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The Best Travel Insurance Options for Seniors [Ages 65, 70, and Over 80]

Christine Krzyszton

Senior Finance Contributor

306 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 98 U.S. States Visited: 45

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

29 Published Articles 3091 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 45 U.S. States Visited: 28

Why Purchase Travel Insurance

The cost of travel insurance, preexisting conditions, travel insurance and medicare, covid-19 and travel insurance, world nomads — best for active seniors, allianz — best for annual multi-trip policies, best for covering covid-19 cancellations, best for preexisting conditions, best travel insurance options — age 80 and above, credit card travel insurance, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Our senior years can be some of the most exciting years of our lives. If we’re fortunate, we’ll now have the time, and hopefully, the resources, to make our travel dreams come true.

As we age, however, traveling may pose some additional risks. We may be more likely to have health-related issues and therefore the need to seek medical attention during our journey. We may also have occasions where we need to cancel our plans due to health issues or the health of those around us.

Now, more than ever, we need to think seriously about purchasing travel insurance. The good news is that comprehensive travel insurance, regardless of your age, is widely available and relatively affordable. With that being said, chances are you could use a little help getting started with the process of finding and purchasing the right plan.

If you’re 65 years of age or older and thinking about purchasing travel insurance, don’t pull the trigger without reviewing the information in today’s article on travel insurance options for seniors.

Travel insurance can protect you from financial loss due to unforeseen events that can cause you to cancel your trip or disrupt your trip once it’s in progress. As we age and our health declines, we may be more likely to experience such an event.

Travel insurance can cover the following situations:

• You, a family member, or travel companion becomes seriously ill and you must cancel your trip
• You slip and fall while traveling abroad, require medical care, and are forced to stay in a foreign city until you can travel again
• You are on safari and break your ankle, requiring emergency evacuation to the nearest hospital

The types of coverage you can expect to find on travel insurance policies include the following:

• Emergency medical coverage
• Emergency evacuation
• Trip cancellation, trip interruption , and trip delay
• Baggage insurance and personal effects coverage
• Travel accident and accidental life insurance

You may also elect to add coverage such as cancel for any reason insurance (CFAR) , a waiver for preexisting conditions, or car rental insurance.

What You Need to Know About Age and Travel Insurance

It’s possible to purchase travel insurance at just about any age. If you’re healthy enough to travel, you’ll generally be able to find coverage. You’ll normally be paying more to purchase coverage as you get older, however, and most policies may have preexisting health stipulations.

As age increases, so does the cost of purchasing travel insurance . The good news, however, is that premiums tend to vary widely between companies who offer policies for older travelers, so it pays to compare.

The easiest way to compare policies is via insurance comparison sites such as SquareMouth , InsureMyTrip , or TravelInsurance.com . Travel comparison sites make it easy to compare travel insurance policy pricing and coverage options for all ages.

We’ve used these sites to find most of the comparison quotes provided in this article.

As we age, we’re more likely to have preexisting health conditions, which can be excluded from most travel insurance policies. Once again, the good news is that preexisting condition exclusions are generally limited to a specified timeframe previous to the effective date of your policy.

If you have shown symptoms or been treated within a specified time period before your trip, usually 90 to 120 days, your condition may not be covered for certain coverages such as trip interruption, cancellation, or emergency medical. Each company’s requirements may differ.

Also, on a positive note is that many insurers allow you to purchase a preexisting condition waiver when you purchase your policy.

Health insurance may or may not cover medical costs abroad. And even if there is coverage, evacuation costs may not be included. The same scenario exists with Medicare.

Medicare will not cover medical expenses incurred abroad . There are very limited situations where Medicare may grant coverage, such as if you reside in the U.S. and a foreign hospital (such as a Canadian hospital) is closer to your residence than the U.S. hospital, or you’re traveling through Canada to reach another U.S. state or territory. Also, several terms and conditions apply.

There are Medicare supplement policies you can purchase that can cover you while traveling abroad. You’ll pay a standard $250 deductible, have coverage for 80% of eligible expenses beyond that amount, and have a lifetime cap of $50,000 in coverage.

So even if you have Medicare, a Medicare supplement, or other health insurance policy, there can still be plenty of gaps in coverage when you’re traveling abroad.

For this reason, and the need for additional coverage such as trip cancellation, interruption, delay, baggage coverage, and more, it’s prudent to purchase travel insurance.

Bottom Line: Medicare will generally not cover medical expenses when you’re traveling outside of the U.S. and its territories and Medicare supplement and Advantage policies provide limited coverage. Travel insurance is a wise choice for covering medical expenses and for other travel-related events that could cause you to cancel your trip or disrupt your journey in progress. 

As we advance in age, the chance we will need to cancel a trip due to health-related issues increases. Fortunately, most travel insurance policies cover trip cancellations due to illness. However, travel insurance policies do not cover voluntary cancellations such as canceling your trip due to the fear of getting sick.

Cancel for any reason insurance (CFAR), when added to a travel insurance policy, will allow you to cancel your trip for any reason you deem necessary. It will even cover you if you simply decide not to go.

While CFAR insurance allows you to cancel your trip for any reason, including COVID-19-related issues, the coverage will not reimburse 100% of your costs. The coverage can only be purchased when you purchase your travel insurance or for a short window following the purchase. CFAR insurance can also be expensive.

Our article on COVID-19-related trip cancellations goes into a lot more detail.

Best Travel Insurance Options — Ages 65 to 69

Priorities change as we change and as a result, we may have different insurance needs at age 65 than we do at age 80. Here are some examples of travel insurance plans that might be a fit for travelers age 65-69.

If you’re under age 70, you’ll find comprehensive travel insurance coverage with World Nomads . What sets World Nomads apart from other insurance providers is that they’re experts at insuring active travelers who participate in adventurous activities.

While World Nomads does not offer CFAR insurance, COVID-19 is not excluded as an illness for trip cancellation and emergency medical coverage.

World Nomads only insures those travelers under age 70 and refers older travelers to its partner TripAssure .

For a traveler 68 years of age, traveling to the Netherlands for 8 days, with a total trip cost of $3,000, here are some sample costs.

The main differences in these plans are that the Explorer Plan covers an expanded collection of over 200 covered adventurous activities, has higher limits for trip interruption/cancellation/delay and emergency evacuation, and includes rental car insurance.

Secure your own quote from World Nomads .

Allianz simplifies purchasing travel insurance with its offerings of travel insurance package policies. You can select from single trip policies with several levels of coverage options or annual multi-trip policies that cover every trip you make during the policy period, even ones you haven’t yet planned.

If you travel frequently, or even a few times each year, purchasing an annual, multi-trip plan could be a cost-effective way to protect all your trips.

To learn more about Allianz and its policy offerings , you’ll want to check out our review for details.

Hot Tip: Be sure to compare the price of an annual multi-trip travel insurance policy to a single-trip plan, even if you are only currently planning 1 trip. You may find a better value in the annual multi-trip policy and not have to purchase additional coverage if you should decide to travel again during the policy period. 

Many policies will cover trip cancellation due to getting the virus, but none will cover cancellation due to the fear of getting the virus. To cover cancellations based on the fear of COVID-19, you’ll need a policy that allows you to add CFAR insurance .

The following are just a sampling of companies that offer this option on their policies.

• John Hancock
• Seven Corners

Please note that not every policy these companies offer allows you to add CFAR coverage.

For more information on travel insurance covering COVID-19 , we’ve put together an informative article.

Best Travel Insurance Options — Ages 70 to 79

There are a lot of reasons to embrace the wanderlust and travel in your 70s. By then, many have retired and perhaps have more money to spend on travel. There can also be a sense of urgency to travel while we’re still healthy.

As we’ve mentioned, however, as we age we are more apt to have health issues. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean we’ll be unable to purchase travel insurance. Even into our 70s, we’ll have plenty of travel insurance options, and coverage can still be affordable.

Since travel insurance is meant to protect you from unforeseen events, having a preexisting health condition may rule out any chance of coverage for that issue. However, several companies allow you to purchase a waiver so that preexisting health conditions can be covered.

Here are just a few companies that offer this waiver:

• Travel Guard
• Travel Insured

Each company has its own requirements for adding a preexisting condition waiver to your policy. You must purchase the policy within a specific time period, such as within 14 to 30 days after making your first trip deposit payment. You may also be required to insure the entire cost of your trip and your health must be medically stable when purchasing the coverage.

As a senior, it becomes more and more likely that we will actually have to use our travel insurance coverage as we age. However, even at age 80 or beyond, you’ll still find travel insurance widely available and relatively affordable. Some companies are willing to insure older travelers but charge higher premiums , so it’s wise to compare the pricing of several providers.

Above you’ll find a sampling of 4 SquareMouth quotes for single-trip travel insurance policies that include CFAR insurance for a traveler 80 years of age. The trip’s total cost was stated at $3,000 and was 8 days in length. Quotes ranged from $382 (Seven Corners) to well over $1,000 to insure the trip (not all quotes are shown). Coverage limits can also vary greatly, so it can be beneficial to compare policy limits.

If you’re looking to purchase travel insurance and you’re 80 years of age or older, it’s imperative to compare policies for the best pricing and coverage.

Hot Tip: Seniors ages 65 to 99 who are not interested in CFAR (cancel for any reason) insurance, may consider an annual multi-trip travel insurance plan. Allianz is a company that charges the same premium, regardless of age, for its annual plans for travelers ages 65 to 99 . 

There is 1 type of travel insurance that will cover you, regardless of age . U.S.-issued credit cards come with various types of travel insurance coverages that apply to all primary cardholders.

Typical travel insurance coverage found on credit cards includes the following:

• Lost, stolen, or damaged luggage insurance
• Car rental insurance
• Roadside assistance
• Travel accident insurance
• Travel assistance hotline

Premium credit cards such as The Platinum Card ® from American Express and Chase Sapphire Reserve ® card also come with valuable emergency evacuation coverage. Additionally, the Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card  is known for its comprehensive travel insurance benefits, including primary car rental insurance .

To learn more about which credit cards come with travel coverage, check out our article on the best credit cards for travel insurance benefits.

Bottom Line: The travel insurance benefits that come with U.S.-issued credit cards do not generally have age limits for coverage. However, many credit card travel benefits may be secondary to other insurance you might have. This means that you might first have to file a claim with your own insurance before the credit card insurance is valid. 

As seniors, purchasing travel insurance should be a priority for protecting your investment and preventing losses you might incur due to unexpected medical expenses during your travels.

With wide availability, regardless of age, it’s not only a prudent economic move, but it’s also a move that delivers peace of mind before and during your trip.

Finally, always make sure to compare policies as coverages and prices vary widely between travel insurance providers.

You can learn more about the best travel insurance companies for travelers  and the basics of travel insurance in our informative articles.

All information and content provided by Upgraded Points is intended as general information and for educational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as medical advice or legal advice. For more information, see our  Medical & Legal Disclaimers .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best travel insurance for seniors over 65.

Since travel insurance is widely available, even for seniors over 65, the best policy can be found by comparing companies and policies.

Using a travel insurance comparison site such as SquareMouth, InsureMyTrip, or TravelInsurance.com can assist you in comparing coverages and costs between only highly-rated financially stable travel insurance companies.

If you travel more than once per year, consider an annual, multi-trip, policy that covers any trip you take during the policy period.

Does travel insurance cover COVID-19?

Travel insurance is meant to cover unforeseen events. Once COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, it became a known event and is not covered as a reason for canceling your trip plans.

However, there are situations where COVID-19-related claims can be covered. If you become ill with the virus before or during your trip, you may be covered for trip cancellation, trip interruption, or emergency medical.

Does travel insurance cover preexisting medical conditions?

A standard travel insurance policy does not cover ongoing preexisting health conditions. However, many companies will insure you if you have a condition that is stabilized with medicine and no recent treatment has been sought. Requirements vary by travel insurance provider.

Also, many companies allow you to purchase a waiver that will then cover you for preexisting conditions.

Does credit card travel insurance cover flight cancellations?

The trip cancellation, interruption, or delay coverage that comes with your credit card does not cover voluntary flight cancellations.

The coverage does cover some flight cancellations due to unforeseen events such as becoming ill prior to, or during your trip. Coverage varies by credit card issuer but you will find a list of specific covered events in your card’s guide to benefits.

You can also call the number on the back of your card and speak with the claim administer.

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About Christine Krzyszton

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.

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Travel Insurance for Seniors & Retirees: 5 Top Picks

Allianz Travel Insurance »

Trawick International »

GeoBlue »

IMG Travel Insurance »

WorldTrips »

Why Trust Us

U.S. News evaluates ratings, data and scores of more than 50 travel insurance companies from comparison websites like TravelInsurance.com, Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip, plus renowned credit rating agency AM Best, in addition to reviews and recommendations from top travel industry sources and consumers to determine the Best Travel Insurance for Seniors and Retirees.

Table of Contents

• Rating Details
• Allianz Travel Insurance
• Trawick International

While anyone planning a trip overseas can benefit from having a travel insurance plan in place, older travelers need to prioritize this coverage more than others. The fact is, senior travelers and retirees have unique worries and risks to think about any time they travel far from home. These risks increase their need for travel health insurance and emergency medical coverage, as well as coverage for emergency medical evacuation that applies anywhere in the world.

Which travel insurance options work best for seniors? There are many travel insurance plans that were created with retirees in mind, although you'll want to compare them side by side. For example, you may want to look at coverage limits for medical expenses and coverage for preexisting conditions above all else.

U.S. News editors compared more than 20 of the top travel insurance companies to find the best plans for seniors. This list does the heavy lifting for you as you search for the best senior travel insurance of 2023, so read on to learn about the top picks.

