Money We Have

PC Financial World Elite Mastercard Review

The PC Financial World Elite Mastercard is the best card to have if you’re looking to earn more PC Optimum points. You get an increased earning rate at Loblaws-owned grocery stores, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Esso/Mobil gas stations.

In addition, PC Optimum is one of the best loyalty programs since there are multiple ways to earn and redeem points. Plus, the program has recently added additional benefits, such as free trials to streaming services. Read my PC Financial World Elite Mastercard review now for the full details.

PC Financial World Elite Mastercard

pc world elite mastercard travel emergency medical insurance

  • No annual fee
  • Earn 45 PC Optimum Points per $1 dollar spent at Shoppers Drug Mart
  • Earn 30 PC Optimum Points per $1 spent where PC Products are sold and at PC Travel
  • Earn at least 30 PC Optimum Points per litre at Esso/Mobil locations
  • Earn 10 PC Optimum Points per $1 spent on all other purchases

Welcome bonus and earn rate

What’s interesting about the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard is that it doesn’t typically have a welcome bonus when you apply online. However, if you’re applying in-store where there’s a PC Financial booth, they’ll usually give you 100,000 points when you sign up. That’s a value of $100.

As for the earning rate, you’ll get 45 points per $1 spent at Shoppers Drug Mart, 30 points at Loblaws-owned grocery stores (Loblaws, Superstore, No Frills, Fortinos etc.), Esso/Mobil Gas stations, PC Travel, and 10 points on all other purchases. That works out to a 4.5%, 3%, and 1% return in PC Optimum points respectively.

PC Financial World Elite Mastercard benefits

For a no fee card, the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard comes with a decent amount of benefits. Mind you, many of these benefits come with any World Elite Mastercard, but you get access to them by being a cardholder.

Travel emergency medical insurance

Those under the age of 65 get $1,000,000 in travel emergency medical insurance. This insurance applies the second you travel out of province and covers things such as ambulances, doctor charges, hospital stays, dental care, prescription drugs and more. The coverage lasts for the first 10 days of your trip. You do not need to charge your travel expenses to your PC Financial World Elite Mastercard for the insurance to apply.

Car rental collision/loss damage waiver insurance.

When you charge the full cost of your car rental to your PC Financial World Elite Mastercard, you get 31 days of car rental collision/loss damage waiver insurance. This covers you from damages if you’re in an accident, but you need to decline the rental agency’s insurance for your policy to be valid. note that this doesn’t cover you for any liability.

Airport lounge access

One little known benefit of this card is the included Airport Experiences provided by LoungeKey. This gives you access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide. That said, this is just a membership you’re getting. You still need to pay for each individual visit, which is typically US $32.

Purchase assurance

Any purchases charged to your PC Financial World Elite Mastercard are automatically covered with purchase assurance. If anything happens to your goods, including loss, theft, or damage in the first 90 days, you can have them replaced/repaired at no charge.

Extended warranty

Your manufacturer’s warranty is doubled, up to one additional year, as long as you charge your purchase to your PC Financial World Elite Mastercard.

Concierge service

You can contact a Mastercard concierge 24/7 to help you with things such as booking restaurants, purchasing gifts, arranging translation services, and more. Admittedly, all of these things can be done on your own, but I suppose a concierge can be helpful if you’re in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language.

How to redeem your points

PC Optimum is one of the most popular loyalty programs in Canada. You can redeem 10,000 PC Optimum points for $10 in groceries or merchandise at Loblaws-owned grocery stores and Shoppers Drug Mart. In addition, you can use your points at Esso/Mobil gas stations for discounts on your gas purchases or for free car washes.

Occasionally, Shoppers Drug Mart has bonus redemption offers. For example, there was a promotion where you could claim 250,000 points for $400 in credit. That’s $150 more than the regular redemption, so it can be worthwhile to save your points. They’ve also had other offers, such as earning 20X the points or getting 25,000 points when you spend $75. Read my post on how to earn more PC Optimum points if you want to maximize your points.

PC Financial World Elite Mastercard eligibility

  • You’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
  • You’re at least the age of majority in your province or territory
  • You have a minimum annual personal gross income of $80,000 or a household income of $150,000.

Although PC Financial doesn’t state what credit score is required to be approved, they say a credit check will be performed at the time of application. Generally, you’ll want to have a credit score of at least 700 before applying.

How the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard compares

The PC Financial World Elite Mastercard is the best for earning PC Optimum points. That said, there are a few cards worth comparing since they offer better earning rates on groceries.

PC Financial World Elite Mastercard vs. American Express Cobalt Card

The American Express Cobalt Card has an earning rate of 5 American Express Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on eats and drinks (includes grocery stores), 3 points on streaming services, 2 points on travel and transit, and 1 point for all other purchases. The earning rate here is clearly higher than what the PC Financial World Elite offers. There’s just one problem: American Express isn’t typically accepted at Loblaws-owned grocery stores. While the Cobalt Card is one of the best cash back credit cards in Canada , it’s useless if your grocery store doesn’t accept it.

PC Financial World Elite Mastercard vs. Scotiabank Gold American Express

Another card with a high earning potential is the Scotiabank Gold American Express . With this card, you’ll get 6 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Empire-owned supermarkets (Sobeys, Foodland, IGA, FreshCo), 5 points at other grocery stores, dining, and entertainment, 3 points on gas, and transit, and 1 point on all other purchases. If you shop at an Empire-owned grocery store, this card is one of your best choices. It’s also worth mentioning that the Scotiabank Gold American Express has no foreign transaction fees.

PC Financial World Elite Mastercard vs. Rogers Mastercard

The Rogers Mastercard is a good comparison since it also has no annual fee, and it’s a Mastercard. If you have one qualifying service with Rogers, Fido or Shaw, you’ll earn 2% cash back on all your purchases. While that earning rate is lower than what the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard offers on Loblaws-owned stores, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Esso gas stations, the base earning rate could compensate for it. In addition, if you redeem your cash back earned for Rogers services, you get a 30% boost, so you’re actually getting a cash back rate of 2.6%. The other appealing aspect of the Rogers Mastercard is that it has no formal income requirement, so it’s easier to be approved for compared to the PC Financial card.

Final thoughts

My PC Financial World Elite Mastercard review is positive. This card is ideal for anyone in the following situations:

  • You want to earn more PC Optimum points – No other credit card gives you a higher earning rate for PC Optimum points.
  • You shop at Loblaws-owned stores – If you shop at Loblaws, No Frills, or Superstore, this is a card you want to earn points on every purchase. Otherwise, you’ll only earn points on in-store and targeted offers.
  • You don’t want to pay an annual fee – This is one of the few World Elite Mastercards with no monthly or yearly fee.

PC Optimum is one of the best loyalty programs in Canada. With the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard, you’ll be able to earn PC Optimum points on every purchase. Plus, with no annual fee, getting this card and only using it where you get an enhanced earning rate could be worth it.

pc world elite mastercard travel emergency medical insurance

About Barry Choi

Barry Choi is a Toronto-based personal finance and travel expert who frequently makes media appearances. His blog Money We Have is one of Canada’s most trusted sources when it comes to money and travel. You can find him on Twitter: @barrychoi

92 Comments

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Are you sure about the Priority Pass membership?

pc world elite mastercard travel emergency medical insurance

Yup, please see MasterCard’s website

https://www1.mastercard.com/content/mc/offer-exchange/world-elite/apmea/en/travel/airport/Airport_Lounge_Access.html

And their list of partner banks

https://www.mastercard.ca/en-ca/search-by-bank.html

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Just enrolled, thanks for the tip !! Was unaware.

Another possible URL:.

Airports.mastercard.com

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If I’m going out of country do I need to call PC World elite travel insurance before leaving on vacation?

You only need to call the insurance line if you’re making a claim. That said, if you plan on your PC Financial Mastercard when you’re abroad, you should call them in advance to let them know you’re travelling.

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Where do you sign up for it then? I see no mention of this on the PC World Elite Mastercard page?

I believe PC Financial doesn’t mention it on their website since there’s a copyright issue with the name. However, if you go to the MasterCard site, you’ll see they’re listed as a partner.

To be honest, I don’t know how you get your actual membership with them. You may need to call MasterCard for that info.

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so when I go to the PC world Elite Mastercard site, I find:

As a World Elite MasterCard cardholder, you receive

Complimentary Priority Pass membership One free lounge visit per cardholder per year

Simply present your Priority Pass membership card upon arrival at the lounge.

but when I go to the Priority pass site, it shows membership costs for Canada at $99 us.I assume that you need a priority pass card to get into the lounge?? How do you get the complementery one that is suposed to come with the credit card? What am I missing here?

With Priority Pass, you need a membership just to access the lounge. Depending on what membership you have, you’ll either get free visits or pay the one time fee of $27USD per visit.

So the One free lounge visit per cardholder per year = 1 time visit. After you’ve used that voucher or whatever it is, you pay $27USD per visit.

To be perfectly honest, it’s been difficult to get confirmation about how to get that actual one free pass. PCF is not responsible for that benefit so you need to call MasterCard. I’ve heard so many different things about the LoungeKey access with MasterCard that it’s impossible for me to give accurate information.

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If I am approved… if I make a purchase at Shoppers drug mart will I need to just pay with the PC MasterCard to earn my full points or will I also need to show my PC Optimum card in addition? Is there any point in having a physical PC Optimum card if you are a PC MasterCard holder?

If you have a PCFWEMC or any Mastercard and have linked it to your PC Optimum account, then you don’t need a physical PC Optimum card. Your credit card will be fine.

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I find that I do need to present twice, for points then payment, though if you have a smartphone one need not carry the loyalty nor the credit card. Personally I keep them in the Wallet app in my iPhone and use those to scan for the points & then verify the purchase (Which uses NFC to wirelessly talk to the swipe terminal.)

D. Cornelius,

Yes you do need to tap with your PC Mastercard first to get points and then again to pay. But you don’t physically need to have your PC Optimum card on you to earn points since your credit card will earn them.

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Great review Barry! Merger definitely increased value with 45 total PC Optimum Points per $1 dollar spent at Shoppers Drug Mart and 30 total PC Optimum Points per $1 spent where PC Products are sold.

