Trip Cancellation Insurance reimburses non-refundable amounts paid to a Common Carrier when a covered loss prevents travel. Covered losses are Accidental Bodily Injury, loss of life, or Sickness of the Eligible Traveler, a Traveling Companion, or a Family Member. The maximum is $2,000 per Covered Trip and $5,000 per account per 12-month period. Coverage is secondary. You must charge the full cost of Common Carrier transportation to the Bilt Obsidian card. Trip must be round-trip. Pre-existing conditions from the 60 days before trip purchase are excluded.
Bilt Obsidian card benefits: which insurance protections actually hold up?
Bilt Rewards·$95/year·Mastercard World Elite·Federal Insurance Company (Chubb)
Pauline LauroreAuthor of HelloSafe's card insurance reviewsUpdated June 11, 20268 min read
1,9/5Independent review · verified June 2026
1,2
3,2
3,1
Our Verdict · Travel Insurance
Our opinion on Bilt Rewards Obsidian Travel Insurance
Expert review · Pauline LauroreAuthor of HelloSafe's card insurance reviews
Book a $5,000 European trip on the Bilt Obsidian and cancel due to illness. The airline tickets come back. Hotels do not. Common carrier costs only. That limitation defines what this card's trip cancellation is worth, and most cardholders discover it after the fact. Trip cancellation and interruption both cap at $2,000 per trip, $5,000 per account per year. Three covered reasons: Accidental Bodily Injury, illness, and death. No job loss, no natural disaster, no supplier default. Most people assume trip cancellation covers the full prepaid trip: it covers the airline, the train, the cruise, and nothing else. Trip delay starts after 6 hours, covering meals and accommodation up to $300, limited to one claim per year. Lost or damaged luggage is real: $1,500 per incident, checked and carry-on both eligible, electronics and jewelry excluded. No medical abroad. No evacuation. Standalone travel insurance starts at $100,000 medical coverage per person for international trips. If you book flights only and travel domestically or short-haul, the delay and luggage coverage may be sufficient. If you combine flights with non-refundable hotels and tours internationally, this card's cancellation benefit protects a fraction of your actual exposure.
What works on travel
- Trip cancellation and interruption covered up to $2,000 per trip: illness, injury, or death of cardholder, companion, or family member
- Trip delay starts at 6 hours: meals, accommodation, and transport covered up to $300 per trip
- Lost and damaged luggage covered up to $1,500 per incident: checked and carry-on bags both eligible
- Coverage extends to Traveling Companions on the same booking
Where travel breaks down
- Trip cancellation covers Common Carrier costs only: prepaid hotels, tours, and non-carrier expenses are not reimbursable
- Three covered cancellation reasons only: no job loss, extreme weather, supplier default, or natural disaster
- No emergency medical coverage abroad: every hospital bill outside the US is out of pocket
- No evacuation or medical repatriation benefit: air ambulance from Southeast Asia or Europe exceeds $100,000
- Lost luggage excludes electronics, laptops, cameras, and jewelry: high-value items have no recourse
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 · 11 guarantees
What does Bilt Rewards Obsidian Travel Insurance actually cover?
Quality, not just caps
Coverage applies to Common Carrier costs only. Non-refundable hotel reservations, tour deposits, and other prepaid travel costs outside a Common Carrier are not reimbursable under this benefit.
Full cost of Common Carrier transportation charged to the Bilt Obsidian card Round-trip travel required Notify the Common Carrier immediately upon cancellation Report claim within 60 days at mycardbenefits.com or 1-800-627-8372 Submit written proof of loss within 180 days
What's covered
- Non-refundable Common Carrier fares (flights, trains, cruises) charged to the Bilt Obsidian card
- Cancellation due to Accidental Bodily Injury, illness, or death of cardholder, traveling companion, or family member
What's not covered
- Hotels, tours, and all non-Common-Carrier prepaid travel costs
- Pre-existing medical conditions from the 60 days before trip purchase
- One-way travel with no return destination
- War, declared or undeclared
- Mental or emotional disorders unless hospitalized
- Intoxication or controlled substance use
- Self-inflicted injury or suicide
No emergency medical insurance exists in the Guide to Benefits. Every dollar of any hospital bill abroad is yours. A serious ER visit in Japan or Europe runs $10,000 to $80,000.
No emergency medical coverage abroad. The Mastercard Assistance Center at 1-800-627-8372 provides referrals to local providers but reimburses nothing. All medical costs abroad are the cardholder's responsibility.
What's not covered
- No medical reimbursement of any kind. Mastercard Assistance Center is a referral service only.
No evacuation coverage exists in the Guide to Benefits. Air ambulance from a remote destination runs $100,000 to $300,000 with no reimbursement available.