• Allianz Travel Insurance: Best Annual Coverage
• Trawick International: Best Premium Travel Insurance for Seniors
• GeoBlue: Best Travel Medical Coverage for Expats
• IMG Travel Insurance: Best for Short-Term Travel Medical Coverage
• WorldTrips: Best for Flexibility

Best Travel Insurance for Seniors and Retirees in Detail

Available to senior travelers of all ages

Coverage for preexisting conditions is offered

Relatively low limits for emergency medical expenses

• Coverage for COVID-19
• Trip cancellation coverage up to $3,000
• Trip interruption coverage up to $3,000
• Emergency medical coverage up to $20,000
• Emergency medical evacuation coverage up to $100,000
• Baggage loss coverage up to $1,000
• Baggage delay insurance up to $200
• Travel delay coverage up to $600 ($200 daily limit)
• Rental car damage and theft coverage up to $45,000
• Travel accident coverage up to $25,000
• 24-hour hotline for assistance
• Concierge service
• Preexisting condition coverage (must be added to plan within 14 days of first trip deposit or payment)

Customize plan with optional CFAR coverage

Incredibly high limits for medical expenses and emergency evacuation

Coverage is for trips up to 30 days if you're age 80 and older

• Up to $15,000 in trip cancellation insurance
• Up to $22,500 in trip interruption coverage
• Up to $1,000 for trip delays ($200 daily limit for delays of 12-plus hours)
• Up to $1,000 for missed connections
• Up to $150,000 for emergency medical expenses
• Up to $1 million in emergency medical evacuation coverage
• $750 in emergency dental coverage
• $2,000 in coverage for baggage and personal effects
• $400 in baggage delay coverage
• 24/7 noninsurance assistance services

Get comprehensive health insurance that applies overseas

Preventive and routine care included

Age limits apply for new applicants and renewals

• Preventive and routine care
• Professional services like surgery
• Inpatient medical care
• Ambulatory and therapeutic services
• Rehabilitation and therapy

Get overseas medical coverage for single trips or multiple trips

Plans were created with seniors and retirees in mind

Lower maximum coverage limits for travelers ages 80 and older

Limited nonmedical travel insurance benefits

• Inpatient and outpatient medical coverage such as for physician visits, hospitalization and surgery
• Emergency and nonemergency medical evacuation coverage
• Coverage for emergency reunions
• Return of mortal remains
• Trip interruption coverage worth up to $5,000
• Lost luggage coverage worth up to $250 (up to $50 per item)
• Coverage for terrorism worth up to $50,000
• Accidental death and dismemberment coverage worth up to $25,000

Customize your deductible and premiums

Generous medical limits for travelers ages 65 to 79

Limited medical coverage for travelers older than 80

• Up to $1 million in emergency evacuation coverage
• Medical benefits like hospital room and board, chiropractic care, and more
• Coverage for repatriation of remains
• Up to $25,000 in personal liability coverage
• Up to $10,000 in trip interruption insurance
• Up to $1,000 in coverage for lost checked luggage
• Up to $100 per day in coverage for travel delays of 12-plus hours
• Up to $1,500 in coverage for bedside visits
• Up to $100,000 in coverage for emergency reunions

Frequently Asked Questions

You can purchase some travel insurance plans (but not all) if you're older than 80 years old. However, your premiums may be higher and you'll typically qualify for lower coverage limits overall. Make sure you compare the best travel insurance plans for seniors to find the right fit for your needs.

Since seniors and retirees are more likely to face a medical emergency during a trip, most travel insurance plans for seniors include coverage for emergency medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation. Coverages vary among plans, as do limits, so make sure to compare options before you book a trip overseas.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is a professional travel writer who has covered international travel and travel insurance for more than a decade. Johnson has researched and compared all the top travel insurance options for her own family for trips to more than 50 countries around the world, and she has successfully filed claims during that time. Johnson lives in Indiana with her two children and her husband, Greg, a travel agent who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states.

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The journalists on the editorial team at Forbes Advisor Australia base their research and opinions on objective, independent information-gathering.

When covering investment and personal finance stories, we aim to inform our readers rather than recommend specific financial product or asset classes. While we may highlight certain positives of a financial product or asset class, there is no guarantee that readers will benefit from the product or investment approach and may, in fact, make a loss if they acquire the product or adopt the approach.

To the extent any recommendations or statements of opinion or fact made in a story may constitute financial advice, they constitute general information and not personal financial advice in any form. As such, any recommendations or statements do not take into account the financial circumstances, investment objectives, tax implications, or any specific requirements of readers.

Readers of our stories should not act on any recommendation without first taking appropriate steps to verify the information in the stories consulting their independent financial adviser in order to ascertain whether the recommendation (if any) is appropriate, having regard to their investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs. Providing access to our stories should not be construed as investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any security or product, or to engage in or refrain from engaging in any transaction by Forbes Advisor Australia. In comparing various financial products and services, we are unable to compare every provider in the market so our rankings do not constitute a comprehensive review of a particular sector. While we do go to great lengths to ensure our ranking criteria matches the concerns of consumers, we cannot guarantee that every relevant feature of a financial product will be reviewed. We make every effort to provide accurate and up-to-date information. However, Forbes Advisor Australia cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of this website. Forbes Advisor Australia accepts no responsibility to update any person regarding any inaccuracy, omission or change in information in our stories or any other information made available to a person, nor any obligation to furnish the person with any further information.

Our Pick Of The Best Travel Insurance Providers For Seniors

Published: Jul 19, 2023, 1:05pm

Preparing for a holiday is a treat at any age, but all travellers, regardless of whether you’re backpacking or retired, need to tick off essential travel admin like purchasing travel insurance before the fun begins.

This ensures you can access life-saving medical treatment in an emergency overseas, when medical and hospital fees vary wildly. It can also help cover costs to get your trip back on the road after unforeseeable mishaps, or get you home safely if you need to cut the holiday short. This safety net can be especially important for more mature travellers with complex health and travel needs.

Not every insurance policy caters to people over a certain age, and others may impose benefit limits for certain activities for older travellers. Our dedicated Australian research team has dug through the fine print of policies open to seniors so we can outline the details of the best seniors travel insurance in Australia and who they may be best suited for. Leading policies are analysed across numerous data points, and ranked by our editorial team to reflect the most generous travel insurance suitable for seniors.

Note: The below list represents a selection of our top category picks, as chosen by Forbes Advisor Australia’s editors and journalists. The information provided is purely factual and is not intended to imply any recommendation, opinion, or advice about a financial product. Not every product or provider in the marketplace has been reviewed, and the list below is not intended to be exhaustive nor replace your own research or independent financial advice. For more information on how Forbes Advisor ranks and reviews products, including how we identified our top category picks, read the methodology selection below.

Related: Best Travel Insurance for Australians

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Cover-more travel insurance (comprehensive), nib travel insurance (comprehensive), freely (comprehensive), allianz (comprehensive), bupa (comprehensive), boomers travel insurance (comprehensive), australia post (comprehensive), medibank travel insurance (comprehensive), racv travel insurance (comprehensive), cota (comprehensive).

Southern Cross Travel Insurance (Comprehensive)

Fast Cover (Comprehensive)

Our methodology, what is seniors travel insurance, types of travel insurance, senior travel insurance: what to look for, can seniors over 75 get travel insurance, pre-existing medical conditions: are you covered, travel insurance coverage for children and grandchildren, typical exclusions in seniors travel insurance, final thoughts, frequently asked questions (faqs).

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Fast Cover Travel Insurance

On Fast Cover’s Secure Website

Medical cover

Unlimited, 24/7 Emergency Assistance

Cancellations

Unlimited, (Trip Disruption $50,000)

Key Features

25-Day Cooling Off Period, Australian Based Call Centre, 4.6 Star Product Review Rating

Cover-More Travel Insurance

On Cover-more’s secure website

Unlimited, with a $2000 limit to dental

Yes, amount chosen by customer

Option of Cruise Cover

Unlimited medical

Yes (some sub limits apply)

Yes (automatic)

The Travel Insurance Saver policy operates via nib’s underwriting service and therefore provides very similar benefits, minus the discount offered to nib health insurance members. Like the nib comprehensive policy, you’ll receive unlimited cover for medical expenses and anything that happens on a cruise as standard, as well as the freedom to choose the amount you’d like covered for cancellation costs (apart from the $2,000 limit on travel agent cancellation fees).

Many pre-existing medical conditions are included in the policy without the need for a medical assessment, including allergies, epilepsy, Hashimoto’s Disease and more, provided you meet the relevant criteria. But don’t forget the $8,000 limit on hospital compensation (at $50 per day), and that cover if you are permanently disabled while travelling is relatively low at $12,500. This policy also only covers $1 million in personal liability expenses.

• Cruise cover automatically included.
• Unlimited overseas medical expenses covered
• Lower permanent disability cover

99 (with acceptance criteria)

The comprehensive travel insurance offering from Cover-More is a suitable option for seniors (up to 99 years of age) seeking the peace of mind that cover for pre-existing medical conditions can provide. The policy’s wide range of automatically covered conditions includes carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, and some common heart conditions.

Be sure you meet any criteria related to these and other conditions, and please note that asthmatics over 60 aren’t automatically covered. We also liked the option to add on cruise cover, the generous $15,000 in coverage for luggage, $2.5 million in personal liability cover, $60,000 in funeral and repatriation expenses, and unlimited overseas medical cover. However, dental expenses are capped at $2,000.

• Many pre-existing medical conditions covered without assessment
• $15,000 luggage cover with item limit increases available
• $2,000 overseas dental expenses cap

The comprehensive travel insurance offering from nib provides generous cover that will suit many seniors’ travel plans, with additional flexibility. It’s a great option for nib health insurance customers who receive a 10% premium discount, or anyone travelling with their children who can also be covered by the policy (as long as they’re under 25). Medical expenses that may crop up on your overseas trip should be sorted with the unlimited cover, and cruise cover is included as standard. We also like that policyholders can choose the amount of coverage for cancellation costs, with the only limit being $2,000 on travel agent cancellation fees.

This policy gets another gold star for covering numerous pre-existing medical conditions as standard, including things like allergies, epilepsy, Hashimoto’s Disease and many others (as long as you fit the criteria). However, only $1 million is covered for personal liability expenses. Also note the $8,000 limit on hospital compensation (at $50 per day), and that the permanent disability cover of $12,500 is relatively low.

• 10% discount for nib health insurance members
• Cruise cover automatically included

If you’re a whizz with technology and under the age of 99, Freely could be your ideal travel insurance provider. You can purchase and manage a comprehensive policy suited to seniors via the Freely app which enables a convenient claims process and easy access to important policy documents. We appreciated that the unlimited overseas medical cover also includes dental expenses, and that cruise cover can be added onto the policy.

Personal liability is covered to $3 million, and if the worst were to happen—that you pass away or become permanently disabled while travelling—expenses related to this are covered up to $25,000. A number of medical conditions are automatically covered, from bunions to congenital blindness and deafness, just be sure you meet the criteria for each. However, there is only $5,000 allotted to cancellations, which should be factored in if you’re planning a costly trip with payments made ahead of time.

• Numerous pre-existing medical conditions covered without assessment
• Unlimited overseas medical and dental cover
• $5,000 limit on cancellation cover

Allianz Australia is a suitable choice for seniors looking for a reputable underwriter and some generous conditions. Chief among these is the ability to add cruise cover—a big plus among older travellers— and the fact there is no age limit on taking out a policy. We also liked the unlimited medical expenses, alongside personal liability coverage up to $5 million.

Another bonus: children and grandchildren are covered if they are travelling with you 100% of the time, are aged under 25 years and not in full time employment. However, coverage for pre-existing conditions required a medical assessment, and there is no cover for any expenses for medical evacuation, funeral expenses incurred overseas or return of remains unless it has been approved by Allianz Global Assistance.

• Cruise cover can be added
• No age limit to policy
• Pre-existing medical conditions require assessment

Travellers of all ages and life stages can take out Bupa’s comprehensive policy, but anyone who currently holds health insurance through the company can access a 15% discount as a loyalty bonus. Simply enter your membership number when prompted as you’re applying, and you’ll get a tidy discount across the policy, which includes unlimited medical, health and emergency cover.

Top marks as well for the handy add-ons, such as cruise cover and increased item limits for more valuable personal effects, as well as the $5 million personal liability cover and $60,000 for funeral and repatriation expenses. Please note that you will be required to do an online medical assessment for any coverage of pre-existing medical conditions.

• 15% discount for Bupa Health Insurance members

While the company’s name may elicit a cringe, Boomers Travel Insurance presents a high quality, flexible offering for travellers of any age that’s underwritten by the reputable Allianz Australia Insurance. The policy’s generous benefits include $10,000 in cover for luggage with the option to increase item limits for more valuable possessions, the option to add on cruise cover, and $5 million in personal liability cover.

It’s a great option for families, as children and grandchildren are also covered if they are joining you for your entire journey, as long as they are under 25 and not employed full-time. While the policy includes unlimited overseas medical, hospital and emergency expenses, it’s important to note that all pre-existing medical conditions need to be assessed and approved by the company when you apply for coverage.

• Luggage cover can be increased for valuable items

Yes (dental limits apply)

Seniors seeking out travel insurance that automatically covers a wide range of pre-existing medical conditions (without a medical assessment required) alongside generous benefits should consider Australia’s Post’s International Comprehensive Travel Insurance. Knowing you’ll be covered if a claim arises from conditions like hypertension, epilepsy, hiatus hernia and some autoimmune disorders provides extra peace of mind for anyone juggling health complications later in life (just be sure you meet the criteria for each condition).

There’s no age limit for policyholders, nor any limits on overseas medical and hospital care, as well as additional emergency expenses. We also liked the generous $5 million personal liability cover, and $12,000 in repairs or replacement for luggage (sub limits for certain items do apply). If you’re concerned about potential dental issues while travelling, do note there is a $2,000 cap on dental expenses. And if you’re an asthmatic over 60, this particular condition won’t be covered.

Medibank is one of the largest private health insurance providers in Australia, and its comprehensive travel insurance policy is similarly reliable for senior travellers. It is especially good value for anyone who already holds a health insurance policy with Medibank – those with standard health insurance memberships will receive a 15% discount, and Medibank Priority health members will see a 20% premium reduction.

It includes generous policy features like unlimited cover for overseas medical and cancellation expenses, $15,000 in luggage cover with flexible sub limits for specific items, and $5 million in personal liability cover. Cruise cover can be added as an optional extra for those travelling the high seas, and a wide range of pre-existing medical conditions are covered without policyholders having to apply or undergo a medical assessment. Keep in mind there is a $2,000 limit on overseas dental cover.

• 15% discount for Medibank health members.
• Many pre-existing medical condistions covered without a health assessment.
• $2,000 limit on dental cover.

Undisclosed

With unlimited overseas medical, dental and cancellation cover, the comprehensive travel insurance policy from RACV is an attractive policy for travellers of all ages. While the Victorian insurance company doesn’t specify an age limit on this policy, it provides cover suitable for seniors while offering a 15% discount to RACV members, no matter the type of insurance they hold with the company.

We appreciate the extremely generous $15 million personal liability cover, the $15,000 in luggage cover with flexible sub limits, and that a range of pre-existing medical conditions are covered without an assessment. Please note that travellers over 50 can’t be covered for diabetes, and those over 60 aren’t covered for asthma.

