Compare holiday cover for seniors over 70
Find tailored travel cover at the right price by comparing deals from the UK’s leading travel insurers.
1Accurate as of September 2023
Travel insurance will cover you for unfortunate events and emergencies you may experience while you're on holiday. Policies can cover medical expenses, holiday cancellation, lost passports, stolen baggage, and more. Travellers over 70 can qualify for standard travel insurance but there are some limits to these policies that may make them less suitable for older holiday goers.
As we get older we're more likely to experience health problems. However, standard travel insurance doesn't normally cover pre-existing conditions, which means that older travellers would have to pay for their own health care abroad. For this reason, people over a certain age may prefer to take out specialist travel insurance. These special policies will cover most pre-existing conditions and some may even offer additional medical cover for advanced protection while you travel.
Travel insurance generally increases in cost as you get older, so travellers over 70 are likely to pay more for their insurance than younger holiday goers. But there are also a number of other factors that will affect the cost of a travel insurance policy. These are:
Insurers will price your policy based on your holiday. This is because some destinations are more dangerous than others or have more expensive medical treatments
If you’re purchasing a single-trip policy, getting cover for a longer trip will be more expensive than a short one. For the same reason, annual multi-trip policies are usually more expensive than single trip
With a standard travel insurance policy, most providers will increase the cost if you have a history of medical problems. Specialist policies for pre-existing conditions are also more expensive than standard
Adding extra cover to your policy will add to the cost of your policy. Some travel insurance providers may also offer a choice of travel insurance policies with different levels of cover that range in price
There are two particular types of travel insurance for over 70s that can cover holidays of different lengths:
Policies will cover you for a single trip abroad. Most providers will have a maximum trip length to qualify for a single trip policy, which is typically no longer than 180 days. For longer single trip cover, there is also long-stay/ backpacker travel insurance
Policies will cover multiple trips abroad, usually with a term of one year. You will be covered by your travel insurance for a full year no matter how frequently you go abroad, which can be cheaper than purchasing multiple single trip policies
At MoneySuperMarket, we’re here to make sure your holiday planning is a breeze. Here’s what you’ll get:
We search through leading insurance providers, so you can find great deals to match your needs.
Simply pop in a few details about where you’re off to next, pick the best deal for you and get insured for your next trip.
Compare quotes from the UK's leading travel insurance providers and filter through a range of policies that match your needs as well as your budget.
Over 70s travel insurance is no different than a standard policy albeit more considerations for any medical conditions which may lead to policy exclusions or higher costs. Policies will normally cover:
Medical expenses: Insurance will cover the cost of emergency medical treatments you receive while abroad
Medical aids: Medical equipment and accessories that you bring abroad will be protected against loss or damage
Medication: If you lose your important prescription medication, your insurance will help you afford a replacement
Repatriation: If you need to return home in the event of an emergency, your insurance will help you cover travel costs
Baggage: If your baggage is stolen or damaged, travel insurance will pay out to help you replace important items
Cancellation: Travel insurance will cover the cost of your holiday if you have to cancel due to an emergency
Travel disruption: If your travel plans have been disrupted, insurance will help you cover alternative transport or accommodation
Non-disclosed pre-existing conditions: Providers won't cover any pre-existing conditions you didn't disclose when applying for your policy
Airline strikes: It is the responsibility of the airlines to compensate travellers for airline strikes and help organise alternative transport
High-risk activities: Insurers won't cover certain high risk activities that are likely to result in injury or damage, such as rock climbing
Accidents related to drugs/ alcohol: Insurers will not cover claims for accidents that occur while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Travelling against FCDO advice: Even with worldwide cover, insurers will not cover travel to countries that the FCDO has advised against
Missed flights: You will not be covered for missed transport if it is the result of poor time management or mistakes that you are responsible for
Choosing not to travel: You will not receive cancellation cover if the reason for cancelling is that you have changed your mind
Travelling with a pre-existing medical condition can make purchasing travel insurance more expensive. Providers of standard travel insurance policies will typically exclude your pre-existing conditions from your cover, meaning that you won’t be able to claim any medical cover related to those conditions while you’re abroad.