And, wow, a free annual standard membership ($79 US) to Priority Pass with one free visit AND no annual fee!

Yes, the PCFWEMC is a great card and offers tons of benefits with no fee which is why I love it.

Hi Barry, back to the Airport Lounge Access benefit …

I spoke with Mastercard Canada on the phone, and since I don’t have this card yet, the rep couldn’t check on the actual benefits without a CC#. She did mention that it depends on the financial institution whether the Lounge Access benefit is included, .

I checked this link and included an excerpt below: https://www.pcfinancial.ca/english/legal/pc-mastercard?list=3&scrollTo=abp-additional-exclusive

Benefits exclusive to PC Financial World Mastercard accounts Concierge Services are provided by Assurant Services Canada Inc. (ASCI). Details of what is included as part of this service is outlined in the Terms and Conditions sent with your card.

Additional benefits exclusive to PC Financial World Elite Mastercard accounts Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver Insurance is underwritten by American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida (ABIC), and Travel Emergency Medical Insurance is underwritten by American Bankers Life Assurance Company of Florida (ABLAC). Concierge Services and Identity Theft Services are provided by Assurant Services Canada Inc. (ASCI). Details of your insurance and service, including definitions, benefits, limitations, and exclusions, are outlined in the Certificate of Insurance sent with your card. Keep your Certificate of Insurance in a safe place with your other valuable documents, and take it with you when you travel. ABIC, ABLAC, ASCI and their subsidiaries and affiliates carry on business in Canada under the name Assurant®. ®Assurant is a registered trademark of Assurant, Inc.

Not sure if you have this card, or can confirm whether the Priority Pass membership + 1 free visit per year is definitely included with the PC World Elite Mastercard?

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I have this card too but didn’t know that Priority Pass membership was free. I never got that info when I received my card. Did you get your membership from this card Barry?

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Barry is wrong on this, period. I’ve had the card for 3 years, it does not entitle you to a priority pass membership.

Here’s the statement I received directly from PC Financial.

With the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard customers will earn 3X the regular PC Points when purchasing vacations, flights, hotels, cruises, car rentals and tours. Customers also receive exclusive travel offers at competitive rates and the Best Price Guarantee on all bookings (price matching within a 24 hr).

A new benefit introduced late last year is LoungeKey access:

If you are a PC Financial World and World Elite Cardholders you will be able to purchase lounge passes at over 800 Lounges Worldwide, including presence in all large airports in Canada and at the top Canada travel destinations at subsidized rates of $27 USD. Cardholders simply need to present their PC MasterCard World or World Elite card to the lounge staff, or register for the program by going to the “MasterCard Airport Experiences provided by LoungeKey” website. Benefits:

• Over 800 lounges, in over 400 airports worldwide (120+ countries), regardless of their airline, frequent flyer membership, or class of ticket. • Unique experiences and offers in dining, spa and retail outlets within the airport

so how do you get your one free visit if you have to pay $27 us per year?? Lots of confusion with this perk. Barry, perhaps you can investgate and clarify. – Thanks

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Thank you for the info. This is was the clarification I was look for.

Paying $27 per visit is still better than paying $100 annual fee and $27 each visit with the priority pass.

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Hi Barry… I’m a retiree and I have the HSBC Premier World Elite card. I shop often at shoppers and PC stores. In your opinion is it worth it for me to get the PC Elite card and split the loyalty points I’d get into two plans?

With the PCFWEMC you earn 4.5% back at Shoppers Drug Mart and 3% back where PC products are sold so you come out ahead compared to the HSBC Premier World Elite. The key is to take that money you save on groceries and to add it to your vacation fund.

Hi Barry…my wife and I love reading your financial and travel blogs. In your opinion what is the best credit card available now in Canada for maximizing returns to complement our HSBC card?

It really depends on where you shop and what categories you spend the most money on. e.g. where do you do all your grocery shopping? Do you spend a lot on gas? Do you eat out a lot?

We love to travel. When we’re home we shop usually at PC grocery stores or Walmart. We do love eating out.

So things could get complicated there.

If you shop at PC grocery stores – the PC Financial World Elite gives you 3% cash back which is quite high. At Wal Mart, you could keep using your CIBC card since it gives you 1.5%

If you eat out A LOT, then the Amex Cobalt card is good too since you get 5X the points. However, Cobalt points can’t be transferred to airlines. They can be used for fixed mileage rewards and transferred SPG at 2:1 so you still have some options.

Thanks Barry. Like your travel blogs you seem to write in a manner that is easy to read and understand.

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Do you think getting an additional card for my spouse will allow my spouse to obtain free lounge access too?

If your spouse applies for the card on their own (as opposed to being a supplementary cardholder), then they would have lounge access. A reminder, that just the membership is free. You still need to pay for each visit.

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Hi Barry, this is great! thank you for the post. if you use your PC WE MC for mainly gas, groceries and Shoppers, which would be a great cash back card for all the other stuff? thank you!!

Hi FernandoM,

It depends on where else you shop and what kind of benefits you like. The Tangerine money-back card since you can choose up to 3 categories that give you up 2% back.

Barry thank you for your reply! I use PC stores a lot so that would remain my main card (groceries, gas, etc.). for other stuff I can think of, monthly bills, random shopping, recreation…

I will definitely take a look into the Tangerine one. thank you!

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I have the PC world elite Mc got it few weeks ago and I cannot see where are the 4.5X and 3X points. I can only see the base points which are 10X but how you know that you got the correct points? I called them several times but didn’t get a clear answer.

There’s honestly no clear place that shows you when you’re earning multipliers.

Your statement only shows you the total earned for the month.

Thank you for your answer. And yes, I know about the statement, but the statement shows only the base points.

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With the comment above; do they send you a Priority Pass Membership card with it? or do we only get the LoungeKey Access membership free?

“As a World Elite MasterCard cardholder, you receive

Complimentary Priority Pass membership One free lounge visit per cardholder per year”

They don’t send you anything, but the one free visit is something offered by Mastercard as a World Elite cardholder. I honestly have no idea how to actually activate your membership and how to get that one free visit.

Thanks for the reply Barry. It’s still good to hear that you get LoungeKey Access membership for free which is nice a perk for a free NO FEE credit card.

yeah, it’s a pretty sweet perk once you figure out how to get it. No one at PCF customer service seems to know about it, but the Mastercard website lists PCF as a partner for LoungeKey access.

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It’s been painful since the change was made. I am not getting 30 points/$1 with my PC World Elite Master Card instead only getting 20 points/$1 for purchases in PC stores. 0 points for purchases from non PC stores. However, no issue with purchases at Shoppers Drug Mart and I got the loyalty points showed up on my receipt, while PC stores did not show the points other than bonus points on the receipts. I had to submit the point adjustment requests for each and every receipts for PC stores and non PC stores. Sometime, I got the points adjusted for the non-PC stores, and another time I got reply telling me “In order to earn PC Optimum Points, you are required to go to PCOptimum.ca, sign-in into your account, load all offers on to your PC optimum account by viewing them, and swipe your card/device at the beginning of each transaction at participating stores. As a result of your card/device not being swiped for this transaction we are unable to make any adjustments to your account”. By the way transactions other than PC stores never showed up on my PCOptimum account. Telephone call to PC Mastercard regarding the issue was totally a waste of time and message send to PC Mastercard regarding the above issue is not getting replied nor resolution. This could be really a good card if PC Mastercard delivers their promises. I am kind of sick and tired of hearing the excuses about up to the stores including PC stores to give the loyalty points and how the heck do you tell non-PC stores to swipe your PC Mastercard before the transaction to get the loyalty points, so essentially consider sh** of luck getting any points from non-PC stores. Also, the email replies from sending the point adjustment request gave you a case# without reference to any information to the specific purchase nor the request detail. Hence it is a difficult task to match up with the receipts with the case# when I was requested to submit additional info. As always, buyer beware and don’t believe everything they tell you.

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I have a MC President’s Choice Elite card. I find it impossible to decipher whether or not I am getting the appropriate amount of points on my purchases because of the way the Financial points are recorded. The detailed info for each posting should indicate which transaction it is for. ie purchase date and amount. I am concerned that I am not getting the correct amount of points. I guess I could do a points adjustment of every transactions but I do not want to have to do that. The computer system must have the info I am asking for. I use my MC for everything but I want to be assured that I am getting the correct amount of points. The points earned is why I have and use this card!

Hey Marion,

From what I understand, the bonus points only appear online via pcoptimum.ca. I agree it’s a bit sill that there’s no easier way to view your bonus points.

I do go online to pcoptimum,ca to view my earned points. I have been told by PC Financial that it takes 3-5 days for the Financial points earned to be posted. I can deal with that. But when the points are posted, I want to know which transaction the points are coming from. I have contact PC Financial with my concern but I am not satisfied with their response. Do you have an inside tract with PC Financial?

Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone who works there that would be able to assist.

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Are there any caps on points earned in any of the categories? (At PC Stores, Shoppers, Anywhere else?) I ask this because on the ‘Points earned’ calculator in a recent email I received from PC, there is a cap of $2000 on spending in the ‘everywhere else’ category.

There’s should be no cap. I don’t know why they set a limit of $2,000 on the online calculator.

Thanks Barry, I didn’t think there was a cap.

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Looks like PC optimum points is a scam. whenever there is an offer on Gas, I buy it. But i have to call customer care to get my points otherwise we don’t get any points. last week there was an offer 10,000 points on $40 purchase of gas. i still did not get points, i am still fighting for those. I will never ever go again to superstore and never use pc optimum. Whenever I called customer service they hangup the call. waste of time. I am planning to contact media and local news channels.

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I registered for Lounge access with my PC Financial World Elite Card. I read that you can tell if your card receives a complimentary visit by going into the my account section. If you qualify for any complimentary passes the “complimentary” section will show. Mine does not…not surprised. So it looks like I have free access but will need to pay $27 US for each visit. I have a long stay in Miami for my next vacation the way the flights work out so I may use it.