• Cruise cover can be added.
• 15% discount for RACV members.
• Age limits apply for some pre-existing medical conditions.

Yes (some conditions apply)

COTA has specialised in the seniors’ insurance space since 1992, and is currently underwritten by Pacific International Insurance. Major selling points that could serve older travellers well include the automatic inclusion of cruise cover, $12,000 in cover for lost or stolen luggage, and no age limits applied to the coverage.

While overseas medical expenses coverage is unlimited with this policy, we thought it important to note the caps on dental cover ($1,000) and hospital compensation (up to $8,000 with a limit of $50 per 24 hours). Medical evacuation and repatriation expenses are unlimited, but there is relatively low cover for permanent disability caused while travelling ($12,500). And if you require cover for pre-existing conditions, you’ll need to undergo an assessment.

• Caps on overseas hospital and dental expenses

Southern Cross Benefits is a reputable underwriter for this comprehensive policy available to travellers at any age . It includes generous benefits like $25,000 cover for lost luggage and unlimited medical and evacuation costs, although sub limits do apply (such as a $2,000 limit for dental expenses and a $100,000 limit on medical costs related to terrorism).

The $50,000 coverage for death, permanent disability and funeral expenses is notably higher than similar policies, but personal liability costs are only covered up to $1 million. While bank cards and other travel documents are covered up to $1,000 if lost, there is no cover for credit card fraud. Anyone with existing medical conditions or injuries will need to apply for these to be covered in case they are the cause of expenses while travelling.

• Generous death and disability cover
• No cover for credit card fraud

89 (with age and coverage limits on certain benefits)

Fast Cover caters to travellers aged up to 89 , but benefit limits and coverage restrictions can apply for anyone over 60, depending on which age bracket you sit within. Travellers up to 79 years of age have unlimited cover for overseas medical expenses, cancellations (although there is a $1,500 cap on travel agent fees), and trip disruption and resumption costs. Those aged 80-89 will need to pay a $2,000 excess for cancellations related to sickness or injury.

Also note that snow cover isn’t available to anyone aged 70 or older, the adventure pack age limit is 74, and dental cover for travellers of all ages is limited to $1,000. Happily, cruise cover can be an add-on at any age, personal liability is covered up to $5 million, and there are a large number of pre-existing medical conditions covered for people of all ages (as long as you satisfy the criteria related to those conditions).

• Many pre-existing medical conditions covered without assessment.
• Cruise cover can be added on.
• Age and cover limits apply to certain benefits for older travellers.

Our editorial team has complete control over analysing and rating the travel insurance policies you’re reading about today. We don’t aim to evaluate every policy on the market, but we go to great lengths to extensively research and report on the most popular choices among consumers.

To find the best travel insurance for seniors, we meticulously assessed the desirable policy attributes for this kind of insurance customer across 17 datapoints. These factors are weighted to reflect the importance of each. The four most important factors considered were limits around age, death and disability cover, unlimited medical cover and cruise cover.

As mentioned, we didn’t include price in this assessment, as quotes vary between travellers based on a huge range of factors, from their holiday itinerary to optional extras they want included and health and medical histories. Each of the elements we considered when finding the most senior-friendly travel insurance providers are outlined below.

• Emergency Assistance:  Does the policy offer a 24-hour medical or emergency hotline?
• Credit card fraud:  If you fall victim to credit card fraud while travelling, will your credit card be replaced and any stolen funds reimbursed?
• Pre-existing medical conditions:  Does the policy cover pre-existing medical conditions, and are you required to undergo a medical assessment to be covered for these? The more conditions automatically covered, the better.
• Lost luggage:  Will your lost luggage be covered? Higher overarching limits and extra flexibility to increase sub limits scores extra points.
• Cancellations: Does the policy cover cancellation fees, and what is the limit or any sub-limits?
• Cruise cover:  Is cruise cover included as standard or can you add it on?
• Online discounts:  Are there any discounts on offer?
• Maximum age covered:  What is the maximum age covered in the comprehensive policy? Having no age restrictions is ideal, but otherwise the higher the better.
• Cover for medical expenses:  Is it unlimited or is there a set total price for the medical expenses covered?
• Cover for dental expenses:  Does the policy cover emergency dental work overs overseas? If so, is a limit specified?
• Covid cover:  Is cover for expenses that arise from events and illnesses related to COVID-19 included in the policy? If so, what does this include, and are there any limits?
• Cover for children and grandchildren travelling with you:  Are grandchildren or children covered for free under this policy? If they are, what terms and conditions must your family members meet to qualify?
• Personal liability:  If you unintentionally injure someone else or damage their property, what is the maximum personal liability expense that the insurance company will pay out?
• Funeral costs:  Are funeral costs covered, and up to what price? Limits on repatriation of remains from overseas should be considered here if they’re not included under a different policy point.
• Accidental death:  What is the claim limit if the worst were to occur and you pass away from unforeseeable circumstances while travelling?
• Accidental disability:  If you are permanently disabled after an accident while on holiday, what’s the maximum monetary support you can access?
• Customer service:  What level of customer support does the insurance company offer? This could include live online chat and phone services, with these channels being available on weekends or outside business hours midweek.

About Star Rankings

You will note that we have included a star rating next to each product or provider. This rating was determined by the editorial team once all of the data points above were considered, and the pros and cons of each product attribute was reviewed. The star rating is solely the view of Forbes Advisor editorial staff. Commercial partners or advertisers have no bearing on the star rating or their inclusion on this list. Star ratings are only one factor to be considered, and Forbes Advisor encourages you to seek independent advice from an authorised financial adviser in relation to your own financial circumstances and investments before you decide to choose a particular financial product or service.

When you search for seniors travel insurance online, you can find specialised policies for people over a certain age. Many insurance companies that offer these define ‘senior’ as being over 75. However, some will have a higher minimum age and others will impose age-based coverage restrictions for anyone over 55.

The majority of travel insurance companies don’t provide tailored seniors cover, and instead recommend their comprehensive travel insurance policies to older travellers. These policies often have very high or even no age restrictions, and can cover a range of complex health and travel needs.

When our research team scoured the market to find travel insurance policies best suited to seniors, we analysed comprehensive offerings to assess how generous they were for seniors. Age limits, cover for unlimited medical expenses and the availability of cruise cover, a popular option among retirees, were all key considerations.

Remember: You will note that ForbesAdvisor has not analysed price as one of its metrics as this varies wildly between insurers and depends on a number of individual variables. Age is one of these variables, and, as a whole, senior travellers can expect to pay higher premiums for travel insurance. As always, it’s important to check the fine print so you know what you are, and aren’t, covered for.

While every travel insurance provider may offer different levels of coverage under different names, there are usually three types of international travel insurance: basic, essentials and comprehensive. The cost of travel insurance will change depending on the option you chose, with basic usually the cheapest and comprehensive the most expensive.

Speaking broadly, this is what the three policy tiers generally cover:

Basic: A policy under the basic banner will usually cover things like overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses, unavoidable cancellations, replacing lost or damaged luggage, and personal liability for if you accidentally injure someone or damage their property. Basic policies often come with age restrictions, so may not be suitable for seniors.

Essentials: This is generally a mid-range policy that includes everything covered by basic travel insurance, as well as cover for some riskier activities or higher benefit limits. Similarly, an essentials policy may not be open to people over a certain age.

Comprehensive: If you’re after all of the essentials, higher benefit limits, and more cover for a wider range of activities, then a comprehensive travel insurance policy may fit the bill. Many travel insurance companies may not offer a policy explicitly for seniors, but their comprehensive options—which usually cover broader medical care and have higher or no age limit—will suit most senior travellers.

If you’re travelling within the bounds of Australia, domestic travel insurance could also be useful. However, the inclusions and coverage in these policies aren’t always relevant to international travel insurance, and so shouldn’t be compared alongside the policies listed below.

Choosing an insurance policy is personal, as it depends on factors like your age, your health needs, the belongings you want protected while travelling and your specific holiday plans. So, you should always consider policies in line with your personal and financial circumstances. However, there are a few common elements of travel insurance that seniors should consider when comparing policies:

Unlimited medical, hospital and emergency cover: You’ll find many comprehensive policies list unlimited cover for overseas medical expenses. This is a vital component of travel insurance, as you can’t predict if you’ll encounter emergency health situations and the cost of treatment may be very high in some countries, especially America . Keep an eye out for any limits around dental expenses and hospital compensation limits.

Automatic cover for pre-existing medical conditions: Some policies will automatically cover a number of common illnesses and injuries, while others will ask you to apply for coverage for all existing medical conditions (or a combination of both). In both cases, your medical history will need to meet certain criteria for that condition to be covered. Having more conditions automatically covered by a policy makes the application process smoother for seniors with complex health needs, and means the insurance provider probably isn’t increasing premiums based on the your health status.

Cover for children and grandchildren you’re travelling with. Many comprehensive policies will provide cover for your children and grandchildren if they’re travelling with you at no extra cost. This is great for families, but usually comes with some caveats. Kids and grandkids will often need to be travelling with you for 100% of your trip to get coverage, will need to be under a certain age (often 25 or younger), and can’t be working full-time. Be sure to check your family meets all the criteria before assuming any extra travellers are covered under your policy.

Cruise cover: Cruising the globe is a popular adventure for many older travellers, but it comes with risks like any other activity. Things like on-board medical treatment, incidents that happen on shore-trips and medical evacuations from cruise liners can be extremely expensive, and they generally aren’t covered by a standard policy. Many comprehensive policies offer cruise cover as an optional extra to add onto your policy, and some include it as standard in coverage. If you’re headed for the high seas, investigate which option suits you best.

No age limits, age-based excesses or benefit exclusions: Many senior-specific travel insurance policies or comprehensive policies will allow people of all ages to take out insurance, which is essential for older travels. Keep an eye out for any additional excesses that may be applied to older travellers when making a claim, or any activities or pre-existing conditions that won’t be covered if your age exceeds the insurance company’s cap.

People over the age of 75 can take out travel insurance, but not every provider or policy will cover you. Basic policies usually have an age cap at 75 (or sometimes even lower), so seniors over 75 will need to take out comprehensive travel insurance or specific policies tailored to seniors.

Make sure you carefully examine the product disclosure statement (PDS) of each policy for any specific activities or benefits that have age restrictions or limits, as this can vary considerably between providers.

In every PDS, you’ll find a long list of pre-existing medical conditions that are or are not covered. While every policy is different, having certain health conditions may disqualify you from travel insurance cover at any age.

However, many common pre-existing conditions like diabetes, epilepsy, asthma and some heart conditions are automatically covered in many policies. This means if you make a claim that’s directly or indirectly related to these conditions, your insurance provider will likely cover you assuming you met the criteria for the claim.

Be sure to check any criteria around these conditions related to changes in medication, recent surgeries or other complications. And remember: some policies may apply age limits for specific conditions which they do cover. For example, older asthmatics often won’t be automatically covered, while younger travellers with the condition will.

Some providers allow you to apply for cover of pre-existing medical conditions that aren’t on the pre-approved list. You’ll generally need to undergo a medical assessment to apply, and if approved, you’ll likely be charged an extra premium or higher excess for the coverage.

Many seniors and comprehensive travel insurance policies will include cover for any of your children and grandchildren joining your travels. This is generally included as standard, but comes with strict criteria that your family must meet in order for them to be covered by your policy. In many cases, children and grandchildren are required to be:

• Travelling with you for 100% of your trip
• Under a certain age (often 25 or even younger)
• Not working full-time and, in some cases, be financially dependent on you

Younger travellers may have different travel insurance needs from seniors, so it’s important to ensure your policy covers everything that might impact your kids or grandkids while they’re travelling with you. And if your family continues their journey when you head home, they will need to take out their own insurance for the remainder of their trip in order to be covered.

All travel insurance policies have a number of activities or situations that aren’t covered, no matter your age. Seniors should always read policy documents carefully to see if there are any additional age restrictions on things like adventure sports or certain pre-existing medical conditions.

Some exclusions will be outside your control, but there are other actions you can take that may void your cover. Common seniors travel insurance exclusions include:

• Any pre-existing condition which has not been declared, whether it’s automatically covered or not.
• Any expenses caused by asthma if you’re over 60 (a common age-based medical restriction).
• If you are involved in any illegal activity.
• If you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the relevant event.
• Travelling to a destination with Smartraveller warnings under a ‘do not travel’ classification.
• If you take part in risky activities that aren’t covered by your policy, like snow sports or high-altitude hiking.
• Anything that happens on a cruise ship if cruise cover is not included in your policy (either as an automatic inclusion or added as an optional extra).
• Pandemics and epidemics, unless specifically outlined in your policy, which you’ll find is often the case with expenses related to Covid-19.

There are numerous travel insurance options available to seniors, no matter your age nor your ability. The key to finding a suitable policy for you is in the fine print.

As you’re researching and comparing policies, be sure to pore over policy documents for limits to cover, specific age-based restrictions, options for additional cover versus automatic inclusions, and any policy features which will best suit the kind of international holiday you’re taking.

What is the best travel insurance for seniors over 70 in Australia?

The best travel insurance for any individual is a policy that offers the most relevant features within their budget. We’ve researched travel insurance policies that include features which are best suited to seniors, but everyone should compare and consider these policies to see if they meet their personal and financial needs.

Is travel insurance more expensive for over 75s?

As some risk factors are higher for older travellers—often those associated with existing medical conditions and injuries—you may find your travel insurance quotes increase with age. Every insurance provider has their own method for calculating premiums, so the level to which age does impact price will differ between quotes.

There’s no magic age where your premiums skyrocket, but some insurance companies do set their standards for ‘seniors travel insurance’ for people aged 75 and over.

What's the difference between single and multi-trip travel insurance?

With most travel insurance policies, you’ll need to select the dates you’ll be travelling within, and only bookings or events that happen in this timeframe will be covered. This is referred to as a single-trip policy. If you’re a regular globetrotter, you might consider multi-trip travel insurance. Otherwise known as annual travel insurance, this kind of policy can cover you for numerous holidays within a 12-month span.

Multi-trip insurance can be more affordable overall, but you’ll get the most value out of it if you have consistent travel habits, as you’re effectively paying at a set level for each trip. This means if you want more expensive features for just one trip—say, cover for your laptop while travelling or to go scuba diving—the increased premium is applied across all your travel for the year.

You’ll usually need to set the maximum duration for the trips you plan to take ahead of time, with most policies allowing for 60-day holidays and a few up to 90 days. You’ll also need to select the countries you’re likely to travel to in the year, as insurance companies need to assess the risks involved with each destination.

