Is the Bilt Palladium card worth the $495 annual fee?

The math works if you use the credits. The card includes $200 in annual Bilt Cash and a $400 hotel credit through Bilt Travel Portal, totaling $600 in credits against a $495 fee. Add the $300 Bilt Cash credited at account opening and the 50,000-point welcome bonus (worth $500 to $1,000 or more transferred to airline partners) and the first-year value is strong. The ongoing case is most compelling for renters who want flat 2X on everything outside rent, Bilt Gold Elite Status perks, and reliably use the hotel credit each year.

Does the Bilt Palladium card have baggage delay coverage?

Yes, and this is a feature unique to the Palladium among Bilt's three cards. If your checked baggage is delayed more than 6 hours at your destination, the card reimburses up to $250 for emergency purchases like clothing and personal hygiene items. Coverage is limited to 2 claims per 12-month period and is secondary to any benefits the airline provides first. You must report the delay to the carrier within 24 hours and file a claim within 60 days at mycardbenefits.com or by calling 1-800-627-8372.

Does the Bilt Palladium card cover medical emergencies abroad?

No. The Bilt Palladium does not include emergency medical expense coverage or evacuation assistance. If you are hospitalized abroad, you will pay out of pocket. This is a meaningful gap for a $495 annual fee card. Consider purchasing a standalone travel insurance policy or pairing this card with one that includes medical coverage for international travel.

What is the hotel credit on the Bilt Palladium card?

The Bilt Palladium includes a $400 annual hotel credit through Bilt Travel Portal, split into two $200 credits: one from January 1 through June 30, and one from July 1 through December 31. To qualify, you must book a stay of at least 2 nights through the Bilt Travel Portal or Bilt App. The credit does not apply to reservations made directly with hotels or through third-party booking sites. Used fully each year, this credit alone exceeds the $495 annual fee.

What does the insurance on my Bilt Palladium card actually cover?

Bilt Rewards·$495/year·Mastercard World Legend·Federal Insurance Company (Chubb)

Pauline LauroreAuthor of HelloSafe's card insurance reviewsUpdated June 11, 20268 min read

2,4/5Independent review · verified June 2026

Travel Insurance

2,5

Car Rental

3,0

Protection

3,0

Our Verdict · Travel Insurance

Our opinion on Bilt Rewards Palladium Travel Insurance

Expert review · Pauline LauroreAuthor of HelloSafe's card insurance reviews

The Bilt Palladium covers trip cancellation and interruption up to $2,000 per trip ($5,000 per year), but the covered reasons are narrow: illness, injury, or death. Weather delays, strikes, and job loss do not qualify. Where the card stands out among bilt palladium benefits is Baggage Delay. A 6-hour trigger gets you up to $250 for emergency clothing and toiletries when your checked bag does not show at the carousel. Trip Delay adds $300 after a carrier-documented 6-hour hold. Lost or Damaged Luggage pays up to $1,500 per incident for checked bags and carry-ons, though electronics and jewelry are excluded. No emergency medical or evacuation coverage exists anywhere on this card. To file any travel claim, call 1-800-627-8372 or go to mycardbenefits.com within 60 days of the incident.

What works on travel

$250 Baggage Delay reimbursement after 6 hours, up to 2 claims per year
$1,500 Lost or Damaged Luggage covers both checked bags and carry-ons
$300 Trip Delay after a carrier-documented 6-hour disruption: meals, lodging, and transportation
$2,000 per trip for cancellation or interruption with no deductible

Where travel breaks down

Trip cancellation covers illness, injury, and death only: weather, job loss, and strikes are not covered
No emergency medical or evacuation coverage: you pay out of pocket abroad
Pre-existing conditions from the last 60 days are excluded from trip cancel and interruption
$5,000 annual trip cancellation cap may be limiting for frequent travelers

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 Palladium Travel Insurance actually cover?

Quality, not just caps

$2,000 per person cap is low for a $495 annual fee card. Weather, strikes, and job loss are not covered reasons. A two-person trip with $4,000 in non-refundable common carrier tickets hits the per-trip limit.

Deductible : No deductible

Full cost of Common Carrier ticket charged to Bilt Palladium card Coverage is secondary to any other applicable insurance Trip must be a round-trip by Common Carrier Notify administrator within 60 days: 1-800-627-8372 or mycardbenefits.com Submit all documentation within 180 days

Trip cancellation reimburses the non-refundable Common Carrier passenger fare when you must cancel before departure due to a covered loss: Accidental Bodily Injury, loss of life, or Sickness of the Eligible Traveler, a Traveling Companion, or a Family Member. Maximum $2,000 per Covered Trip and $5,000 per Eligible Account per 12-month period. The full amount of the Covered Trip must be charged to your Bilt Palladium. Coverage is secondary. Pre-existing conditions from the 60-day period before trip purchase are excluded.

