What is over 50s travel insurance? 

Key takeaways

• Age limits might apply to specific cover in some standard travel insurance plans

• Medical issues become more common with age, and travel insurance safeguards you in case of emergencies

• Disclose any pre-existing conditions to get valid cover and avoid claim rejections

Can I get travel insurance if I’m over 50? 

Yes, if you’re 50 or over you can still get standard travel insurance but:

• You may have to pay more for it, depending on your health

• There may be an upper age limit, although this could be as high as 85 years old

When you compare travel insurance with MoneySuperMarket, we’ll show you all the policies you’re eligible for. 

📣 Did you know? Almost two in five (38% or 22 million) people in England are aged 50 and over, according to the Centre for Ageing Better ‘The State of Ageing 2025’ report.

What is over 50s travel insurance? 

Over 50s travel insurance is cover designed specifically for people aged 50 and over. It usually offers higher levels of protection for pre-existing medical conditions not always available or sometimes more expensive with standard travel insurance.  

Do I need specialist over 50s travel insurance? 

Specialist over 50s travel insurance can be a good idea, particularly if you have pre-existing medical conditions. While you may still qualify for standard travel insurance, some policies might not include the level of cover you need.

It’s worth comparing quotes to see what’s available. Remember, the cheapest policy isn’t always the best if it doesn’t fully protect you while you’re away.

How much does over 50s travel insurance cost? 

People aged 50 and over often pay more for cover. This is because people in this age group are at a higher risk of having pre-existing medical conditions and therefore more likely to make a claim on their policy.

What affects the cost of travel insurance for over 50s? 

The cost of travel insurance for over-50s can be affected by the following: 

• Location: Certain countries or regions may be more expensive to cover due to higher medical costs or more dangerous conditions 

• Travel duration: Longer or more frequent holidays are naturally more expensive to cover - but an annual or multi-trip policy may be cheaper than multiple individual policies  

• Activities: Certain activities that are perceived as risky, like adventure or winter sports, or those with expensive equipment like golf, also often require extra cover that adds to your premiums 

• Pre-existing medical conditions: If you have pre-existing medical conditions, the nature and severity of them may also affect your premiums 

Remember to always be honest with your insurer regarding medical conditions and everything else on your policy. If you need to make a claim and your insurer finds out you gave false information, it’s likely they’ll cancel your cover instead.  

What does over 50s travel insurance cover me for? 

Travel insurance for people over 50 years old will still cover everything a standard policy does, such as: 

• Cancellation, curtailments and delays: If your holiday or any bookings are cancelled, curtailed or delayed as a result of circumstances outside your control, like extreme weather  

• Belongings and baggage: If your belongings or items of luggage are stolen, damaged or lost while you’re travelling 

• Emergency medical treatment: If you need to access emergency medical treatment during your holiday 

• Coronavirus cover: If all or parts of your holiday are affected by COVID-19 restrictions or events  

• Repatriation: Helps cover the cost of bringing you back to the UK in a medical emergency 

Some travel insurance policies are marketed specifically towards over 50s. These may offer extra perks, such as:

• Cover for medication and medical equipment

• Cover for pre-existing medical conditions that aren’t covered by standard policies 

What does over 50s travel insurance not cover me for? 

Travel insurance for over-50s will often have the same exclusions as regular holiday insurance, such as:

• Activities or sports: Unless you take out specialist cover for adventurous activities like skiing, snowboarding or scuba diving, these won’t be included on your policy so you won’t be covered if something should go wrong. If you do want to add extra cover, check for age restrictions beforehand 

• Undisclosed medical conditions: If you need medical treatment for a condition you knew about but didn’t reveal to your insurance provider, it’s likely you won’t be covered for the cost of the treatment. This is a big one, as medical treatment costs can reach into the hundreds of thousands in some regions 

• Alcohol or drugs: If you lose your belongings or injure yourself as a result of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, then you won’t be able to claim on your insurance  

• Negligence: If a loss of belongings occurs because you left them unattended or in an unlocked vehicle/building, it’s likely you won’t be covered 

• Travelling against government advice: If the FCDO has advised against travel to certain locations, most insurers probably won’t cover you for your visit  

• Changing your mind: You won’t be able to claim for cancelled or missed bookings if you change your mind and don’t want to go   

Am I covered for pre-existing medical conditions with over 50s travel insurance? 

Travel insurance can often cover pre-existing medical conditions, but only if you declare them to your insurer in advance. A pre-existing condition is any medical issue for which you had symptoms, medication, medical advice, treatment, or tests before you took out your insurance policy. This includes mental health conditions.