No emergency evacuation or repatriation coverage. This benefit is not included with this card. Emergency transportation costs are entirely the cardholder's responsibility. An air ambulance from Southeast Asia or Central America can exceed $200,000.
What's not covered
- No evacuation or repatriation coverage of any kind.
Full cost of Common Carrier transportation charged to the Bilt Obsidian card Report claim within 60 days at mycardbenefits.com or 1-800-627-8372 Submit written proof of loss within 180 days
Trip Interruption Insurance reimburses non-refundable prepaid Common Carrier transportation and additional economy-class transportation when a covered loss interrupts a trip. The maximum is $2,000 per Covered Trip and $5,000 per account per 12-month period, shared with the Trip Cancellation annual cap. Coverage is secondary. Covered losses are Accidental Bodily Injury, loss of life, or Sickness of the cardholder, a traveling companion, or a family member.
What's covered
- Non-refundable prepaid Common Carrier transportation that was missed
- Additional economy-class transportation to rejoin the trip or return to the departure point
What's not covered
- Hotels, tours, and non-Common-Carrier prepaid travel costs
- Pre-existing medical conditions from the 60 days before trip purchase
- War or hostilities
- Mental or emotional disorders unless hospitalized
Coverage is limited to one claim per 12-month period. A second qualifying delay in the same year is not reimbursable.
Full trip cost charged to the Bilt Obsidian card Delay must exceed 6 hours Report claim within 60 days at mycardbenefits.com or 1-800-627-8372 Submit proof of delay from the Common Carrier within 180 days
Trip Delay Insurance reimburses travel expenses when a Common Carrier delay exceeds 6 hours. Covered causes: inclement weather, equipment failure documented by the carrier, or lost or stolen passport or travel documents. Coverage is limited to $300 per trip and one claim per 12-month period. Coverage is secondary. Delays caused by war or hostilities are not covered.
What's covered
- Meals, accommodation, and transportation costs during a covered delay exceeding 6 hours
- Eligible expenses for delays due to inclement weather, documented equipment failure, or lost or stolen travel documents
What's not covered
- Delays caused by war, invasion, civil war, or hostilities between nations
- No coverage if the Common Carrier cancels within 6 hours of scheduled departure
No missed connection coverage. This benefit is not included with this card.
What's not covered
- Missed connection coverage not included.
No early return benefit.
What's not covered
- Early return transportation coverage not included.
No baggage delay reimbursement.
What's not covered
- Baggage delay reimbursement not included.
Electronics and jewelry are explicitly excluded. A laptop or camera damaged in checked luggage is not reimbursable under this benefit.
Full Common Carrier ticket cost charged to the Bilt Obsidian card Report loss or damage to the carrier within 24 hours Report claim within 60 days at mycardbenefits.com or 1-800-627-8372 Submit documentation within 180 days
Lost or Damaged Luggage Insurance reimburses the actual cost to repair or replace checked and carry-on luggage and personal property inside when lost or damaged in the care of a Common Carrier. Lost means the bag is missing for 10 or more consecutive days. The maximum is $1,500 per incident and 2 claims per 12-month period. Coverage is secondary. Electronics, jewelry, eyeglasses, furs, and art are excluded.
What's covered
- Repair or replacement of checked and carry-on luggage and personal property inside
- Lost luggage (missing 10+ consecutive days) and physically damaged luggage
What's not covered
- Electronic equipment including laptops, PDAs, video and film cameras, and hearing aids
- Jewelry, art, silverware, furs, and antiques
- Eyeglasses, contact lenses, prosthetics, dentures, and documents
- Plants, shrubs, animals, consumables, and perishables
- Travel under 100 miles on a regularly scheduled route
- Loss or damage fully paid or denied by the Common Carrier
Travel Accident Insurance (accidental death and dismemberment) is not included with this card.
What's not covered
- AD&D travel accident coverage not included.
No hotel theft protection.
What's not covered
- Hotel theft coverage not included.
We source benefits from official card guides, but PDFs are sometimes hard to obtain or update. Spotted something off?
Coverage Radar
Where the Bilt Rewards Obsidian wins, where it loses
Coverage snapshot for this tab — click any layer to highlight its scores.
Compare
ObsidianThis card1.9/5?
$95/yrWith travel insuranceIdeal
Complete coverage · 5.0 / 5Premium card avg.
$150 avg. annual feeClick a layer to highlight its scores on the radar.