Recommended : $10,000

What's covered

Accidental Bodily Injury of the Eligible Traveler, Traveling Companion, or Family Member
Loss of life of the Eligible Traveler, Traveling Companion, or Family Member
Sickness diagnosed or treated by a Physician preventing travel

What's not covered

Pre-existing conditions from the 60-day period before trip purchase
Intentionally self-inflicted injuries or suicide
Declared or undeclared war
Military maneuvers or training exercises
Mental or emotional disorders (unless hospitalized)
Professional sports participation
Intoxication or drug influence
Criminal or illegal acts
Parachuting from aircraft
Dental treatment except as result of Accidental Bodily Injury
Hearing aids, eyeglasses, contact lenses
One-way travel without a return destination

No emergency medical reimbursement on this card. Every dollar of any hospital bill abroad is yours.

No emergency medical coverage abroad. Mastercard Global Service provides referrals and coordination only. All medical costs abroad are the cardholder's responsibility. A single ER visit in Japan or Europe typically runs $10,000 to $80,000.

What's not covered

All emergency medical expenses abroad: not covered by this card

No emergency evacuation. A transoceanic air ambulance runs $200,000 or more. This card provides zero coverage for that scenario.

No emergency evacuation or repatriation benefit. Mastercard Global Service provides referrals and coordination only. Emergency transportation costs are entirely the cardholder's responsibility. Air evacuation from remote destinations can exceed $200,000.

What's not covered

All emergency evacuation and repatriation costs: not covered by this card

Deductible : No deductible

Full cost of Common Carrier ticket charged to Bilt Palladium Coverage is secondary Notify Common Carrier as soon as possible after covered loss Notify administrator within 60 days: 1-800-627-8372

Trip interruption covers the forfeited non-refundable Common Carrier fare and additional economy-class transportation costs to rejoin or return from your trip when a covered loss forces you to cut the trip short. Maximum $2,000 per Covered Trip and $5,000 per Eligible Account per 12-month period. Same covered reasons as trip cancellation: illness, injury, or death of the Eligible Traveler, Traveling Companion, or Family Member. Coverage is secondary.

Recommended : $10,000

What's covered

Forfeited non-refundable pre-paid land, air and sea transportation
Additional transportation expenses to rejoin or return from the trip

What's not covered

Weather, strikes, or non-medical causes
Pre-existing conditions from 60 days prior to booking
Interruptions due to illegal acts or self-inflicted injuries

Deductible : No deductible

Delay of 6 or more hours from covered cause Full trip cost charged to Bilt Palladium Delay must be documented by the Common Carrier for equipment failure Notify administrator within 60 days: 1-800-627-8372 or mycardbenefits.com Submit within 180 days

Trip delay covers reasonable travel expenses (meals, lodging, and transportation) when a Common Carrier delay of 6 or more hours occurs while traveling to your destination or return destination. Maximum $300 per trip, 1 claim per 12-month period. Covered causes: inclement weather, equipment failure of a Common Carrier (documented by the carrier), or lost or stolen passport or travel documents. The full trip cost must be charged to the Bilt Palladium. Coverage is secondary.

Recommended : $500

What's covered

Meals during the delay
Lodging required by the delay
Transportation incurred during the delay period

What's not covered

Delays caused by the Common Carrier cancelling within 6 hours of scheduled departure
Delays shorter than 6 hours
War, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, civil war
Personal emergencies not qualifying under covered causes
More than 1 claim per 12-month period

No separate missed connection benefit. If a covered delay causes a missed connection, eligible expenses may be covered under the trip delay benefit ($300 after 6 hours). Last-minute rebooking fees on a missed international connection can run $300 to $800.

What's not covered

Standalone missed connection reimbursement: not included as a separate benefit

No standalone early return home benefit beyond what trip interruption covers for Common Carrier tickets. Additional transportation costs from cutting a trip short, beyond the interrupted common carrier fare, are not separately reimbursed.

What's not covered

Additional early return costs beyond trip interruption Common Carrier fare: not separately covered

Deductible : No deductible

Checked baggage delayed 6 or more hours at scheduled destination Full ticket cost charged to Bilt Palladium Report the delay to the carrier within 24 hours Maximum 2 claims per 12-month period Notify administrator within 60 days: 1-800-627-8372 or mycardbenefits.com

Baggage Delay covers emergency purchases of essential items when checked baggage is delayed or misdirected by a Common Carrier for more than 6 hours at the scheduled destination. Maximum $250 per claim, 2 claims per 12-month period. Covered items: clothing, hygiene products, grooming items, and professional essentials (uniforms, office supplies). Report the delay to the airline within 24 hours. Coverage is secondary and unique to the Palladium among Bilt's cards.