If you’re living it up in retirement and think you will travel often enough within the year to warrant this cover, make sure you don’t exceed the maximum trip length for any single excursion. You won’t be covered by your policy if you extend your trip.

Remember:  some insurance providers only offer multi-trip policies to travellers under 75, so be sure to check you qualify.

What is a pre-existing medical condition?

Pre-existing medical conditions can include all manner of illnesses or injuries you know you have when you purchase an insurance policy. These may or may not be covered by your travel insurance, and some insurance providers will want to conduct a medical assessment before agreeing to cover you for these conditions.

I am going on a cruise. Will travel insurance cover me?

Yes, some comprehensive travel insurance policies offer coverage while you’re on a cruise as a standard inclusion. Most other providers will offer this kind of cover as an optional extra for an additional fee.

Olivia Gee is a Sydney-based writer and editor working across personal finance, lifestyle and sustainability. She is an insurance expert with ASIC RG146 Tier 2 Certification to provide general insurance advice. Her work has been published in Time Out, Money magazine and Guardian Australia, among other publications.

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65 or Older? Here Are The Best Travel Insurance Plans for Seniors

The top-rated plans all have at least $100,000 in travel medical coverage and at least $250,000 in emergency medical evacuation coverage., erica lamberg, erica lamberg's most recent stories.

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With more than a year of travel adventures lost, it’s time to consider how you’ll explore the world again. Whether you’re going across the country or around the world, travel insurance for seniors can provide a valuable safety net if a trip goes wrong. Here are the best senior travel insurance plans based on our ratings of two dozen travel insurance policies.

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All the winning travel insurance plans below include coverage for Covid in trip cancellation and travel medical benefits

Nationwide Cruise Choice Plan

Why we picked it: Nationwide Cruise Choice Plan offers superior benefits at excellent prices for senior travelers.

This plan provides $100,000 per person for emergency medical expenses and $500,000 per person for emergency medical evacuation . You will also get non-medical evacuation coverage of $25,000 per person, which covers transportation if you have to move to a safe location due to a natural disaster or civil/political unrest.

Nationwide’s Cruise Choice Plan has top-notch baggage loss coverage of $2,500 per person. Other highlights include missed connection coverage of $1,500 per person after only a three hour wait and the option to add “cancel for any reason” coverage.

If you are looking for an upgrade, it’s worth taking a look at Nationwide’s Cruise Luxury plan.

Potential drawbacks: Travel delay coverage of $750 per person is low compared to top competitors.

Trawick International Safe Travels First Class Plan

Why we picked it: Trawick’s International Safe Travels First Class plan has excellent prices for seniors and a wide range of solid benefits.

The plan comes with $150,000 per person in emergency medical expenses and $1 million per person in medical evacuation coverage. You’ll also get $2,000 per person in baggage loss coverage and $1,000 per person for missed connections (cruises and tours only).

The plan has good travel delay coverage of $1,000 per person but only after a 12-hour delay. And if you’re the type of traveler who wants the ultimate flexibility, you can add “cancel for any reason” coverage to your policy.

Potential drawbacks: Baggage delays and travel delays are only reimbursed after a 12-hour delay. That’s a long time compared to some top competitors that require only six hours (or less).

Related: Best Senior Travel Insurance Plans Of 2021

AXA Assistance USA Gold Plan

Why we picked it: Great prices for senior travelers make AXA’s Gold plan an attractive option.

The plan comes with $100,000 per person in emergency medical expenses and $500,000 per person for emergency medical evacuation. You’ll also get non-medical evacuation coverage of $50,000 per person in case you need to move to safety because of a natural disaster or civil/political unrest.

AXA’s Gold plan has good baggage loss coverage of $1,500 per person. It has generous missed connection coverage of $1,000 per person if you miss your cruise or tour. The plan also includes concierge services.

Potential drawbacks: AXA’s Gold plan does not offer optional “cancel for any reason” coverage.

Cat 70 Travel Plan

Why we picked it: Superior coverage for medical expenses at very competitive prices for seniors makes the Cat 70 plan a solid choice for senior travelers.

Cat 70’s Travel plan pairs a whopping $500,000 per person in emergency medical expenses with $500,000 per person in emergency medical evacuation coverage. Travelers seeking trip cancellation flexibility can add “cancel for any reason” coverage.

Potential drawbacks: Compared to some top competitors, reimbursement is on the lower end for travel delay ($500 per person), lost baggage ($500 per person) and baggage delay ($200 per person after 24 hours).

HTH Worldwide TripProtector Classic Plan

Why we picked it: Excellent prices for seniors make the TripProtector Classic plan worthy of consideration.

TripProtector Classic comes with $250,000 per person in emergency medical expenses and $1 million per person in emergency medical evacuation coverage. The plan includes good travel delay benefits at $1,000 per person after a six-hour delay.

Senior travelers looking for even better benefits (at a higher cost) may want to upgrade to the Worldwide TripProtector Preferred plan.

Potential drawbacks: Baggage delay benefits might be insufficient at $200 per person after a 12-hour delay and you won’t have the option of adding “cancel for any reason” coverage.

Tin Leg Gold Plan

Why we picked it: Tin Leg’s Gold plan offers ample medical benefits at competitive prices for seniors.

With $500,000 per person for emergency medical expenses and $500,000 per person for emergency medical evacuation coverage, Tin Leg’s Gold plan has some of the highest medical benefits among top competitors.

You will also have the option to add “cancel for any reason” coverage.

Potential drawbacks: Reimbursement is low compared to top competitors for travel delay ($500 per person), baggage delay ($200 per person after a 24-hour delay) and baggage loss ($500 per person).

USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services Ruby Plan

Why we picked it: USI Affinity’s Ruby plan has solid medical benefits and very competitive prices for seniors who are traveling.

The plan comes with $250,000 per person in emergency medical expenses and $500,000 per person for emergency medical evacuation. If you want the flexibility to cancel your trip, you’ll have the option to add “cancel for any reason” coverage.

Potential drawbacks: Baggage delay ($300 per person) and baggage and personal items loss ($1,000 per person) are lower than top competitors and might be insufficient for senior travelers looking for higher coverage amounts.

Tips for Seniors Buying Travel Insurance

Travel insurance can be essential for many types of trips, but seniors are particularly vulnerable to travel-related problems. Most notably, travelers age 65+ should consider a travel insurance policy with medical insurance and medical evacuation benefits.

Understand Insurance Needs When Traveling Abroad

With the vaccine rollout and countries relaxing border restrictions, you may be thinking about taking that river cruise to Portugal or a wine tour in France.

It’s important to know that when you travel outside the United States a domestic health insurance plan will not generally travel with you. This includes Medicare.

A key focus for seniors should be travel insurance with high limits of travel medical insurance, says Jeremy Murchland, president of travel insurance company Seven Corners. “Some plans on the market limit coverage to only $25,000 or $50,000,” he says. “Depending on the type of care needed, this may not be enough to cover the cost.”

“Most Medicare plans will not cover a person outside of the U.S. or U.S. territories,” explains Gail Manganite, lead customer advocate for InsureMyTrip, a travel insurance comparison provider. She notes that there are some Medigap and supplemental plans that offer health coverage outside the U.S., but deductibles and copayments will still apply.

Find out if your current health insurance includes emergency medical coverage outside the country and what restrictions apply. Then you’ll know how much travel medical insurance you need to fill the gap.

If you want top-notch coverage, look for travel insurance plans that offer $500,000 in medical coverage.

Get Medical Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions

You don’t want a pre-existing condition to flare up during a trip, but in case it happens, have a travel insurance plan that covers it. You do this by getting a pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver.

The availability of this important waiver is time-limited:  You’ll have to add it to a travel insurance plan within a specified number of days from the date you make your first trip payment. For example, Seven Corners’ RoundTrip Choice plan covers pre-existing conditions if you buy it within 20 days of the date of your initial trip payment.

But your plan might have a window of only 14 days to get pre-existing conditions covered.

Plan for Medical Evacuation Coverage

If you require an emergency airlift back to the United States, it could easily cost $100,000 or more for private, emergency transport. Emergency medical evacuation insurance pays to move you to a medical facility with appropriate and necessary care if the facility where you are located is unable to provide the level of care needed for your medical condition, says Murchland.

You can find travel insurance plans with up to $1 million in coverage for emergency medical evacuation.

Be Aware of “Cancel for Any Reason” Coverage

“Cancel for any reason” coverage is an add-on that you can tack on to some travel insurance plans. It will add about 40% to your travel insurance cost but gives you the widest flexibility to cancel the trip for any reason and get some reimbursement (typically 50% or 75%).

Without it, you’ll receive trip cancellation reimbursement only if you cancel for a reason listed in the base policy, such as an illness or injury that forces you to abandon travel plans. “Cancel for any reason” coverage will give you the option to cancel for reasons like a sudden fear of flying or simply changing your mind.

Consider Customer Service Options

Murchland says to pick a travel insurance company that has services that match your comfort level.

“For example, Seven Corners has found that a higher percentage of seniors wish to discuss a travel insurance plan over the phone and, in some cases, want assistance selecting a plan and executing a purchase,” he says. “In today’s world of chat bots and email, this is an important consideration for seniors who would prefer to talk with a person.”

Stay on Top of Your Insurance Timeline

Buying a travel insurance plan early and taking the time to read it can pay off later. In addition, a travel insurance agent can help you understand what the policy covers and find plans that fit your travel insurance concerns. It’s wise to:

• Buy your plan early (shortly after you make your first trip deposit) so you don’t miss out on key benefits like pre-existing conditions coverage.
• Review your plan information well before your trip . Understand what reasons are covered for trip cancellation insurance claims. If you want broader coverage, consider adding “cancel for any reason” coverage, which also needs to be added shortly after your first trip payment.
• Feel comfortable asking questions to ensure you understand your plan and how it works.
• Keep in mind that travel insurance plans offer 24/7 travel assistance help . If you run into trouble during your trip, make use of the professional help available for language translation, finding a pharmacy and much more.

Methodology

Using data provided by Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison provider, we evaluated 24 travel insurance plans that have at least $100,000 in travel medical coverage and at least $250,000 in emergency medical evacuation coverage. Scores were based on:

• Travel insurance rates (50% of score) for a range of travelers age 65 and older, for trips in a variety of lengths, destinations and costs.
• Coverage benefits (50% of score) including travel medical expenses, cancel for any reason availability, Covid coverage, medical evacuation, baggage delay, baggage loss, missed connection, non-medical evacuation, travel delay.

Erica Lamberg is a personal finance and travel writer based in suburban Philadelphia. She is a regular contributor to USA Today, and her writing credits include NBC News, U.S. News & World Report, Business Insider, Oprah Magazine and Creditcards.com . 

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Best Travel Insurance for Seniors in April 2024

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As an older adult, you may look forward to traveling the world when you retire. Whether taking a single trip or traveling extensively, health concerns and sickness can derail even the best plans.

One way to address those risks is to purchase one of the best travel insurance policies for older adults . We cover multiple insurance carriers and provide policy premiums and benefits examples to help you find the best travel insurance to meet your needs.

This is the shortlist of the best travel insurance for older adults:

HTH Travel Insurance .

John Hancock .

TravelSafe .

Seven Corners .

World Nomads .

Factors we considered when picking a travel insurance policy

Choosing the right travel insurance policy is an important decision. Yet, the best travel insurance company depends on your needs and budget. Here are the factors we focused on when making this list.

Available policy types . The best travel insurance companies offer multiple policy types to meet the needs of various travelers.

Policy coverage limits . How much will the policy cover if you need to make a claim?

Exclusions . Do you have pre-existing conditions that may affect your ability to travel, increase the potential for medical treatments during your trip or cut your trip short? What would cause the insurance company to deny a claim?

Cost . How much does the insurance company charge for a basic policy? Is this price affected by your age, length of the trip or overall health condition?

Website usability . We value insurance companies that make it simple for travelers to compare options, get a quote and purchase a policy online.

Customization . Are the insurance company's policies customizable to meet a traveler's needs or must they choose from a rigid set of options?

What matters most to you also impacts which travel insurance is best for you. Whether it's medical evacuation, pre-existing conditions or the repatriation of remains, each policy's coverages and limits differ.

Additionally, policy premiums can vary widely based on the length of coverage and your age. If you frequently travel, buying an annual policy instead of policies for each trip may make more sense. Additionally, your premiums may be much different as a new retiree at 65 compared with someone in their 70s or 80s.

You may be able to save money on your travel insurance policy by taking advantage of credit card benefits. For example, many travel cards include trip cancellation, delay and interruption benefits, luggage protection and rental car coverage at no additional charge when using the card to book flights and rent cars.

» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance

An overview of the best travel insurance for older adults

We requested quotes from multiple travel insurance companies for a 10-day trip to Madrid in July 2023. Our hypothetical traveler is a 65-year-old man from California who is spending $8,000 for the trip. His trip cost includes airfare plus prepaid hotels and excursions.

On average, the price of a policy offered by the listed companies was about $514, with a median price of $609.

* Cost refers to the basic coverage cost if multiple options are available.

There are various coverage options and price points when comparing travel insurance policies for older adults. While the lowest-priced options in the chart are the most affordable, their policies offer different coverage. For example, policies from HTH Travel Insurance only provide medical coverage but not trip interruption, delay or cancellation protection.

Comparing coverage limits and exclusions when selecting a policy is important so you are satisfied when making a claim.

» Learn more: Is Cancel For Any Reason travel insurance worth it?

Top travel insurance options for older adults

Let's look at our six travel insurance policy recommendations for older adults.

HTH Travel Insurance

What makes HTH Travel Insurance great:

Medical benefits of up to $1 million with deductibles as low as $0.

Access to English-speaking doctors in more than 180 countries.

Insurance covers hospital care, surgery and prescription drugs.

Here's a snippet from our HTH Travel Insurance review:

"HTH has a few travel insurance policies. These include medical plans and trip protection plans, so you'll want to decide what type of coverage you require."

Since Medicare doesn't cover healthcare needs when traveling outside the United States, some travelers purchase healthcare-only policies such as this one from HTH Travel Insurance. For our test trip, their healthcare-only coverage cost is just $90. However, keep in mind that this plan only provides medical coverage — if you want insurance for things like trip cancellation , trip interruption or baggage delay, you'll need to purchase a different plan.

John Hancock

What makes John Hancock great:

Emergency medical evacuation coverage starts at $250,000 per person.

Trip interruption coverage of 125% of trip cost.

