Travel insurance when you are older can be eye-wateringly expensive, but by spending a little extra time on research, you can usually find a policy that offers generous cover at a good price.
- How to get the best deal on travel insurance for over 65s
- Where to get travel insurance if you are over 65
- Travel insurance if you are over 65 and have a medical condition
- Travel insurance if you’re over 80
- Travel insurance if you’re travelling in the UK
- Travel insurance and coronavirus
How to get the best deal on travel insurance for over 65s
Here’s our tips for finding a good deal:
- Check out our Travel Insurance Directory. The Directory has details of providers that specialise in providing insurance to people with serious medical conditions – but they can also offer good deals to older people who have no health issues
- Depending on how often you travel you might want to consider a multi-trip ‘annual’ travel policy as these policies could work out cheaper in the long run
- If you’re taking a cruise, a cruise policy might work out cheaper than a single trip policy – and can have higher age limits than standard insurance
- If you’re having trouble finding a policy you might get cover if you have a packaged bank account that offers free travel insurance. Check the age limit and if you have a medical condition, check that it is not excluded. Also, make sure the value of the account benefits don’t exceed the cost of the account to you
- As many travel insurers don’t show up on comparison sites, do some thorough research online.
Where to get travel insurance if you are over 65
If, after searching on our Travel Insurance Directory, you’re still having trouble finding a policy, an insurance broker might be able to help.
Travel insurance if you are over 65 and have a medical condition
Our Travel Insurance Directory has contact details of providers who specialise in providing travel insurance for people with serious medical conditions.
What is a ‘serious condition’ for travel insurance?
By ‘serious’ we mean conditions that carry a high risk of needing some form of medical treatment while you are on your trip, or which might flair up before you travel meaning you have to cancel.
If you have had problems getting travel insurance in the past at an affordable price, that’s a sign that you might need to consult a specialist.
However, different companies have different views on what conditions are ‘high risk’ and it’s worth trying more than one.
Example of conditions where you might need a specialist travel insurer are cancer (particularly if you are still undergoing treatment), a stroke or serious heart condition, respiratory conditions or conditions that have been diagnosed as terminal.
What is a ‘less serious condition’ for travel insurance?
Less serious conditions or conditions well-controlled by medication (for example mild asthma), usually should still be declared but shouldn’t affect your ability to get insurance.
However, even if you feel your medical condition is not serious, it’s still worth trying a provider on our Travel Insurance Directory as well as a mainstream company to compare prices.
Travel insurance if you’re over 80
At 80 the cost of travel insurance tends to jump again. Many holiday companies won’t let you travel if you don’t have travel insurance.
Travel insurance if you’re travelling in the UK
Even if you are not travelling abroad, it’s still a good idea to have travel insurance.
Most policies include cover for:
- lost or stolen bags
- emergency medical expenses
- the costs of cancelling, delaying or cutting your trip short (some policies will cover if it’s coronavirus-related).
- personal liability, in case you’re sued for damaging property or causing injury
Travel insurance and coronavirus
The current pandemic has changed travel insurance policies and what will and won’t be covered.
Most travel insurance policies being issued now will have some sort of coronavirus cover included but, as always, read the terms of the policy very carefully.
For example, if coronavirus cancellation cover is included in the policy this will usually only apply if the policyholder tests positive for the virus. If you have to cancel because you have to self-isolate or are in quarantine, then most policies currently won’t pay out.
If you already have travel insurance policy, check the terms carefully to see whether you are covered if you test positive for coronavirus before you travel, or while you are on your trip.
This article is provided by the Money Advice Service.