Citibank is ending most of the benefits that are generally purchased through payment networks in an effort to cut costs. Cardmembers are being given three months’ notice that they’ll lose trip delay coverage, rental car coverage, and other benefits that may come with their Citi cards.

For instance,

• Citi Prestige, Premier, and the Citi Executve card all lose rental car insurance; trip cancellation and interruption; travel accident insurance; trip delay; baggage delay; lost baggage; price rewind; and 90 day return protection.

• Citi Prestige and Citi Executive lose Medical Evacuation coverage and Missed Ticket Protection. Prestige also loses roadside assistance dispatch service and travel and emergency assistance.

Coverage for purchases prior to September 22 remains in effect for claimed filed after that date.

Citibank tells me, “Citi continuously evaluates our products to ensure that associated benefits best meet the needs of our customers. Due to sustained low usage, we will no longer offer select credit card benefits such as Citi Price Rewind and Trip Cancellation & Interruption Protection as of September 22, 2019 so that we can continue providing key benefits our customers use and value most at no additional cost.”

When I log into Citi and look at benefits for my Executive card (which comes with American Airlines club membership) I get the following popup:

Effective September 22, 2019, Worldwide Car Rental Insurance, Trip Cancellation & Interruption Protection, Worldwide Travel Accident Insurance, Trip Delay Protection, Baggage Delay Protection, Lost Baggage Protection, Medical Evacuation, Citi® Price Rewind, 90 Day Return Protection, and Missed Event Ticket Protection will be discontinued and will no longer be provided for purchases made on or after that date.

Coverage for purchases made before that date will continue to be available, and you may continue to file for benefits in accordance with the current benefit terms. Roadside Assistance Dispatch Service and Travel & Emergency Assistance will be discontinued and will not be available on or after September 22, 2019.

There are of course a handful of benefits that remain, for instance Prestige keeps cell phone protection, damage and theft purchase protection, and extended warranty,

Apparently these changes even apply to cards that customers were just approved for. There’s 3 months’ notice to everyone, even cardmembers in their first year. However I understand that Citi will provide a prorated annual fee refund for customers who wish to cancel.

I’m now questioning whether to get the Citi Prestige card again, after all. The card’s 5 points per dollar on air will no longer come with trip delay and baggage delay coverage. Notably of course many of these benefits don’t come with American Express cards, but it makes my Chase-issued premium cards more attractive.