Covers non-refundable prepaid travel expenses from any Travel Supplier (flights, hotels, tours, cruises) up to $10,000 per Covered Traveler and $20,000 per trip if a trip is cancelled or interrupted due to a covered reason. Coverage applies when any portion of the trip cost is charged to the card. Pre-existing conditions within 60 days of the initial deposit or booking date are excluded.
What are the real benefits of the Ritz-Carlton credit card?
Chase·$450/year·Visa Infinite·Virginia Surety Company (Assurant)
3,6/5Independent review · verified July 2026
3,5
4,5
2,2
Our Verdict · Travel Insurance
Our take on travel insurance for the Chase Ritz-Carlton
Expert review · Pauline LauroreAuthor of HelloSafe's card insurance reviews
Strong cancel. Weak medical. Here's what that gap actually costs a Ritz-Carlton card traveler. The trip cancellation backs up the $450 annual fee: $10,000 per person, all prepaid non-refundable travel covered, 13 reasons including jury duty, quarantine, and home burglary. Hotels, tours, and airline tickets all qualify. The medical coverage does not. At $2,500 per person with a $50 deductible, a single ER visit in Japan or Europe exhausts this benefit in the first hour. The ritz carlton card benefits package reimburses you after the fact, meaning you front every dollar first. Emergency evacuation covers up to $100,000, but only when pre-authorized through the provider before arranging transport. Self-arranged medical transport is not reimbursed, regardless of the emergency. Standalone travel insurance starts at $100,000 per person for emergency medical on international trips. The gap between that floor and the $2,500 cap on this card is not a technicality. If your trips are domestic or to destinations with accessible quality care, the medical cap matters less. For international travel to Japan, Southeast Asia, or anywhere without affordable emergency care, supplemental medical coverage is necessary at this limit.
What works on travel
- $10,000 per person trip cancellation: all prepaid travel covered (hotels, flights, tours), 13 covered reasons, zero deductible
- $100,000 emergency evacuation: pre-authorized transport arranged by the provider
- $500 per person trip delay: 6-hour trigger, meals and lodging covered
- $500 baggage delay: $100 per day for 5 days after 6 hours, essentials covered
- $3,000 lost luggage per person: checked and carry-on bags both covered
- $1,000,000 travel accident insurance: 24-hour and Common Carrier coverage
Where travel breaks down
- Emergency medical capped at $2,500: a $50 deductible applies and reimbursement only, not direct billing
- Evacuation pre-authorization required: self-arranged transport is not reimbursed regardless of circumstances
- Trip delay covers only 4 reasons: equipment failure, inclement weather, strike, hijacking
- No missed connection benefit, no hotel theft protection, no early return standalone coverage
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 Chase Ritz-Carlton Travel Insurance actually cover?
What's covered
- Illness, Accidental Bodily Injury, or death of the Covered Traveler, Traveling Companion, or their Family Member
- Life-threatening illness or hospitalization of a Family Member
- Severe Weather at origin or destination
- Named Storm Warning
- Change in military orders
- Jury duty or subpoena
- Home burglary or uninhabitable residence
- Host at Destination uninhabitable or hospitalized
- Quarantine of Covered Traveler or Traveling Companion
- Organized strike affecting public transportation
- Terrorist Incident within 25 miles of origin or destination within 30 days of departure
- Travel Warning due to terrorism within 10 days of departure
What's not covered
- Pre-existing conditions within 60-day lookback
- Change of plans, disinclination to travel, or financial circumstances
- Epidemic or pandemic
- Financial default of the Travel Supplier
- Any event that occurred prior to the trip being booked
At $2,500 per person, this benefit covers a taxi to the hospital. A single ER visit in Japan averages $15,000 to $60,000. The cardholder fronts every dollar before reimbursement. Supplemental travel medical insurance is necessary for international trips.
Reimburses Emergency Medical and Dental expenses up to $2,500 per Covered Traveler per trip, subject to a $50 deductible, when 100 or more miles from home. If hospitalized and not ready to return, also reimburses hotel stays up to $75 per day for up to 5 days post-discharge. Reimbursement only: the cardholder advances all costs and files for repayment. Secondary to any other insurance.
Recommended : $100,000
What's covered
- Hospital confinement and use of operating rooms
- Physician, surgeon, and dentist fees
- Ambulance services
- Prescription drugs and therapeutic supplies
- X-rays, examinations, and laboratory tests
What's not covered
- Routine physical examinations, dental cleanings, eyeglasses
- Skydiving, scuba, deep-sea diving
- Hang gliding, parachuting, rock climbing, speed contests
- Travel for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment
- Self-inflicted harm, war, military duty
Pre-authorization is not optional. Any emergency transport arranged without prior authorization from the service provider is entirely at your expense. Call 1-800-338-5960 before any transport is arranged.
