Travel insurance for over-65s
Compare over-65s travel insurance
If you're over 65, you will probably pay more for your travel insurance. Here’s how to find affordable cover
If you're over 65, you will probably pay more for your travel insurance. Here’s how to find affordable cover
As you get older, you’ll find the price you pay for insurance increases – and this includes travel insurance. This is mainly because insurers perceive older travellers as being at a higher risk of making claims.
Typically, insurers have one premium bracket for those aged 18 to 64, and those aged 65 or over will pay more. This can often mean that low-risk, healthy customers can be turned down simply for being on the wrong side of 65, but there are insurers who do offer specific over-65s travel insurance.
Travel insurance for the over 65s may come at a price, but equally, you may get additional benefits that you wouldn't with a standard policy, such as extra emergency and medical cover.
You can also get standard policy coverage for lost or damaged possessions up to a certain amount, and even pay for cover against circumstances out of your control like the airline you’re flying with going bust.
And if you’re going on a cruise, make sure your policy covers this type of holiday.
Travel insurance for over-65s generally provides the same benefits as standard travel insurance. But you may also find that it includes extra coverage for medical related issues – a common feature in travel insurance for people in their later years.
Taking out over 65s travel insurance can offer medical benefits like:
While insurance policies for older people provide more medical cover than a standard travel insurance policy, there are other advantages:
As with any insurance policy, it’s important to read the documents and policy wording carefully so you can understand exactly what level of cover you get.
The price of travel insurance with cover for over-65s varies by insurer.
Costs increase significantly for older people who declare pre-existing medical conditions.
Travel insurance policies generally have exclusions that are specific to older age groups. The main exclusion is the amount of time you can travel on one policy – some insurers might set a limit of around 31 days for the length of a trip.
This isn’t always set in stone, so check what each insurers’ travel limit is – or whether they even have a limit at all – when you compare quotes.
Travel insurance policies for over-65s also have many of the same exclusions as other policies, including:
You should check with your insurer to see a full list of exclusions before taking out a policy, so you can be sure you’ve taken out the right level of cover and avoid any nasty surprises while you’re away.
It’s advisable to take out your travel insurance policy as soon as you’ve booked your holiday, as you will likely be covered in case you have to cancel your flights or accommodation early. You may have to do this as a result of:
If you’re only travelling in Europe, you’ll be best suited to a policy that only covers Europe, while a worldwide policy would be better if you plan on visiting Asia or the Americas.
Worldwide insurance coverage can also come with exceptions, generally applying to the USA, Canada and the Caribbean – so if you’re planning on travelling to any of these places, it’s best to check your worldwide insurance policy offers coverage.
When you’re taking out over 65s travel insurance, it’s always a good idea to shop around before you take out a policy. Comparing policies on MoneySuperMarket is simple – all you need to do is give a few details about where you’re going, how long you’re away for, and any pre-existing conditions you might have.
Then you’ll be able to browse and filter results depending on the provider, the level of cover they provide for medical costs, baggage and cancellation fees, as well as their Defaqto rating. This tells you what other customers have said about the policy, and can help you find the best ones on offer.
It’s important to remember that the cost of the policy isn’t the most important factor – you should pay more attention to what is covered by the policy, making sure that it provides everything you need in terms of medical cover and cover for your belongings.