No trip cancellation. This benefit is not included with this card. Prepaid flights, hotels and tours are not reimbursable if you cancel, and a non-refundable week in Tokyo for two commonly runs to several thousand dollars.
Does the Q Mastercard include travel insurance, or do you need your own?
Q Card·$50/year·Mastercard·None (no complimentary insurance)
0,0/5Independent review · verified October 2026
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Our Verdict · Travel Insurance
Our take on travel insurance for the Q Card Q Mastercard
Expert review · Pauline LauroreAuthor of HelloSafe's card insurance reviews
No travel insurance. Not a dollar of it. So, you're in a clinic in Bali with a fever and the front desk asks how you're paying: the Q Mastercard will settle the bill, but it will not insure it, because the Q Mastercard travel insurance simply doesn't exist. Most cardholders assume any Mastercard carries some complimentary cover (insurance that comes free with the card), but this one doesn't: no overseas medical, no cancellation, no luggage, and ACC (the Accident Compensation Corporation) and the public health system pay nothing for treatment overseas. What the card does well is spreading the cost of the trip, with 3 months interest free on standard purchases and a 1.4% international transaction fee. A standalone New Zealand travel policy usually covers overseas medical with no dollar cap and adds the cancellation and luggage cover this card leaves out. If you pay for a trip with the Q Mastercard, buy that policy before you fly; if you already hold one, the card is a payment tool, not a safety net.
What works on travel
- 3 months interest free on standard purchases, which spreads the cost of a trip without interest
- 1.4% international transaction fee on overseas purchases, converted into New Zealand dollars
- Works wherever Mastercard is accepted, including Apple Pay, Google Pay and Garmin Pay
Where travel breaks down
- No overseas medical cover: a hospital bill in Honolulu is yours, and ACC pays nothing overseas
- No trip cancellation: prepaid flights and hotels are lost if you have to call the trip off
- No luggage, delay or travel documents cover, overseas or within New Zealand
- 28.95% p.a. standard interest once the interest-free period ends on a trip you have not paid off
Our methodology
Every score is derived from official bank documents: terms and conditions, benefit guides, and claim procedures. No commercial relationship influences our ratings.
Travel Insurance · 20 guarantees
What does Q Card Q Mastercard Travel Insurance actually cover?
What's not covered
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind, so no claim can be made under this benefit.
No overseas medical. This benefit is not included with this card. All medical costs overseas are the cardholder's responsibility, because ACC and the public health system don't pay for treatment overseas, and a few nights in a Honolulu hospital commonly run to six figures.
What's not covered
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind, so no claim can be made under this benefit.
No evacuation cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Evacuation and repatriation costs are entirely the cardholder's responsibility, and an air ambulance from Bali to New Zealand commonly costs six figures.
What's not covered
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind, so no claim can be made under this benefit.
No dental cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Emergency dental treatment overseas is out of pocket, because ACC and the public health system don't pay for treatment overseas.
What's not covered
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind, so no claim can be made under this benefit.
No hospital allowance. This benefit is not included with this card. No daily allowance is paid during a hospital stay overseas, so the incidental costs of an admission are yours to cover.
What's not covered
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind, so no claim can be made under this benefit.
No extra expenses cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Extra accommodation and transport after a disruption, such as a cyclone closing Nadi airport, are the cardholder's responsibility.
What's not covered
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind, so no claim can be made under this benefit.
No travel delay cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Meals, accommodation and transport during a long delay, such as an unplanned night in Honolulu, are the cardholder's responsibility.
What's not covered
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind, so no claim can be made under this benefit.
No transport cover. This benefit is not included with this card. The cost of alternative transport to reach a prepaid cruise, tour or event on time is out of pocket.
What's not covered
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind, so no claim can be made under this benefit.
No return home cover. This benefit is not included with this card. The cost of flying home after a family emergency, and of resuming the trip afterwards, is out of pocket.
What's not covered
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind, so no claim can be made under this benefit.
No luggage delay cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Clothes and toiletries bought while your bag is delayed, say on arrival in Rarotonga, are out of pocket.
What's not covered
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind, so no claim can be made under this benefit.
No luggage cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Replacement costs for lost or stolen bags and belongings are the cardholder's responsibility.
What's not covered
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind, so no claim can be made under this benefit.
No documents cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Replacing a lost passport or stolen cash overseas, including the extra travel to reach a consulate, is out of pocket.
What's not covered
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind, so no claim can be made under this benefit.
No liability cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Legal liability for injuring someone or damaging property overseas is uninsured, and claims of this kind commonly reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.
What's not covered
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind, so no claim can be made under this benefit.
No death cover. This benefit is not included with this card. No lump sum is paid to you or your estate if an accident on the trip causes death or permanent disablement.
What's not covered
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind, so no claim can be made under this benefit.
No income cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Injured in Bali and off work for 8 weeks on your return, you get no income replacement from this card, and ACC weekly compensation only applies to injuries ACC covers.
