Credit Card Travel Insurance: BDO, BPI, Metrobank

"May libreng travel insurance naman ang credit card ko, okay na ba yun?" Maybe, pero kailangan mong basahin muna. Card travel insurance is a real benefit, but it's not the same as buying a full travel policy. Sometimes it only covers you while you're on the plane. Sometimes it doesn't cover getting sick. And it usually only works if you paid for your ticket with that card.

We read the official pages of three big banks on 28 October 2026: BDO, BPI and Metrobank. Here's what they say, the common requirements, the usual gaps, and how to check your own card.

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The one rule almost every card has: pay with the card

Card travel insurance is triggered by how you pay. All three banks we read tie the cover to charging your travel fare to the eligible card.

• BDO says a qualified cardholder automatically gets the free travel insurance when they use the qualified card to pay for their travel tickets. The terms for BDO's Elite cards say the insurance only operates if the entire fare for the trip has been fully paid with the eligible card.
• BPI says the insurance is automatically issued to cardholders who used a qualified BPI credit card to buy their travel fare, for air, water or land travel.
• Metrobank says the Travel Signature Visa cardholder must charge the airfare to that card, and that the ticket must have been bought on or after 15 April 2026.

If you paid with points, a different card, or split the payment, you may not be covered. Check your card's terms.

BDO

Who qualifies. Active principal and supplementary holders of BDO Gold and Elite credit cards, including several American Express and Diners Club cards, per BDO's page.

How much. BDO lists up to P10 million for Gold cards, up to P20 million for Elite cards, and up to US$2 million for World Elite Mastercard and the Platinum Card by American Express. These are headline amounts. The detailed limits are in the schedule of benefits.

Family. BDO says family members can be included: the cardholder's legal spouse (aged 18 to 80) and dependent children (aged 6 weeks to 18) traveling with the cardholder or spouse, up to 8 children per trip.

Insurer. BDO's page says the group policy is underwritten by Starr International Insurance.

What the Elite card schedule shows. We read the special provisions for BDO Elite cards (Platinum Mastercard, Visa Platinum and others). Some of the limits per person:

That P20 million headline is the accidental death figure. The medical treatment limit is up to P1.5 million. That's a big difference, and it's why you read the schedule, not just the banner.

Some exclusions in the Elite terms. Pre-existing conditions, pregnancy and childbirth, and mental and nervous disorders are among the exclusions. Baggage theft has to be reported to the police within 24 hours.

Visa letters. BDO says you can request a Confirmation of Cover for visa applications through Starr or the BDO Insure contact center. Whether an embassy accepts it is up to the embassy.

BPI

Who qualifies. Principal and supplementary holders of BPI Rewards, Gold Rewards, Platinum Rewards, Signature and Corporate cards, aged 69 and under at the time of travel. One minor dependent traveling with the cardholder is covered if their fare is charged to the same card.

Insurer. BPI/MS Insurance Corporation.

When it covers you. This is the big one. BPI's FAQ says cover starts on physical check-in or boarding and ends when you physically get off the plane, bus or boat. It's not cover for your whole stay abroad.

Medical. BPI's FAQ says medical reimbursement excludes illness and only covers accidental injury while on board the carrier.

Delays. BPI's FAQ says baggage delayed more than 12 hours and flight departures delayed more than 12 hours can be covered up to a limit, even if the airline also helps.

Deductible. A P500 participation fee applies only to baggage delay and loss.

Claims. Notify BPI's 24-hour contact center within three weeks of the incident, then submit documents to BPI MS.

BPI's FAQ itself points out the difference: the card insurance covers you while traveling on the carrier, while BPI MS's separate Travel Care Advantage product covers the whole trip.

Metrobank Travel Signature Visa

Who qualifies. Active primary and supplementary Travel Signature Visa cardholders aged 85 and below, in good credit standing. Only this card is covered on the page we read.

How much. Metrobank lists travel accident protection up to P25 million, emergency medical cover up to P200,000 and travel inconvenience protection up to P40,000.

Insurer. AXA Philippines.

When it covers you. Unlimited trips, each up to 50 consecutive days. Cover starts when you leave home or work in the Philippines, not earlier than 3 hours before departure, and ends at the earliest of 3 hours after arrival at your final destination, policy expiry, or your return home.

Family. Spouse and up to two dependent children aged 0 to 17 traveling with the cardholder.

Schengen. Metrobank's FAQ says plainly that you can't use this complimentary insurance for a Schengen visa application.

Claims. Submit complete documents to AXA within 30 days of the loss. Metrobank says you'll be told within 7 to 10 business days whether the claim is approved.

Other banks

People also ask about RCBC, EastWest, UnionBank and other cards. We haven't read those banks' official terms yet, so we're not listing them. When we do, we'll add them with the date we checked. In the meantime, use the checklist below on your own card.

Card cover vs a full travel policy

How to read your card's certificate

1. Find the terms. Search your bank's site for travel insurance terms or a schedule of benefits for your exact card.
2. Check the trigger. Entire fare? Airfare only? On or after a certain date?
3. Check when cover starts and ends. On the carrier only, or the whole trip?
4. Check the medical limit and whether illness is covered. The headline number is often accidental death, not medical.
5. Check age limits and who in the family is covered.
6. Check the maximum trip length.
7. Check claim deadlines. Three weeks for BPI notification, 30 days for Metrobank document submission.
8. For visas, ask the embassy. Don't assume a card certificate will be accepted.

If the gaps matter for your trip, a separate policy can fill them. See our cost guide and comparison guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does BDO credit card have free travel insurance?

Yes, for eligible Gold, Elite and certain American Express and Diners cards, according to BDO's page. You get it when you pay for your travel tickets with the eligible card. Check your card's schedule of benefits for the actual limits.

Libre ba talaga ang travel insurance sa credit card?

Oo, kasama ito sa ilang card, pero may kondisyon. Usually you need to charge your fare to that card, and the cover may be limited, like only while you're on the plane. Read your card's terms before relying on it.

Is credit card travel insurance enough for a Schengen visa?

Not always. Metrobank says its Travel Signature Visa cover can't be used for a Schengen visa. Schengen embassies need at least EUR 30,000 of medical cover valid for the whole stay, and some only accept insurers on their own list.

Does BPI credit card travel insurance cover illness abroad?

BPI's FAQ says medical reimbursement excludes illness and only covers accidental injury while on board the carrier. Its cover runs from check-in or boarding to disembarkation.

Should I buy travel insurance if my card already has it?

It depends on the gaps. If your card only covers you on the plane, doesn't cover illness, or won't be accepted for your visa, a full policy can fill those gaps. Compare your card's schedule with your trip.