Credit Card Insurance Changes

What Travellers need to know!

While most of our clients travel with a Comprehensive Travel Insurance policy, some have relied instead on the complimentary insurance offered as a reward for paying with their

credit card. From 1 October 2026, that benefit could look very different.

What's changing? The Reserve Bank of Australia has confirmed that from 1 October 2026, businesses across Australia will no longer be permitted to charge a surcharge on card payments made via the EFTPOS, Mastercard and Visa networks, covering debit, prepaid and credit cards alike.

Behind the scenes, banks are also having their fees cut. As a result of these changes, many credit card rewards programs are being scrapped or altered, including the complimentary travel insurance many cards have offered for years. Some providers have already reduced or scrapped the benefit entirely.

Why this matters for your travel plans. If you've booked or are planning to book a trip using a rewards credit card, it's worth checking exactly where you stand:

- For travel already booked or in progress: call your bank to confirm your complimentary insurance is still valid, particularly for travel taking place after 1 October.

- For future travel: before you rely on credit card cover again, call your card provider to check whether the insurance benefit is still included in your rewards program. Many have already changed the fine print.

How WeExplored can assist? WeExplored are here to help. We can source multiple travel insurance quotes from a range of providers, so you can compare and choose a policy that genuinely matches your trip, your health needs and your peace of mind.

Get in touch with our team before you finalise your next booking. A quick check now could save you a very expensive surprise later on.

Contact book@weexplored.com or call 1800 414 131 for a no obligation travel insurance quote.