Side-by-side comparison
How the Bilt Rewards Obsidian stacks up against the alternatives
Same 5 coverage dimensions, ranked head-to-head against the cards most Obsidian shoppers also consider.
| Card | This card Obsidian Bilt Rewards · $95/yr 1.9/5? | Aeroplan Chase · $95/yr 3.2/5? | Sapphire Reserve Chase · $795/yr 3.9/5? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Trip cancellation Per person, per trip cap | $2,000 per trip Common Carrier only | $1,500 per person All prepaid travel | $10,000 per person 13 covered reasons | |
Emergency medical Hospital bills abroad | Not covered Cover this gap → | $2,500 Reimbursement only | $2,500 | $50 deductible $50 deductible | |
Emergency evacuation Air ambulance + repatriation | Not covered Cover this gap → | $100,000 Pre-auth required | $100,000 | pre-auth required Pre-authorization required | |
Trip delay trigger Hours before benefits kick in | 6h / $300 6-hour threshold | 12h / $500 Trigger: 12 hours | $500 after 6 hours Trigger: 6 hours | |
Rental CDW Primary or secondary | Secondary US / Primary intl Primary outside US | Secondary / $75,000 Secondary CDW | Primary / $75,000 Primary coverage |
StrongLimited / misleadingNot covered
Data verified against each card's Guide to Benefits, May 2026.
Cardholder reviews
What cardholders say about the Bilt Rewards Obsidian
Real experiences on travel protection and claims 28 reviews
RC
r/creditcards
Cell phone claim through Sedgwick was straightforward
Cracked screen on my phone, filed through mycardbenefits.com. Submitted the repair estimate and the wireless billing statement showing the charge to my Bilt Obsidian. Approved in about three weeks. Got $750 back after the $50 deductible. The one condition: your monthly wireless bill has to post to the card before the damage happens. If you pay with another card that month, you are not covered.
RB
r/biltrewards
Benefits in marketing did not match the Guide to Benefits
The Bilt 2.0 rollout was not clean. Benefits listed on the website and in early marketing materials did not always match what ended up in the official Guide to Benefits. Bilt confirmed the Guide to Benefits is authoritative, which means the sheets some of us used to evaluate the card before applying are not what governs your actual coverage. Read the Guide before you assume something is covered.
RC
r/creditcards
Trip cancellation covers flights only, not the hotel
Filed a trip cancellation after a family medical issue. The flights were reimbursed. The non-refundable hotel deposit was not. The benefit is Common Carrier only: flights, trains, cruise fares. Hotels, tours, and prepaid activities are excluded. It says so in the Guide to Benefits, but it is easy to miss if you just see $2,000 trip cancellation in the summary and assume that covers the full trip cost. It does not.
Emergency · Card assistance line
How to contact Bilt Rewards Obsidian assistance?
Sedgwick handles all benefit claims for the Bilt Obsidian card
Mastercard Assistance Center (US)
1-800-627-8372
Free · 24/7
Mastercard Global Service (international)
+1-636-722-7111
Collect call accepted · 24/7
Benefit administrator: Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc. All benefit claims (trip cancellation, trip delay, luggage, rental, purchase protection, extended warranty, cell phone). Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG company.
Claims & pre-authorizations
How to file a Bilt Obsidian card benefit claim
1
Step 1: Contact Sedgwick
Call 1-800-627-8372 (1-800-Mastercard) or visit mycardbenefits.com to open a claim. Sedgwick handles all Bilt Obsidian benefit claims. Deadlines: trip cancel, interruption, delay: report within 60 days. Luggage: report to the carrier within 24 hours and to Sedgwick within 60 days. Rental car: report within 60 days. Purchase protection: report within 60 days. Extended warranty: report within 60 days of failure. Cell phone: report within 90 days.
2
Step 2: Gather your documentation
Trip cancellation or interruption: carrier tickets, card billing statement, physician order or death certificate, cancellation policy from the carrier. Trip delay: card statement, proof of delay from carrier, receipts for meals and accommodation. Luggage: carrier ticket, initial claim report to carrier, receipts for repair or replacement. Rental car: rental agreement, driver's license, card statement, police report if applicable, repair estimate from the facility. Extended warranty: purchase receipt, card statement, original warranty, repair estimate. Cell phone: card statement showing wireless bill payment, current wireless billing statement, repair estimate or police report.
3
Step 3: Submit written proof
All claims require written proof of loss submitted to Sedgwick within the applicable deadline. Trip cancellation, interruption, delay, and rental car claims: 180 days from the loss. Luggage: 180 days from the incident. Extended warranty: 180 days from failure. Cell phone: 120 days from the loss. Submit online at mycardbenefits.com or by mail to Sedgwick. Keep copies of all documents submitted.
FAQ
What people ask about the Bilt Rewards Obsidian
- Most Bilt Obsidian travel benefits activate automatically when you pay for your trip with the card. For trip cancellation and interruption, charge the full cost of your Common Carrier transportation (flights, trains, or cruises) to the Bilt Obsidian card. For MasterRental Coverage, decline the rental agency's collision damage waiver at the counter and pay the full rental with this card, signing the agreement as the primary driver. Cell phone protection activates the first day of the calendar month after you pay your monthly wireless bill with the Bilt Obsidian card. No pre-registration is required for any benefit except Mastercard ID Theft Protection, which requires enrollment at mastercardus.idprotectiononline.com.
