No trip cancellation. This benefit is not included with this card. Prepaid flights, hotels and tours are not reimbursable if you cancel, and a non-refundable week in Tokyo for two commonly runs to several thousand dollars.
Gem Visa: does this interest-free card include any travel insurance cover?
Gem·$65/year·Visa
0,0/5Independent review · verified October 2026
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Our Verdict · Travel Insurance
Our take on travel insurance for the Gem Gem Visa
Expert review · Pauline LauroreAuthor of HelloSafe's card insurance reviews
No travel insurance. None at all, so the only cover on your trip is the cover you buy. So, you're in a clinic in Bali with a broken wrist and the front desk wants a card before anyone treats you: you can put the bill on the Gem Visa, but nothing attached to it pays you back. Most people searching for Gem Visa travel insurance assume any Visa quietly insures a trip. This one doesn't, and the Conditions of Use (the card's contract) mention only Gem Visa Shopper's Protection, an optional consumer credit insurance you pay for, which is not travel cover. ACC and the public health system don't pay for treatment overseas, while a standalone New Zealand travel policy covers overseas medical, cancellation and baggage with no card-spend condition at all. If you use the Gem Visa to spread the cost of a holiday, that is financing, not insurance, so budget for the travel policy as a separate line.
What works on travel
- No activation rule to get wrong: there is no travel cover to switch on, so you know where you stand before you book
- 6 months interest free on purchases of $250 or more, when you select the plan within 30 days
- $0 additional cardholder fee, so a partner can carry a card on the same account
Where travel breaks down
- No overseas emergency medical: ACC and the public health system pay nothing abroad, so a hospital bill is yours
- No trip cancellation: prepaid flights, hotels and tours are lost if illness or a family emergency stops the trip
- No evacuation or repatriation: an air ambulance home from Bali commonly costs six figures
- No luggage, delay or travel document cover, overseas or on trips within New Zealand
- $65 annual fee plus a $55 establishment fee, with no insurance benefit in return
Our methodology
Every score is derived from official bank documents: terms and conditions, benefit guides, and claim procedures. No commercial relationship influences our ratings.
Travel Insurance · 20 guarantees
What does Gem Gem Visa Travel Insurance actually cover?
What's not covered
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No overseas medical cover. This benefit is not included with this card. All medical costs overseas are the cardholder's responsibility, because ACC and the public health system don't pay for treatment overseas, and a few nights in a Honolulu hospital commonly run to six figures.
What's not covered
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No evacuation or repatriation. This benefit is not included with this card. Evacuation and repatriation costs are entirely the cardholder's responsibility, and an air ambulance from Bali to New Zealand commonly costs six figures.
What's not covered
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No emergency dental cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Emergency dental treatment overseas is out of pocket, because ACC and the public health system don't pay for treatment overseas.
What's not covered
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No hospital cash allowance. This benefit is not included with this card. No daily allowance is paid during a hospital stay overseas, so the incidental costs of an admission are yours to cover.
What's not covered
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No additional expenses cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Extra accommodation and transport after a disruption, such as a cyclone closing Nadi airport, are the cardholder's responsibility.
What's not covered
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No travel delay cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Meals, accommodation and transport during a long delay, such as an unplanned night in Honolulu, are the cardholder's responsibility.
What's not covered
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No alternative transport cover. This benefit is not included with this card. The cost of alternative transport to reach a prepaid cruise, tour or event on time is out of pocket.
What's not covered
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No return home cover. This benefit is not included with this card. The cost of flying home after a family emergency, and of resuming the trip afterwards, is out of pocket.
What's not covered
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No luggage delay cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Clothes and toiletries bought while your bag is delayed, say on arrival in Rarotonga, are out of pocket.
What's not covered
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No luggage cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Replacement costs for lost or stolen bags and belongings are the cardholder's responsibility.
What's not covered
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No travel documents cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Replacing a lost passport or stolen cash overseas, including the extra travel to reach a consulate, is out of pocket.
What's not covered
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No personal liability cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Legal liability for injuring someone or damaging property overseas is uninsured, and claims of this kind commonly reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.
What's not covered
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No accidental death cover. This benefit is not included with this card. No lump sum is paid to you or your estate if an accident on the trip causes death or permanent disablement.
What's not covered
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No income protection. 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.
What's not covered
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No domestic cancellation cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Prepaid domestic flights and accommodation, such as a Queenstown ski week, are not reimbursable if you cancel.
What's not covered
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
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.
What's not covered
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No domestic expenses 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.
What's not covered
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
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.
