Expanded health care subsidies stay intact under Inflation Reduction Act

Expanded health care subsidies stay intact under Inflation Reduction Act

FatCamera | E+ | Getty ImagesHouseholds that get help paying for health insurance through the public marketplace are likely to continue qualifying for more generous subsidies under a congressional bill moving closer to final approval.The Inflation Reduction Act, which cleared the Senate on Sunday, includes an extension of temporarily expanded health insurance subsidies — technically tax credits — that were put in place for 2021 and 2022. The vote was 50-50 with no Republican support. Vice President Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the legislation.Assuming the House approves the measure — which it is expected to do later this week — and President Joe Biden signs it into law, the more generous subsidies would remain available through the end of 2025.More from Personal Finance:
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Here’s a look at ‘most employable’ degrees for new graduates”Without the extension, the vast majority of the 13 million people who get subsidies … would see premium payments rise,” said Krutika Amin, associate director for the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Affordable Care Act program. “This would avert the massive premium increase [those] people would have seen otherwise.”Nearly 13 million of the 14.5 million people enrolled in private health insurance through the public marketplace — which was authorized by the Affordable Care Act of 2010 — are receiving subsidies in 2022. Some people also may qualify for help with cost-sharing such as deductibles and copays on certain plans, depending on their income.How the extension helps enrolled consumersGenerally speaking, people who get coverage this way — either through healthcare.gov or their state’s exchange — are self-employed or can’t get workplace insurance, or they don’t qualify for Medicaid or Medicare.Before the temporary changes, the aid was generally only available to households with income from 100% to 400% of the poverty level. The American Rescue Plan Act, which was signed into law in March 2021, removed — for two years — that income cap, and the amount that anyone pays for premiums is limited to 8.5% of their income as calculated by the exchange.The bill currently headed to the house would extend these modified calculations.For some enrollees, the difference is significant: Premium payments could rise by more than 50% without the extension, Amin said. For instance, a 60-year-old with income just above $50,000 would see those monthly payments jump to $900 from $400.The extension of the subsidies is one of a handful of provisions in the bill related to health care. The legislation also would allow Medicare to negotiate the price of certain drugs and would cap yearly outlays on prescription drugs under Part D to $2,000, as well as cap beneficiaries’ monthly insulin prices at $35.  .

Best Credit Cards for Exclusive Events and Experiences

Best Credit Cards for Exclusive Events and Experiences

Select’s editorial team works independently to review financial products and write articles we think our readers will find useful. We earn a commission from affiliate partners on many offers, but not all offers on Select are from affiliate partners.Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.Credit cards can offer a wide range of benefits, from cell phone protection to airport lounge access. Although less talked-about, some even provide access to exclusive events and experiences. This can range from presale tickets for sports games and concerts to exclusive dinners and cardholder-only lounges, and nearly every major card issuer offers such benefits.While these perks went largely unused during the pandemic lockdowns, issuers are now doubling down on these lifestyle and other non-travel benefits. Your credit card may be able to help you get special access at the U.S. Open in New York City, iHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas, Sundance Film Festival in Park City and beyond.Here are the credit card issuers that offer cardholders access to exclusive events and entertainment experiences, and how you can use these perks.Subscribe to the Select Newsletter!Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly. Sign-up here.Best credit cards for exclusive events and experiencesUsing credit cards to access events and experiencesEvery credit card issuer handles access to exclusive events and experiences differently.Issuers like American Express may require you to have a specific card, or an invitation, to participate in an event. Others may only require you to be an active cardholder of any of their cards.So if you’re looking to squeeze more value out of your credit card, consider the main credit card issuers below and their offers for cardholders to experience premium events.American ExpressAmerican Express has a large array of events you can attend as a cardholder, but the more premium events are invitation-only. However, even without an invitation, there are many events you can grab tickets to including Broadway shows like Hamilton in New York and concerts like Katy Perry in Las Vegas. A number of major venues, such as Barclays Center and the Crypto.com Arena, also offer exclusive entrances for American Express cardholders.The “By Invitation Only” experiences include access to The Centurion Suite at the U.S. Open, cardmember-exclusive fashion shows and tickets to the Palm Springs Film Awards. Some of these experiences are free while others are paid.You can check out the various experiences here. But to access the more premium events and experiences, you’ll need to have a higher-end card like one of these below:The Platinum Card® from American ExpressOn the American Express secure site

