Travel insurance for over 70s is for anyone in this age group looking for cover for an upcoming trip. It might be for a retiree planning a trip of a lifetime to Australia, for example, or a frequent flyer visiting children or grandchildren in another country.
Many factors affect the price of travel insurance, including age, trip length, destination, and the traveller’s medical history and medical screening results. Those aged 70 and over often face specific challenges when taking out holiday insurance, such as insurers setting upper age limits on their policies or refusing to cover pre-existing medical conditions.
Standard travel insurance is available for everyone, but as those aged 70 and over are more likely to have pre-existing conditions and face a higher risk of trip cancellations for medical reasons, they are often charged higher premiums.
However, there are many policies available that offer comprehensive cover for people over 70 and remain straightforward and affordable. Whether you’re looking for a single tripor annual multi-trip policy, we can help you find a plan that supports your travel plans, whatever your age.
Travel insurance is essential for over 70s, as it not only covers any medical expenses that may arise, but also provides cover for a range of other scenarios, such as repatriation and loss or damage to your belongings. Travel insurance cover for over 70s typically includes:
Extensive medical care: You’ll be covered for any medical treatment needed while you’re on holiday, such as emergency hospital admissions. This varies depending on the provider, but typically policies cover around £2m in medical expenses.
Prescription cover: Cover for essential medications, ensuring you have access to your necessary prescriptions while travelling.
Cover for pre-existing conditions: You should be covered for any declared pre-existing medical conditions if you need to make a claim related to them.
Luggage protection: Protection against luggage loss or theft, including items such as mobility scooters and wheelchairs.
Emergency assistance: Some providers offer 24/7 support to help you, ensuring unexpected events do not disrupt your travel plans.
It’s important to tell your travel insurer about any pre-existing medical conditions you have, or if you are waiting for test results or a diagnosis. Failure to disclose any existing or previous medical conditions could disqualify you for cover when you make a claim and leave you responsible for covering medical expenses.
Some common conditions may be covered as standard, while others might be covered for an extra premium. Common pre-existing medical conditions include heart conditions, high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, or epilepsy. Your insurer may ask for further details of your condition, such as access to your medical history or for you to attend a medical screening with a doctor before they agree to cover you.
Some insurers will exclude 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. However, there are special policies for travellers with pre-existing health conditions. These are usually more expensive than standard policies, and there may be exclusions, but all your health problems will be covered while you travel.
If you’re struggling to find suitable cover, the Money and Pensions Service (MaPs) provides a list of specialist insurers on the MoneyHelper website, or you can call the British Insurance Brokers’ Association on 0370 950 1790.
Single trip cover applies to one single trip abroad.
This type of insurance can cover multiple countries, but make sure everywhere you're visiting is included in your policy cover. For example, if you take out European single trip insurance, you wouldn't be protected if you travel outside the continent.
Most single trip providers will have a maximum trip length. This is usually around a month.
An annual multi-trip policy will cover all of your holidays over a year.
Like single trip insurance, it usually has a maximum length for each trip, typically around a month.
Policies may also limit where in the world you're covered. For example, it is common for worldwide policies to not include the USA, Canada or the Caribbean unless you specifically add on those countries. This usually comes with an extra charge.
Long-stay travel insurance, often calledbackpacker insurance, is designed for trips lasting longer than a month. For example, spending the winter overseas or multi-month cruises.
Backpacker insurance often comes with lower upper age limits than standard travel insurance and stricter rules around pre-existing conditions.
Travellers over 70 may find there are fewer policies available to them, and those that are may have shorter maximum trip lengths or more exclusions.
Over 70s travel insurance generally covers the same things as standard travel policies, but often with more exclusions and stricter medical terms.
Medical expenses: Insurance will cover the cost of emergency medical treatments you receive while abroad.
Medical aids: Medical equipment and accessories such as wheelchairs or scooters that you bring abroad will be protected against loss or damage.
Medication: If you lose important prescription medication, your insurance will help you pay for 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 arrangements have been disrupted, insurance will help you cover alternative transport or accommodation. You will usually need to show evidence such as receipts, tickets or travel times when making a claim.
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 or winter sports.
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.
Excess: If you make a claim you must pay a pre-set contribution to the cost.
Travel insurance prices increase as you get older, so travellers over 70 are likely to pay more for their travel insurance policy than younger holidaymakers. While the average cost of holiday cover for travellers aged 18 to 49 is £13.76
The majority of MoneySuperMarket customers in this age range currently pay this price or less for travel insurance.
The majority of MoneySuperMarket customers in this age range currently pay this price or less for travel insurance.
💡Top tip: If you want to keep the cost of over 70s travel insurance down, it helps to tailor your policy closely to your plans. For example, if you’re travelling within Europe, you can usually save money by choosing only European cover instead of worldwide.
Insurers will price your policy based on your holiday destination. This is because some destinations are riskier than others while, such as the USA or Canada, have more expensive medical costs.
Your trip duration will impact the cost of your policy, with longer trips typically being more expensive to insure.