Always be honest and disclose all information relevant to your condition when asked. Otherwise, you may end up in a situation where you’ve paid for cover that you can’t claim on. 

You may have to pay a bit extra to cover your medical condition, although many travel insurers will cover less severe conditions for free. Travel insurance tailored to over 50s often covers more pre-existing conditions than other policies.

What conditions am I covered for by over 50s travel insurance? 

You should be able to find a travel insurance policy that covers travellers over 50 years old with any of the following conditions: 

• Diabetes 

• High cholesterol  

• High blood pressure 

• Heart disease  

• Asthma  

• Dementia 

• Stroke 

• Crohn's disease 

• Epilepsy 

• Cancer  

How do I declare a medical condition on my travel insurance?

When getting a quote for travel insurance the travel insurance provider will ask you if you have pre-existing medical conditions.

Pre-existing conditions include diagnosed health conditions or ailments awaiting diagnosis.

If you answer ‘yes’ they are likely to then ask you a series of questions about your condition, this is known as a medical screening questionnaire.

• What questions will I be asked?

The questions will vary depending on your condition. For example, if you have osteoarthritis, the screening process might ask if you have had any joints replaced or resurfaced, if you use mobility aids, and if you’ve had any unplanned hospital admissions in the past 12 months.

• How will the information be used?

The information will be used to make sure you have the right cover in place, and at the right price for the insurer.

Medical screening doesn’t mean your travel insurer will access your medical records or speak to your GP – so it’s important you answer all the insurer’s questions as honestly as you can.

What medical expenses am I covered for with over 50s travel insurance?

Travel insurance tailored to over 50s generally includes emergency medical treatment and repatriation like a standard travel policy, but can also include things like:

• 24-hour medical support via a helpline

• Loss of medication

• Mobility aids

However, cover levels vary so check the policy document to be sure what is included.

What types of over 50s travel insurance can I get? 

Travel insurance comes in different shapes and sizes to suit different types of holidays, and the same is true with cover designed for over 50s.

You should be able to find the following types of over 50s travel insurance: 

What optional extras can I get with over 50s travel insurance?

There are a number of add-ons you can get with over 50s travel insurance, such as:

• Mobile phone and gadget cover: High value electronics will often fall outside of the per-item limit for baggage cover and may not cover your gadgets if something happens to them while you’re out and about so it’s worth considering separate cover

• Cancellation cover: Provides financial protection if you need to cancel your holiday plans due to unforeseen events 

• Travel disruption cover: Reimburses your losses in the event of severe weather, strikes, natural disasters, illnesses and other unexpected disruptions

💡 Top tip: Depending on the level of cover some of these may be standard so check your policy documents

Can I get backpacker insurance if I’m over 50? 

Over 50s may be able to get backpacker insurance, also called long-stay travel insurance. However, many insurers have age limits on these policies that will exclude travellers over a certain age (or under 18). Be sure to check with insurers beforehand - you might have to reach out or look for specialist cover if you can’t find cover with mainstream providers. 

How do I make a claim on my over 50s travel insurance?

The process depends on the type of claim. If it’s a medical emergency you should:

• Contact your insurer as early as possible, especially before incurring any emergency medical expenses

• Keep a detailed record of treatments and associated costs for reimbursement

➡️ Read our guide on how to make a claim on your travel insurance

Do I need travel insurance if I have a GHIC or EHIC?

Yes, the UK government and NHS strongly recommend you take out travel insurance alongside your Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) . That's because these health cards only cover you for state medical provision and you may still have to contribute towards the costs.

A travel insurance policy will also provide cover for:

• Repatriation

• Private treatment

• Trip cancellation

• Theft or loss of your belongings

You are also covered from the moment you buy travel insurance in case your holiday company goes bust.

💡 Top tip: Some travel insurers will insist you have a GHIC or EHIC – or your policy won’t pay out for medical costs in countries that accept these health cards.

Can I compare over 50s travel insurance with MoneySuperMarket? 

If you’re over 50 you can compare standard travel insurance, such as single trip travel insurance and annual multi-trip travel insurance, with MoneySuperMarket.

Just tell us about yourself, your travel plans, and any health conditions you might have, and we’ll show you deals from providers across the market. 

You’ll be able to compare quotes by the overall cost, the cover you’ll get, and the amount you’ll need to pay in excess when making a claim. Once you’ve found the deal you want, just click through to the provider to finalise your purchase.  

If, however, you want to buy travel insurance aimed specifically at people aged over 50, you should contact a provider directly or use a specialist broker.