  • RewardsEarn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 1X points on all other eligible purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 within 6 months of card membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit Needed

The Business Platinum Card® from American ExpressOn the American Express secure site

  • RewardsEarn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. Also, earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
  • Welcome bonusEarn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

American Express® Gold CardOn the American Express secure site

  • Rewards4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 1X points on all other purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

Capital OneThe Capital One Entertainment portal is filled with exclusive events and experiences for cardholders. The benefits for cardholders include early access to tickets, special on-site perks at specific venues and the ability to upgrade experiences at certain events using Capital One miles.Some of the events include cardholder-only dinners at Michelin-star restaurants, presale tickets to sporting events like the Capital One Orange Bowl in Miami, VIP packages at music festivals like the iHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas and more. Through a partnership with The Cultivist, Capital One credit cardholders are also eligible for a six-month complimentary “The Enthusiast” membership, which offers free access to top museums around the world, including the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art, and the Louvre in Paris.You can visit the Capital One Entertainment portal to see what events are being offered. While you don’t need to have any specific Capital One card to access these benefits, here are some of our favorite credit cards from the issuer:Read more: Here are the best Capital One credit cardsChaseChase offers its Chase Experiences to all cardholders. They include access to exclusive events and Chase Dining experiences, along with additional benefits at events like the U.S. Open and Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival and at venues like the Chase Field, Chase Center and Madison Square Garden. Special benefits can range from priority entry and preferred seating to access to VIP lounges with free refreshments. You can also choose to redeem your Ultimate Rewards points for many of these experiences.There’s also Chase Dining, which give cardholders exclusive access to reservations at upscale restaurants through Tock. Additionally, if you’re looking for tickets for an upcoming sporting event or concert, Chase Experiences comes with access to presales and preferred seating from Ticketmaster. Those with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® get even more benefits, including access to the Sapphire Dining series.So if you’re interested in scoring additional experiences for being a Chase credit card holder, you may consider signing up for one of the cards below:Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

  • Rewards$50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3X points on dining, 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR17.49% – 24.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers
  • Balance transfer feeEither $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

  • RewardsEarn 5X total points on air travel and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
  • Welcome bonusEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

CitiThe Citi Entertainment portal offers Citi cardholders early access to ticket presales for concerts, sports and cultural events. At the time of writing, the platform appears to be geared mostly toward concerts.Many tickets are considered ‘Citi Preferred Tickets’ where you will need a qualifying Citi credit card to purchase the tickets. The kicker of this program is that you’ll have a chance to get tickets or VIP packages before non-Citi cardholders for specific events.So if you see an event on the Citi Entertainment platform you’re interested in, it may be beneficial to have a Citi credit card in your wallet to grab your tickets.Citi Premier® Card

  • Rewards3X points per $1 spent at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and on hotels and air travel, 1X points on all other purchases
  • Welcome bonus80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee5% of each balance transfer, $5 minimum
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

Citi® Double Cash Card

  • Rewards2% cash back: 1% on all eligible purchases and an additional 1% after you pay your credit card bill
  • Welcome bonusFor a limited time, earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR0% for the first 18 months on balance transfers; N/A for purchases
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer feeFor balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening, an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies; after that, a balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

Bottom lineFor rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.For rates and fees of The Business Platinum® Card from American Express, click here.For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. .