If you choose a higher excess to pay if you make a claim, this could reduce the cost of your travel insurance policy. However, if you do need to make a claim, you will be responsible for paying this.
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 more expensive than standard policies.
Adding extra cover to your policy, such as winter sports cover or gadget cover, 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 for certain categories.
Most policies let you upgrade your cover for an extra cost, so your insurance better matches your holiday plans and gives you added peace of mind.
This add-on provides you with cover for cruise-specific risks such as missed port departures, cabin confinement, multiple destinations, unused pre-booked excursions, disrupted cruise itinerary, and airlift rescue.
Most travel insurance policies have a per-item cover limit for your belongings, which might not cover expensive electronics. If you’re travelling with high-value gadgets, this cover will ensure your valuables, such as smartphones and laptops, are insured for their full value.
This add-on covers risks unique to golf holidays such as loss of your golf clubs, equipment hire if your gear is stolen, and non-refundable green fees. Some even provide a contribution to your obligatory bar bill if you hit a hole-in-one.
The excess is the amount a policyholder pays towards a claim. You can pay extra for the excess to be waived and 100% of the claim paid by the insurer.
Finding the right travel insurance policy is crucial: one which covers everything from the cost of a medical emergency to the expense of lost or damaged belongings or health equipment. While those of us in good health might find standard travel insurance sufficient, the reality is that as we age, the value of claims tends to rise. The average claim for travellers aged 71-75 is £1,950
^ , compared to just £571^ for those aged 36-40, for example.The higher cost of insurance for older travellers relates to things like the likelihood of repatriation and the potential increased medical costs. Prices can rise by age or when declaring medical conditions but affordable cover is available so you can travel with peace of mind, knowing that you're fully protected"
Ryan Nizzar Travel, Business & Landlord Insurance Expert
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When considering over 70s travel insurance, it's important to be aware of factors like upper age limits and medical cover limits.
You should also look at the cancellation limit and the excess you may need to pay, and check the policy covers any medical equipment you may need. You will also need to tell your insurer about any pre-existing medical conditions. If you fail to disclose your medical conditions, you could risk invalidating your policy.
Before you buy a policy, check if an excess applies per person or per group (if it’s a group policy) and always check limits on the length of the trip too.
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, a GHIC won’t provide cover for countries outside of the EU. What’s more, it also does not provide cover for lost luggage, flight cancellations, and so on.
It’s a good idea to buy your travel insurance policy when you book your trip. This means if you have to cancel your holiday before you leave, you should be covered. Having the right type of policy in place could mean you’ll be able to claim compensation for the money you lose on travel and accommodation. There may be a waiting period before you can claim too, so if you buy insurance at the last minute you may not be able to claim straight away.
Possible reasons for cancellation that may be covered by your policy include:
Illness or injury
Redundancy
Bereavement
Administration of a holiday company
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 plenty of providers that don't have age limits.
Health conditions are also important and different insurers will have set limits on which they will and won’t cover.
Yes, usually the cost of travel insurance rises after the age of 75. Most insurers band older customers into age brackets and may increase premiums annually after 75.
However, age is not the only factor insurers use when pricing policies and medical conditions will also impact the cost.
Over 70s travel insurance usually includes cover for any medical equipment you take on your trip. For example, devices that help you walk, including wheelchairs, frames or scooters may be covered for loss or damage. As with any item you may need to claim for, insurers could ask to see evidence that the item belongs to you, and documents showing how much you paid for it.
You can also be covered for the cost of hiring any necessary replacement medical equipment. Policies can also cover medication and prescriptions if yours are lost or stolen, or delays mean you run out before you get home.
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Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026 by
YouGov Survey 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. Net Recommend score derived from “Which of the following online service websites would you recommend to a friend or colleague, or tell them to avoid?” Base: Current Customers of (MoneySuperMarket n=18,382, Compare the Market n=16,802, Go.Compare n=10,162, Confused.com n=8,229, Uswitch n=528).
Data based on the median price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for age 18-49 in July 2026.
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for age 85+ in July 2026.
Source: Association of British Insurers, 2023. https://www.abi.org.uk/news/news-articles/2023/7/pack-your-travel-insurance-this-summer-and-remember-your-trip-for-the-right-reasons/
Source: Association of British Insurers, 2023. https://www.abi.org.uk/news/news-articles/2023/7/pack-your-travel-insurance-this-summer-and-remember-your-trip-for-the-right-reasons/
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The number of providers for travel insurance in July 2026
Selected providers. SuperSaveClub restrictions and T&Cs apply. Click here for details.
T&Cs apply to SuperSaveClub andPrice Promise.
Based on 1 visit per month – average ticket value £15.30 (Oct 24)
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Defaqto is a leading independent reviewer of financial products. Five stars is for 'An excellent product with a comprehensive range of features and benefits '.
Individual insurance products from Ageas may have different ratings. Data from the Defaqto website. Data from April 2026.
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for age 70-74 in July 2026.
T&Cs and restrictions apply, see here for more information
T&Cs apply, click here for more information
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for age 75-79 in July 2026.