Trip delay benefits start at six hours.

Here's a snippet from our John Hancock review:

"John Hancock offers three different plans for travelers depending on their needs: Gold, Silver and Bronze. As you'd expect, the Gold level comes with the most coverage and the highest price, while the Bronze level costs the least."

John Hancock's basic coverage cost for our test trip is $616, which is slightly above average. This policy is ideal for travelers worried about health problems requiring an emergency medical evacuation during their trip.

What makes TravelSafe great:

Coverage for pre-existing conditions is available if the policy is purchased within 21 days of booking travel.

Includes a $500 benefit for missed connections or trip delays.

Trip cancellation protection of up to $10,000.

Here's a snippet from our TravelSafe review:

"TravelSafe insurance offers two different plan types: Basic and Classic. Both of them only cover single trips; the company doesn't sell multi-trip or year-long plans. The TravelSafe Basic plan offers a lower level of protection than the company's more expensive option, TravelSafe Classic."

TravelSafe's basic coverage cost for our test trip is $855. While this policy has a higher price, it offers coverage for pre-existing conditions if you buy it within 21 days of booking your trip.

Seven Corners

What makes Seven Corners great:

Lost baggage benefits of $500 per person (per item limit of $250).

Delayed bags are reimbursed up to $100 per day ($500 max).

Trip delay of up to $200 per day per person after six hours ($600 maximum).

Here's a snippet from our Seven Corners review:

"The RoundTrip Basic plan is a good comprehensive travel insurance option and offers 100% trip cancellation (for trips up to $30,000), 100% trip interruption, $100,000 for emergency medical expenses (secondary coverage), $250,000 for medical evacuation/repatriation, lost luggage, baggage delay and other benefits."

Seven Corners' basic coverage cost for our test trip is $602, which is slightly above average. It offers superior protection against lost or delayed luggage, which can really put a damper on your travel plans.

What makes Tin Leg great:

Trip cancellation and interruption for COVID included at no extra charge.

Coverage extended up to seven days for medical quarantine .

Sports equipment is covered under baggage loss coverage.

Here's a snippet from our Tin Leg review:

"Tin Leg offers nine different travel insurance coverage policies. Prices vary for each depending on your itinerary and trip costs. The Basic plan is exactly what it sounds like: a policy for low-risk trips. It includes coverage for trip cancellation, delay and interruption, plus missed connections, emergency medical and evacuation, and lost and delayed luggage coverage."

Tin Leg's basic coverage cost for our test trip is $844. COVID's impact on retirees can be severe, so having a policy with generous benefits regarding coronavirus is critical. One of the best features includes up to one week of additional coverage at no charge if you're medically quarantined.

World Nomads

What makes World Nomads great:

Covers more than 200 adventure activities.

Ability to extend coverage while traveling.

Emergency medical coverage of $100,000 for all policies.

Here's a snippet from our World Nomads review:

"World Nomads offers the Standard and Explorer travel insurance plans and excels in sports/activity-related travel insurance coverage while offering solid trip delay, baggage delay and lost luggage protections. The provider offers insurance plans for travel to nearly any country and is available to residents of most countries."

World Nomads' basic coverage cost for our test trip is $74. However, take note of the coverage limits on its policies, which can be much lower than the cost of your trip. Its Basic policy coverage caps trip cancellation or interruption at $2,500, which could leave a large gap in comparison to our traveler's $8,000 trip cost.

Best travel insurance for older adults recapped 

The types of insurance plans for older adults — and how much they cost — vary significantly. There are options for those who only want to cover medical costs and plans for those who want coverage for any travel mishap that might befall them.

Other things to consider are pre-existing medical conditions, what types of activities you're doing and how long you'll be traveling.

Your chosen policy will depend on your travel needs and your comfort with risk. The upfront cost may be well worth it if you need to make a claim on an expensive injury, a canceled flight or a medical evacuation. 

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ 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.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 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 Travel℠.

1x-2x Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

• United States
• United Kingdom

Medibank Travel Insurance

Our verdict: unlimited trip cancellation and overseas medical expenses, generous policy limits and a discount for private health members make medibank travel insurance a solid option for travellers..

In this guide

Compare travel insurance policies from Medibank

Get your medibank travel insurance discount, summary of medibank's international comprehensive policy, how does medibank travel insurance cover covid-19, what policies does medibank offer, here's a breakdown of medibank travel insurance features, standard features, optional add-ons, how to make a medibank travel insurance claim, here's the bottom line about medibank travel insurance, frequently asked questions.

Destinations

• Medibank travel insurance offers a strong rate of up to $5,000,000 for personal liability cover.
• This insurer is one of just a few brands offering cover for the pandemic. This includes trip cancellation due to a COVID-19 diagnosis and overseas medical costs.
• There is limited cover for pregnancy. You are only covered for serious complications up to your 26th week, and you'll have to complete a health assessment to ensure you're fully covered.

We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.

Learn how we maintain accuracy on our site.

15% off travel insurance for Medibank Private members

Get this discount if you're a Medibank Private member and save.

Table updated March 2024

Best Travel Insurance - Value finalist

Medibank Travel Insurance ranked in third-place for value out of the 28 international policies we analysed. It scored highly because it was the second cheapest policy on average and covers most of the benefits people look for in a policy, such as COVID cover and luggage delay.

Medibank joins the ranks of a growing list of insurers that offer some cover for COVID-19. The key benefits covered are:

• Overseas medical costs if you are diagnosed while on your trip
• Pre-trip and on-trip cancellation costs if you or your travelling companion are diagnosed
• Cover for additional expenses incurred, including quarantine and isolation costs

Some exclusions do apply, however, including costs related to a government-directed border closure or travelling to a destination subject to a "Do not travel" warning.

If you're at all worried about unexpected pandemic expenses, we've compared all the providers that offer cover for COVID-19 .

Medibank has 3 different plans available: Domestic, International Medical Only and International Comprehensive. If you're planning more than 1 trip for the year, a Medibank Annual Multi-Trip policy is also an option. Here are some of the main insured events a policy can cover you for:

International Medical Only

International Comprehensive

Annual Multi-Trip

The insurer of this product is Zurich Australian Insurance Limited. It comes with a cooling-off period and choice of standard excess.

The cooling-off period is 21 days which means you can change your policy or cancel within this period and Medibank will refund your premium in full. The excess is the amount you need to pay when you make a claim, and you can lower the cost of your policy by selecting a higher excess.

These are some of the features that Medibank will cover you for if something does go wrong on your trip. Some of these inclusions are only available for certain levels of cover (e.g. the comprehensive policy versus medical-only).

• Accidental death
• Additional expenses including accommodation or travel expenses
• Cancellation and amendment fees
• Delayed luggage allowance
• Loss of income
• Luggage and personal effects
• Missed connections
• Overseas medical and hospital expenses
• Permanent disability
• Rental car insurance excess

For more flexibility, Medibank offers extra cover for your specific needs. You can add these options when you're applying based on what you have planned for your trip.

• Cruise cover. If you've got a multi-night cruise planned, you'll be covered for a variety of additional costs such as cancellations, on-board medical expenses and missed shore excursions.
• Extra luggage limits. If you're travelling with expensive things such as a camera, laptop or jewellery, make sure that the included value is enough by checking the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). If not, you can always add more.
• Winter sports. This cover is for those who are skiing, snowboarding or snowmobiling on their trip. Protect yourself, so the expenses don't snowball if you get into an accident.
• Motorcycle/moped riding. This cover is for when you're a rider or plan to be a pillion passenger on a motorcycle/moped while you're travelling. This will cover your medical expenses if you get into an accident, but only if you or the driver hold a valid licence, you're wearing a helmet and the engine capacity is 250cc or less.

Like any insurer, there are a few events that aren't covered under a travel insurance policy. With Medibank, some of these include:

• Any act of war, rebellion or invasion
• A pre-existing medical condition not approved by Medibank
• Participating in hunting, running with the bulls or freestyle BMX riding
• Pregnancy complications after the 26th week
• Self-inflicted injury, suicide or attempted suicide
• Substance abuse or ingestion of any non-prescription drug
• Travel booked or undertaken against the advice of a medical adviser
• Insolvency of a travel agent , tour operator or accommodation provider

Make sure you review Medibank's PDS for a detailed breakdown of what is and isn't covered, found under its list of general exclusions .

You can submit your claim by downloading a claim form online and posting it to the Medibank Travel Insurance Team at c/o Travel Insurance Partners Claims Dept, PO Box 168, North Sydney NSW 2060 Australia.

Alternatively, you can submit a claim online by following these steps:

• Head to https://claims.travelinsurancepartners.com.au/Medibank
• Enter your full name and policy number to log in
• Complete your claim details by answering all sections
• Upload any documents to support your claim
• Submit, and you should hear back within 10 business days

Medibank has an easy-to-understand policy offering that makes it clear what you are and are not covered for. Its inclusions are generous and include some hard-to-find extras like COVID cover while cruising, many pre-existing conditions and a stack of standard adventure activities. Add on a 15% discount for private health members and you have a very competitive option.

Where Medibank falls short is with the limited cover for pregnant travellers and those with certain pre-existing conditions. If you suffer from cardiovascular disease , chronic lung conditions or reduced immunity, for example, you'll need to complete an online health assessment to determine if any special conditions, limits or excesses apply to your cover.

If you're still not sure about Medibank, you can compare other travel insurance companies here .

Is Medibank Travel Insurance legit?

Yes, Medibank Travel Insurance is insured by Zurich Australian Insurance Limited, part of the Zurich Insurance Group with insurance products and services in more than 210 countries and territories. It also offers a 21-day cooling-off period if you decide you're not happy with the policy.

Should I get a policy with Medibank for a trip to Bali?

Travel to Indonesia comes with its own unique risks and Medibank travel insurance ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to cover. White water rafting, bungee jumping and scuba diving are all covered as standard (provided you meet the minimum requirements), and natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions have been covered in the past .

What documents do I need when I make a claim?

Medibank Travel Insurance will advise what type of documents you'll need to provide at the time of your claim. Supporting documents can include:

• Police reports
• Medical reports
• Original receipts or proof of purchase and ownership

Cristal Dyer

Cristal Dyer is a travel writer at Finder. She has been writing about travel for over five years and has visited over 40 countries around the world. Cristal currently travels full-time, writing about her favourite cities and food finds, and she is always on the lookout for amazing flight deals to share.

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20 Responses

We have paid $4,000 deposit towards a tour in northern Australia in the middle of the year, and in a couple of months will have to pay the remainder of the tour costs, amounting to nearly $15,000. Will this be covered by Medibank Travel Insurance domestic cancellation clause if something unexpected prevents us travelling?

It depends on what the “unexpected” event is. It might be worth contacting the insurance underwriter, Zurich Australian Insurance Limited, to discuss your specific concerns to check if you are insured in these situations.

Does anyone provide cruise insurance for people over 80 who are well and fit.

Thanks for getting in touch. There are a few providers that may cover you. Head to this page to find them https://www.finder.com.au/travel-insurance-for-over-80

Hope that helps.

Thanks, Gary

I am 80 years old. I am seeking travel insurance to travel to France for 41 days, commencing August 7th. I only require medical cover.

You may want to check our travel insurance guide for people who are 80 years old and above. You’ll find a list of insurers who can provide the medical cover you’re seeking.

I hope this helps.

Regards, James

I’m looking for a 6-week one trip only in 2022 to the UK. I am 82 years old. Please advise on cost or for the whole year and for some domestic travel. Thank you!

Thanks for reaching out. I believe you’re trying to get a quote with Medibank Travel Insurance, is that correct?

If so, you can source quotes on your insurance policy by getting in touch with Medibank directly. You can visit their website for more details.

If you’d like to explore other options, please feel free to fill out the quote form found on top of this page.

If cost is an important factor to you, you could take a look at some deals available on Finder on our page about Medibank travel insurance promo codes . Some of these may include cover for international trips.

Prior to choosing your cover, be sure to read each policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) with care so that you’re fully aware of your policy details, including any restrictions and exclusions.

You can also read our domestic travel cover guide to learn more.

I had a stent put in the heart. Am I eligible for travel insurance?

Thank you for reaching out to Finder.

Medibank does not list heart conditions as part of its insurance coverage. You may want to check our list of travel insurance for heart conditions to compare insurers who have coverage on heart conditions, including those who have stents.

Please make sure to read through the insurance policies prior to application to guarantee that your condition is covered.

Hope this helps! 😊

Kind Regards, Mai

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Home > Travel Insurance > Medibank Travel Insurance Review

Medibank Travel Insurance Review

Learn more about Medibank's travel insurance policies to find out about their coverage and fees and compare them with other insurers today.

Fact checked

For more than 45 years, Medibank has been providing insurance products to Australians across a range of services, whether they be for health, pets and life. Since 2006, Medibank has been offering travel insurance policies to Australians looking to take a holiday here and abroad.

Savvy can help you compare their policies with those of other providers if you're curious about how they stack up. By comparing coverage specifics, you can shop for the best coverage and lowest price on travel insurance for your next trip, no matter whether you’re heading to Bali or Brisbane.

We make it easy to shop around by providing instant quotes from a range of top insurers, so compare with us now and get a quote today.

*Please note that Savvy does not represent Medibank for its insurance products.

More about Medibank travel insurance

What travel insurance policies does medibank offer.

Medibank's travel insurance offers include:

• Domestic Travel Insurance: Medibank’s version of a domestic travel insurance policy offers coverage for cancellation of flights, missing or stolen luggage and any accidents resulting in you being found personally liable. There’s also some coverage for COVID-19-related costs and the excess on a hire car.
• International Medical Only: this stripped-back medical-only policy covers you for the bare necessities such as overseas health treatment and personal liability, but you’ll need to pay extra if you want to be covered for flight cancellations or delays.
• International Comprehensive: Medibank’s top-of-the-line policy not only covers you for overseas medical and dental emergencies but also includes coverage for your valuables such as cameras, phones and computers and unforeseen cancellations.
• Annual Multi-Trip: designed for the frequent traveller, this annual travel insurance policy allows you to make multiple international and domestic trips over 12 months and be covered by one policy. One condition of coverage is that you must be more than 250km from home while you’re on holiday.

Before you head out on that long-awaited holiday, however, it’s important to compare travel insurance prices with Savvy to ensure you're getting the best deal possible. It’s crucial to know what your travel insurance policy covers before deciding on which is best for you.

What optional extras are available through Medibank?