A possible reduction for Medicare Part B premiums is still in play

A possible reduction for Medicare Part B premiums is still in play

Choreograph | iStock | Getty ImagesFor Medicare beneficiaries wondering whether their Part B premiums could be reduced, the waiting continues.More than three months after Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra ordered a reassessment of this year’s $170.10 standard monthly premium — a bigger-than-expected jump from $148.50 in 2021 — it remains uncertain when a determination will come and whether it would affect what beneficiaries pay this year.”A mid-course reduction in premiums would be unprecedented,” said Tricia Neuman, executive director of the Medicare policy program at the Kaiser Family Foundation.More from Personal Finance:
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Be sure to manage this risk as you near retirementA spokesperson for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said the agency continues to reexamine the premium and will announce further information when it’s available.About half of the larger-than-expected 2022 premium increase, set last fall, was attributed to the potential cost of covering Aduhelm — a drug that battles Alzheimer’s disease — despite actuaries not yet knowing the particulars of how it would be covered because Medicare officials were still determining that.By law, CMS is required to set each year’s Part B premium at 25% of the estimated costs that will be incurred by that part of the program. So in its calculation for 2022, the agency had to account for the possibility of broadly covering Aduhelm.Certainly the rationale for an increase that high is gone.Paul GinsburgNonresident senior fellow at the Brookings InstitutionThings have changed, however.Several weeks ago, CMS officials announced that the program will only cover Aduhelm for beneficiaries who receive it as part of a clinical trial. Additionally, the per-patient price tag that actuaries had used in their calculation last year was cut in half, effective Jan. 1, by manufacturer Biogen — to $28,000 annually from $56,000.”Certainly the rationale for an increase that high is gone,” said Paul Ginsburg, a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a health care policy expert.  “The question would be what’s administratively feasible.”If a premium reduction occurs, there’s also the chance it could be applied for 2023 instead of 2022. There have been year-to-year drops in the Part B premium in the past for various reasons, including legislative changes to how the premium is calculated.”If I were administering this, I’d be concerned about setting a precedent for making changes in the middle of the year,” Ginsburg said.It’s also possible that lower-than-projected spending on Aduhelm could be at least partially offset by increased costs in other areas of Part B coverage, which includes outpatient care and medical equipment. While Medicare Part D provides prescription drug coverage, some medicines are administered in a doctor’s office — as with Aduhelm, which is delivered intravenously — and therefore covered under Part B.”Even if fewer people are using Aduhelm than originally projected and at a lower price than assumed, the actuaries may be inclined to take into account other changes that could moderate that amount,” Neuman said.Roughly 6 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s, a degenerative neurological disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and has no known cure. It also can destroy the lives of families and friends of those with the disease.Most of these patients are age 65 or older and generally enrolled in Medicare, which covers more than 63 million individuals. In 2017, about 2 million beneficiaries used one or more of the then-available Alzheimer’s treatments covered under Part D, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. .