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance covers the cardholder, Traveling Companions (anyone who made advance travel arrangements with you whose trip cost was charged to the card), and Family Members (spouse or domestic partner, and dependent children under 19, or under 26 if a full-time college student). Trip Delay and Lost or Damaged Luggage coverage applies to the same covered persons. MasterRental Coverage applies to the cardholder and any person designated as an authorized driver on the rental agreement. Cell phone protection covers all lines on the monthly wireless billing statement charged to the Bilt Obsidian card, including supplemental lines.
- At the rental counter, decline the agency's collision damage waiver and pay the entire rental with your Bilt Obsidian card. You must be named as the primary driver on the rental agreement and the rental cannot exceed 31 consecutive days. Inside the United States, coverage is secondary: your personal auto insurance pays first, then the card covers your deductible and remaining eligible loss. Outside your country of residence, coverage is primary and the card pays first with no personal insurer involvement. Covered losses include collision, overturn, vandalism, theft, and physical damage. Towing to the nearest repair facility and loss-of-use charges up to $500 are also covered. Trucks, motorcycles, full-size vans, cargo vans, and off-road vehicles are excluded. File claims at mycardbenefits.com or call 1-800-627-8372 within 60 days.
- All Bilt Obsidian benefit claims go through Sedgwick Claims Management Services. Call 1-800-627-8372 or visit mycardbenefits.com to open a claim. Trip cancellation and interruption: report within 60 days, submit proof within 180 days. Trip delay: report within 60 days, submit receipts and carrier proof of delay within 180 days. Lost or damaged luggage: report to the carrier within 24 hours, then to Sedgwick within 60 days, and submit documentation within 180 days. MasterRental: report within 60 days, submit rental agreement, repair estimate, and driver's license within 180 days. Extended warranty and purchase protection: report within 60 days of failure, submit proof within 180 days. Cell phone: report within 90 days, submit proof within 120 days. File the day of the incident, not the day you return home.
- The Bilt Obsidian card does not include emergency medical coverage abroad, medical evacuation, or accidental death and dismemberment insurance. Trip cancellation covers only Common Carrier costs such as flights, trains, and cruise fares: hotels, tours, and non-carrier prepaid travel costs are not reimbursable. Only three events trigger trip cancellation: Accidental Bodily Injury, illness, and death. Pre-existing conditions from the 60 days before trip purchase and one-way travel are excluded. For rental cars, personal injury, third-party liability, and damage to other vehicles are not covered. Purchase Assurance excludes mysterious disappearance and items stolen from vehicles. Lost luggage coverage excludes electronics, laptops, cameras, jewelry, and eyeglasses.
- No. The Bilt Obsidian Guide to Benefits does not include emergency medical coverage abroad or medical evacuation. If you need hospital treatment outside the United States, those costs are entirely your responsibility. The Mastercard Assistance Center at 1-800-627-8372 can refer you to local providers but covers nothing financially. For international travel, carrying separate travel medical insurance with at least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage is worth considering.
- Yes. Trip Cancellation Insurance covers up to $2,000 per covered trip and $5,000 per account per 12-month period. Coverage applies when Accidental Bodily Injury, illness, or death prevents travel by the cardholder, a Traveling Companion, or a Family Member. You must charge the full cost of transportation to the Bilt Obsidian card. One key limitation: coverage applies only to Common Carrier costs such as flights, trains, and cruise fares. Non-refundable hotel reservations, tour deposits, and other prepaid non-carrier expenses are not reimbursable. Pre-existing conditions from the 60 days before trip purchase and one-way travel are excluded. Report claims within 60 days at mycardbenefits.com.
- No. Pre-existing conditions are excluded from the Bilt Obsidian trip cancellation and interruption benefit. A pre-existing condition is any injury, sickness, or disease affecting the cardholder, a Traveling Companion, or a Family Member within the 60-day period before the trip purchase date, where the condition manifested symptoms, required diagnosis, or required treatment during that window. Stable, maintenance-managed conditions with no new symptoms or treatment changes in the 60 days before purchase are not classified as pre-existing under this policy.
- The Bilt Obsidian provides trip cancellation, trip delay, and luggage coverage for international trips, but it has two significant gaps. First, there is no emergency medical coverage abroad and no evacuation benefit. A hospital stay in Japan or Europe can run $10,000 to $80,000 out of pocket with no reimbursement available. Second, trip cancellation covers only Common Carrier costs: if you book a non-refundable hotel separately from your flights, that hotel deposit is not recoverable. For domestic trips or short-haul international flights, the baseline protections are functional. For longer trips combining non-refundable accommodations and tours, a separate travel insurance policy for medical and full trip coverage is worth considering.
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