Recommended : $300

What's covered

Essential clothing and personal items
Hygiene and grooming products
Professional essentials: uniforms and basic office supplies

What's not covered

Electronic equipment, cameras, computers, and sporting equipment
Jewelry, art, currency, and collectibles
Items not contained in your checked baggage
Business samples

Deductible : No deductible

Full Common Carrier ticket cost charged to Bilt Palladium Report loss or damage to the Common Carrier immediately Luggage missing 10 or more consecutive days qualifies as Lost Notify administrator within 60 days: 1-800-627-8372 or mycardbenefits.com Submit within 180 days

Lost or Damaged Luggage reimburses the actual cost of repairing or replacing checked luggage and carry-on baggage (and personal property therein) that is lost or damaged by a Common Carrier. Maximum $1,500 per incident, 2 claims per 12-month period. Luggage is considered Lost when missing for 10 or more consecutive days. Coverage begins at check-in and ends 24 hours after you regain possession. Coverage is secondary to the Common Carrier's liability and any other insurance. The full Common Carrier ticket cost must be charged to the Bilt Palladium.

What's covered

Checked luggage lost, damaged, or misdirected by the Common Carrier
Carry-on baggage lost or damaged by the Common Carrier
Personal property contained in the covered luggage

What's not covered

Electronic equipment (laptops, cameras, hearing aids) and sporting equipment
Jewelry, art, furs, and silverware
Documents, cash, and securities
Damage from wear, tear, or gradual deterioration
Business samples
Items already covered under another insurance policy

No Travel Accident Insurance (AD&D) is included with the Bilt Palladium card. Accidental death or dismemberment while traveling is not covered.

What's not covered

All travel accident AD&D benefits: not included with this card

No hotel theft protection. Personal belongings stolen from your hotel room are not covered by this card.

What's not covered

All hotel room theft: not covered by this card

We source benefits from official card guides, but PDFs are sometimes hard to obtain or update. Spotted something off?

Report an error Send updated PDF

Coverage Radar

Where the Bilt Rewards Palladium wins, where it loses

Coverage snapshot for this tab — click any layer to highlight its scores.

Compare

PalladiumThis card2.4/5?

$495/yr

With travel insuranceIdeal

Complete coverage · 5.0 / 5

Premium card avg.

$150 avg. annual fee

Click a layer to highlight its scores on the radar.

Side-by-side comparison

How the Bilt Rewards Palladium stacks up against the alternatives

Same 5 coverage dimensions, ranked head-to-head against the cards most Palladium shoppers also consider.

Card	This card Palladium Bilt Rewards · $495/yr 2.4/5?	Ritz-Carlton Chase · $450/yr 3.6/5?	Sapphire Reserve Chase · $795/yr 3.9/5?
Trip cancellation Per person, per trip cap	$2,000 per trip Illness, injury, or death only	$10,000 per person All prepaid travel (hotels + flights)	$10,000 per person 13 covered reasons
Emergency medical Hospital bills abroad	Not covered Cover this gap →	$2,500 Reimbursement only, $50 deductible	$2,500 \| $50 deductible $50 deductible
Emergency evacuation Air ambulance + repatriation	Not covered Cover this gap →	$100,000 Pre-authorization required	$100,000 \| pre-auth required Pre-authorization required
Trip delay trigger Hours before benefits kick in	6h / $300 Trigger: 6 hours	6h / $500 Trigger: 6 hours or overnight stay	$500 after 6 hours Trigger: 6 hours
Rental CDW Primary or secondary	Secondary (US) / Primary (intl) Secondary in US, Primary abroad	Primary / $75,000 Primary coverage worldwide	Primary / $75,000 Primary coverage

StrongLimited / misleadingNot covered

Data verified against each card's Guide to Benefits, May 2026.

r/biltrewards

April 2025

Price Drop Protection actually worked on an Apple Watch

Bought an Apple Watch with my Palladium and spotted it $40 cheaper at Best Buy three weeks later. Filed the Price Drop Protection claim through mycardbenefits.com, attached the ad, and got a statement credit 10 days later. No hassle. This is one of those benefits that actually delivers. Unique to the Palladium from what I understand.

r/biltrewards

January 2025

Baggage delay covered my essentials in Lisbon

Checked bag did not arrive for 9 hours in Lisbon. Filed the Baggage Delay claim with my boarding pass, the PIR from the airline, and receipts for toiletries and a change of clothes. Got $220 back without a fight. The 6-hour trigger is actually practical. Wish the cap were higher than $250 but at least it paid something.

r/creditcards

February 2025

Trip cancel only covers illness and death — found out too late

Had to cancel a trip due to a work emergency and thought the $2,000 trip cancellation benefit would apply. It does not. The covered reasons on the Palladium are illness, injury, or death only. Weather, work, job loss — none of those qualify. Lost about $800 in non-refundable airline tickets. Good card for rewards but the trip cancel scope is much narrower than I expected for $495 per year.