Enrolling in Medicare? Here are three key things you need to know

Enrolling in Medicare? Here are three key things you need to know

andresr | E+ | Getty ImagesMedicare may seem like a maze when you first try to navigate it.After all, there are different “parts” to the federal health insurance program, which provides coverage for about 56.5 million individuals in the 65-and-older crowd. And, whether you’re reaching the eligibility age of 65 or you are older and switching from workplace insurance to Medicare, there are some important factors to consider that affect your wallet.First, however, it’s worth knowing the basics: Original Medicare consists of Part A (hospital coverage) and Part B (outpatient care).More from Investor Toolkit:
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Investors are flocking to green energy fundsSome beneficiaries choose to get those benefits delivered through an Advantage Plan (Part C), which typically includes prescription drug coverage (Part D). Others stick with original or basic Medicare and, possibly, pair it with a standalone Part D plan and a so-called Medigap policy.Here are three key things to be aware of as you prepare to enroll.1. It’s going to cost youMedicare is not free.”This comes as a surprise to so many beneficiaries who have paid [payroll] taxes throughout their working lifetimes and assumed this would mean Medicare would be ‘paid up’ by the time they turn 65,” said Danielle Roberts, co-founder of insurance firm Boomer Benefits.”Those taxes will mean no premiums for Part A, but Parts B and D have premiums that beneficiaries pay monthly throughout their retirement years,” Roberts said.Premium-free Part A is available as long as you have at least a 10-year work history of paying into the system via payroll taxes. If not, monthly premiums could be as much as $499 in 2022, depending on whether you’ve paid any taxes into the Medicare system at all.Spouses without their own work history may qualify for premium-free Part A as well.Part A also has a deductible of $1,566, which applies to the first 60 days of inpatient hospital care in a benefit period. For the 61st through 90th days, beneficiaries pay $389 per day, and then $778 per day for 60 “lifetime reserve” days.Meanwhile, Part B’s standard monthly premium is $170.10 this year. However, some beneficiaries pay more through income-adjusted surcharges.”Many of my high-income earners are shocked at how much Medicare premiums will cost them in retirement,” said Elizabeth Gavino, founder of Lewin & Gavino and an independent broker and general agent for Medicare plans. The government uses your tax return from two years earlier to determine whether you’ll pay extra. To request a reduction in that income-related amount due to a life-changing event such as retirement, the Social Security Administration has a form you can fill out.Part B also has a deductible: $233 in 2022. Once that’s met, beneficiaries generally are responsible for 20% of covered services. Part D premiums, deductibles and copays depend on the specifics of the coverage. The average premium this year is about $32, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. And, as with Part B, higher earners are charged extra through IRMAAs.2. Missing key deadlines can mean paying extraIf you’re planning to sign up for Medicare as soon as you’re eligible at age 65, you get a seven-month “initial enrollment period” that starts three months before the month of your 65th birthday and ends three months after it.Meanwhile, if you delayed signing up at age 65 because you continued to work and your employer coverage was acceptable (according to Medicare standards), you get eight months to enroll once your workplace plan ends.Regardless of the enrollment rules your subject to, missing the deadline to sign up for Part B can result in a life-lasting late-enrollment penalty. For each full year that you should have been enrolled but were not, you’ll pay 10% of the monthly Part B standard premium.”Many of my high-income earners are shocked at how much Medicare premiums will cost them in retirement.Elizabeth GavinoFounder of Lewin & GavinoPart D also has a late-enrollment penalty if you miss the deadline. For people signing up during their initial enrollment period at age 65, you get the same seven months for Part D as you do for Part B. However, if you’re beyond that window and your workplace coverage is ending, you get two months to enroll in Part D, whether as a standalone plan or through an Advantage Plan.The penalty is 1% of the national base premium for each month you didn’t have Part D or creditable coverage and should have.3. Supplemental insurance may make senseThe various costs associated with basic Medicare may be different if you have supplemental coverage.One option is to enroll in an Advantage Plan. While you would generally continue to pay your Part B premiums, many plans have a low or zero premium. And in addition to usually including prescription drug coverage, Advantage Plans also may offer extras such as dental, vision and hearing. Advantage Plans come with a cap on out-of-pocket spending, unlike basic Medicare. Their cost-sharing structures — i.e., deductibles, copays or coinsurance — also are different and vary from plan to plan.However, the annual maximum out-of-pocket can be high: in 2021, it averaged $5,091, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. You also may be required to use certain doctors, hospitals and pharmacies.”These plans have networks of providers and some plans will require you to choose a primary care physician and get referrals to see certain providers and prior authorizations for many of the more expensive procedures, tests and surgeries,” Roberts said.Your other option is Medigap, which picks up some cost-sharing associated with basic Medicare, such as the Part A deductible or Part B copays. These policies are offered by private insurance companies as well, but are generally standardized — same-named plans offer identical benefits no matter which insurer sells it. Available Medigap policies are designated A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N and each offers a different level of coverage.However, they can be pricey, depending on the insurer and where you live. A 65-year-old woman in Dallas might pay under $100 monthly for Plan G, while in New York that same person would pay $278, according to the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance. And, generally speaking, those premiums rise over time.Choosing between an Advantage Plan or Medigap (or neither) can involve things that go beyond cost and depend on the specifics of your situation. This makes it worth consulting with either an experienced Medicare agent or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program, otherwise known as SHIP, and neither would cost you anything for guidance.”There are many factors to consider when choosing between these two options,” Gavino said. .

Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Credit Card Review 2022

Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Credit Card Review 2022

Select’s editorial team works independently to review financial products and write articles we think our readers will find useful. We earn a commission from affiliate partners on many offers, but not all offers on Select are from affiliate partners.Chase’s Aeroplan® Credit Card offers flyers a great opportunity to earn valuable Aeroplan points and elite benefits, making it a solid choice for those who enjoy international travel.While Aeroplan is the official loyalty program of Air Canada, you don’t necessarily need to be a frequent customer of the carrier to redeem this card’s rewards. In fact, you can use Aeroplan points to book domestic flights on United Airlines, among several other Star Alliance partners such as Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines.With a modest $95 annual fee, valuable spending categories, travel insurance coverage and no foreign transaction fees, it’s a decent choice if you’re in the market for a new travel rewards card.Below, Select details the Aeroplan Credit Card’s benefits, as well as how to maximize the rewards points you’ll earn by using it.Subscribe to the Select Newsletter!Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly. Sign-up here.Aeroplan Credit Card reviewAeroplan® Credit Card

  • RewardsEarn 3X points for each dollar spent on grocery stores, dining at restaurants and Air Canada directly; 1X points for each dollar spent on all other purchases; 500 bonus points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month (up to 1,500 points per month).
  • Welcome bonusEarn 70,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer feeEither $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

Pros

  • Cardmembers and travel companions (up to eight) traveling on the same reservation will all enjoy free first checked bags on Air Canada.
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit of up to $100 every four years
  • No fees on purchases made outside the U.S.

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • No introductory 0% APR

Welcome bonusThe Aeroplan Credit Card’s welcome bonus lets new cardholders earn 70,000 points after they spend at least $3,000 within the first three months of account membership.Since Aeroplan points are among the most valuable travel rewards, the bonus is even more lucrative. To start, by meeting the $3,000 minimum spend, you will have earned at least 73,000 Aeroplan points. A modest 1.3 cent per point valuation makes the welcome bonus worth about $949 and since the annual fee is only $95, the card provides a solid first-year value for new cardholders.Keep in mind that this card falls under Chase’s 5/24 restriction, so if you’ve been approved for more than five credit cards within the last 24 months, you’ll automatically be rejected when you apply for any new Chase cards.Benefits and perksThe Aeroplan Credit Card comes with several perks aimed at helping avid travelers score an easier journey. Cardholders have access to the following benefits:

  • Instant Aeroplan 25K Status for the rest of the calendar year and the following calendar year, giving you access to more perks including priority check-in, security and boarding; two one-time passes to Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges and premium-cabin upgrades. You can also maintain the same status level by spending $15,000 during a calendar year.
  • The ability to elevate your Aeroplan status level to 35K Status or higher when you spend $50,000 during a calendar year.
  • A $100 statement credit every four years to put toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership.
  • You and up to eight travel companions (as long as you’re all on the same reservation) can enjoy a complimentary checked bag, up to 50 lbs, when traveling with Air Canada.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • Access to 24/7 concierge services.
  • Travel insurance coverage, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, reimbursement for trip delays, baggage delay insurance, roadside assistance and an auto rental collision damage waiver, among other purchase protections.

How to earn and redeem Aeroplan pointsEarning Aeroplan pointsAs you spend with the Aeroplan Credit Card, you’ll earn:

  • 3X points per dollar at grocery stores and restaurants (takeout and certain delivery services count, too), as well as purchases made with Air Canada directly.
  • 1X points per dollar for all other purchases.
  • Up to 500 bonus points for every $2,000 spent each month, up to 1,500 bonus points per month.

Redeeming Aeroplan pointsThe more you use your card, the more you’ll accumulate Aeroplan points, which can then be redeemed for flights operated by Air Canada and its many Star Alliance airline partners, including United Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand, as well as a number of non-alliance partners such as Brazil-based Azul and United Arab Emirates-based Etihad Airways. Regardless of whether you prefer to travel domestically or internationally, you’ll have many options when it’s time to redeem your Aeroplan points.Here are a few examples of some economy and premium cabin flights you can book with Aeroplan points (note that all pricing is based on a one-way flight and does not include taxes or fees):

  • Within the United States: Economy redemptions start at 6,000 points, while business class redemptions start at 25,000 points on United Airlines.
  • U.S. to Asia: Economy flights to Seoul are available from 50,000 points in economy or from 75,000 points in business class on either United Airlines or Asiana Airlines.
  • U.S. to Europe: Economy flight redemptions to Frankfurt start at 35,000 points, while business class redemptions start at 60,000 points on Lufthansa.

