Travel insurance for over 80s: what you need to know

It depends on your travel plans. Whatever your age, travel insurance for a city break in Paris will be cheaper than travel insurance for snowboarding in the Rocky Mountains or scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

In your 80s and beyond you can expect to pay several times more for travel insurance than someone much younger. For example, for a 7-night trip to France in August 2018 for someone with no pre-existing medical conditions using our own comparison tool – the only change is the date of birth:

• Aged 84 cost £29.25

• Aged 54 cost £5.99

This is because statistically, those who are aged 80 and over are likely to make a claim (whether that’s medical treatment abroad, or ill health that prevents travelling resulting in a cancellation claim). Add in the likely pre-existing conditions and the premium may increase further.  

Ideally, because it won't cover you for all the possible risks you face when travelling.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the countries in the European Economic Area or Switzerland. You'll get treated as if you were a resident of that country and in some places you may be expected to make a contribution towards the cost of your treatment – the same as local residents.

But your EHIC won't cover any private medical healthcare or costs such as being flown back to the UK, lost or stolen belongings or delays. It also isn't valid on cruises. So travel insurance is essential if you want to be covered for these kind of situations.

See more on EHIC cards

Possibly, you don’t necessarily have to pass a medical test to get covered. Usually insurance providers will simply look at the information you give about your medical history when they calculate your insurance premium. Make sure you know the names of your medical conditions before you apply.

Travel insurance should be high on your list of priorities. We recommend taking out your insurance policy as soon as you book your holiday. That way, you’re covered if something happens that means you need to cancel the trip.