Im trying to figure out what the best credit card combination for me would be. I’m retired so cash back is a great option. I was using my PC points to purchase gift cards until they removed that option last year. Now I have $400 worth in points I’m not sure how to redeem. I don’t shop at PC much. I shop at local organic grocery stores. I do shop at Shoppers sometimes, and ended up using some of it to buy sunscreen. I’d prefer to be able to get free items immediately like a gas card or even collect rewards for flights or vacations as being on a limited income makes though purchases tough. Any suggestions Barry?

Hi Michele,

With your remaining points you could shop at Loblaw’s or Superstore where they have organic produce and merchandise e.g. electronics and housewares for sale.

As for the best credit card, it depends on your spending habits and where you shop. The Amex Simply Cash preferred card and the Tangerine Money-Back card immediately come to mind as good choices

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Hi, thanks for the share.

I received the Elite MasterCard this week and wondering if I have to make minimum amount of purchase with this card yearly to maintain my status.?

Please confirm, I can’t find this info anywhere, no one knows…

ONce you have the card, you keep it. There is no status with this card as it’s based on your minimum income, now how much you spend.

[…] the PC Financial Mastercards, you can increase your earn rate significantly. I personally have the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard and use it all the time. It honestly doesn’t take me long before I have enough points to make a […]

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Avoid this card if you like to have online access to your account. I’ve had it for one month and still cant’ get access. Customer service has no answers. It’s an IT problem. They’re working on it. No time frame for resolution.

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Can I use my pc elite mc in other countrie?

Yes, just make sure you let them know in advance of your travel dates.

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Great review Barry. One thing to note which I’m a bit sore about – I am an existing PC MasterCard holder (the plain standard card) and I asked PCF if I could be upgraded to the World Elite (I am over the personal income requirment, and comfortably over the household earn requirement). They flat out said no and that I have to have spent $25000 over the past 24 months on my existing card in order to qualify. $25k is a pretty unreasonable sum for even a high spender on what is definitely not going to a primary travel card. It appears that PCF really don’t want people applying for this card (probably costs them too much from points redemptions).

I feel like that’s an uninformed rep. If you’re over the income requirement, they should be upgrading you no questions asked. It might be worth calling again to see if a different rep will upgrade you.

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I currently have the PC Mastercard and was just approved for the PC World Elite card. I currently get 7 cents/liter back on my gas purchases, but I read the World Elite is only 3 cents/liter? Just curious. We have large vehicles and drive a lot, so our points add up fast just from gas purchases alone.

I believe you’re referring to the 70 PC optimum points that are earned at gas stations located at Loblaw’s owned grocery stores? That remains the same with the PC Financial World Elite card. The 3 cents earned per litre is at Esso/Mobil locations.

You may want to double check with PCF, but I’m pretty sure that’s how it works.

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Excellent article! good one

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Thanks for this review. But I was wondering what other credit card we could combine with the PC World Elite MasterCard to maximize our points. We shop mainly at the Loblaws and affiliate stores, so the PC WEMC is a perfect card for us.

Currently we have the Scotia Gold AMEX(restaurants, travel), Scotia VISA Momentum Infinite(grocery, gas),RBC VISA Infinite Avion, Home Trust Visa(US purchase), Capital One(Costco).

We do eat out frequently and vacation to the US at least once a year. I need to cancel all these credit cards, want to only have the PC WEMC and another card or two.

Can you suggest which other cards I should combine and will cancel the rest?

Hi Cecilia,

THe Scotia Gold Amex is actually a great complimentary card to the PCFWEMC especially if you use it to eat out a lot and travel. Come August 1st, you’ll earn 5X the points on restaurants and the card will have no forex fees.

https://www.scotiabank.com/content/dam/scotiabank/canada/en/documents/personal-banking/AW007111_CJ54869_Gold_AMEX_ENG_WEB.pdf

If you want to drop the Scotiabank Amex card, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card doesn’t give you as many points for groceries and restaurants, but you get a Priority Pass membership and 6 free annual passes.

With either of the two above cards, you could cancel the Home Trust card and the RBC Avion card.

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My wife keeps pushing me for the PC World Elite MC as she is working for PCF.

I currently have TD Visa Infinite cash back card that gives me 3% on Gas, Recurring Payments and Groceries (from grocery stores – no Walmart or No Frills (Visa not accepted)).

TD Visa Infinite cash back card has a better travel insurance, rental car coverage etc than PCWEMC – Correct me if i am wrong

Does it make sense for me to go for PCWEMC just for the 3x points in No Frills shopping? BTW i have PC Optimum card that gives my 10 points on ESSO gas purchases.

Also we travel at least once a year to India or US which travel card do you recommend for lounge access + perks – Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite or CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite?

If you always pay your bills on time, it doesn’t hurt to get the PCFWEMC since you would earn 30 points per dollar spent.

As for your other question about lounge passes and Nexus. I personally think the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card is the best all-in-one travel card. Your wife would be able to use the free annual passes as long as she’s travelling with you (assuming you’re the primary cardholder). She wouldn’t be able to use the passes if she was travelling on her own.

Nexus is only $50 for 5 years, so although CIBC offers a rebate, the 2 extra lounge passes you get from Scotiabank every year are worth more. As I’m sure you know, the Scotiabank card also has no forex fees.

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Hi Pradeep, Visa HomeTrust has you no exchange fees for currency. That is somewhere around 2.4% savings when out of country. Also, I get 1% cash back. So it is about 3.5% savings when travelling. Unless you get currency wihtout having to exchange it (ie cash gifts from family).

Thanks Barry. WiIl wait on PCFWEMC….

Scotia benefits are better and will go with it… Also will apply for a Supplementary card (wife) for free and add that to the Priority Pass account, not sure if they will let me register. Any thoughts?

The fine print on the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card states that the Priority Pass membership is only valid for the primary cardholder so your wife would not qualify.

If she travels on her own quite a bit, it may be worth it for her to get her own card.

Thanks Barry 🙂

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i only get 20 points for 1 dollar

You have the World card, not the World Elite.

i have the world elite.

The world elite card definitely earns you 30 points per $1 spent at Loblaws owned stores.

https://www.pcfinancial.ca/en/credit-cards/world-elite

thats what theY said.but i only get 20 for 1 dollar

You’d have to contact customer service again and tell them to look at your statement to varify that there’s an error and then have them fix it.

yes.i did.mastercard said it is points issue.points said its mastercard issue

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my wife traveled to India last week. but unfortunately lost her luggage. she did not receive her luggage at New Delhi. Airlines are unable to track her luggage. My question is that as i paid her full ticket from PC choice world elite master card, will i be able to claim the baggage lost. please answer

Sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately, the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard does not come with any lost baggage insurance.

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Hi, If I’m the primary card holder and I have a supplementary card issued in my Wife’s name, does the travel insurance cover her on a trip to the US. if that trip flight and hotel was charged in full on the supplemental card with her name on it if me as the primary card holder is not going on the trip with her? Thanks.

Your wife would not be insured with the card if you’re not travelling with her.

Thank Barry, I guess I’m going to Vegas as a 3rd wheel in a bachlorette party. Lol. By the way, what is the process if one needs to for example see a doctor or visit a hospital emergency room in the U.S.? Does the card member pay for all of the medical services 1st, keep the invoices, then file a claim afterwards or do you call and get pre-approval first? We are both Canadian born, I as the primary card holder and my spouse has the supplementary card. . And is it family coverage or just your spouse? And is there any deductible (i.e. card member pays first $100?). Thanks.

You’re supposed to contact your insurer before you seek medical attention or as soon as possible. Sometimes the doctor or hospital can bill the insurer directly, but sometimes you need to pay yourself and then make a claim. Generally speaking, your dependent children who are not students are also covered, again read the policy. Also note that the travel medical for this card only covers 10 days if you’re under the age of 65.

Thank Barry, can you post a link to the policy? Thanks.

https://www.pcfinancial.ca/docs/default-source/legal-stuff/pcf_worldelite_coi_en.pdf

Hi Barry, What cards currently have no forex fees? Which one offers the best cash back? Which card has best travel insurances. I do like the Amex option, but here in a more rural area, many merchants don’t accept Amex. Thanks

Check out these two pages.

https://www.moneywehave.com/canadian-credit-cards-without-foreign-transaction-fees/ https://www.moneywehave.com/best-cash-back-credit-cards-in-canada/ https://www.moneywehave.com/the-best-credit-cards-with-travel-insurance/

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Hello! Thanks for the info. Does this card have any coverage for Trip Cancelation Insurance? We are currently en route to Australia from Canada with a stop over in Hawaii and Jetstar has cancelled our flight to Melbourne. Sadly, we forgot to purchase travel insurance before the trip (of course, the one time I forget…..).

Hoping this card will help over the costs at Jetstar is being absolutely useless. Cheers!

Unfortunately, this card does not have any trip cancellation.

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Points are slow to add up, even if you spend a huge amount on the card. If you don’t pay off the balance on your card dinged over a 22% interest charge. In the end you do not come out ahead on the PC Mastercard!

If you’re shopping at Loblaws owned stores or Shoppers Drug Mart, the points add up fast. You’re basically earning 3% or 4.5% return on all your purchases and that doesn’t include any in-store or targeted offers. If you’re carrying a balance, the rewards are definitely not worth and you should focus on debt repayment. This is a no fee card so I would say the majority of people do come out ahead.

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Sounds fantastic!! However I have the card and have been trying to get my points fixed for over 2 years. I still only get 10 points at gas stations and minimum at their stores. I called, wrote,started a points claim and even wrote to the PC ombudsman. All failed to follow up and follow through. Very disappointing.

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PC® World Elite Mastercard®

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Earn 30 points per $1 spent at PC grocery stores

  • Rates & Fees

45 points * 45 points per $1 spent at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix

30 points At least 30 points per litre of gas purchased at Esso™ or Mobil™ stations

30 points At least 30 points per $1 spent on PC Travel services

30 points 30 points per $1 spent at Loblaw Banner Grocery Stores (includes Loblaws, No Frills, Valu-Mart, Independent Grocers, Zehrs, Real Canadian Superstore, Fortinos, etc.)