US Claims and Assistance

1-800-627-8372

24/7

International Assistance

collect: +1-636-722-7111

Collect calls accepted · 24/7

Benefit administrator: Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc. for all insurance benefits | Claims: 1-800-627-8372 (1-800-Mastercard) or mycardbenefits.com | Insurer: New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company | Concierge: 1-877-354-8330 | Mastercard Global Service: 1-800-307-7309 (US/Canada)

Claims & pre-authorizations

How to file a Bilt Palladium claim

Step 1: Open a claim immediately

Call 1-800-627-8372 (1-800-Mastercard) or go to mycardbenefits.com within the applicable window: 60 days for most benefits (trip cancel, rental CDW, purchase assurance, lost luggage, trip delay), 90 days for cell phone protection. For emergency evacuation or medical emergencies, contact Mastercard Global Service at 1-800-307-7309. File the day the incident happens, not when you return home.

Step 2: Gather your documentation

For trip cancellation or interruption: card billing statement showing the Common Carrier charge, physician statement for illness, cancellation policy from the carrier. For rental CDW: rental agreement, accident report, repair estimate, photos of damage, police report if applicable. For cell phone: monthly wireless bill showing payment with the Bilt Palladium, police report for theft within 48 hours, repair estimate or photos of damage. For purchase assurance: original sales receipt, card statement, police report for theft. For lost or damaged luggage: property irregularity report filed with the common carrier, receipts for checked luggage contents.

Step 3: Submit proof of loss within 180 days

Submit written documentation to Sedgwick Claims Management Services within 180 days of the incident (120 days for cell phone protection). Mail or upload via mycardbenefits.com. Required documents vary by benefit type and the claims administrator will specify what you need after opening the claim. Claims are typically reviewed within 15 business days of receiving complete documentation.

The Bilt Palladium includes trip cancellation and interruption coverage up to $2,000 per trip ($5,000 per year), triggered by illness, injury, or death. Baggage Delay pays up to $250 if your checked bags do not arrive within 6 hours of landing. Trip Delay covers up to $300 after a carrier-documented 6-hour hold. Lost or Damaged Luggage pays up to $1,500 per incident for checked bags and carry-ons, excluding electronics and jewelry. There is no emergency medical or evacuation coverage. All travel benefits are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company (AIG) and administered by Sedgwick Claims Management Services at 1-800-627-8372 or mycardbenefits.com.
The math works if you use the credits. The card includes $200 in annual Bilt Cash and a $400 hotel credit through Bilt Travel Portal, totaling $600 in credits against a $495 fee. Add the $300 Bilt Cash credited at account opening and the 50,000-point welcome bonus (worth $500 to $1,000 or more transferred to airline partners) and the first-year value is strong. The ongoing case is most compelling for renters who want flat 2X on everything outside rent, Bilt Gold Elite Status perks, and reliably use the hotel credit each year.
Yes, and this is a feature unique to the Palladium among Bilt's three cards. If your checked baggage is delayed more than 6 hours at your destination, the card reimburses up to $250 for emergency purchases like clothing and personal hygiene items. Coverage is limited to 2 claims per 12-month period and is secondary to any benefits the airline provides first. You must report the delay to the carrier within 24 hours and file a claim within 60 days at mycardbenefits.com or by calling 1-800-627-8372.
No. The Bilt Palladium does not include emergency medical expense coverage or evacuation assistance. If you are hospitalized abroad, you will pay out of pocket. This is a meaningful gap for a $495 annual fee card. Consider purchasing a standalone travel insurance policy or pairing this card with one that includes medical coverage for international travel.
The Bilt Palladium includes a $400 annual hotel credit through Bilt Travel Portal, split into two $200 credits: one from January 1 through June 30, and one from July 1 through December 31. To qualify, you must book a stay of at least 2 nights through the Bilt Travel Portal or Bilt App. The credit does not apply to reservations made directly with hotels or through third-party booking sites. Used fully each year, this credit alone exceeds the $495 annual fee.