On the other hand, there are special policies for travellers with pre-existing conditions. These are usually more expensive than standard policies, but all of your health problems will be covered while you travel.
It’s important that you are honest about your medical history when applying for your travel insurance policy. Failure to disclose any existing or previous medical conditions could disqualify you for cover when you make a claim.
You can choose which countries you would like travel insurance cover for, however there are some limits to the countries you can choose. Each provider will have their own list of excluded countries and most insurers will not cover any countries that the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has advised against travelling to.
Here are the options of the two types of travel insurance cover you can choose. Check your policy documents to make sure your holiday destinations are covered by your policy:
Insurance will cover you for travel to any European Union country as well as some non-EU countries, such as Iceland, Switzerland, Turkey and Norway
Insurance will cover you nearly globally with exceptions depending on your provider. Policies have the option to include or exclude USA, Canada, and Caribbean
There are a range of travel insurance options that many providers will offer which allow you to tailor your cover to your needs. This can include adding extra cover or adjusting cover to meet special circumstances depending on the type of holiday you’re taking.
Get special cover for cruise holidays. This travel insurance option can provide you with extra cover for missed departures, cabin confinement, and pre-booked excursions as well as special baggage cover for longer cruise holidays
Add extra protection for your valuable gadgets. Most travel insurance policies have a per-item cover limit for your belongings, which might not cover expensive electronics. This extra cover will ensure your valuable gadgets are insured for their full value
If you’re planning on bringing expensive golfing equipment on your holiday, this cover will protect it if it’s stolen or damaged. This cover can also cover non-refundable green fees if an insurable emergency or event prevents you from golfing
You have the option to cover a portion of your travel insurance claims to reduce the cost of your policy. You also have the option to pay more to waive your travel insurance excess and have your insurer cover 100% of your travel insurance claims
There are a number of steps that you can take to reduce the cost of an over 70s travel insurance policy. Some, however, may require you to think carefully about your options. Cheaper isn't always better when it comes to valuable insurance protection.
If you qualify, standard travel insurance is cheaper than special policies that cover pre-existing conditions. However, existing health problems are usually excluded with standard policies
Increasing your excess will make your policy cheaper. However, doing this means that you will have to pay more when you make a claim on your policy, which can be expensive.
If you’re planning multiple trips abroad, a multi trip policy might be cheaper than multiple separate single trip policies. Compare online with us to find out which might be cheaper for you
Shop around to find the best deal on travel insurance. This gives you the best chance of finding a good value policy and comparing with us makes the job quick and easy
"While most providers have an upper age limit for their travel insurance policies, it’s still possible for over 70s to get standard travel insurance. But, if you have any pre-existing conditions, a specialist policy will make sure you aren't saddled with expensive medical costs if your condition causes problems while you travel. If this sounds like the right type of cover for you, compare with us to find a great deal on your policy.
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Give a few details about you, your travel plans, and what you need cover for.
We’ll put together a list of travel insurance quotes, so you can pick one that works for you.
Once you’ve chosen, you can purchase your policy and you’ll be covered for your trip.
A Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) can act as an addition to your travel insurance but isn’t a replacement. With a GHIC, you can gain access to state-provided healthcare in EU countries. This means that you’d be able to benefit from the same level of care that any local resident would receive for the same cost.
That said, GHIC won’t provide cover for countries outside of the EU. What’s more, if you don’t have travel insurance, you will not benefit from cover for lost luggage, flight cancellations, and so on.
It’s always a good idea to buy your travel insurance deal as early as possible in case you have to cancel your holiday before you leave. Having a good policy in place could mean you’ll be able to claim compensation for the money you lose on travel and accommodation. Possible reasons for cancellation that may be covered by your policy include:
Illness or injury
Redundancy
Bereavement
Once you reach 75 years of age, you may have fewer options but you can still get travel insurance. Some providers may have maximum age limits for their travel insurance policies but there are other providers that don't have age limits.
With our travel insurance comparison tool, we'll help you find cover no matter your age.
In general, insurance companies will band older customers into an age bracket of 55-65 and then 65-74. After this, insurance will usually go up annually, or every five years, depending on the provider - so if you're looking for cover aged 75, cover could get costly.
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