Travel insurance for over-80s
Compare over-80s travel insurance
If you’re over 80 and want to go abroad, travel insurance will be fairly expensive, so here’s how you can find more affordable cover
If you’re over 80 and want to go abroad, travel insurance will be fairly expensive, so here’s how you can find more affordable cover
Travel insurance for over-80s offers you important coverage when you go abroad later in life. It offers more comprehensive cover for your medical needs, including pre-existing medical conditions and any medical equipment, medication and aids you may need. You can also get protection for your personal items, holiday cancellations and more.
If you’re over 80 years old and planning to travel, it’s worth looking specifically for over-80s travel insurance as providers often set an upper age limit for most of their policies – set anywhere from 65 to 79.
Over-80s travel insurance usually means extended coverage for health and medical care. This is because your risk of needing medical treatment or attention rises as you get older, and in order to avoid any unwanted costs you’ll likely need a more comprehensive level of cover.
Depending on the provider, you could be able to find extra cover for:
A good over deal might also provide coverage for any travel companions like family or friends – though this could only apply if the companions are necessary for you to be able to travel.
Travel insurance for over-80s should also cover the travel insurance basics, including personal possessions, legal cover and travel disruptions. You might have to find additional policies to cover certain activities or more expensive items. Providers can differ when it comes to what’s included in standard coverage, so read your policy documents beforehand.
This kind of insurance is generally more expensive to take out because of the extra medical coverage that’s normally needed at this age. A single trip for someone aged 81 or more cost on average £39.08 in May 2019, according to MoneySuperMarket data. An annual policy for people in the same age group cost £807.42, while pre-existing medical conditions inevitably raise premiums further.
Data collected by MoneySuperMarket between January and April 2019, accurate as of July 2019
Insurers may also limit how long you can travel for at this age, which can be anywhere from 31 days to over 100. You might not be covered if you’re away longer, so you should check your policy documents to be sure.
Other general exclusions may still apply, including:
Buy your insurance as soon as you can after booking your holiday, because if you need to cancel your booking before you’ve left, you’ll be able to claim compensation for travel and accommodation costs.
For example, you might need to cancel your holiday early as a result of:
If you’re only travelling in Europe, you need a policy that only covers Europe, while a worldwide policy is necessary 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.
Before you take out an over-80s travel insurance deal, consider the following:
It’s always a good idea to shop around for policies and quotes to make sure you’re getting the best deal from what’s available. On MoneySuperMarket, you can compare providers and deals easily – all you need to do is answer a few questions about your holiday, like where you’re going and for how long.
You’ll then see a list of quotes you can look through to help you find the right over-80s travel insurance policy – you can then compare them by the amount of cover they offer for medical costs, cancellation, personal possessions and other features.
A cheaper policy doesn’t necessarily mean a better one: if you choose a deal based entirely on the cost, you might find yourself underinsured – so it’s better to read all the details before choosing an insurance policy.