What's not covered
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No domestic 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.
What's not covered
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
We source benefits from official card guides, but PDFs are sometimes hard to obtain or update. Spotted something off?
Coverage Radar
Where the Gem Gem Visa wins, where it loses
Coverage snapshot for this tab — click any layer to highlight its scores.
Trip cancellation: not covered by this card
Medical fees abroad: not covered by this card
Medical repatriation: not covered by this card
Compare
Gem VisaThis card0.0/5?
$65/yrWith travel insuranceIdeal
Complete coverage · 5.0 / 5Premium card avg.
$297 avg. annual feeClick a layer to highlight its scores on the radar.
Side-by-side comparison
How the Gem Gem Visa stacks up against the alternatives
Same 5 coverage dimensions, ranked head-to-head against the cards most Gem Visa shoppers also consider.
| Card | This card Gem Visa Gem · $65/yr 0.0/5? | Visa Platinum Rewards ASB · $125/yr 3.2/5? | Platinum Card American Express · $850/yr 3.6/5? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Trip cancellation Per person, per trip cap | Not covered Cover this gap → | Unlimited All prepaid deposits, no dollar cap | $30,000 per person All prepaid travel, $30,000 cap | |
Emergency medical Hospital bills abroad | Not covered Cover this gap → | Unlimited Unlimited, ages 75 and under | $5,000,000 Capped $5,000,000, overseas only | |
Emergency evacuation Air ambulance + repatriation | Not covered Cover this gap → | Unlimited Included in unlimited medical | $5,000,000 Approved by Chubb Assistance | |
Trip delay trigger Hours before benefits kick in | Not covered Cover this gap → | 6h / $400 Trigger: more than 6 hours | 4h / $650 Trigger: 4 hours | |
Trip interruption Covered amount | Not covered Cover this gap → | Unlimited Unlimited, broad list of events | $5,000 per person Trip change during the trip |
StrongLimited / misleadingNot covered
Data verified against each card's Guide to Benefits, May 2026.
Cardholder reviews
What cardholders say about the Gem Gem Visa
Real experiences on interest-free plans, repayments and fees 1 reviews
ME
Michael Emery (Trustpilot)
Terms and conditions just got even worse
As if the GEM Visa nightmare wasn't already bad enough, they have just updated the terms and conditions so you DON'T get 6 months interest free automatically, instead, you have a limited time to go online and apply for it AFTER the sale. …
Emergency · Card assistance line
How to contact Gem Gem Visa assistance?
Gem Visa customer service (New Zealand)
0800 500 505
Free call within New Zealand · Mon to Fri 9am to 6.30pm, Sat 11am to 8pm
Lost or stolen card (from overseas)
+64 9 362 5432
Any time, for lost or stolen cards
Benefit administrator: None. The Gem Visa carries no complimentary insurance, so there is no insurer or claims administrator.
Claims & pre-authorizations
Is there anything to claim on the Gem Visa?
1
Step 1: Know there is no insurance claim to lodge
The Gem Visa includes no complimentary travel, rental or purchase cover, so there is no insurer, no emergency assistance line and no claim form. A medical bill, a cancelled trip or a damaged hire car while travelling stays with you unless you hold your own policy.
2
Step 2: For a lost card or an account problem, contact Gem
Call 0800 500 505 in New Zealand, or +64 9 362 5432 from overseas, at any time to report a lost or stolen card. Account complaints go to Latitude's Customer Resolution Team on 0800 735 192, then, if unresolved, to the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme (IFSO Scheme), free of charge.
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Step 3: For real cover, buy a standalone travel policy before you leave
Because the card insures nothing, take out a standalone travel insurance policy when you book, and rely on your home contents policy for what you buy. Any claim then goes to that insurer, so keep its policy number and 24/7 emergency line with you on the trip.
FAQ
What people ask about the Gem Gem Visa
- There is nothing to activate, because the Gem Visa does not include any complimentary travel insurance. On most New Zealand cards that do carry cover, it switches on when you charge some or all of your prepaid travel costs to the card before departure. The Gem Visa has no such benefit, so paying for flights or a hotel on it gives you no overseas medical, cancellation or baggage cover. The only insurance named in its Conditions of Use is Gem Visa Shopper's Protection, an optional consumer credit insurance you pay for, which is not travel cover. If you are travelling, buy a standalone travel policy before you leave, and treat the card as a way to pay, not a way to insure the trip.