Riding a motorbike or taking a cruise while on holiday may not be covered by your standard travel insurance policy or may incur an additional premium from your provider. Medibank, like many other providers, provides a selection of optional extras, such as:

• Winter sports cover: whether you’re taking a trip to some of Australia’s most popular ski resorts or taking your board or sled to New Zealand to carve up the slopes, Medibank offers optional coverage for skiing, snowboarding or sledding.
• Motorcycle cover: like most providers, Medibank offers coverage for motorcycle or moped riders and their passengers if you plan to explore your destination on two wheels.
• Extra luggage limits: if you're taking valuables, whether they be false teeth, a laptop or a drone, on your holiday, Medibank allows you to pay a little bit extra to increase the claimable limit if they become lost, stolen or damaged.
• Cruise cover: Medibank offers a standalone cruise policy which covers you for on-board medical and dental treatment, seasickness, cabin confinement and missed port and shore excursions, whether you’re setting sail for a trip to Bali or cruising through Australian waters.

What exclusions should I be aware of when buying travel insurance through Medibank?

Although most travel mishaps are covered by insurance, most Australian insurers have standard exclusions they do not pay for. It's common knowledge that they'll be described in detail in the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). Some of the general exclusions on Medibank's coverage include:

• Claims resulting from travel on a privately-chartered aircraft
• If you’re injured or suffer a loss due to war or a revolution at your destination
• Radioactive contamination caused by nuclear waste
• Loss or damages caused by detention or confiscation
• Claims resulting from you breaking the law
• Claims of loss of enjoyment

If you've done your research and found a policy that interests you, you should review the PDS from the provider before making any decisions.

What we think of Medibank's travel insurance

What we like, generous personal liability.

Medibank’s travel insurance policies offer generous limits on personal liability claims of up to $5 million, which is high compared to other providers.

COVID-19 coverage

Medibank offers cover for COVID-19-related costs , including cancelling your trip due to COVID-19 and any overseas medical costs you incur if you test positive.

Discounts for Medibank Private members

Existing Medibank and ahm health insurance customers get a discount of 15% off their travel insurance, perhaps making the policy cheaper than some of their competitors.

What we don't like

Limited pregnancy cover.

In order to be completely insured if you’re pregnant, you’ll need to pass a health evaluation and coverage is only guaranteed up to the 26th week of your pregnancy.  

Age limit  

Medibank restricts insurance to persons younger than 84 years old, in contrast to certain other providers which have no such age restriction. 

Modest pre-existing coverage

If you suffer from a heart condition, cardiovascular disease or certain types of diabetes, you will need to undergo a medical assessment and have cover for your pre-existing medical condition approved by Medibank.

Types of travel insurance

International.

International travel insurance can offer cover for a range of events, including medical expenses, lost luggage or items, cancellation fees and more when you're overseas and a long way from home.

If you're journeying within Australia, domestic policies are designed to offer many of the same protections as international travel insurance (with the exception of medical expenses).

Single trip

The most standard and common type of travel insurance, this policy can cover you for one trip starting and ending in Australia (and is available for both international and domestic travel).

Annual multi-trip

As the name suggests, this type of travel insurance covers multiple trips over a 12-month period. Depending on your insurer, you may be able to take an unlimited number of trips up to 90 days each.

You don't have to have a return ticket booked to take out cover while you're overseas. One-way travel insurance enables you to access cover without a set end date, such as if you're moving temporarily.

You may need to take out specialist coverage if you're setting sail on a cruise. Fortunately, cruise insurance can cover emergency evacuation, cabin confinement and more.

Just because you're older doesn't mean travel insurance isn't still important. If you qualify for cover, seniors' travel insurance can offer greater peace of mind for included events while you're travelling.

Adding winter sports or ski cover to your policy can add protection against damage to your equipment, piste closure due to bad weather and activities such as back-country skiing, heliskiing and more.

Adventure sports

Looking to enjoy some adventure sports on holiday? An adventure sports pack can grant you cover for a range of activities, such as hiking, scuba diving and motorcycle or scooter riding.

Jetsetting with the whole clan in tow? Some insurers offer family travel insurance, which enables you to include yourself, your partner and your dependent children under one policy to help you save.

If you're travelling interstate or overseas with your partner (or simply another friend or family member), you may be able to access a discount by taking out a joint or duo travel insurance policy.

Why compare travel insurance with Savvy?

Reputable insurance partners, fast and convenient online process.

You can complete the quote, comparison and purchase process online through Savvy quickly and easily.

Competitive quote costs

Regardless of the type of insurance you’re looking for, we can help you compare between competitive quotes.

Frequently asked questions about Medibank Travel Insurance

Medibank gives you two options for filing a claim: online or through the mail. If you’re filing a claim through their website, Medibank requires you to tell them a bit about the incident you’re looking to claim for and upload any scanned receipts and supporting documents to back up your claim. Medibank also requires you to lodge your claim within 60 days of your return home and you must report any losses, whether it be cash or luggage, within seven days of the incident.

Up to 26 weeks of pregnancy, you are covered by most Medibank travel insurance policies. Hyperemesis, gestational diabetes, and other pregnancy-related disorders are not covered by Medibank if they were diagnosed after you purchased the coverage.

If you're planning a trip and want to relax, buying travel insurance is a necessity. There is no one, all-encompassing answer to the question of how much travel insurance costs since so many variables come into play. Some of these will include:

• Your chosen destination
• The level of coverage you buy
• Any optional extras you need
• Pre-existing medical conditions you need to disclose
• The policy excess you choose
• The type of insurer and insurance policy you buy

The difference between multi-trip travel insurance and a single-trip policy is the number of journeys you can take in a year (usually allowing between 45 and 90 travel days for each trip). If you haven’t yet bought a return ticket, a one-way travel insurance policy protects you for just one leg of the journey for up to 12 months, which you may be able to extend by an extra 12 months.

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Personal Finance

Best travel insurance for seniors for 2024.

Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created independently from TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it.

Older people are among the country’s most frequent travelers. According to Squaremouth , an online travel insurance marketplace, age 60 and above is the most active age group for travel, with a nearly 37% share. 

If you’re a senior—and whether you’re planning the trip of a lifetime or a short getaway—you may want to consider travel insurance. Travel is costly and can be complex. New concerns, such as COVID-19, add to traditional concerns, such as losing your luggage or having a problem with a tour provider. An insurance policy can protect your travel investment and ensure you have the coverage you need when far from home.

Travel insurance for seniors can be much more expensive than for younger travelers. A quote from Nationwide was 161% more expensive for a pair of 65-year-olds than for a pair of 30-year-olds. A quote from Seven Corners was 212% more expensive for the older couple! So you do owe it to yourself to shop around and make sure the policy you choose offers the coverages you need at a price that works for your travel budget.

Compare the best travel insurance for seniors

Our recommendations for the best travel insurance companies for seniors, best for spontaneous travel: aig travel guard.

AIG Travel Guard

Pros & cons:.

• Pack N’ Go plan helps spontaneous travelers save money.
• Amount of medical coverage is on the lower end.

One of the great things about retirement is the ability to get up and go when you please. If spontaneous travel is your thing, AIG Travel Guard could be a great choice. Its Pack N’ Go plan helps you save money off the company’s already competitive pricing by eliminating trip cancellation coverage. 

Best for annual plans: Allianz

Allianz Travel Insurance

• Wide variety of travel insurance plans, including annual plans.
• Coverage for pre-existing conditions is included with all plans.
• Medical coverage is lower than that offered by other providers.
• Baggage coverage is lower than that offered by other providers.

If you travel a lot, you might consider purchasing an annual travel insurance plan. This provides coverage for all your travels in a 12-month period. And a great company to check with would be Allianz, which offers four levels of annual plans (in addition to five single-trip plans). With so many plan choices, you can likely find a policy that works for your coverage needs and budget.  

Best for cruises: Berkshire Hathaway

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance

• Available travel insurance plan with cruise-specific coverages.
• Medical coverage is lower than that offered by other providers in our review.

If you’re planning to take a cruise, you’re not alone. The cruise industry is booming . Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance offers a cruise package that accounts for the financial risk of booking a cruise, including coverage for missed connections, cruise disablement, and cruise diversion. The plan also includes medical coverage and emergency evacuation coverage at higher levels than what is available with the company’s most economical travel insurance plan.  

Best for medical coverage: Generali

Generali Travel Insurance

• Up to $250,000 of medical expense coverage is available.
• Medical evacuation coverage is among the highest.
• Coverage for pre-existing conditions not available with its most economical plan.

If you’re traveling internationally, you’ll want to pay close attention to your travel insurance medical coverage. The fact is, U.S. private health insurance does not typically provide coverage outside of the country and neither does Medicare. So if you become ill or get injured while traveling, you’ll need to rely on your travel insurance to cover the costs of any medical care. 

Generali ’s most economical plan provides a generous $50,000 worth of medical coverage. This can be bumped up to $150,000 by choosing its mid-range plan or $250,000 with its top plan. The company also provides $250,000 of coverage for medical evacuation, which is among the highest levels of coverage in the plans we reviewed. 

Best for budget travel: Nationwide

Nationwide Travel Insurance

• Lowest cost plan in our review.
• High level of medical coverage.
• Cancel-for-any-reason (CFAR) coverage is only available with its most expensive plan.

ons is included with all plans.

Nationwide is another company that offers multiple plan options (including annual), ensuring you find the coverage you need at a price that works for your budget. The company was also the lowest-cost provider in our review, making it a good choice for budget travel. 

And with Nationwide, low cost doesn’t mean less coverage. Its $75,000 of medical coverage and $250,000 of medical evacuation coverage are on the high side.  

Best for cancel-for-any-reason coverage: Seven Corners

Seven Corners

• Optional CFAR coverage reimburses up to 75% of prepaid expenses.
• Medical coverage available with the most economical plan is the highest of any in our review.
• Coverage for pre-existing conditions is available only with more expensive plans.
• Most expensive plan in our review.

COVID-19 remains a concern for many seniors. Most plans’ standard trip cancellation coverage doesn’t pay if you decide to cancel because COVID has flared up at your destination. For that kind of flexibility, you need cancel-for-any-reason (CFAR) coverage. CFAR can be added to Seven Corners ’s most economical plan for an extra fee ($204 in our quote). It provides reimbursement of up to 75% of your non-refundable, prepaid expenses if you decide to cancel because of concerns about COVID or any other reason not covered by your trip cancellation coverage.  

Best for car damage insurance: John Hancock

Travelex Travel Insurance

• $50,000 car rental coverage available with all plans
• Optional cancel-for-any-reason coverage available with all plans for 50% of the plan cost
• John Hancock’s plan is one of the more expensive in our review

If your international trip includes driving, you’ll want to be sure you have coverage in case something happens to your rental car. While your personal car insurance policy may include coverage for driving a rental in the U.S. and Canada, it likely provides no coverage in other countries. (Be sure to talk to your agent or car insurance company before you travel to understand what your policy does and doesn’t cover.) 

Most of the companies in our review offer optional rental car coverage; this includes John Hancock . Its generous $50,000 of coverage is available with even its cheapest travel plan, at an affordable $9 per day. That can help cover the cost of any damage that occurs while you’re out exploring.

Best for traveling with children: Travelex

• Children can be covered for no additional cost with the Travelex Select plan.
• Can upgrade to include car rental coverage.
• Coverage for pre-existing conditions is not available with its most economical plan.

What better way to spoil your grandchildren than to take them on vacation? If you’re traveling with minor children, consider Travelex for your insurance needs. The Travelex Select plan includes free coverage for children under age 17, provided their costs do not exceed those of the adults on the policy.  

Methodology

We reviewed plans from several leading travel insurance companies, relying on information gathered from company websites. Our review focused on trip coverages, medical expense coverages, and baggage coverages. We also noted which companies offered options such as coverage for pre-existing conditions and cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage. Be sure to check your policy to confirm which coverages and features are available with your plan.

Our cost information is based on quotes for each company’s lowest-cost policy. We quoted two 65-year-old travelers for a five-day trip to Hawaii in December 2023 valued at $8,000. These costs are provided for comparison purposes only. Your travel insurance costs will vary based on factors such as your number of covered travelers, destination, plan choice, and optional coverages.  

How to choose the best travel insurance for seniors

Choosing travel insurance as a senior means paying attention to many of the same features and benefits as any other shopper. However, there may be some aspects of a policy that you’ll want to pay particular attention to, depending on your needs. Always be sure to review your policy documents carefully to understand what your policy does and doesn’t cover.

Here is a rundown of the main features of a travel insurance policy:

Trip coverages

The standard trip coverages are trip cancellation and trip interruption. These help reimburse your costs if you have to cancel or cut short your trip due to an illness, accident, or other reason outlined in the policy. These coverages typically apply if a family member becomes ill, prompting you to cancel or cut short your trip—but check how “family” is defined, if you’re worried about a cousin or someone else not in your immediate family.

Note that these coverages typically do apply if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 prior to departure. For example, a policy would likely pay a claim you file if you need to cancel your trip because you contract COVID-19 two days before leaving home. However, these coverages typically do not apply if there’s a sudden outbreak of COVID-19 (or any other illness) at your destination, and you decide not to travel. For that situation, you’d want to add cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage. CFAR, as the label implies, provides reimbursement regardless of why you cancel your plans. 

Medical coverages

Travel insurance policies typically include emergency medical expenses and medical evacuation coverages. These reimburse your medical costs if you’re injured or become ill while traveling. Some travel insurance plans may deny claims if your injury happens as a result of an adventure sport or other risky activity. However, if you know you’re going to engage in one of these activities, you may be able to add this coverage as an option. 

You may want to check if your policy offers a waiver for pre-existing medical conditions. This means that if you file a medical claim, the insurance company cannot examine your medical history to determine if that claim should be covered. Without this waiver, the company could deny a claim for a medical emergency related to a chronic condition. 

Finally, keep in mind that private health insurance typically doesn’t provide coverage outside of the U.S. Public health insurance, such as Medicare and Medicaid, doesn’t provide international coverage either. It’s one more reason to make sure your travel insurance policy medical coverage is as robust as possible.

Baggage coverages

Having your luggage lost or stolen is a common frustration among travelers. With baggage coverage, you’ll be reimbursed if your luggage is lost, stolen, or delayed in transit. Most of the plans we reviewed provide several hundred dollars of coverage, which should help you pay to replace clothing and personal items so you can continue your travels comfortably.  

Optional coverages

Depending on your needs, you may want to consider other optional coverages. 