What's not covered
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind, so no claim can be made under this benefit.
No domestic cancellation. This benefit is not included with this card. Prepaid domestic flights and accommodation, such as a Queenstown ski week, are not reimbursable if you cancel.
What's not covered
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind, so no claim can be made under this benefit.
No domestic delay cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Meals and accommodation during a delayed or cancelled domestic flight are the cardholder's responsibility.
What's not covered
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind, so no claim can be made under this benefit.
No domestic expenses cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Extra accommodation and transport after a disruption on a trip within New Zealand are out of pocket.
What's not covered
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind, so no claim can be made under this benefit.
No domestic luggage cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Lost or stolen luggage on a trip within New Zealand is not reimbursable through this card.
What's not covered
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind, so no claim can be made under this benefit.
No domestic delay cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Essentials bought while your bag is delayed on a domestic flight are out of pocket.
What's not covered
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance of any kind, so no claim can be made under this benefit.
We source benefits from official card guides, but PDFs are sometimes hard to obtain or update. Spotted something off?
Coverage Radar
Where the Q Card Q Mastercard wins, where it loses
Coverage snapshot for this tab — click any layer to highlight its scores.
Trip cancellation: not covered by this card
Medical fees abroad: not covered by this card
Medical repatriation: not covered by this card
Compare
Q MastercardThis card0.0/5?
$50/yrWith travel insuranceIdeal
Complete coverage · 5.0 / 5Premium card avg.
$292 avg. annual feeClick a layer to highlight its scores on the radar.
Side-by-side comparison
How the Q Card Q Mastercard stacks up against the alternatives
Same 5 coverage dimensions, ranked head-to-head against the cards most Q Mastercard shoppers also consider.
| Card | This card Q Mastercard Q Card · $50/yr 0.0/5? | Wise Card Wise · $0/yr 0.0/5? | Platinum Card American Express · $850/yr 3.6/5? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Trip cancellation Per person, per trip cap | Not covered Cover this gap → | Not covered | $30,000 per person All prepaid travel, $30,000 cap | |
Emergency medical Hospital bills abroad | Not covered Cover this gap → | Not covered | $5,000,000 Capped $5,000,000, overseas only | |
Emergency evacuation Air ambulance + repatriation | Not covered Cover this gap → | Not covered | $5,000,000 Approved by Chubb Assistance | |
Trip delay trigger Hours before benefits kick in | Not covered Cover this gap → | Not covered | 4h / $650 Trigger: 4 hours | |
Trip interruption Covered amount | Not covered Cover this gap → | Not covered | $5,000 per person Trip change during the trip |
StrongLimited / misleadingNot covered
Data verified against each card's Guide to Benefits, May 2026.
Cardholder reviews
What cardholders say about the Q Card Q Mastercard
S(
stinky111 (ChoiceCheapies)
No establishment fee on standard interest-free purchases
Only for long term finance purchases. The standard 3 months zero interest purchases don't incur additional fees.
R(
rav4000 (ChoiceCheapies)
Account fee charged in six-monthly halves
…Account fee is also charged in half years - which is great if you are thinking of cancelling after getting the cashback.
A(
A-deals (ChoiceCheapies)
1.4% fee on foreign-currency transactions
FYI: International Transaction Fee - 1.4% of the total of the converted balance to New Zealand Dollars…
Emergency · Card assistance line
How to contact Q Card Q Mastercard assistance?
Q Mastercard Customer Support (card only, no insurance)
0800 119 100
Free call within New Zealand · 8.30am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday
Q Mastercard from overseas (lost or stolen card)
+64 9 580 7399
Standard international call rates · 8.30am to 6pm NZ time, Monday to Saturday
Benefit administrator: None: no complimentary insurance (card issued by Columbus Financial Services Limited, humm group)
Claims & pre-authorizations
What to do if something goes wrong with a Q Mastercard trip
1
Step 1: Know there is no insurer to claim from
The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary travel insurance, so there is no claims line, no emergency assistance line and no policy wording to rely on. Paying for the trip with the card does not create any cover, and ACC and the public health system pay nothing for treatment overseas.
2
Step 2: Buy a standalone travel policy before you leave
A standalone New Zealand travel policy covers overseas medical, cancellation, luggage and delays, and can add rental car excess and snow sports. Buy it when you book, so cancellation cover starts early, and save its 24/7 emergency number in your phone. Any claim then goes to that insurer under its own policy wording.
3
Step 3: For a card dispute, go to Q Mastercard, then FSCL
For a problem with the card itself, such as a disputed fee or charge, call 0800 119 100 (+64 9 580 7399 from overseas) or write to the complaints team at Private Bag 94013, Auckland 2241. If the complaint is not resolved, Financial Services Complaints Ltd (FSCL) reviews it for free.