$0 Annual Fee

21.99% Purchase APR

22.97% Cash Advance APR

21.99% Balance Transfer Rate

Fair Recommended Credit Score

$80,000 Required Annual Personal Income

Author: Money.ca

By Money.ca

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Compare other PC Financial credit cards

  • Best PC Financial credit cards
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Compare other Mastercard credit cards

  • Best Mastercard credit cards in Canada
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Compare other grocery credit cards

  • Best credit cards for groceries in Canada
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  • Rogers™ World Elite® Mastercard®
  • MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®

In the market for a credit card that will allow you to earn back on day-to-day spending without having to pay an annual fee? Depending on where you shop, you might want to consider the PC ® World Elite Mastercard ® . It’s a particularly great fit if you regularly stock up at Loblaw grocery stores or if you fill the tank at Esso™ and Mobil™ gas stations, where it has a 3% earn rate (30 points per $1 spent or per litre of gas purchased). It also makes sense for frequent customers at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix, where it earns back at 4.5% (45 points per $1).

The PC ® World Elite Mastercard ® is one of Canada’s few World Elite Mastercards without an annual fee, and it had the highest customer recommendation score in Forrester’s 2020 Canada CX Index™ Survey. That said, it’s not the only rewards card out there that pays back handsomely on everyday spending, and its Loblaw-centric rewards structure might leave some feeling restricted.

Pros and cons

No annual fee

High earn rates in certain stores

Easy, straightforward redemptions

Points don’t expire provided your account stays active and in good standing

Special events allow you to earn extra points

High income requirement to qualify

Accelerated earn rates are limited to certain partner stores, and points can be redeemed only for purchases within Loblaw banner stores

Points can’t be transferred to other loyalty programs

The included travel insurance is very limited

How to earn points

The PC ® World Elite Mastercard ® has the best overall earn rates offered among all three PC Financial ® credit cards:

  • 45 points per $1 spent at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix
  • At least 30 points per litre of gas purchased at Esso™ or Mobil™ stations
  • 30 points per $1 spent on PC Travel services
  • 30 points per $1 spent at Loblaw Banner Grocery Stores (includes Loblaws, No Frills, Valu-Mart, Independent Grocers, Zehrs, Real Canadian Superstore, Fortinos, etc.)

All other purchases earn 10 points per $1 spent. Make sure to keep an eye out for special events as well which will allow you to earn points at a higher rate.

How to redeem points

The value you get when you redeem  PC Optimum™  points is very straightforward: 1,000 points can be redeemed for $1 worth of groceries or other products at Loblaw banner stores, as well as online at shoppersdrugmart.ca, pharmaprix.ca, joefresh.ca and pcexpress.ca. That’s it—there’s one flat rate for all redemptions. Points will not expire provided your account stays active and in good standing. This means you can collect and save as many points as you like, with no rush to redeem them within a certain period of time.

There are only a few caveats to what is otherwise a very easy redemption process: You do need a minimum of 10,000 points to redeem, and points can only be redeemed in $10 increments. So, if for example you’ve accumulated 28,000 points, you can either opt to redeem 20,000 of them and then wait until you’ve earned 2,000 more to make a 10,000-point redemption, or you can just wait until you have 30,000 and redeem them all at once for $30 in value. Also, you can redeem a maximum 500,000 points per transaction ($500 in value).

Be aware that some select items are not available for redemption with points, like tobacco and alcohol products, gift cards, etc.

Additional perks

Though it’s not loaded with the valuable features that you might get if you shell out for a  rewards credit card  with an annual fee in the $100+ neighborhood, the PC ® World Elite Mastercard ® nonetheless has a few handy perks and benefits worth noting:

  • Up to 10 consecutive days of Travel Emergency Medical Insurance per trip, for cardholders under the age of 65. Max benefit $1M.
  • Up to 31 consecutive days of Collision/Loss Damage Waiver Insurance for car rentals with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $65,000 or less
  • Identity Theft Assistant Service
  • 24/7 concierge service

Readers frequently contact us asking if the card covers trip interruption or cancellation—to which the answer is, unfortunately, no. The PC ® World Elite Mastercard ® does not offer any additional travel insurance beyond its basic emergency medical and car rental coverage. If you’re looking for a credit card that offers a more comprehensive suite of protections you should check out our list of  credit cards with great travel insurance .

Rates and fees

Interest rates.

The PC ® World Elite Mastercard ® has a purchase interest rate of 21.99%, 22.97% (21.97% in Quebec) on cash advances. 

*Standard rate.

*Basic rates may apply; see details on provider’s site.

  • Annual fee: $0
  • Cash advance in Canada: $3.50
  • Cash advance outside of Canada: $5.00
  • Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%
  • Dishonoured payment fees: $42.00
  • Overlimit fee: $29.00 ($0 for Quebec residents)
  • Copy of sales draft or account statement: $10.00
  • Credit balance refund made by cheque: $20.00
  • Inactive account (12+ months no activity): $10 or balance amount; whichever is the lesser value of the two.

Eligibility requirements

You need to be a Canadian resident and the age of majority in your home province to be eligible for this credit card. Furthermore, you’ll need to have a minimum personal income of $80,000 per year or $150,000 minimum household income per year.

How to apply

Ready to apply for the PC ® World Elite Mastercard ® ? Here’s what you need to do:

Ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements as listed above.

Visit the website  here  and click the red ‘Apply now’ button.

You’ll be asked if you already have a PC Financial ® account. If you do, great. It just means all your information is on file and ready to go in your account. If not, that’s ok! You can create an account now.

You’ll be given an application disclosure summary again with the eligibility requirements, as well as the fine print details. Give it a read over and then tick the box that you have read and accept.

Fill in the application form. You will be asked to provide some personal details, your employment info, if you want to add an additional user or any optional extras to the account, etc. Filling this information out should only take you a few minutes.

Review your application and submit.

Approval should be very quick. Once you are approved it takes about 5-7 business days for your card to arrive in the mail.

How it compares

The PC ® World Elite Mastercard ® is a pretty handy credit card to have—for some. There are other grocery and gas-oriented credit cards that might be a better choice depending on your spending habits and lifestyle. Here is how the PC ® World Elite Mastercard ® compares to two other Canadian favourites: the Scotia Momentum ® Visa Infinite* Card and the Rogers™ World Elite ®  Mastercard ® .

The PC ® World Elite Mastercard ® is likely the best option for high-income singles or couples who plan on making the majority of their grocery purchases at Loblaw banner grocery stores. Here’s how the math works out: A single consumer who spends $4,000 annually at those stores will earn around 120K PC Optimum™ points, which is worth about $120. That’s a very respectable chunk of change for a card with no annual fee.

Small families, however, might benefit from paying the annual fee for the  Scotia Momentum ® Visa Infinite* Card . Given that they’ll have more mouths to feed, let’s say they spend $8,000 annually on groceries, $5,000 of which is spent at Loblaw banner grocery stores, and the remaining $3,000 outside that network. With the Scotia card’s higher earn rate (4%), they’ll get $320 in cash back on those purchases; with the PC ® World Elite Mastercard® they’ll earn 180,000 PC Optimum™ points, worth $180. In this circumstance the small family is better off paying the annual fee for the Scotia card, because after factoring out that $120 fee they’ll still end up with an extra $20 in cash back that they would not have earned with the PC card.

However, if you’re fundamentally opposed to paying an annual fee for a credit card, you might also look at your monthly expenses and compare the earn rates for the PC ® World Elite Mastercard ® against the  Rogers™ World Elite ®  Mastercard ® . The Rogers card’s 1.5% cash back rate on all CAD purchases and 3% rate on USD purchases make it a great option for a few different types of consumers:

Frequent customers at big-box stores like Costco or Walmart, where the Scotia and PC Financial cards either won’t be accepted or will only earn a 1% return

Those who have a diversified monthly budget that isn’t heavily skewed toward groceries and/or gas

Snowbirds, dual citizens, or other frequent cross-border travelers who make a lot of purchases in the United States

¹ Conditions Apply. Visit  here  for the Scotia Momentum ® Visa Infinite* Card to learn more.

Grub for nothing

At the end of the day, the PC Optimum™ program is definitely one of the  best ways to save on groceries in Canada , provided you shop regularly at the ubiquitous Loblaw stores and PC partner brands. And once you’re at the register, paying with the PC® World Elite Mastercard® is the easiest way to rapidly accumulate more points and get more and more free groceries.

However, if you make about 50% or more of your grocery purchases outside the Loblaw network, this probably isn’t the right credit card for you. In that case, you would be better off looking at a different card that still has a high earn rate for groceries or a high base earn rate on all purchases, and that isn’t locked into a specific loyalty program.

Sponsored advertising. President’s Choice Financial ® Mastercard ® is provided by President’s Choice Bank. The PC Optimum™ program is provided by President's Choice Services Inc. President’s Choice Bank is not responsible for the contents of this site, including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete information regarding the PC ® Mastercard ® , PC ® World Mastercard ® , or PC ® World Elite Mastercard ® , please click on the “Apply Now” or other applicable button.

About our author

Money.ca

The Money.ca Editorial Team is a group of passionate financial experts, seasoned journalists, and content creators who are deeply committed to providing unbiased, relevant, and accurate financial information. With years of combined industry experience, our team is dedicated to maintaining the highest journalistic standards and delivering informative and engaging content. From personal finance and investing to retirement planning and business finance, we cover a broad range of topics to suit the financial needs of our diverse readership. You can trust the Money.ca Editorial Team to empower you with the knowledge and tools necessary to make wise financial decisions.

These articles do not include bylines, as they are intended to provide information about the company or have been written by an internal team at Money.ca, rather than stories by individual writers or contributors. Bylines are used for all other articles.

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pc world elite mastercard travel emergency medical insurance

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PC Financial World Elite Mastercard

pc world elite mastercard travel emergency medical insurance

Signup bonus:

Annual fee:, earning rate:.

The PC Financial World Elite Mastercard is a fine choice for people who frequently shop at Loblaw’s brands, but otherwise has limited appeal.

Bonuses & Fees

The card currently has a welcome bonus of 20,000 PC Optimum points upon making their first purchase at a store that participates in the PC Optimum program.

Occasionally, new applicants can earn a welcome bonus of 100,000 PC Optimum points upon making their first purchase at a store that participates in the PC Optimum program. If you’re interested in the card, consider waiting for this offer to make an appearance before applying.