One such option is rental car coverage, which is offered by each of the providers in our review. Rental car coverage can be a much less costly option than choosing the collision and loss damage waiver offered by the rental car agent. And note that while the comprehensive and collision coverage on a personal car insurance policy often extend to rentals in the U.S., they do not extend to cars rented in other countries.  

How to get international travel insurance for seniors

Travel insurance is easy to shop for and buy. All of the companies in our review offer online quotes that you can receive in just minutes. The information you need to key in to get a quote is simple: The age of everyone in your party, where you live, your travel destination and dates, and the cost of your trip. 

You can also consider using services such as Travelinsurance.com or Squaremouth . These act as online insurance brokers that provide quotes from multiple insurance companies. You only need to key in your information once to get a wide range of plans and prices.   

What factors determine the cost of travel insurance for seniors?

Your travel insurance cost can be affected by several features. These include:

• Number of travelers in your party.
• Traveler age.
• Destination.
• Cost of trip.
•  Plan and optional coverage selections.

As with any type of insurance, you owe it to yourself to shop around. Note that there is a $198 difference between the most and least expensive plans in our review. Just make sure that you’re getting the coverage you need for your travels. 

TIME Stamp: Consider buying insurance if you have travel plans

Many seniors love to travel. If you’re of that age and have travel plans, consider travel insurance. A policy provides financial protection in the event you have to cancel your trip and provides important medical coverage wherever your travels take you. Bon voyage! 

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How can seniors save on travel insurance.

To save on travel insurance (at any age), shop around. You’ll find that plans vary in cost among providers. 

You should also see if your credit card offers any travel insurance benefits, such as car rental insurance . You may find that your card provides coverage for the entire cost of your trip, or that you can supplement it with a basic plan from one of the insurers in our review.  

What travel insurance is best for seniors?

The best travel insurance for a senior depends on the traveler’s coverage needs and budget. Each of the providers in our review offers multiple plans at different prices. They also offer options to customize coverage. 

Should seniors buy travel insurance?

Seniors should strongly consider buying travel insurance before leaving home. Even the most intrepid senior traveler has heightened concerns that younger travelers may not share, such as the need for medical coverage and medical evacuation coverage, or coverage that can apply if a destination experiences a flare-up of COVID-19 or other infectious disease. 

Can a 70-year-old get travel insurance?

Yes. Many travel insurance companies offer plans for those 70 and older.

The information presented here is created independently from the TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About page.

Compare Travel Insurance

Medibank Travel Insurance has been helping protect Aussie travellers for over 10 years.

Plus, if you’re a Medibank or ahm health member you’ll save 15%

Choose from our range of travel cover options

Simply decide what you want to have cover for, select your inclusions, and enjoy a relaxing trip knowing you’re prepared for the unexpected.

International Comprehensive

Cover for medical and dental emergencies, plus inclusions for unforeseen cancellations and valuables like laptops and cameras.

• 24-hour emergency assistance
• Choice of policy excess levels
• Cover for children 1
• 21 day cooling off period 2
• Cover for some existing medical conditions 3

International Medical only

Cover for medical and dental emergencies while you’re overseas.

Domestic Travel Insurance

Cover for cancellations, amendments and delays, plus up to $5,000 towards any rental car insurance excess for rental car damage or theft.

Multi-award winning travel insurance

We're proud to be winners of Mozo's Experts Choice awards in 2022 & 2023 and Canstar's 2023 Most Satisfied Customer - Travel Insurance award.

COVID-19 Travel Insurance Benefits and inclusions

Whether you're planning a trip within Australia, or heading overseas, our COVID-19 travel insurance benefits can help you relax and enjoy your much needed break. 

More than one trip a year?

A Medibank Annual Multi-Trip policy is great if you’re away from home a lot. It gives you comprehensive cover for every international trip you take within a year, up to the duration you’ve selected.

24/7 emergency assistance

Our team of experienced doctors, nurses, travel consultants and case managers are here for you, 24/7.

If you need help finding appropriate medical treatment or you need to be medically evacuated, replacing lost travel documents or credit cards, our emergency assist team will help you out.

If you need emergency assistance please call +61 2 8907 5672

All Medibank Travel Insurance policies include

Australian based team to help with medical emergencies, lost or stolen baggage around the clock.

Choice of policy excess level

Lower the cost of your policy by selecting the excess level you wish to pay when making a claim.

Free cover for children

Cover for accompanying children or grandchildren under 21¹

Inclusions and annual limits

See table below for a list of inclusions and annual limits across our available travel insurance policies.

21 day cooling off period:  Receive a full refund if you change your mind within 21 days of the date of purchase, as long as you’ve not yet made a claim or departed on your journey. 

Planning bigger adventures?

Medibank Travel Insurance lets you add cover for additional scenarios. So if you're hitting the slopes or cruising the open road, we'll have your back.

Extra luggage limits

Increased cover for luggage and personal items of value.

Add winter sports

Cover for activities like skiing, snowboarding or sledding.

Add Cruise Cover

Cruise Cover is mandatory if you're travelling on a multi-night sea or ocean cruise. 9

Add Motorcycle/Moped

Cover for motorcycle or moped riders or passengers. 10

Things you should know

1  Cover is included for your children or grandchildren identified on the Certificate of Insurance and travelling with you on your Journey is included in the policy provided they are not in full time employment, are financially dependent on you, and they are under 21 years of age.

2  21 day cooling off period applies if you cancel your policy within 21 days of purchase provided you have not made a claim or travelled on the policy. 

3  Automatic cover for a limited number of pre-existing conditions outlined in the  Combined FSG/PDS . All other pre-existing conditions need to be disclosed at the time of application. Cover is not guaranteed and subject to a medical assessment.

4  Item limits apply. See the  Combined FSG/PDS  for more information.

5  Maximum liability collectively for sections Loss of Income, Personal Liability and Accidental Death is $10,000 on the Domestic Plan and $25,000 on the International Comprehensive Plan. 

6  Medical cover will not exceed 12 months from the onset of the illness or injury. Medical evacuation cover subject to claim approval.

7   Limits apply. See the  Combined FSG/PDS  for more information.  Limits will be shown on the Certificate of Insurance.

8  Conditions apply to cancellation cover. Only applies to the International Comprehensive and Domestic policies. 

9  You must take out an International Plan and add Cruise Cover if you’re travelling on a domestic or international multi-night ocean or sea cruise to have any cover for the benefits under the policy (unless that cruise is entirely within Australian costal waters in which case a Domestic Plan may be purchased and no Cruise Cover variation is required). 

10  Conditions and exclusions apply, please read the  Combined FSG/PDS  for more detail.

Limits, sub-limits, exclusions and conditions apply. This is general advice only. Medibank Private Limited, ABN 47 080 890 259, an Authorised Representative, AR 286089, of Travel Insurance Partners Pty Limited, ABN 73 144 049 230 AFSL 360138 arranges the insurance on behalf of the insurer. The insurer is Zurich Australian Insurance Limited ABN 13 000 296 640, AFSL 232507. Please consider your own needs and the  Combined FSG/PDS  to decide if this product is right for you. For information on the Target Market and  Target Market Determinations , visit  medibank.com.au/travel-insurance/help/

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COVID-19 Health Assist - Expression of interest

Complete this form to express your interest in one of our programs. If you're eligible, a member of our team will call you within 2-3 business days.

What program are you interested in?

Sorry, only members with current Hospital cover are eligible to participate in these programs

Eligible Medibank members with Extras cover are able to access a range of telehealth services included on their cover - you can find out more here . Alternatively, if you would like to talk to one of our team about your cover, we're here on 132 331 .

Your membership details

Please provide your details so we can know how to contact you.

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By clicking Submit, I understand that Medibank or its subsidiaries may contact me to discuss my eligibility for the Covid-19 Heath Assist program(s), and will disclose my personal information within the Medibank Group of companies and to third party service providers. Please see Medibank’s privacy policy for further information about how Medibank will handle my personal information, and how to contact Medibank: https://www.medibank.com.au/privacy/

Thank you for expressing your interest in one of our COVID-19 Health Assist programs.

If you are eligible, one of our health professionals will call you in 2-3 business days to discuss your situation and help to enrol you in the relevant program.

There is no cost to participate, however some referred services may incur an out of pocket cost.

Key benefits of travel medical insurance

• Travel medical insurance coverage
• Who needs medical travel insurance?

Choosing the right travel medical insurance

How to use travel medical insurance, is travel medical insurance right for your next trip, travel medical insurance: essential coverage for health and safety abroad.

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

• Travel medical insurance covers unexpected emergency medical expenses while traveling.
• Travelers off to foreign countries or remote areas should strongly consider travel medical insurance.
• If you have to use your travel medical insurance, keep all documents related to your treatment.

Of all the delights associated with travel to far-flung locales, getting sick or injured while away from home is low on the savvy traveler's list. Beyond gut-wrenching anxiety, seeking medical treatment in a foreign country can be exceedingly inconvenient and expensive.

The peace of mind that comes with travel insurance for the many things that could ail you while abroad is priceless. As options for travel-related insurance abound, it's essential to research, read the fine print, and act according to the specifics of your itinerary, pocketbook, and other needs.

Travel insurance reimburses you for any unexpected medical expenses incurred while traveling. On domestic trips, travel medical insurance usually take a backseat to your health insurance. However, when traveling to a foreign country, where your primary health insurance can't cover you, travel medical insurance takes the wheel. This can be especially helpful in countries with high medical care costs, such as Scandinavian countries.

Emergency medical evacuation insurance

Another benefit that often comes with travel medical insurance, emergency medical evacuation insurance covers you for any costs to transport you to an adequately equipped medical center. Emergency medical evacuation insurance is often paired with repatriation insurance, which covers costs associated with returning your remains to your home country if the worst happens. 

These benefits are for worst-case scenarios, but they might be more necessary depending on the type of trips you take. Emergency medical evacuation insurance is helpful if you're planning on traveling to a remote location or if you're traveling on a cruise as sea to land evacuations can be costly. Some of the best travel insurance companies also offer non-medical evacuations as part of an adventure sports insurance package.

It's also worth mentioning that emergency medical evacuation insurance is required for international students studying in the US on a J Visa. 

Types of coverage offered by travel medical insurance

The exact terms of your coverage will vary depending on your insurer, but you can expect most travel medical insurance policies to offer the following coverages.

• Hospital room and board
• Inpatient/outpatient hospital services
• Prescription Drugs
• COVID-19 treatment
• Emergency room services
• Urgent care visits
• Local ambulance
• Acute onset of pre-existing conditions
• Dental coverage (accident/sudden relief of pain)
• Medical care due to terrorist attack
• Emergency medical evacuation 
• Repatriation of mortal remains
• Accidental death and dismemberment

Travel medical insurance and pre-existing conditions

Many travel insurance providers will cover pre-existing conditions as long as certain conditions are met. For one, travelers need to purchase their travel insurance within a certain time frame from when they placed a deposit on their trip, usually two to three weeks. 

Additionally, travel insurance companies usually only cover stable medical conditions, which are conditions that don't need additional medical treatment, diagnosis, or medications.

Who needs travel medical insurance?

Even the best-laid travel plans can go awry. As such, it pays to consider your potential healthcare needs before taking off, even if you are generally healthy. Even if well-managed, preexisting conditions like diabetes or asthma can make a medical backup plan even more vital.

Having what you need to refill prescriptions or get other care if you get stuck somewhere other than home could be essential to your health and well-being. That's without counting all the accidents and illnesses that can hit us when away from home.

Individuals traveling for extended periods (more than six months) or engaging in high-risk activities (think scuba diving or parasailing) should also consider a solid medical travel plan. Both scenarios increase the likelihood that medical attention, whether routine or emergency, could be needed.

In the case of travel via the friendly seas, it's also worth considering cruise trip medical travel insurance . Routine care will be available onboard. But anything beyond that will require transportation to the nearest land mass (and could quickly become extremely expensive, especially if you're in another country).

Like other types of insurance, medical travel insurance rates are calculated based on various factors. Failing to disclose a preexisting health condition could result in a lapse of coverage right when you need it, as insurers can cancel your policy if you withhold material information. So honesty is always the best policy.

Even the best-laid travel plans can go awry. As such, it pays to consider your potential healthcare needs before taking off, even if you are generally healthy. Making the right choice when shopping for travel medical insurance can mean the difference between a minor hiccup in your travels and a financial nightmare. 

When a travel insurance company comes up with a quote for your policy, they take a few factors into consideration, such as your age, your destination, and the duration of your trip. You should do the same when assessing a travel insurance company. 

For example, older travelers who are more susceptible to injury may benefit from travel medical insurance (though your premiums will be higher). If you're traveling for extended periods throughout one calendar year, you should look into an annual travel medical insurance plan . If you're engaging in high-risk activities (think scuba diving or parasailing), you should seek a plan that includes coverage for injuries sustained in adventure sports.

Travel medical insurance isn't just for peace of mind. If you travel often enough, there's a good chance you'll eventually experience an incident where medical treatment is necessary.

Before you submit your claim, you should take some time to understand your policy. Your travel medical insurance is either primary (you can submit claims directly to your travel medical insurance provider) or secondary (you must first submit claims to your primary insurance provider). In the case of secondary travel medical insurance, a refusal notice from your primary insurance provider, even if it does not cover medical claims outside the US, is often required as evidence of protocol.

On that note, you should be sure to document every step of your medical treatment. You should keep any receipts for filled prescriptions, hospital bills, and anything else documenting your medical emergency.

As many people have found out the hard way, reading the fine print is vital. Most travel insurance policies will reimburse your prepaid, nonrefundable expenses if you fall ill with a severe condition, including illnesses like COVID-19. 

Still on the fence about whether or not medical travel insurance is worth it ? It's worth noting that many travel insurance plans also include medical protections, so you can also protect against trip cancellations and other unexpected developments while obtaining travel medical insurance.

While short, domestic trips may not warrant travel medical insurance, it may be a good idea to insure longer, international trips. You should also consider travel medical insurance for trips to remote areas, where a medical evacuation may be expensive, and more physically tasking trips.

While shopping for travel medical insurance may not be fun, a little advance leg work can let you relax on your trip and give you peace of mind. After all, that is the point of a vacation. 

Medical travel insurance frequently asked questions

Trip insurance covers any unexpected financial losses while traveling, such as the cost of replacing lost luggage, trip interruptions, and unexpected medical expenses. Travel medical insurance just covers those medical expenses without the trip interruption or cancellation insurance.

Travel insurance companies usually offer adventure sports as add-on coverage or a separate plan entirely. You'll likely pay more for a policy with adventure sports coverage. 