- Nobody, because the Gem Visa has no complimentary insurance policy. There is no travel cover for the cardholder, an additional cardholder, a partner or dependent children, and no purchase cover on what any of them buy. An additional cardholder costs $0 on this account, but that card carries no insurance either. Since there is no benefit, there is no definition of covered persons to check. If your family is travelling, a standalone travel policy is the way to insure everyone on the trip, and it can usually list a partner and children on the same policy. For the things you buy, your home contents insurance is the cover that actually responds to theft or accidental damage.
- No. The Gem Visa has no rental vehicle excess cover (the benefit that pays back what a hire company charges you after damage or theft), either for hires overseas or for hire cars and campervans rented in New Zealand. If the vehicle is damaged or stolen, the full excess set in your rental agreement is yours to pay, and hire companies commonly set it in the thousands of dollars. Paying for the hire on the Gem Visa does not change that. Before you collect the keys, either take the hire company's excess reduction or buy a standalone rental excess policy. Whichever you choose, read the vehicle types it covers, since campervans and motorhomes are often treated differently from cars.
- There is no insurance claim to make, because the Gem Visa carries no complimentary travel, rental or purchase cover, and so no insurer or claims administrator. For a lost or stolen card, call Gem on 0800 500 505, or on +64 9 362 5432 from overseas, at any time. A complaint about your account goes first to Latitude's Customer Resolution Team on 0800 735 192. If it stays unresolved, the Conditions of Use let you take it to the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme (IFSO Scheme), a free independent service. For a medical bill, a cancelled trip or lost luggage, you claim on your own standalone travel policy instead, so keep its policy number and emergency line with you.
- The Gem Visa carries no complimentary travel insurance, so there is no overseas medical, cancellation or baggage cover, and no purchase protection or extended warranty. That also means no evacuation or repatriation, no travel delay or missed connection cover, no personal liability, no accidental death benefit and no cover for trips within New Zealand. There is no rental vehicle excess cover, no snow-sports cover and no mobile phone cover. ACC and the public health system don't pay for treatment overseas, so a hospital stay in Honolulu would be entirely your cost. The one insurance linked to the account, Gem Visa Shopper's Protection, is optional credit insurance you pay for, not travel cover.
- No. The Gem Visa has no travel insurance at all, so there is no cover for a skiing or snowboarding injury overseas, on-piste or off-piste. A helicopter transfer off the mountain, the hospital treatment after it, your own skis or snowboard, hired gear and an unused lift pass are all your cost. ACC doesn't pay for treatment overseas, and a fracture treated in Japan quickly reaches five figures. This is not a snow-sports exclusion inside a policy, it is the absence of any policy. For a ski trip abroad, buy a standalone travel policy and add its snow-sports option, then check that it covers the terrain you plan to ski, since some policies exclude skiing outside marked runs.
- Yes, for every trip overseas. The Gem Visa provides no travel insurance, so it does nothing for overseas medical bills, cancellations, evacuation or lost luggage. ACC and the public health system don't pay for treatment overseas, and a few nights in a Honolulu hospital commonly run to six figures, all payable by you without a policy. Using the card's interest-free plans to spread the cost of a holiday is financing, not cover. A standalone New Zealand travel policy fills each of these gaps without any condition on how you paid for the trip. Buy it when you book, not the week you fly, so cancellation cover applies if something goes wrong before departure.
- No. The Gem Visa does not include mobile phone insurance, so a cracked screen, water damage or a stolen handset is not covered, even if you bought the phone on the card or on one of its interest-free plans. The card has no purchase protection either, so there is no short window of theft or damage cover on a new phone. If the phone breaks, you keep repaying the plan and pay for the repair yourself, and a flagship screen repair commonly costs several hundred dollars. Check whether your home contents policy covers portable items away from home, or ask your insurer about adding the phone as a specified item.
- Yes. The Gem Visa is a Visa credit card, so it works overseas wherever Visa is accepted, and there is nothing to switch on before you go. Two points matter for travellers. First, the Conditions of Use list an international transaction fee on transactions in a foreign currency, or with a supplier Visa places outside New Zealand, so check the current rate in the card's rates and fees before you spend abroad. Second, if the card is lost or stolen overseas, call Gem on +64 9 362 5432, a line open at any time. Using the card abroad adds no insurance, so travel with a standalone policy as well.
Not just Gem
Other cards worth considering
Gem Visa is a strong choice — but depending on what you prioritize, one of these may suit you better.
Low Rate Visa
ANZ
Warehouse Money Visa
Warehouse Money
Zero Visa
Kiwibank
CashBack Visa Platinum
ANZ
Not sure how card insurance works? Read our guide to credit card travel insurance