Explore 9 brands that offer travel insurance for over 80s. This can include cover for pre-existing medical conditions, cruise holidays and COVID if they're listed in a policy.
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What you need to know
Many providers do offer travel insurance for over 80s. This can include COVID insurance and cover for pre-existing conditions.
Some insurers will exclude certain pre-existing medical conditions.
Be sure to disclose all relevant information about your medical history when you apply for insurance.
Getting travel insurance for over 80s doesn't have to be difficult. You may have to pay a higher premium to get the cover you want, but shopping around can help to keep costs down. Let's take a look.
What is travel insurance for over 80s?
As you get older, it can get increasingly difficult, and, generally more expensive, to find travel insurance. The good news? There are a number of providers who specialise in travel insurance for over 80s.
Depending on the policy you choose, you can get cover for pre-existing medical conditions, high limits for overseas medical expenses and cover for your essential items such as hearing aids and prescription glasses.
Travel Insurance Saver is available to residents of Australia regardless of age. However, anyone 70 years or over is required to submit a medical declaration form. Note: Only available on the international comprehensive policy.
Travel insurance for over 80s with pre-existing medical conditions
Pre-existing medical conditions can make it more difficult to get affordable travel insurance. A pre-existing medical condition is one of the following:
An ongoing medical condition you have
A medical condition that is currently being (or has been) investigated or treated by a medical professional
If you take prescribed medicine, or have undergone surgery for a particular condition
Any condition for which you see a medical specialist.
Some insurers exclude coverage for any pre-existing medical condition in people over 80 years of age. Others attach a higher excess to policies. While some insurers allow you to take out cover for certain pre-existing conditions, further medical testing may be required and the cover may only be offered up to a lower limit.
3 Things to do when you're choosing a policy
1. Disclose all pre-existing conditions
Speak to the insurer's medical examiner and disclose all existing or known conditions. While this may raise your premium, the cost of a potential hospital stay would largely outweigh this small expense. Without full disclosure, you may not be covered if your insurer finds out that you have not been completely honest.
2. Get written evidence
Make sure any cover that you are offered on the phone or in person by a travel agent or salesperson is in the insurance policy's PDS. This will help you avoid a situation where your claim is denied even though your travel agent said you would be covered.
3. Read the PDS.
Be aware of age limits, limitations of coverage and wording in the PDS or you may run into trouble when making a claim. For instance, you may make a claim for a trip cancellation only to discover you will only be covered for up to $2,500 because of your age, while your cancellation costs amount to $4,000.
Are there ways to find cheap travel insurance for over 80s?
Travel insurance for over 80s is typically more expensive than it is for younger people, to reflect the added risk of illness and injury for older travellers. But that doesn't mean you can't find cheap travel insurance for over 80s.
Here are 5 things you can do to save money on travel insurance:
Buy online. Airlines and travel agents usually add hefty commissions on top of the cost of a policy, so you can save money by shopping online and buying cover direct from an insurer.
Adjust your excess. Many insurers give you the option to edit your excess. By switching to a higher excess, you can get a lower premium. Of course, you’ll need to make sure you’ll be able to afford the excess if you do claim.
Look for discounts. There are often discounts, deals and special offers to help you save money on travel insurance. You could start by looking for online promo and coupon codes.
Buy a joint policy. Travelling with a friend or relative? Instead of purchasing separate travel insurance cover, save money by combining forces to buy a joint policy.
Compare policies.Get quotes from multiple insurers and see how they stack up against one another. Once you’ve found some policies in the right price range, compare their features to see what’s covered and what’s excluded.
Important to know. It's worth remembering that the cheapest travel insurance may not be the best option for you. In fact, comprehensive cover may be more suitable as you get older.
Optional extras when you're over 80
Travel insurers also offer optional cover that you can add to your policy if you're willing to pay an extra premium, they include:
Additional car hire excess cover. Most policies will provide a certain level of car hire excess cover as standard, protecting you against the expensive excess you’ll be liable to pay to the rental company if your hire car is stolen, vandalised or involved in an accident. However, some insurers will offer the choice of increasing your level of car rental excess cover (for example from $3,000 to $6,000) as an extra-cost option.
Additional specified items cover. All comprehensive travel insurance policies will provide cover for stolen and damaged personal belongings on your trip, but there’s usually a limit to the amount your insurer will pay out per item. This option allows you to increase the level of cover for specific high-value items, such as a laptop or camera.
Golf cover. Packing your golf clubs for your next big trip? You should consider adding golf cover to your policy so you can enjoy protection for loss, theft and damage of your golf equipment, as well as cover for expenses such as golf equipment hire and unused green fees.
Cruise cover. If your next holiday is a cruise, cruise travel insurance covers you for emergency medical transportation from your cruise ship to the nearest medical facility. It also pays benefits for cabin confinement, missed shore excursions, cruise delays, trip interruptions and more.
Snow sports cover. If you’re going skiing or snowboarding on your next trip, purchasing optional snow sports cover ensures that you’re covered for injuries sustained on the slopes, as well as for things like stolen or damaged ski equipment, piste closure and unused lift passes.
1. Age limits. Some insurers refuse cover to anyone over 65 or 70 years of age, which makes it harder for people over 80 to find a suitable policy. However, remember that there are insurers who are willing and able to cater to your needs.
2. Pre-existing conditions cover. As you get older, the chances of having a pre-existing condition increases. Most policies don't cover pre-existing conditions, so this will affect the kind of cover you can take out.
3. Joint cover. Age limits imposed by insurers can complicate matters for couples looking for cover. While in the past you may have been able to take out joint cover, this may no longer be possible if one spouse is above the insurer's specified age limit.
4. Cost of premiums. As you get older, insurers consider you to be at a higher a risk of falling ill or injuring your self. To compensate, they charge higher premiums, which makes travel insurance for over 80s generally more expensive.