The card has no annual fee .

Earning Rewards

The card has category bonuses for shopping at specific stores:

  • All Optimum members earn an additional 15 points per dollar spent at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix, regardless of which credit card is used to pay
  • Earn at least 30 Optimum points per litre at Esso and Mobil gas stations
  • Earn 30 Optimum points per dollar spent at PC Travel
  • Earn 10 Optimum points per dollar spent on all other purchases

While these rates cover a wide range of categories, they only apply at these particular merchants. So while the card may appear to have strong earning rates, it only benefits cardholders who already shop at those stores, or are willing to change their shopping habits.

Redeeming Rewards

PC Optimum points have a value of 0.1 cents per point , with occasional 50% bonus redemption events. Points can be redeemed at PC Optimum’s partner grocery stores and drugstores.

Perks & Benefits

The PC Financial World Elite Mastercard has no meaningful perks or benefits to speak of.

Insurance Coverage

The card has a modest insurance package, including emergency medical insurance for trips up to 10 days, and standard extended warranty and purchase protection .

It also includes rental car collision insurance for cars up to an MSRP of $65,000.

However, it doesn’t offer the specific provisions that are important to travellers, and the coverage it does provide can also be found on many other cards.

As a World Elite product, this credit card has a minimum annual income requirement of $80,000 (individual) or $150,000 (household). Follow the below link to the PC Financial website to learn more about this card and submit an application.

pc world elite mastercard travel emergency medical insurance

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HelloSafe » Travel Insurance » PC Financial

Is PC Financial travel Insurance good? Review 2024

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Our articles are written by experts in their fields (finance, trading, insurance etc.) whose signatures you will see at the beginning and at the end of each article. They are also systematically reviewed and corrected before each publication, and updated regularly.

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Traveling without travel insurance can have severe financial consequences. Did you know that one night's hospital stay in the U.S. can be over $14,000 CAD? In some countries, you may even be denied medical assistance if you cannot prepay for treatment.

Travel insurance is an absolute necessity when you're away from home, providing coverage for healthcare expenses and ensuring you can access medical services when needed. It also offers assistance for flight disruptions, lost baggage, and other related issues.

One popular provider worth considering is the PC Financial Travel Insurance (from President's Choice). So we've done a comprehensive review outlining the coverage, costs, and the pros and cons of their service.

Additionally, you can also use our comparator to explore the best travel insurances in Canada and get quotes in seconds.

President's Choice Financial Travel Insurance: 5 Key takeaways

  • PC Financial Travel Insurance protects against unexpected medical expenses and other issues like delays and cancelations.
  • It offers comprehensive coverage, including trip cancellation, interruption, emergency medical, and baggage loss/delay.
  • It is important to review the policy's terms and conditions to understand coverage limitations and exclusions.
  • The policy offers flexibility and customisation, allowing travellers to tailor their coverage.
  • It is advisable to compare other travel insurances using our comparator, considering factors like coverage, cost, and reviews.

Our 2024 review of PC Financial travel insurance

President's Choice has joined hands with Manulife Travel Insurance to provide Canadians with exceptional plans so they can travel and enjoy their business trips or vacations stress-free.

PC primarily offers 4 travel insurance options: Complete package, Package without medical care, Global medical care, and Unequaled Protection Insurance.

Before we dive into the coverage of each option, here's a quick look at the pros and cons of this insurance overall.

Pros of PC Financial Travel Insurance

  • Diverse insurance options
  • Partnership with Manulife
  • Insurance for seniors
  • No-fee master cards with travel insurance
  • Quarantine expenses covered in case of COVID

Cons of PC Financial Travel Insurance

  • Pre-existing medical condition exclusions
  • Limited pricing information on website

You can also compare PC Financial Travel Insurance with other providers in Canada like Allianz Travel Insurance using our comparator below and also get quick quotes based on your unique needs.

Compare the best travel insurance plans on the market!

How is the PC Financial Travel Insurance Coverage?

PC Financial travel insurance offers a wide range of coverage from trip cancellation and medical emergency to flight delays and lost baggage and more to ensure you have the most stress-free travel. However the coverages vary based on the option you choose.

What does PC Financial Travel Insurance cover?

Your PC financial travel insurance may cover medical insurance alone or a combination of travel medical and trip protection, although the specific policy details, including coverage duration and limits, vary across different plans offered.

Generally, the PC Financial Travel covers a few or all of the following based on your plans:

  • Trip cancellation and interruption coverage: Reimburses non-refundable expenses if a trip needs to be canceled or cut short due to covered reasons like illness, injury, or severe weather.
  • Travel medical insurance: This provides coverage for medical expenses incurred while traveling, including emergency medical treatment, hospital stays, and sometimes even medical evacuation back to your home country.
  • Lost or delayed baggage coverage: In the unfortunate event of lost, stolen, or delayed baggage, this coverage will provide reimbursement for the replacement of essential items.
  • Trip delay coverage: If your flight or other transportation is delayed (for a specific period of time), this coverage can reimburse you for expenses such as meals, accommodations, and transportation during the delay.
  • Travel accident insurance: Offers coverage for accidental death or dismemberment that occurs during travel on planes, trains, or buses.
  • Rental car insurance: Coverage for collision damage or theft of rental vehicles.
  • Covid Travel Insurance : Covers Covid-related medical emergencies, repatriation and booking cancellations.

Here is a table to give you a quick overview of the coverage provided under the PC Financial Travel Insurance:

What does PC Financial Travel Insurance not cover?

PC Financial Travel Insurance, like other insurance policies in the market, has certain exclusions and limitations.

These may include coverage exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions, high-risk activities such as extreme sports, and incidents related to intoxication or drug use. Any claims arising from incidents related to being under the influence of alcohol or drugs may not be covered by the policy.

Additionally, travel to restricted or high-risk destinations may impact coverage eligibility. It's important to thoroughly review the policy's terms and conditions to fully understand the coverage limitations and exclusions that may apply.

If there are any uncertainties or specific concerns, it is advisable to contact PC Financial directly for further clarification.

How much does PC Financial travel insurance cost?

The price of PC Financial travel insurance depends on the following factors:

  • Your desired coverage and respective policy
  • Your deductible
  • Your waiting period
  • Your destination(s)
  • The duration of your trip

You can compare coverages and prices of the best travel insurances in Canada using our comparator below and also get quick quotes based on your unique needs.

Is there a PC financial Mastercard travel insurance?

Yes, like other popular credit cards with travel insurance (to hyperlink later), President's Choice also offers this option. However, the extent of coverage and fee involved vary based on the type of credit card you choose.

PC has three primary credit cards. They are World Elite MasterCard MD , World MasterCard MD , and MasterCard MD .

PC Financial World Elite MasterCard travel insurance

PC World Elite MasterCard travel insurance provides up to $1,000,000 coverage for various emergency medical expenses during your travel including doctor charges, accidental dental care, return airfare, and more.

It also has car rental loss/damage and baggage coverage among others. It is important to read the offer documents of your card carefully.

To make insurance claims, it is highly important to ensure that your PC World Elite Mastercard account is in good standing at the time of the occurrence and the claim.

PC Financial World MasterCard travel insurance

The PC Financial World Mastercard does not offer any travel benefits, however, it does offer reward points for purchases made with respect to travel. It's best to check with your card provider to get accurate and up-to-date information.

PC Financial MasterCard travel insurance

The PC Financial MasterCard does not provide travel benefits by default. However, it might give you rewards and redeemable points that could prove beneficial for your trips and vacations. It would be best to get in touch with your provider for more information on this.

Good to know

In order to get these credit cards, you must satisfy certain eligibility criteria that also include a minimum yearly personal income or household income, apart from other credit approval criteria. Also, it's important that your travel purchases are made on your specific credit card to be eligible for claims after.

How do I contact PC travel insurance?

You can get in touch with the PC Financial travel insurance phone number: 1-844-862-8466 or 1-866-246-7262 . They are both toll-free numbers. You may have to wait a few seconds to minutes in queue when the lines are facing an unexpectedly high volume of enquiries.

The numbers are available only between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm (ET) from Monday to Friday. Weekends are closed for in-phone enquiries.

You could also fill up and submit a form on their website that is available under the contact us category and an agent will get in touch with you shortly after.

If you're an insurance holder, however, in the event of an emergency, however, you can call the toll free at 1-855-856-7569.

How do I file a claim for PC financial travel insurance?

To file a claim, you can get in touch with your provider directly on the phone and a customer service agent will guide you through the process.

You could also login on the PC Financial website to fill the claim form. It is extremely important to make sure you have all the supporting documents like invoices for purchases, bills, etc, at the time of claims process.

How do I cancel my PC financial travel insurance?

If you are looking for information and instructions to cancel PC Financial travel insurance at any time, please call 1-866-246-7262 to speak with a representative.

But canceling your travel insurance might mean putting yourself at the risk of financial stress should you be faced with unforeseen medical and other related issues during your travel. So, it's strongly recommended that you opt for a travel insurance that best suits your needs.

Now that you have a good idea about PC Financial Travel Insurance, you can compare it with the best travel insurances in Canada using our comparator below and also get quick quotes .

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Save up to 25% on your travel insurance with our partner soNomad

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1-888-550-8302

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Nishadh Mohammed, an experienced news editor and writer, has been a member of the HelloSafe team since May 2023. With a robust nine-year background in journalism and content creation, he has transitioned from impactful roles at major Indian newspapers to steering the course of online content as the managing editor of The Daily Net. Possessing a proficiency in crafting content for diverse audiences, Nishadh also brings a deep understanding of data analytics tools such as SQL, Tableau, and Knime. His commitment goes beyond crafting engaging financial content for HelloSafe; he navigates the ever-changing SEO landscape, leveraging data-driven insights to make informed decisions. When he's not wrestling with SEO algorithms, Nishadh indulges in reading and passionately explores narratives on human rights, intersectionality, race, caste, and LGBTQIA+ issues.