To get a better idea of how many points you’ll need for your next trip, refer to Aeroplan’s award chart.Rates and feesThe card has a modest $95 annual fee, along with a 17.99% to 24.99% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers.There are no foreign transaction fees, so you can travel and spend outside the U.S. without incurring any additional fees.Card comparisonAeroplan Credit Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred CardChase Sapphire Preferred® Card

  • Rewards$50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3X points on dining, 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases
  • Welcome bonusEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR17.49% – 24.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers
  • Balance transfer feeEither $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • Credit needed

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a top travel rewards credit card that lets you earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which can be transferred to a number of airline and hotel partners, including Aeroplan. The welcome bonus currently offers new cardholders 60,000 points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of card membership.Cardholders can earn:

  • 5X points for travel purchased via Chase Ultimate Rewards (minus hotel stays that qualify for the included $50 annual hotel credit you’ll earn when booking hotels through the portal).
  • 5X points for eligible Lyft rides through March 31, 2025.
  • 3X points for dining purchases, including takeout and select delivery services.
  • 3X points for using certain streaming and online grocery shopping services, not counting Target, Walmart or other wholesale stores.
  • 2X points for all other travel-related purchases.
  • 1X points for all other purchases.
  • Complimentary DashPass membership from DoorDash and Caviar for one year — as long as you activate the perk by Dec. 31, 2024.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card also includes many of the same benefits as the Aeroplan Card, including comprehensive travel insurance protections, no foreign transaction fees and the ability to transfer points to additional airline partner loyalty programs, all for the same $95 annual fee.For those deciding between these two cards, it really comes down to your personal travel habits and goals. If you solely enjoy flying with Air Canada, the Aeroplan Card is the clear winner as you will score automatic elite status.If you prefer to fly with other airlines as well, it might be worth having both cards, especially since you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. Signing up for both cards (and reaching both minimum spending requirements) would end up netting you more than 130,000 points, which could then be redeemed through Aeroplan — all for a combined $190 in annual fees, providing a solid value for any traveler.Aeroplan Credit Card vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

  • RewardsEarn 3X points on Southwest® purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; 1X points on all other purchases
  • Welcome bonusNew Offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
  • Annual fee
  • Intro APR
  • Regular APR
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Foreign transaction fees
  • Credit needed

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is a great addition, especially for flyers who are loyal to the budget airline.To get started, you can earn 50,000 points after spending $1,000 within the first three months of account opening. Cardholders also have access to the following benefits:

  • 6,000 bonus points to celebrate each account anniversary.
  • Two EarlyBird check-ins per year.
  • 1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List and A-List Preferred status for every $10,000 you spend, with no limit as to how many you can earn.
  • 25% back for in-flight purchases.
  • No foreign transaction fees when you use the card abroad.
  • Southwest Airlines perks such as two free checked bags per person, no change fees and Rapid Rewards points that never expire.

You’ll earn 3X points per dollar for purchases made with Southwest Airlines; 2X points per dollar spent through Rapid Rewards car and hotel partners and 1X points per dollar for all other purchases. Cardholders can also earn 2X points per dollar on transit, including ride-share services and commuting, as well as select streaming, phone, internet and cable services.Best of all, the points you earn by using the Southwest Premier Credit Card count toward the Companion Pass®, which allows your chosen friend or family member to fly with you for free for up to a year (not counting taxes and fees from $5.60 each way).If you’re deciding between the two cards, consider which airline you tend to fly with the most. If you travel primarily within the U.S. and aren’t looking for premium cabin flights, the Southwest Premier Credit Card is likely a solid fit. If, on the other hand, you prefer to have a variety of carriers to redeem your rewards with, as well as the opportunity to redeem points toward business or first class flights, the Aeroplan Credit Card would be the better option.Bottom lineEditorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. .