Covers emergency evacuation and transportation up to $100,000 when seriously sick or injured on a Covered Trip of 5 or more days and more than 100 miles from home. Transportation must be recommended by the attending physician and authorized in advance by the Emergency Evacuation service provider. Self-arranged transport is not reimbursed. Also covers up to $1,000 for repatriation of remains, transportation of accompanying minors, and bedside companion travel after 8 days of hospitalization.
What's covered
- Transportation to the nearest hospital for proper treatment
- Transportation to the Covered Traveler's primary residence once stable
- Bedside companion travel after 8 days hospitalization
- Accompanying minors: return to home or designated caretaker
- Repatriation of remains: up to $1,000
What's not covered
- Self-arranged transport not authorized by the provider in advance
- Trip less than 5 days or less than 100 miles from home
- Evacuation for: suicide, war, military duty, civil disorder, felonious acts
Covers non-refundable prepaid travel expenses for a trip cut short due to a covered reason, up to $10,000 per Covered Traveler and $20,000 per trip. For trips interrupted due to medical need, also reimburses ground transportation up to $250 to the nearest airport or the cardholder's residence. Same covered reasons as Trip Cancellation.
What's covered
- All prepaid non-refundable travel expenses from any Travel Supplier
- Return vehicle rental costs to nearest agency
- Ground transportation up to $250 for medical interruptions
What's not covered
- Same exclusions as Trip Cancellation
- Additional transportation beyond original return fare
Only 4 covered delay reasons qualify: equipment failure, inclement weather, strike, or hijacking. Staffing shortages and ATC ground stops do not qualify. Get written confirmation from the airline specifying the covered reason.
Reimburses reasonable additional expenses during a Common Carrier delay exceeding 6 hours or requiring an overnight stay, up to $500 per Covered Traveler per trip. Covered expenses include meals, lodging, toiletries, and medication. The delay must result from equipment failure, inclement weather, organized strike, or hijacking. Secondary.
What's covered
- Meals
- Lodging
- Toiletries
- Medication
What's not covered
- Delays due to staffing issues, crew scheduling, or ATC ground stops
- Alcohol and gratuities
No missed connection coverage. If a delayed inbound flight causes you to miss a connecting flight, rebooking costs and additional expenses are not covered. Last-minute rebooking on a missed international connection can cost $300 to $800.
What's not covered
- Missed connection expenses are not covered
No standalone early return benefit. Trip Interruption covers all prepaid non-refundable expenses plus ground transport up to $250 when a medical reason requires cutting a trip short. A last-minute one-way flight home beyond that scope can cost $800 to $2,000.
What's not covered
- Standalone early return transportation beyond Trip Interruption scope is not separately covered
Reimburses essential purchases when Checked Baggage is delayed more than 6 hours by a Common Carrier, up to $100 per day for 5 days ($500 maximum). Covered essentials include toiletries, a change of clothing, and chargers for electronic devices (one per device). Report the delay to the Common Carrier before leaving the airport. No coverage on the return leg.
What's covered
- Toiletries and personal care items
- A change of clothing
- Chargers for electronic devices (one per device)
What's not covered
- Cameras, video recorders, and other electronic equipment
- Jewelry and watches
- Business samples, documents, money
- Recreational equipment
- No coverage when returning to point of origin
A $500 sub-limit applies separately to jewelry/watches AND to cameras/electronics. A $1,500 camera and an $800 watch packed in checked baggage recover only $1,000 combined ($500 each).
Reimburses actual cash value for Checked Baggage and Carry-On Baggage lost, damaged, or stolen while in care of a Common Carrier, up to $3,000 per Covered Traveler per trip. A $500 sub-limit applies separately to jewelry/watches and a separate $500 sub-limit applies to cameras and electronic equipment. Report the loss to the Common Carrier before leaving the airport.
What's covered
- Checked Baggage
- Carry-On Baggage while under Common Carrier control
What's not covered
- Items inadvertently left behind on the Common Carrier
- Documents, money, securities, checks
- Furs
- Tickets
Pays a lump-sum benefit for accidental loss of life, limb, sight, speech, or hearing during a covered trip. Provides up to $1,000,000 per Covered Traveler covering both Common Carrier accidents and 24-hour travel accidents for trips up to 30 days. Benefits: 100% for loss of life or multiple limbs/senses, 50% for single limb/sight, 25% for thumb and index finger.
