A backup card is exactly what it sounds like: a secondary payment method on file that activates when your primary card can't complete a transaction.
By adding a backup card, it will be charged automatically within seconds of a failed primary charge. You don't need to manually intervene, call customer service, or even know the failure happened.
When primary cards fail (more often than you'd think)
Cards fail for reasons that have nothing to do with your financial health. Common culprits include expiration dates, bank-initiated card replacements, fraud holds, temporary spending limits, or simply a card that's been demagnetized. None of these reflect poorly on you, but all of them can interrupt a payment plan that has no fallback.
Card issuers also routinely issue new numbers as a security precaution after data breaches, even if your card was never directly compromised. If your stored payment information becomes outdated overnight, your backup card provides the bridge that keeps everything running smoothly and your insurance in place.
Steps for Adding a Backup Card
Adding a backup card is easy! Simply log in to your policy portal and select “Manage My Payments” to add a second payment card.