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PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard Review 2024: Earn the Most PC Optimum Points In Canada

Updated: Mar 7, 2024, 6:09pm

Fact Checked

The PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard is the newest addition to PC Financial’s roster of credit cards —and it earns the most PC Optimum points of all. However, outside of use at Loblaw-owned grocery stores like Loblaws, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, Dominion and Zehrs, along with Shoppers Drug Mart and select gas stations , this card is fairly limited. But, if you’re an enthusiastic collector of PC Optimum points, this card might be a sensible addition to your wallet, as long as you can take on the $120 annual fee. The few extra perks it comes with, like travel insurance, may make the extra yearly cost more worthwhile for you.

  • Earn accelerated Optimum points at Loblaw-owned stores and Shoppers Drug Mart
  • Earn $0.07 per litre on gas at Esso and Mobil
  • Built-in travel emergency medical insurance and car rental collision/loss damage waiver insurance
  • Only those who shop at stores under the Loblaw umbrella, Shoppers Drug Mart and Esso/Mobil gas stations will benefit from this card
  • $120 annual fee
  • Not many extra perks or benefits

PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard

Table of Contents

Introduction, quick facts, pc insiders world elite mastercard rewards, pc insiders world elite mastercard benefits, how the pc insiders world elite mastercard stacks up, methodology, is the pc insiders world elite mastercard right for you.

  • Earn a welcome bonus of 150,000 PC Optimum points when you spend $3,000 or more within the first four months.
  • Earn 40 PC Optimum points per dollar at Loblaw-banner grocery stores.
  • Earn 50 PC Optimum points per dollar at Shoppers Drug Mart.
  • Earn $0.07 per litre on gas at Esso and Mobil stations.
  • Earn 10 PC Optimum points per dollar on purchases everywhere else.
  • Get a complimentary PC Express Pass ($99.99 per year) that gives you free grocery delivery and pickup on eligible orders of $35 or more.
  • Built-in $1 million travel emergency medical insurance for first 10 days
  • Car rental collision/loss damage waiver insurance for 31 days
  • Purchase assurance and extended warranty

The PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard is a new addition to the roster of PC Mastercards currently available. Thankfully, this card is not just new, but an improvement on what the other cards currently offer and can seriously benefit those who shop at Loblaw-owned grocery stores and Shoppers Drug Mart. Cardholders can earn 40 PC Optimum points per dollar on these purchases—more than even the current PC World Elite Mastercard offers.

The card offers even more PC Optimum points at Shoppers Drug Mart, earning 50 PC Optimum points per dollar on purchases there. What’s more, this credit card rewards gas at Esso and Mobil stations too, earning $0.07 per litre when you fill up at one of these stations. Cardholders will also earn 10 PC Optimum points per dollar on all other spending.

As a welcome bonus, the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard offers 150,000 PC Optimum points when you spend $3,000 or more within the first four months. This translates to a $150 value.

A major downside of this card is its $120 annual fee, so be sure it will be offset by your reward earnings if this is your primary card.

Aside from that, this card doesn’t offer much in the way of insurance and perks—especially for a card with a $120 annual fee. You’ll get $1 million in travel emergency medical coverage and auto rental collision/loss damage waiver insurance, but that’s it for the travel coverage.

It also includes purchase assurance and extended warranty, but compared to other credit cards with similar annual fees, it leaves something to be desired. Probably the most significant downside of this card is that it provides little benefit when used outside of the PC Optimum ecosystem (Loblaw-banner stores, Shoppers Drug Mart, Esso and Mobil)—and these aren’t always the most affordable places to shop.

  • A welcome bonus of 150,000 PC Optimum points when you spend $3,000 or more within the first four months
  • Earn 40 PC Optimum points per dollar at Loblaw-banner grocery stores and 50 PC Optimum points at Shoppers Drug Mart.
  • Add up to four additional cardholders to your account at no extra cost

Earning Rewards

The PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard earns PC Optimum points on all eligible purchases. It will earn you the most points at Shoppers Drug Mart at a rate of 50 PC Optimum points per dollar. Shopping at Loblaw-banner grocery stores earns a close second, with 40 PC Optimum points per dollar earned. All other spending will earn a rate of 10 PC Optimum points per dollar. You’ll also earn rewards in the form of cash back at Esso and Mobil gas stations at a rate of $0.07 per litre.

Redeeming Rewards

You can utilize your points to cover most purchases at either Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaw banner stores and Esso or Mobil. When you reach the checkout, simply ask about using your PC Optimum points. It’s important to note that you must redeem them in increments of 10,000 points, which are equal to $10.

At Esso stations, the redemption process varies slightly, offering two options. You can either use 4,000 points to receive a discount of 10 cents per litre on fuel (up to 40 litres)—resulting in $4 in savings—or redeem 10,000 points for a car wash, which can save you up to $15.

Rewards Potential

Depending on your spending habits and where you tend to spend, the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard can earn a lot of rewards.

Forbes Advisor estimates that the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard could earn $706.19 worth of PC Optimum points per year—but only if you buy your groceries at Loblaw-owned grocery stores and gas up your vehicle at Esso or Mobil. When you factor in the annual $120 fee, this card still earns $586.19 worth of PC Optimum points, which is an impressive amount.

  • Generous welcome bonus worth $150
  • Earns 50 Optimum Points per dollar at Shoppers Drug Mart
  • Earns 40 Optimum Points per dollar at Loblaw-banner grocery stores
  • Built-in $1 million travel emergency medical coverage and rental car collision/loss damage waiver insurance for up to 31 days

Interest Rates

  • Regular APR Min: 21.99%
  • Cash Advance APR: 21.97%
  • Balance Transfer APR: 22.97%
  • Cash Advance Fee: $5
  • Balance Transfer Fee: 1% (up to 5%)
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.5%
  • Annual Fee: $120
  • Cash advance outside Canada: $7.50
  • Overlimit charge: $29 (for Quebec residents: $0),
  • Wire transfer or money order: 1%
  • Dishonoured payment or convenience cheque: $42
  • Inactive account: $10 or the credit balance amount if there has been no activity on your account (meaning no debits, credits, interest or fees) for the preceding 12 consecutive months.

PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard vs. PC World Elite Mastercard

In terms of its earning scheme and benefits, these are probably the two most similar cards in the PC credit card slate. The PC World Elite Mastercard earns 30 points per dollar at Loblaw-banner stores, 45 points per dollar at Shoppers Drug Mart, 30 points per litre at Esso and Mobil, and 10 points per dollar everywhere else.

Like the PC Insiders World Elite, it also comes with $1 million emergency medical travel coverage and rental car collision/loss damage waiver coverage, though it lacks the purchase assurance and extended warranty coverage the PC Insider World Elite Mastercard provides. All that to say, while the PC Insiders card earns slightly more points at Loblaw-owned stores and at Shoppers, the PC World Elite card has a major advantage— no annual fee . It earns $429.24 with Loblaw purchases, which is only slightly lower than the $586.19 in annual earnings the PC Insiders World Elite can give you with the annual fee factored in.

PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard vs. BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite

The PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard and the BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite are comparable in that they both have a $120 annual fee and boast accelerated earnings on grocery purchases . However, the BMO card’s earnings applies to all grocery purchases, not just at select stores. Both credit cards offer emergency medical travel insurance (though the BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite includes $5 million in coverage for up to 15 days, versus $1 million in coverage for up to 10 days), car rental coverage , purchase assurance and extended warranty. That said, the BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite has a solid welcome bonus and waives its $120 fee in the first year. The BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite also includes accelerated earnings on gas and dining, as well as mobile device insurance .

However, when you crunch the numbers, the BMO card earns slightly less per year, earning at estimated $432.99 in rewards after the annual fee is factored in, which is a little less than the $586.19 earned from PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard. However, the PC Insider earnings only apply to Loblaw-banner stores and Esso/Mobil gas purchases, so the BMO Eclipse may be the better card for you, depending on where you shop.

PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard vs. Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

The PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard and the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card both have a $120 annual fee and earn points in major rewards programs. Still, the Scotiabank Gold earns accelerated 6 Scene+ points per dollar at grocery stores owned by Sobeys’ parent company. Meanwhile, it still earns 5 Scene+ points per dollar at other grocery stores and it also has a more robust offering of travel insurance varieties, including $1 million travel emergency medical (for up to 25 days, age 64 and under), trip interruption, flight delays, travel accidents, rental car collision and hotel burglaries. It also includes purchase security and extended warranty and the rare, but highly coveted, mobile device insurance. It also includes Amex perks and boasts no foreign transaction fees . Plus, Scene+ points are significantly more flexible than PC Optimum points. Overall, the Scotiabank Gold American Express card earns more than the PC Insider World Elite Mastercard by far, raking in an estimated $823.12 per year with the annual fee factored in—compared to the PC Insider World Elite’s earnings of $586.19. But, remember that the Scotiabank Gold it still is an American Express, so it may not be as widely accepted as a Mastercard .

When determining a rating for individual credit cards, the Forbes Advisor Canada editorial team factors in an exhaustive list of data points. With this card, the scoring model used takes into account factors such as, but not limited to, reward rates and categories, fees, welcome bonuses, and other benefits and features.

In calculating earning potential for cards, we tallied what the average Canadian spends every year for each rewards category. Forbes Advisor uses data from multiple government agencies in order to determine both baseline income and credit card spending averages across various categories.Keep in mind, what may be best for some people might not be right for you. Conduct informed research before deciding which cards will best help you achieve your financial goals.

If you’re a frequent shopper at Loblaw-owned grocery stores, Shoppers Drug Mart and Esso or Mobil, this card can provide solid rewards. That said, if you need more than just a little travel insurance coverage, or want to earn more on grocery spending overall , there are superior cards on the market that hover around the same $120 annual price tag as this card.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many additional cardholders can you have on a pc insiders world elite credit card.

The PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard can have up to four additional cardholders added to the account at no extra charge.

How do I upgrade to the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard as an existing customer?

If you’re an existing customer, you can check whether you’re eligible to upgrade to the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard through your PC Financial online account. First, click on the ‘sign in’ button on the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard product page or log into your mobile app to check your eligibility. If you find that you meet the criteria, like the income requirements, you’ll see a PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard tile on your home screen. Click on the tile and follow the provided instructions to complete the upgrade.

Is the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard the best credit card for groceries?