What's covered
- Loss of Life (100%)
- Loss of two or more limbs or senses (100%)
- Loss of one limb or one sense (50%)
- Loss of thumb and index finger of the same hand (25%)
What's not covered
- Illness, disease, pregnancy, or medical or surgical treatment
- Self-inflicted injury or suicide
- War, military duty, civil disorder
No hotel theft protection. Personal belongings stolen from your hotel room are not covered. Electronics and valuables left in a hotel room can total $1,000 to $3,000 with no recourse if stolen.
What's not covered
- Theft of belongings from hotel rooms is not covered
Policy document
We source benefits from official card guides, but PDFs are sometimes hard to obtain or update. Spotted something off?
Coverage Radar
Where the Chase Ritz-Carlton wins, where it loses
Coverage snapshot for this tab — click any layer to highlight its scores.
Stay Interrupt: well above the market average
Trip Delay: well above the market average
Trip Cancel: above the market average
Medical: not covered by this card
Compare
Ritz-CarltonThis card3.6/5?
$450/yrWith travel insuranceIdeal
Complete coverage · 5.0 / 5Premium card avg.
$168 avg. annual feeClick a layer to highlight its scores on the radar.
Side-by-side comparison
How the Chase Ritz-Carlton stacks up against the alternatives
Same 5 coverage dimensions, ranked head-to-head against the cards most Ritz-Carlton shoppers also consider.
| Card | This card Ritz-Carlton Chase · $450/yr 3.6/5? | Sapphire Reserve Chase · $795/yr 3.9/5? | Prestige Citi · $495/yr 3.5/5? | Sapphire Reserve Business Chase · $795/yr 3.7/5? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Trip cancellation Per person, per trip cap | $10,000 per person All prepaid travel (hotels + flights) | $10,000 per person 13 covered reasons | $5,000 per trip Hotels + flights covered | $10,000 per person All prepaid travel |
Emergency medical Hospital bills abroad | $2,500 Reimbursement only, $50 deductible | $2,500 | $50 deductible $50 deductible | Not covered | $2,500 Reimbursement only |
Emergency evacuation Air ambulance + repatriation | $100,000 Pre-authorization required | $100,000 | pre-auth required Pre-authorization required | $100,000 | pre-auth required Pre-authorization required | $100,000 Pre-authorization required |
Trip delay trigger Hours before benefits kick in | 6h / $500 Trigger: 6 hours or overnight stay | $500 after 6 hours Trigger: 6 hours | $500 after 3 hours Trigger: 3 hours | 6h / $500 Trigger: 6 hours or overnight |
Trip interruption Covered amount | $10,000 per person All prepaid travel covered | $10,000 per person Shared limit with cancellation | $5,000 per trip Hotels + flights covered | $10,000 per person All prepaid travel |
StrongLimited / misleadingNot covered
Data verified against each card's Guide to Benefits, May 2026.
Cardholder reviews
What cardholders say about the Chase Ritz-Carlton
Real experiences on travel protection and claims 31 reviews
FR
frequentmiler.com
Trip cancel claim approved in about a week
My trip cancellation insurance claim was as smooth and simple as one would hope.
CC
CFPB complaint (Chase Virginia Surety)
Written proof required, verbal confirmation not enough
Claim declined because I lacked a 'flight cancellation' email. Chase Travel verbally confirmed the cancellation, but the benefit department required written proof.
FR
frequentmiler.com
$2,500 medical cap exposed by a real ER visit
The best credit card you can carry gives you $2,500 in emergency medical. A man caught the flu on a Norwegian cruise ship: $47,000.
Emergency · Card assistance line
How to contact Chase Ritz-Carlton assistance?
US Assistance
1-800-338-5960
24/7
International Assistance
collect: 1-302-594-8200
Collect calls accepted · 24/7
Benefit administrator: Virginia Surety Company, Inc. (an Assurant company) for all travel and purchase protection benefits
Claims & pre-authorizations
How to file a Ritz-Carlton card claim
1
Step 1: Report within 20 days
Visit chasecardbenefits.com or call 1-800-338-5960 as soon as the incident occurs, no later than 20 days after. If outside the US, call collect at 1-302-594-8200. For Emergency Evacuation, call before arranging any transport. For trip delay, the deadline is 60 days.