FAQ
What people ask about the Q Card Q Mastercard
- There is nothing to activate, because the Q Mastercard comes with no complimentary travel insurance. Paying for flights, hotels or tours with the card does not switch any cover on, unlike bank cards whose policy wording (the insurer's full policy document for the card's cover) insures a trip once enough of it is charged to the card. The Q Mastercard's benefits are financial: 3 months interest free on standard purchases and a 1.4% international transaction fee. If you put a trip on this card, buy a standalone travel policy before you leave New Zealand, because ACC and the public health system pay nothing for treatment overseas.
- Nobody, because the Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance. The primary cardholder, a partner and children travelling with them all go uninsured unless they buy their own cover. Additional cards cost $0 on this account, but an extra card adds a way to pay, not a policy. That matters most for families: one hospital admission in Bali or a cancelled week in Tokyo lands on the household budget, not on an insurer. A standalone family travel policy can cover everyone on the trip under one premium, so compare that cost before you book.
- No. The Q Mastercard does not reimburse the rental vehicle excess (the amount the hire company charges you after damage to or theft of a hire car), whether you rent overseas or in New Zealand. Paying the hire with the card gives you no protection on the excess, so after a scrape in Rarotonga the full amount on the rental agreement is yours. Campervans are not covered either. Your options are the hire company's own excess reduction product or a standalone rental excess policy, and comparing the two before you collect the keys usually saves money.
- You can't, because the Q Mastercard has no insurance attached, so there is no insurer, no claims line and no claim form. If something goes wrong overseas, the claim goes to whichever standalone travel policy you bought, under its own policy wording. For problems with the card itself, such as a disputed fee or charge, call Q Mastercard on 0800 119 100 (or +64 9 580 7399 from overseas), then write to the complaints team at Private Bag 94013, Auckland 2241. If that does not fix it, Financial Services Complaints Ltd (FSCL), a free independent dispute resolution scheme, can review the complaint.
- The Q Mastercard carries no complimentary insurance, so it covers none of the risks a travel policy would. There is no overseas medical or evacuation cover, no trip cancellation, no luggage or delay cover, no rental car excess and no snow sports cover. At home it offers no purchase protection, extended warranty or mobile phone cover. The gap that costs most is medical: ACC and the public health system pay nothing for treatment overseas, and a few nights in a Honolulu hospital commonly run to six figures. A standalone travel policy is the only way to close it.
- No. The Q Mastercard has no snow sports cover, standard or paid, because it has no travel insurance at all. A ski injury on a trip to Japan, a helicopter rescue off the mountain, stolen skis or an unused lift pass are all paid by you. ACC does not pay for treatment overseas, so the medical bill is the one to worry about, and a fracture treated in Japan quickly reaches five figures. Standalone travel policies sell a snow sports add-on, and it has to be bought before you leave. Within New Zealand, ACC still covers a ski injury at Queenstown.
- Yes. The Q Mastercard gives you a way to pay for the trip, with 3 months interest free on standard purchases, but no insurance for it. Without a separate policy, an overseas hospital stay, a cancelled flight, lost luggage or a rental car scrape is entirely your cost, because ACC and the public health system pay nothing overseas. Buy the policy before you leave, ideally when you book, so cancellation cover starts early. A standalone New Zealand travel policy usually covers overseas medical with no dollar cap, which is the cover that matters most.
- No. The Q Mastercard does not include mobile phone insurance, so a cracked screen or a stolen phone is not covered, even if you bought the phone with the card. The same goes for purchase protection and extended warranty: the card finances the purchase, interest free for 3 months on standard purchases, but does not insure it. A flagship screen repair commonly costs several hundred dollars. Check whether your home and contents policy covers the phone, and remember the Consumer Guarantees Act gives you rights against the seller when a phone turns out to be faulty.
- The Q Mastercard charges a standard interest rate of 28.95% p.a. once the interest-free period ends, and every standard purchase gets 3 months with no interest and no payments. Overseas spending carries a 1.4% international transaction fee on the New Zealand dollar converted value. Cash advances cost 29.50% p.a., plus $3 from an overseas ATM. The account fee is $50 a year, charged as $25 every 6 months, and a $15 default fee applies after a late payment. Pay the trip off within the interest-free period and the card stays cheap; carry it longer and the rate climbs fast.
- The Q Mastercard customer support number is 0800 119 100 from within New Zealand, and +64 9 580 7399 from overseas. The same numbers handle lost or stolen cards, and the phone team works 8.30am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Save the overseas number in your phone before you fly, because a blocked card in Tokyo is easier to sort with it to hand. Keep in mind the line deals with the card only: the Q Mastercard has no travel insurance, so it cannot help with a medical emergency abroad. That is the job of the assistance line on your own travel policy.
Not just Q Card
Other cards worth considering
Q Mastercard is a strong choice — but depending on what you prioritize, one of these may suit you better.
Platinum Card
American Express
Wise Card
Wise
Afterpay
Afterpay