Many travel medical insurance policies now include coverage for COVID-19 related medical expenses and treat it like any other illness. However, you should double-check your policy to ensure that is the case.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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Travel Insurance

Cheapest travel insurance of April 2024

Mandy Sleight

Heidi Gollub

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 9:52 a.m. UTC April 11, 2024

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WorldTrips is the best cheap travel insurance company of 2024 based on our in-depth analysis of the cheapest travel insurance plans. Its Atlas Journey Preferred and Atlas Journey Premier plans offer affordable travel insurance with high limits for emergency medical and evacuation benefits bundled with good coverage for trip delays, travel inconvenience and missed connections.

Cheapest travel insurance of 2024

Why trust our travel insurance experts

Our team of travel insurance experts analyzes hundreds of insurance products and thousands of data points to help you find the best travel insurance for your next trip. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content . You can read more about our methodology below.

• 1,855 coverage details evaluated.
• 567 rates reviewed.
• 5 levels of fact-checking.

Best cheap travel insurance

Top-scoring plans

Average cost, medical limit per person, medical evacuation limit per person, why it’s the best.

WorldTrips tops our rating of the cheapest travel insurance with two plans:

• Atlas Journey Preferred is the cheaper travel insurance plan of the two, with $100,000 per person in emergency medical benefits as secondary coverage and an optional upgrade to primary coverage. It’s also our pick for the best travel insurance for cruises .
• Atlas Journey Premier costs a little more but gives you $150,000 in travel medical insurance with primary coverage . This is a good option if health insurance for international travel is a priority.

Pros and cons

• Atlas Journey Preferred is the cheapest of our 5-star travel insurance plans.
• Atlas Journey Premier offers $150,000 in primary medical coverage.
• Both plans have top-notch $1 million per person in medical evacuation coverage.
• Each plan offers travel inconvenience coverage of $750 per person.
• 12 optional upgrades, including destination wedding and rental car damage and theft.
• No non-medical evacuation coverage.

Cheap travel insurance for cruises

Travel insured.

Top-scoring plan

Travel Insured offers cheap travel insurance for cruises and its Worldwide Trip Protector plan gets 4 stars in our rating of the best cruise travel insurance .

• Worldwide Trip Protector offers $1 million in emergency evacuation coverage per person and a rare $150,000 in non-medical evacuation per person. It also has primary coverage for travel medical insurance benefits, which means you won’t have to file medical claims with your health insurance first.
• Cheap trip insurance for cruises.
• Offers a rare $150,000 for non-medical evacuation.
• $500 per person baggage delay benefit only requires a 3-hour delay.
• Optional rental car damage benefit up to $50,000.
• Missed connection benefit of $500 per person only available for cruises and tours.

Best cheap travel insurance for families

Travelex has the best cheap travel insurance for families because kids age 17 are covered by your policy for free when they’re traveling with you.

• Free coverage for children 17 and under on the same policy.
• $2,000 travel delay coverage per person ($250 per day) after 5 hours.
• Hurricane and weather coverage after a common carrier delay of any amount of time.
• Only $50,000 per person emergency medical coverage.
• Baggage delay coverage is only $200 and requires a 12-hour delay.

Best cheap travel insurance for seniors

Evacuation limit per person

Nationwide has the best cheap travel insurance for seniors — its Prime plan gets 4 stars in our best senior travel insurance rating. However, Nationwide’s Cruise Choice plan ranks higher in our best cheap travel insurance rating.

• Cruise Choice has a $500 per person benefit if a cruise itinerary change causes you to miss a prepaid excursion. It also has a missed connections benefit of $1,500 per person after only a 3-hour delay, for cruises or tours. But note that this coverage is secondary coverage to any compensation provided by a common carrier.
• Coverage for cruise itinerary changes, ship-based mechanical breakdowns and covered shipboard service disruptions.
• Non-medical evacuation benefit of $25,000 per person.
• Baggage loss benefits of $2,500 per person.
• Travel medical coverage is secondary.
• Trip cancellation benefit for losing your job requires three years of continuous employment.
• No “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) upgrade available.
• Missed connection coverage of $1,500 per person is only for tours and cruises, after a 3-hour delay.

Best cheap travel insurance for add-on options

AIG offers the best cheap travel insurance for add-on options because the Travel Guard Preferred plan allows you to customize your policy with a host of optional upgrades.

• Travel Guard Preferred upgrades include “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage , rental vehicle damage coverage and bundles that offer additional benefits for adventure sports, travel inconvenience, quarantine, pets, security and weddings. There’s also a medical bundle that increases the travel medical benefit to $100,000 and emergency evacuation to $1 million.
• Bundle upgrades allow you to customize your affordable travel insurance policy.
• Emergency medical and evacuation limits can be doubled with optional upgrade.
• Base travel insurance policy has relatively low medical limits.
• $300 baggage delay benefit requires a 12-hour delay.
• Optional CFAR upgrade only reimburses up to 50% of trip cost.

Best cheap travel insurance for missed connections

TravelSafe has the best cheap travel insurance for missed connections because coverage is not limited to cruises and tours, as it is with many policies.

• Best-in-class $2,500 per person in missed connection coverage.
• $1 million per person in medical evacuation and $25,000 in non-medical evacuation coverage.
• Generous $2,500 per person baggage and personal items loss benefit.
• Most expensive of the best cheap travel insurance plans.
• No “interruption for any reason” coverage available.
• Weak baggage delay coverage of $250 per person after 12 hours.

Cheapest travel insurance comparison

How much does the cheapest travel insurance cost?

The cheapest travel insurance in our rating is $334. This is for a WorldTrips Atlas Journey Preferred travel insurance plan, based on the average of seven quotes for travelers of various ages to international destinations with a range of trip values.  

Factors that determine travel insurance cost

There are several factors that determine the cost of travel insurance, including:

• Age and number of travelers being insured.
• Trip length.
• Total trip cost.
• The travel insurance plan you choose.
• The travel insurance company.
• Any add-ons, features or upgraded benefits you include in the travel insurance plan.

Expert tip: “In general, travelers can expect to pay anywhere from 4% to 10% of their total prepaid, non-refundable trip costs,” said Suzanne Morrow, CEO of InsureMyTrip.

Is buying the cheapest travel insurance a good idea?

Choosing cheaper travel insurance without paying attention to what a plan covers and excludes could leave you underinsured for your trip. Comparing travel insurance plans side-by-side can help ensure you get enough coverage to protect yourself financially in an emergency for the best price. 

For example, compare these two Travelex travel insurance plans:

• Travel Basic is cheaper but it only provides up to $15,000 for emergency medical expense coverage. You’ll also have to pay extra for coverage for children.
• Travel Select will cost you a bit more but it covers up to $50,000 in medical expenses and includes coverage for kids aged 17 and younger traveling with you. It also offers upgrades such additional medical coverage, “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage and an adventure sports rider that may be a good fit for your trip.

Reasons to consider paying more for travel insurance 

Make sure you understand what you’re giving up if you buy the cheapest travel insurance. Here are a few reasons you may consider paying a little extra for better coverage. 

• Emergency medical. The best travel medical insurance offers primary coverage for emergency medical benefits. Travel insurance with primary coverage can cost more than secondary coverage but will save you from having to file a claim with your health insurance company before filing a travel insurance claim.
• Emergency evacuation. If you’re traveling to a remote location or planning a boat excursion on your trip, look at travel insurance with a high medical evacuation insurance limit. If you are injured while traveling, transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility could cost in the tens to hundreds of thousands. It may make sense to pay more for travel insurance with robust emergency evacuation coverage. 
• Flexibility. To maximize your trip flexibility, you might consider upgrading your travel insurance to “ cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage . This will increase the cost of your travel insurance but allow you to cancel your trip for any reason — not just those listed in your policy. The catch is that you’ll need to cancel at least 48 hours before your trip and will only be reimbursed 50% or 75% of your trip expenses, depending on the plan. 
• Upgrades. Many travel insurance plans have optional extras like car rental collision and adventure sports (which may otherwise be excluded from coverage). These will cost you extra but may give you the coverage you need. 

How to find the cheapest travel insurance

The best way to find the cheapest travel insurance is to determine what you’re looking for in a travel insurance policy and compare plans that meet your needs.

 “Travel insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every trip is different, and every traveler has different needs, wants and concerns. This is why comparison is key,” said Morrow.

Consider the following factors when comparing cheap travel insurance plans.

• How often you’re traveling. A single-trip policy may be the most cost-effective if you’re only going on a single trip this year. But a multi-trip travel insurance plan may be cheaper if you’re going on multiple international trips throughout the year. Annual travel insurance policies cover you for a whole year as long as each trip doesn’t exceed a certain number of days, usually 30 to 90 days. 
• Credit card has travel insurance benefits. The best credit cards offer perks and benefits, and many offer travel insurance-specific benefits. The coverage types and benefit limits can vary, and you must put the entire trip cost on the credit card to use the coverage. If your trip costs more than the coverage limit on your card, you can supplement the rest with a cheaper travel insurance plan.
• The coverage you need. When looking for the best travel insurance option at the most affordable price, only buy extras and upgrades you really need. A basic plan may only provide up to $500 in baggage insurance, but if you only plan to take $300 worth of clothes and accessories, you don’t need to pay more for higher coverage limits.

Is cheap travel insurance worth it?

Cheap travel insurance can be worth it, as long as you understand the plan limitations and exclusions. Taking the time to read your policy, especially the fine print, well before your trip can ensure there won’t be any surprises about what’s covered once your journey begins.

“If a traveler is looking for coverage for travel delays, cancellations, interruptions, medical and baggage — a comprehensive travel insurance policy will provide the most bang for their buck,” said Morrow. But if you’re on a tight budget and are only worried about emergency medical care and evacuation coverage while traveling abroad, stand-alone options are cheaper.

Before buying travel insurance, you should also consider what your health insurance will cover. 

“Most domestic health insurance plans, including Medicare, will not cover medical bills abroad,” said Morrow. Even if you’re staying stateside, you may find value in an affordable travel insurance plan with medical coverage if you have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). 

A cheap travel insurance plan is better than none at all if you end up in a situation that would have covered some or all of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses.

Methodology

Our insurance experts reviewed 1,855 coverage details and 567 rates to determine the best travel insurance . From those top-scoring travel insurance plans, we chose the most affordable for our rating of the cheapest travel insurance.

Insurers could score up to 100 points based on the following factors:

• Cost: 40 points. We scored the average cost of each travel insurance policy for a variety of trips and traveler profiles.
• Medical expenses: 10 points. We scored travel medical insurance by the coverage amount available. Travel insurance policies with emergency medical expense benefits of $250,000 or more per person were given the highest score of 10 points.
• Medical evacuation: 10 points. We scored each plan’s emergency medical evacuation coverage by coverage amount. Travel insurance policies with medical evacuation expense benefits of $500,000 or more per person were given the highest score of 10 points.
• Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver: 10 points. We gave full points to travel insurance policies that cover pre-existing medical conditions if certain conditions are met.
• Missed connection: 10 points. Travel insurance plans with missed connection benefits of $1,000 per person or more received full points.
• “Cancel for any reason” upgrade: 5 points. We gave points to travel insurance plans with optional “cancel for any reason” coverage that reimburses up to 75%.
• Travel delay required waiting time: 5 points. We gave 5 points to travel insurance policies with travel delay benefits that kick in after a delay of 6 hours or less.
• Cancel for work reasons: 5 points. If a travel insurance plan allows you to cancel your trip for work reasons, such as your boss requiring you to stay and work, we gave it 5 points.
• Hurricane and severe weather: 5 points. Travel insurance plans that have a required waiting period for hurricane and weather coverage of 12 hours or less received 5 points.

Some travel insurance companies may offer plans with additional benefits or lower prices than the plans that scored the highest, so make sure to compare travel insurance quotes to see your full range of options.

Cheapest travel insurance FAQs

When buying travel insurance, cheapest is not always the best. The most affordable travel insurance plans typically offer fewer coverages with lower policy limits and few or no optional upgrades. Add up your total nonrefundable trip costs and compare travel insurance plans and available features that cover your travel expenses. This strategy can help you find the cheapest travel insurance policy that best protects you from financial loss if an unforeseen circumstance arises.

Get the coverage you need: Best travel insurance of 2024

According to our analysis, WorldTrips , Travel Insured International and Travelex offer the best cheap travel insurance. Policy coverage types and limits can vary by each travel insurance provider, so the best way to get the cheapest travel insurance plan is to compare several policies and companies to find the right fit for your budget.

A good rate for travel insurance depends on your budget and coverage needs. The most comprehensive travel insurance plan is usually not the cheapest. But cheap trip insurance may not have enough coverage or the types of coverage you want. Comparing different levels of coverage and how much they cost can help you find the best cheap insurance for travel. 

The average cost of travel insurance is between 5% to 6% of your total travel expenses for one trip, according to our analysis of rates. However, you may find cheaper travel insurance if you opt for a plan with fewer benefits or lower coverage limits. How much you pay for travel insurance will also depend on the number of travelers covered, their ages, the length of the trip and any upgrades you add to your plan.

Travel insurance covers nonrefundable, prepaid trip costs — up to the policy coverage limits — when your trip is interrupted or canceled for a covered reason outlined in your plan documents. Even the cheapest travel insurance policies usually provide coverage for:

• Medical emergencies.
• Trip delays.
• Trip interruption.
• Trip cancellation.
• Lost, stolen or damaged luggage.

However, if you’re looking to save on travel insurance, you can shop for a policy that only has travel medical insurance and does not include benefits for trip cancellation .

Even when you buy cheap travel insurance, you can often use upgrade options to customize your policy to meet your specific needs. 

Some common travel insurance add-ons you may want to consider include:

• Rental car damage coverage. 
• Medical bundle.
• Security bundle.
• Accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
• Adventure sports bundle.
• Pet bundle.
• Wedding bundle.
• “Cancel for work reasons” coverage.
• “Interruption for any reason” (IFAR) coverage.
• “Cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage .

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Mandy is an insurance writer who has been creating online content since 2018. Before becoming a full-time freelance writer, Mandy spent 15 years working as an insurance agent. Her work has been published in Bankrate, MoneyGeek, The Insurance Bulletin, U.S. News and more.

Heidi Gollub is the USA TODAY Blueprint managing editor of insurance. She was previously lead editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor and led the insurance team at U.S. News & World Report as assistant managing editor of 360 Reviews. Heidi has an MBA from Emporia State University and is a licensed property and casualty insurance expert.

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