Over 65 travel insurance

If you’re over 65, you may find you have the freedom and opportunity to travel more than you did when you were younger. Unfortunately, your insurance needs and costs may go up too.

Data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) shows that the older people get, the higher the cost of any medical claim they make on holiday is likely to be. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get a good deal on travel insurance.

Specialist over 65s travel insurance is ideal if you can’t get the cover you need elsewhere. It can protect you worldwide if you need medical attention, even for pre-existing conditions.

You may also be able to add on extras such as cruise or golf cover. Policy costs vary based on factors including your health, the activities you want to do, your destination, and the length of your break.

Over 65s travel insurance is available to seniors over the age of 65 who might otherwise find it difficult to get the level of cover they need for their travels.

As you get older, the chances of you having a medical condition are higher than they might have been in your younger years. Because of this, many insurance providers have an upper age limit on the travel insurance they offer. Although you can certainly still find cover as a 65-year-old, not all options may be open to you.

Even if you’re fit and healthy, if you’re over 65 you may have to pay more for your travel insurance. This is especially true if you’re looking for travel insurance and are over 65 with medical conditions.

Holiday insurance for over 65s is offered by several mainstream as well as specialist insurance providers, such as Saga, who cater specifically for older customers. That means comparing quotes can be an effective way to search for cheap travel insurance for seniors.

There’s a wide range of optional extras that you can pay to add to your over 65s travel insurance policy, such as:

• Cruise cover – cruise travel insurance for over 65s will cover eventualities such as medical confinement to cabin or missing a scheduled port stop

• Golf cover- designed to insure your clubs and other gear against loss, damage or theft when golfing on your travels

• Sports and activities cover – you may be able to add on cover for any sports, activities or excursions not covered as standard

• Gadget cover – could provide the extra cover you might need for all your valuable tech, such as expensive cameras and mobile phones

• Travel connection delays – if your flight is delayed and causes you to miss a connecting flight, you could claim for compensation.

Here are some other factors you might need to think about when looking for over 65s travel insurance to get the best policy for you:

• Upper age limits – travel insurance policies can have age limits, so check that you’ll be covered at the time of travel when comparing travel insurance for over 65s.

• Medical cover limits –​​ make sure that your policy will cover you for a suitable amount for wherever you’re going and what you’ll be doing while there. Some countries (the USA and parts of the Caribbean, for example) have particularly high medical costs.

• Medical equipment – if you need to travel with medical equipment, you’ll need to make sure that it’s insured against damage, loss or theft. Replacing this equipment can be expensive and difficult while abroad, so this insurance makes it easier to manage.

• Exclusions – check exactly what's not covered by your policy. This is particularly important for medical conditions. You don’t want to find out too late that the thing you need protection for most isn’t actually covered.

• Bring your policy documents - take your policy documents with you on holiday. Having both digital and hard copies is best, in case your battery dies or you lose the paperwork.

• Insurance provider's contact details - keep the contact details for your insurance provider saved in your phone and noted down somewhere, too. You’ll need to report any incidents you’re claiming for within a certain period.

Your age shouldn’t limit you from travelling the world.

As with standard travel insurance, when you buy holiday insurance for over 65s, you’ll need to specify where you’re travelling to so your quote can reflect the risk involved. It shouldn’t prevent you from going where you want, but it might cost more to cover you for certain destinations.

Also, be aware that you won’t be covered if you visit a country or region that people are currently not advised to travel to by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

There are a number of things that insurance providers consider when calculating the cost of travel insurance for over 65s:

Pre-existing medical conditions

Travel insurance for over 65s with existing medical conditions can be a little pricier. But if you fail to declare a medical condition and then need to make a claim, your policy might be invalidated.

That's why it's essential to answer any health questions truthfully when you apply. If you’re not sure whether to declare, it’s important not to assume it’s covered. It's better to err on the side of caution when unsure.

When you declare any medical conditions on our website, we’ll only show you quotes from insurance providers who will cover them, with no exclusions.

If your condition is more serious, MoneyHelper has a directory of insurance providers who may be able to provide quotes over the phone. You can call them on 0800 138 7777.

Your destination

Travel insurance for the over 65s tends to be more expensive for longer-haul destinations, such as the USA and Australia, than for Europe.

What activities you plan to do

You may not be planning to go bungee-jumping, but even a golfing holiday might require extra or specialist cover.

Also, bear in mind that cruise holidays tend to have specific risks so you’ll usually need specialist cruise travel insurance.

How long you’re going away for

From an insurance perspective, the longer you’re away, the higher the risk that something may go wrong. Some insurance providers set a limit on the amount of time away you’ll be covered for. And premiums for travel insurance for long stays for over 65s might be higher.

If you’re a frequent traveller, it might be worth considering annual travel insurance for over 65s as this may offer a better deal.

The claims process can vary depending on your travel insurance provider, but here are the key steps to follow to make a claim:

• Get in touch with your provider as soon as possible. You may only have a short window in which to make your claim. There should be a helpline you can call from abroad – refer to your policy documents

• Try to get approval from your insurance provider before any medical treatment. Although this may not always be possible in an emergency, if you can get approval beforehand it means there’s less chance of being refused down the line

• Report any crimes to the police within 24 hours and get a copy of the report. You’ll need a crime reference number (or similar) to make a claim for stolen possessions

• If you need to claim for expenses, keep hold of receipts. You should also hold onto any other documentation or evidence that could back up your claim, for example any medical reports.

Simply use our travel comparison service to find an over 65s travel insurance quote that could suit your needs. Whether you’re looking for single-trip travel insurance or an annual travel insurance policy for over 65s that can cover multiple trips, comparing quotes couldn’t be easier. If you’re going away with friends or family, group travel insurance could be an option.

You’ll just need to share a few details about yourself and your travel plans to ensure you get quotes suitable for you, such as:

• Your age

• Where you’re travelling to

• How long you’ll be away for

• Any pre-existing medical conditions

• Any optional extras you’d like to add on.

Fill out our online form and within minutes you’ll receive a list of suitable quotes to choose from. Then check the policy details to make sure you'll be covered for what you want.