2
Step 2: Gather documentation
Collect: travel itinerary, card statement showing the trip or rental charge, written confirmation from the carrier or provider stating the covered reason, itemized receipts for all claimed expenses, police or carrier report if applicable, and any settlement or denial from the Travel Supplier. Verbal confirmations are not accepted.
3
Step 3: Submit within 90 days
Submit the complete documentation package to chasecardbenefits.com within 90 days of the incident (100 days for trip delay, 180 days for emergency medical). Once all required documents are received, expect a determination within approximately 7 business days. If denied, request the specific denial reason in writing.
FAQ
What people ask about the Chase Ritz-Carlton
- Most Ritz-Carlton card travel benefits activate automatically when you charge any portion of your trip cost to the card or use redeemable Rewards for the booking. No pre-registration is needed. For rental car CDW, you must also decline the rental agency's collision damage waiver at the counter. Emergency Evacuation requires a specific step: call 1-800-338-5960 or collect at 1-302-594-8200 before arranging any transport. Self-arranged evacuations are not reimbursed regardless of the emergency. For ritz card benefits tied to Common Carrier travel, coverage begins on your Trip Departure Date.
- Coverage extends to the primary cardholder and Family Members: spouse or domestic partner, dependent children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. For trip cancellation and interruption, coverage also extends to Traveling Companions, which is any person traveling with you or your Family Member on the trip. Covered Travelers generally do not need to be traveling with the cardholder for baggage, delay, and accident benefits.
- The Ritz-Carlton card provides primary CDW coverage worldwide up to $75,000. Primary means you file directly with the benefit administrator at chasecardbenefits.com without involving your personal auto insurance. To activate, charge the full rental to your card and decline the rental agency's own CDW at the counter. Coverage applies to standard vehicles for rentals up to 31 days. Exotic vehicles, motorcycles, RVs, and passenger vans over 12 seats are excluded. Damage to third parties is not covered.
- Visit chasecardbenefits.com or call 1-800-338-5960 within 20 days of the incident, 60 days for trip delay, and 90 days for emergency medical. The benefit administrator is Virginia Surety Company, Inc., an Assurant company. You will need your travel itinerary, card statement showing the trip charge, written confirmation from the carrier of the covered reason, itemized receipts, and any settlement or denial from the Travel Supplier. Verbal confirmations are not sufficient. Submit all documents within 90 days.
- The Ritz-Carlton card does not cover cell phone protection, price protection, hotel theft, or missed connections. Emergency medical is capped at $2,500 with a $50 deductible. Emergency evacuation requires prior authorization from the provider before any transport is arranged. Purchase protection is limited to $500 per item. Trip delay covers only four reasons: equipment failure, inclement weather, strike, and hijacking. Pre-existing conditions within 60 days of booking are excluded from trip cancellation.
- Yes, for international travel. The Ritz-Carlton card provides $2,500 in emergency medical coverage per person with a $50 deductible. A single ER visit in Japan, Europe, or Southeast Asia typically runs $10,000 to $60,000. Emergency medical evacuation is covered up to $100,000 but requires pre-authorization. For international trips, a standalone travel insurance policy with at least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage is a practical necessity at the $2,500 baseline this card provides.
- You pay first. The Ritz-Carlton card's emergency medical benefit is reimbursement only. You advance every dollar of the hospital bill and submit receipts to the benefit administrator afterward. There is no direct billing arrangement with hospitals or physicians. The $2,500 cap per person applies after the $50 deductible, meaning the maximum reimbursement is $2,450. For a $30,000 ER bill, you recover $2,450 and absorb the remaining $27,550.
- Yes. Emergency Evacuation coverage requires that all transport be authorized and arranged by the Emergency Evacuation and Transportation service provider before it is initiated. Any costs for emergency transportation not authorized in advance are solely your responsibility and will not be reimbursed. Call 1-800-338-5960 in the United States or collect at 1-302-594-8200 internationally before any transport is arranged, regardless of how urgent the situation is.
- The Ritz-Carlton card provides primary CDW coverage worldwide. Primary means you file your claim directly with the benefit administrator at chasecardbenefits.com without involving your personal auto insurance. To activate primary status, decline the rental agency's CDW at the counter and charge the full rental to your card. Coverage applies to standard vehicles for rentals up to 31 days.
- No. Pre-existing conditions are excluded from the Ritz-Carlton card's trip cancellation and interruption coverage. A pre-existing condition is any illness, disease, or injury for which medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received within the 60-day period before your initial deposit or booking date. If you have a chronic condition and want cancellation coverage that includes it, a standalone travel insurance policy with a pre-existing condition waiver is the alternative.
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