While this card can provide significant benefit to those who shop at Loblaw-banner grocery stores, Shoppers Drug Mart, Esso or Mobil by earning them PC Optimum points, the best grocery credit card in Canada is largely considered to be the American Express Cobalt .

Courtney Reilly-Larke is the deputy editor of Forbes Advisor Canada. Previously, she was the associate editor of personal finance at MoneySense. She was also managing editor of Best Health Magazine and has contributed to publications such as Cottage Life and Blog TO. She currently lives in Toronto.

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Topping up travel insurance offered by credit card

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Here’s a start. https://assets.ctfassets.net/xqp30uh3quox/5bjnPXwVaaD7dwD792v0TY/917c718b945ffc1051abcccbaf5598c4/pcf_worldelite_coi_en.pdf i believe the answers are: 1. Yes, automatic, subject to conditions such as pre-existing conditions 2. that’s up to you. You may consider the coverage from PC MC isn’t enough. It doesn’t need to be one or the other. What I’m not clear about is how these credit card medical coverages work if you are driving out of country. You don’t have any airline tickets to prove entry/exit dates….how would you prove when you left rhe country? I assume you would need to prove it.  

pc world elite mastercard travel emergency medical insurance

But already that's not good, if they aren't even internally coordinated to answer public's basic answer.  

Did you try this number: 1-866-892-8683  

pc world elite mastercard travel emergency medical insurance

This thread opened is just in a nick of time. Not trying to break your estatic balloon in getting covered/iinsured even with the top up ... try getting your claim paid or deemed approved is a nightmare. Just read yesterday from G&M(?) that a gentleman broke his back from sleep-walking off his hotel's balcony (weird or what?) whilst vacationing down south (somewhere). Boy did he get his money's worth ... of hassles. He was so closed to being a paralyzed from the waist down before he got approval for the emergency surgery from his "out of country cc covered insurer" some days later ... after calling like not hanging up at all. The insurer's 1800 # wasn't being picked up ... the usual "normal than higher volulme BS" so be prepared to wait ... hours ... if not days ... if not never. Holy jesus. Only if you're interested, I'll look for the link and p ost o/w it's not all that uncommon or unheard of ... these days. You pay and you take your chances.  

From past experience, what matters is the terms of the insurance contract in effect when you enter into the contract. Suggest you download and read carefully to assess you are covered for the specific risks you are concerned about. Or post a link to it here and we can chime in. What the website or an agent say are at best only useful if you keep records and go to court months after the fact. In other words, if you have a claim someone will read the Terms in the Contract and pay based on that. Or not.  

Tostig said: The benefits detail from the PC Financial website says includes "airfare". So I think it that means trip interruption. Click to expand...

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  • pcf_worldelite_coi_en.pdf 537.2 KB Views: 63

I just found out that TD’s US dollar Visa offers some trip interruption coverage. Up to $5,000 of coverage per insured person, to a maximum of $25,000 for all insured persons on the same trip. To be eligible for this insurance, you must pay at least 75% of the entire cost of your trip, including taxes and fees of the Common Carrier fare, and any hotel or similar accommodations with your TD Credit Card.  

  • you must be under age 65
  • you must be permanent residents of Canada with active provincial health insurance
  • pre-existing conditions are excluded
  • only the first 10 consecutive days of a trip are covered

pc world elite mastercard travel emergency medical insurance

James has provided a pretty good synopsis of how these plans work (as I understand it as well). Medical vs Trip Interruption & Cancellation are two very different things. Be sure to understand the difference and the one (or both) that you require. Be sure to fully understand the limited coverage of credit card plans and recognize it cannot be all that good considering how expensive such insurance coverages actually are. On a personal basis, I have ex-country health/medical coverage as a part of my annuitant heath benefit plans via Global Allianz which is ultimately the largest provider of this type of insurance. It is the same ex-country insurance active employees of the corporation have when they are traveling on company business. The part I have to cover on my own is Trip Interruption and Cancellation if I choose to do so. I bought this coverage back in 2015 when we were going for a Peru trip and I still had a very elderly parent alive. As it turned out, she died 5 days before we were to leave.We obviously had to cancel the trip. It took a lot of work but we were compensated for our non-refundable sunk costs because of that situation. We no longer buy TI&C because now that we are in our mid-70s, we have become higher risk of not being able to travel when scheduled and premiums have increased to about 10% of the value of the trip. We now self-insure on the premise that failure to follow through on 1 of 10 trips will pay for itself (like windshield coverage). We didn't buy TI&C for our recent trip to Costa Rica and we have not done so for our upcoming trip to Maui. Somewhere along the line, we may get caught exposed but we will take our chances.  

AltaRed said: We no longer buy TI&C because now that we are in our mid-70s, we have become higher risk of not being able to travel when scheduled and premiums have increased to about 10% of the value of the trip. We now self-insure on the premise that failure to follow through on 1 of 10 trips will pay for itself (like windshield coverage). We didn't buy TI&C for our recent trip to Costa Rica and we have not done so for our upcoming trip to Maui. Somewhere along the line, we may get caught exposed but we will take our chances. Click to expand...

We also look for opportunities for refundable bookings, or relatively short lock-ins. Easy to do with airfare but more difficult with bookings in resort places, and even less easily with 'vacation packages'. Our Costa Rica package was not refundable at all about 30 days out from commencement. It is a calculated risk we take.  

For packages, most tour operators sell a cancellation insurance that is not age-dependent. Runs usually $50 pp for the cheap coverage (gives you future vacation credit rather than your money back) or $100 pp for the better coverage (cancel for any reason, full refund, up to 24 hours before travel).  

Lots of good advice given here. I will check the other thread again and call PC Financial about the possibility of topping up the insurance for an extra two days and trip cancellation and interruption.  

Well my call to PC Financial's insurance administrator at the number on post #4, didn't get any results. No top ups are available. So I called CAA and got a quote for 2 extra days and for trip cancelation and interruption. It's over $500 for a $7000 trip for two people. Then my wife comes home and gets on the phone to talk to her pension administrator. It turns out we can register and pay an annual fee of something like $250 for the both of us to have trip cancellation and interruption as well as travel medical for all our trips. And for the trip we are booking, $35 per person. So, for us, problem solved.  

Thank you. I was remiss in not saying that actually. In the case of WestJet vacations (our Costa Rica trip) it only covers up to 3? 5? days before travel, so there is a short window of real exposure. Anyways, your point is well taken.  

We had/have Capital One world elite Mastercard. When we called to make a cancellation claim the C1 CSR had no information other than contact their insurer at this 1 800 number. We did, and had good service/good experience. The claim paid for more than 10 years of card fees. Our experience is that the credit card CSR’s only seem to have a data sheet with very general talking points. Anything else…call their insurance carrier. No surprise.  

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Best International Travel Insurance for April 2024

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The offers and details on this page may have updated or changed since the time of publication. See our article on Business Insider for current information.

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If you're planning your next vacation or trip out of the country, be sure to factor in travel insurance. Unexpected medical emergencies when traveling can drain your bank account, especially when you're traveling internationally. The best travel insurance companies for international travel can step in to provide you with peace of mind and financial protection while you're abroad.

Best International Travel Insurance Companies

Best overall: Allianz Travel Insurance

Best for exotic travel: World Nomads Travel Insurance

Best for trip interruption coverage: C&F Travel Insured

Best for families: Travelex Travel Insurance

Best for long-term travel: Seven Corners Travel Insurance

Best overall: Allianz

Allianz Travel Insurance  offers the ultimate customizable coverage for international trips, whether you're a frequent jetsetter or an occasional traveler. You can choose from an a la carte of single or multi-trip plans, as well as add-ons, including rental car damage, cancel for any reason (CFAR) , adventure sport, and business travel coverage. And with affordable pricing compared to competitors, Allianz is a budget-friendly choice for your international travel insurance needs. 

The icing on the cake is Allyz TraveSmart, Allainz's highly-rated mobile app, which has an average rating of 4.4 out of five stars on the Google Play store across over 2,600 reviews and 4.8 out of five stars from over 22,000 reviews on the Apple app store. So, you can rest easy knowing that you can access your policy and file claims anywhere in the world without a hassle.

Read our Allianz travel insurance review here.

Best for exotic trips: World Nomads

World Nomads Travel Insurance  offers coverage for over 150 specific activities, so you can focus on the adventure without worrying about gaps in your coverage. 

You can select its budget-friendly standard plan, starting at $79. Or if you're an adrenaline junkie seeking more thrills, you can opt for the World Nomads' Explorer plan for $120, which includes extra sports like skydiving, scuba diving, and heli-skiing. And World Nomads offers 24/7 assistance, so you can confidently travel abroad, knowing that help is just a phone call away. 

Read our World Nomads travel insurance review here.

Best for trip interruption: C&F Travel Insured

C&F Travel Insured offers 100% coverage for trip cancellation, up to 150% for trip interruption, and reimbursement for up to 75% of your non-refundable travel costs with select plans. This means you don't have to worry about losing your hard-earned money on non-refundable travel costs if your trip ends prematurely. 

Travel Insured also stands out for its extensive "reasons for cancellation" coverage. Unlike many insurers, the company covers hurricane warnings from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Read our Travel Insured review here.

Best for family coverage: Travelex

Travelex Travel Insurance offers coverage for your whole crew, perfect for when you're planning a family trip. Its family plan insures all your children 17 and under at no additional cost. The travel insurance provider also offers add-ons like adventure sports and car rental collision coverage to protect your family under any circumstance. Got pets? With Travelex's Travel Select plan, you can also get coverage for your furry friend's emergency medical and transportation expenses. 

Read our Travelex insurance review here.

Best for long trips: Seven Corners

Seven Corners Travel Insurance offers specialized coverage that the standard short-term travel insurance policy won't provide, which is helpful if you're embarking on a long-term trip. You can choose from several plans, including the Annual Multi-Trip plan, which provides medical coverage for multiple international trips for up to 364 days. This policy also offers COVID-19 medical and evacuation coverage up to $1 million. 

You also get the added benefit of incidental expense coverage. This policy will cover remote health-related services and information, treatment of injury or illness, and live consultations via telecommunication. 

