evacuation costs, with no dollar cap for up to 12 months after the illness or injury first occurs, after a $200 excess per event. Cover applies to cardholders and accompanying spouses aged 75 or under at departure; from 76 there is no cover at all unless Mature Age Cover is bought before leaving. Terrorism-related medical costs are capped at $100,000, and up to $2,000 of follow-up treatment in New Zealand is paid within 90 days of your return.

Medical evacuation and repatriation to New Zealand sit inside the unlimited Medical and evacuation benefit, but only when Travel Guard arranges them. The 24/7 Travel Guard emergency line handles it, and your return ticket is used towards the cost. An overseas funeral or the return of remains to New Zealand is paid up to $30,000 per person.

Pays reasonable overseas dental costs to relieve sudden and acute pain in sound and natural teeth, up to $2,000 per person or $4,000 per family. It is pain relief only, so restorative and cosmetic work are not paid.

Pays $100 for each full 24-hour period you spend as an inpatient overseas, up to $5,000 per person or $10,000 per family. The first 24 hours are never paid, and the stay must stem from a valid overseas medical claim. No excess applies.

Covers reasonable extra transport, meal and accommodation costs, or the unused prepaid deposits, with no dollar cap when a covered event disrupts the trip after you leave New Zealand. Covered events include your own or a travelling companion's illness or injury, a natural disaster, severe weather, strikes or riots hitting your scheduled transport, and the death or hospitalisation of immediate family in New Zealand. A $200 excess applies per event.

If your pre-booked public transport overseas is delayed by more than six hours, reasonable meal and accommodation costs are paid up to $400 per person (or $800 per family) for each full six-hour block. The total is capped at $1,200 per person or $2,400 per family, and no excess applies.

Pays the cost of catching up to your itinerary, up to $10,000 per person or per family, if you miss a connection for reasons outside your control. It also applies when your transport provider delays or reschedules a prepaid service so that you fall at least 36 hours behind and no alternative leaving within 36 hours is offered. A separate $5,000 benefit pays alternative public transport to reach a wedding, funeral, convention or prepaid ticketed event.

If a member of your immediate family in New Zealand dies or is hospitalised unexpectedly, the extra cost of cutting the trip short to come home is covered with no dollar cap, after a $200 excess. The family member must have been under 80, ordinarily resident in New Zealand and not terminally ill or in assisted care. For immediate family living overseas, the benefit drops to $2,000 per person or $4,000 per family.

If the carrier has not delivered your checked luggage 12 hours after you arrive at an overseas destination, essential clothing and personal items are reimbursed up to $1,000 per person or $5,000 per family. No excess applies, and items bought this way are not paid again if the bag is never returned.

Loss, theft or damage of luggage and personal items overseas is covered up to $20,000 per person or per family for the trip, with a $3,000 limit per item and $6,000 for a laptop. Payment is the item's current value after depreciation, less the $200 excess.

Covers the cost of replacing travel documents, credit cards or your passport, and of having them sent to you urgently overseas, up to $10,000 per person. Personal money lost or stolen overseas is a separate benefit capped at $500 per person, or $500 for the whole family.

Covers your legal liability for negligently injuring someone or damaging their property overseas, up to $2,500,000 per family. Legal defence costs are paid up to $50,000, and no excess applies.

Pays $50,000 to the cardholder or spouse, or $5,000 for a dependent child, for accidental death or permanent total disablement overseas within 12 months, with scaled amounts for loss of a limb, sight or hearing. A separate Scheduled Transport Accident benefit pays $1,000,000 for death or loss of use of two or more limbs on a plane, bus or train, but only if the full ticket was paid on the card and you are 75 or under.

No loss of income cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Injured in Bali and off work for 8 weeks on your return, you get no income replacement from this card, and ACC weekly compensation only applies to injuries ACC covers.

No domestic cancellation cover. This benefit is not included with this card, which only covers travel beyond New Zealand. Prepaid domestic flights and accommodation, such as a Queenstown ski week, are not reimbursable if you cancel.

No domestic delay cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Meals and accommodation during a delayed or cancelled domestic flight are the cardholder's responsibility.

No domestic disruption cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Extra accommodation and transport after a disruption on a trip within New Zealand are out of pocket.

No domestic luggage cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Lost or stolen luggage on a trip within New Zealand is not reimbursable through this card.

No domestic bag delay cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Essentials bought while your bag is delayed on a domestic flight are out of pocket.