Read our Seven Corners travel insurance review here.

How to find the right international travel insurance company 

Different travelers and trips require different types of insurance coverage. So, consider these tips if you're in the market to insure your trip. 

Determine your needs 

  • Consider the nature of your travel (leisure, business, or adventure) and the associated risks (medical emergencies, trip cancellations, etc.).
  • Determine your budget and the amount of coverage you require. 
  • Consider the duration of your trip and the countries you'll be visiting, as some policies won't cover specific destinations. 

Research the reputation of the company 

  • Look for the company's reviews and ratings from reputable sources like consumer advocacy groups and independent website reviews. 
  • Check the provider's financial stability and credit ratings to ensure it can pay out claims reliably. 
  • Investigate the company's claims process to ensure it can provide timely support if you need to file a claim.

Compare prices

  • Get quotes from multiple providers to compare rates and coverage options.
  • See if the company provides discounts or special offers to lower your cost. 
  • Look at the deductible or any out-of-pocket expenses you may have to pay if you file a claim to determine if you can afford it. 

Understanding international travel insurance coverage options 

Travel insurance can be confusing, but we're here to simplify it for you. We'll break down the industry's jargon to help you understand what travel insurance covers to help you decide what your policy needs. Bear in mind that exclusions and limitations for your age and destination may apply. 

Finding the best price for international travel insurance

Your policy cost will depend on several factors, such as the length of your trip, destination, coverage limits, and age. Typically, a comprehensive policy includes travel cancellation coverage costs between 5% and 10% of your total trip cost.

If you're planning an international trip that costs $4,500, you can expect to pay anywhere from $225 to $450 for your policy. Comparing quotes from multiple providers can help you find a budget-friendly travel insurance policy that meets your needs.

How we reviewed international travel insurance companies

We ranked and assigned superlatives to the best travel insurance companies based on our insurance rating methodology . It focuses on several key factors, including: 

  • Policy types: We analyzed company offerings such as coverage levels, exclusions, and policy upgrades, taking note of providers that offer a range of travel-related issues beyond the standard coverages. 
  • Affordability: We recognize that cheap premiums don't necessarily equate to sufficient coverage. So, we seek providers that offer competitive rates with comprehensive policies and quality customer service. We also call out any discounts or special offers available. 
  • Flexibility: Travel insurance isn't one-size-fits-all. We highlight providers that offer a wide array of coverage options, including single-trip, multi-trip, and long-term policies.
  • Claims handling: The claims process should be pain-free for policyholders. We seek providers that offer a streamlined process via online claims filing and a track record of handling claims fairly and efficiently. 
  • Quality customer service: Good customer service is as important as affordability and flexibility. We highlight companies that offer 24/7 assistance and have a strong record of customer service responsiveness. 

We consult user feedback and reviews to determine how each company fares in each category. We also check the provider's financial rating and volume of complaints via third-party rating agencies. 

Which company has the best international travel insurance?

The best insurance policy depends on your individual situation, including your destination and budget. However, popular options include Allianz Travel Insurance, World Nomads, and Travel Guard. 

Is international health insurance the same as travel insurance?

International health insurance and travel insurance serve different purposes. While both may cover medical expenses, international health insurance provides long-term health insurance for working abroad. Meanwhile, travel insurance offers short-term coverage for the duration of your trip. 

What insurance do you need for international travel?

Typically, your regular health insurance won't cover you out of the country, so you'll want to make sure your travel insurance has adequate medical emergency coverage. Depending on your travel plans, you may want to purchase add-ons, such as adventure sports coverage, if you're planning on doing anything adventurous like bungee jumping.

Should you get travel insurance for international travel?

Travel insurance is worth the price for international travel because they're generally more expensive, so you have more to lose. Additionally, your regular health insurance won't cover you in other countries, so without travel insurance, you'll end up paying out of pocket for any emergency medical care you receive out of the US.

If you enjoyed this story, be sure to follow Business Insider on Microsoft Start.

This article may contain affiliate links that Microsoft and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links.

Best International Travel Insurance for April 2024

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COMMENTS

  1. PC® Mastercard® benefits details

    Free access to PC Express™ Pass. PC Express™ Pass is a monthly or annual subscription plan that gives you $0 pickup or delivery on same-day or future PC Express™ online grocery orders of $35 or more for the duration of the plan. Annual subscription fee of $99.99, plus applicable taxes is waived for PC Insiders™ World Elite Mastercard ...

  2. World Elite Mastercard Welcome Kit

    Welcome to your PC Insiders ™ World Elite Mastercard ... Certificate of Insurance for Travel Emergency Medical & Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver. Download (opens in a new window) Electronic Delivery of Documents Terms and Conditions. Download (opens in a new window)

  3. PC World Elite Mastercard Review 2024

    The PC World Elite Mastercard is a surprisingly beneficial card in that it earns plenty of PC Optimum points yet has no annual fee. ... Includes travel emergency medical insurance for trips up to ...

  4. PC World Elite Mastercard Benefits & Details

    Earn at least 3 cents per litre in PC Optimum points. 10 PC Optimum points for every $1 spent everywhere else. 24/7 Concierge Service. Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver Insurance. Travel Emergency Medical Insurance. Identity Theft Assistant Service. Back up. There are many benefits to the President's Choice Financial World Elite Mastercard.

  5. PDF Mastercard Guide to Benefits

    This Guide to Benefits contains detailed information about the benefits you can access as a preferred cardholder. This Guide supersedes any guide or program description you may have received earlier. For more information on any of these services, call the Mastercard Assistance Center at 1-800-Mastercard: 1-800-627-8372, or en Español: 1-800 ...

  6. PC Financial World Elite Mastercard Review

    For a no fee card, the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard comes with a decent amount of benefits. Mind you, many of these benefits come with any World Elite Mastercard, but you get access to them by being a cardholder. Travel emergency medical insurance. Those under the age of 65 get $1,000,000 in travel emergency medical insurance.

  7. PC Financial® World Elite Mastercard® Review

    The PC ® World Elite Mastercard ... Up to 10 consecutive days of Travel Emergency Medical Insurance per trip, for cardholders under the age of 65. Max benefit $1M.

  8. President's Choice Financial® World Elite MasterCard® Review

    Insurance: Good. Unlike the other two PC Financial Mastercards, the PC Financial® World Elite MasterCard® comes with a few insurance features, including: 10 days of travel emergency medical insurance (under age of 65) Car rental collision/loss damage waiver insurance. For a no-fee card, you get some decent additional insurance.

  9. PC Financial World Elite Mastercard

    Perks & Benefits. The PC Financial World Elite Mastercard has no meaningful perks or benefits to speak of. Insurance Coverage. The card has a modest insurance package, including emergency medical insurance for trips up to 10 days, and standard extended warranty and purchase protection.. It also includes rental car collision insurance for cars up to an MSRP of $65,000.

  10. PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard Review 2024

    The PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard maximizes your PC Optimum points when you shop at Loblaw banner stores. This review covers its benefits, downsides, and insurance coverage. ... Travel Emergency Medical Insurance: You get coverage for trips up to 10 days if you are under 65 years of age. When eligible, this benefit provides up to a maximum ...

  11. Is PC Financial travel Insurance good? Review 2024

    PC World Elite MasterCard travel insurance provides up to $1,000,000 coverage for various emergency medical expenses during your travel including doctor charges, accidental dental care, return airfare, and more. It also has car rental loss/damage and baggage coverage among others. It is important to read the offer documents of your card carefully.

  12. PDF BMO World Elite™* MasterCard 31 Day Medical Protection

    It is important that You understand what is and isn't covered under your coverage. Read Your Certificate of Insurance carefully for complete coverage details. We're available 24/7 to answer your questions. Call 1-877-704-0341 or collect 1-519-741-0782.

  13. PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard Review 2024

    As a welcome bonus, the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard offers 150,000 PC Optimum points when you spend $3,000 or more within the first four months. This translates to a $150 value. A major ...

  14. PC Financial Mastercard world elite travel insurance

    For packages, most tour operators sell a cancellation insurance that is not age-dependent. Runs usually $50 pp for the cheap coverage (gives you future vacation credit rather than your money back) or $100 pp for the better coverage (cancel for any reason, full refund, up to 24 hours before travel). T.

  15. PDF World Elite Mastercard®

    3 Emergency assistance is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If in Canada or the U.S., call 1-833-429-2746 toll-free, or +416-920-0938 collect from anywhere in the world. If you do not call Global Excel before you seek emergency services, or if you choose to seek care from a non-approved medical service provider, you will be responsible for 20% of your

  16. PDF World Elite Mastercard

    Mastercard Global Service™ provides worldwide, 24-hour assistance with Lost and Stolen Card Reporting, Emergency Card Replacement, and Emergency Cash Advance. Call Mastercard Global Service immediately to report your card lost or stolen and to cancel the account. If you need to make purchases

  17. Covered California™

    Covered California is a free service from the state of California that connects Californians with brand-name health insurance under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It's the only place where you can get financial help when you buy health insurance from well-known companies.

  18. Help Finding Healthcare Coverage and Applying for Financial Assistance

    The County of Santa Clara Health System is committed providing high quality, affordable and accessible health care. While every patient is responsible for the costs of the healthcare services they receive, there may be a program that can help to cover or reduce costs for patients who do not have health insurance or who have high medical costs .

  19. Best International Travel Insurance for April 2024

    The icing on the cake is Allyz TraveSmart, Allainz's highly-rated mobile app, which has an average rating of 4.4 out of five stars on the Google Play store across over 2,600 reviews and 4.8 out of ...

  20. PDF List of Approved Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Providers

    City Of Glendale Fire Dept. City Wide Transportation Inc. Dab Inter-Trans Med Dba Inter-Trans Medical. Eagle Wings Medical. Grand Care Medical Transportation Inc Gardena, CA 90249-3637. Glendale, CA 91201-1608. Glendale, CA 91203-4045.

  21. Health Coverage (Medi-Cal)

    Tiếng Việt. Medi-Cal is California's version of the federal Medicaid health coverage program. This is a public health care program for California residents with low income and resources. Medi-Cal is a large program that provides a range of free or low-cost health services aimed to assist Californians with medical needs.