Yes. While it may be a little more difficult to find an insurer who will offer the cover you need, there are insurers out there who offer insurance for people over 90.
There are some situations, events and circumstances when your travel insurer will not provide any cover. You'll need to check the PDS for a full list of what's not covered by your policy, but generally you will not be covered if:
Your claim arises due to a pre-existing condition not covered by your policy
You leave your luggage or belongings unattended in a public place and they are stolen or damaged
You visit a country that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has issued a 'Do Not Travel' warning
You fail to obey the road rules in the country which you are visiting
Your claim arises due to an act of war or terrorism
Your claim arises because you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol
You change your mind about travelling
You travel against medical advice
Your claim is for consequential loss of any kind, for example loss of enjoyment
You intentionally or recklessly act in a way that would pose a risk to your safety
You do not do everything you can to reduce your loss as much as possible
Your claim arises because a government authority confiscates, detains or destroys anything
You drive a vehicle without a current licence valid for the country you are driving in
Your claim arises due to errors or omissions in your booking arrangements
It depends on the brand. Some insurers won't cover anyone over the age of 65, while others will consider those over the age of 100 - that includes Tick Travel, InsureandGo and Virgin Money.
Yes, some policies will insure seniors up to the age of 100 and beyond, and will also cover pre-existing medical conditions.
After the age of 50, travel insurance tends to get more expensive as you get older. That's because the risk of a claim to the insurer is generally higher.
Yes, you can get travel insurance if you have a pre-existing medical condition. However, the level of coverage differs between brands. Some will provide travel insurance but won't cover any incidents that occur from your pre-existing medical condition, while others will insure your pre-existing medical condition in exchange for higher premiums.
If you have any dependant children or grandchildren travelling with you, most insurers will cover them free of charge. That's as long as they are under the age of 18 (in some cases 21), are out of full-time employment and are listed on your policy.
Richard Laycock is Finder’s insights editor after spending the last five years writing and editing articles about insurance. His musings can be found across the web including on MoneyMag, Yahoo Finance and Travel Weekly. When he’s not doing deep dives on data, he is testing the quality of cocktails in his newfound home of New York. Richard studied Media at Macquarie University and The Missouri School of Journalism and has a Tier 1 Certification in General Advice for Life Insurance.
What is seniors travel insurance and why do I have to pay more than someone younger? What are pre-existing medical conditions and why won’t many insurers cover them? Find out the answers to these and other questions in this handy guide to travel insurance for over 65s.
Yes, some insurance companies provide cover for cancer patients. You may compare these insurance brands on our page about travel insurance for cancer patients.
There’s a table on that page to help you compare your options. Once you have found the right one for you, you may then get in touch with your chosen provider to learn more about their exclusions or specific restrictions for customers who have pre-existing medical conditions.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
I am 81 and my wife is 75. My wife has a pacemaker but no medication needed. I am in good health. We plan a trip to New Zealand in May 2017 from 3rd May until 21st May. What would be the cost of travel insurance?
You’ve come to finder.com.au and we are a comparison service, not an insurer. If you would like to compare quotes for travel insurance you can fill out your details into the form at the top of the page. Once you hit “get quote” you will be taken to a results page where you can compare a price estimate and policy features.
Note: If you have any pre-existing medical conditions you will need to inform your insurer. Depending on the insurer this may increase the cost of your policy.
Can we get cover for cancellation for our cruise/trip in the event of a non-travelling parent – (90 yrs old with no serious pre-existing medical condition). Full payment of a substantial amount is required 60 days prior, therefore if they became seriously ill or died before we departed or during our 23 day trip to Can. /Alaska most policies would not pay a claim.
Thanks for your question. There may be providers willing to offer you cover but generally cancellation cover of this type is for relatives under the age of 85. Unfortunately, many insurers don’t have this information readily available, so you’ll need to contact the insurers you’re interested in and ask them specifically.
You may compare quotes from our travel insurance for over 80s by simply entering your travel details. Please make sure to read the eligibility criteria, features, and details of the policy, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statement of the policy before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you. If necessary, speak to the insurance brand to verify any details.
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Is there a travel insurance for people with cancer
Hi Monica,
Thanks for your question.
Yes, some insurance companies provide cover for cancer patients. You may compare these insurance brands on our page about travel insurance for cancer patients.
There’s a table on that page to help you compare your options. Once you have found the right one for you, you may then get in touch with your chosen provider to learn more about their exclusions or specific restrictions for customers who have pre-existing medical conditions.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Cheers,
Anndy
Iam going on a cruise for 13 days to vanuatu.as iam aged 88 and have a pacemaker and require travel insurance. how do i get a policy?
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for getting in touch.
You may find our travel insurance and pacemakers article helpful.
All the best,
Richard
I am 81 and my wife is 75. My wife has a pacemaker but no medication needed. I am in good health. We plan a trip to New Zealand in May 2017 from 3rd May until 21st May. What would be the cost of travel insurance?
Hi Edward,
You’ve come to finder.com.au and we are a comparison service, not an insurer. If you would like to compare quotes for travel insurance you can fill out your details into the form at the top of the page. Once you hit “get quote” you will be taken to a results page where you can compare a price estimate and policy features.
Note: If you have any pre-existing medical conditions you will need to inform your insurer. Depending on the insurer this may increase the cost of your policy.
I hope this helps,
Maurice
Can we get cover for cancellation for our cruise/trip in the event of a non-travelling parent – (90 yrs old with no serious pre-existing medical condition). Full payment of a substantial amount is required 60 days prior, therefore if they became seriously ill or died before we departed or during our 23 day trip to Can. /Alaska most policies would not pay a claim.
Hi Ken,
Thanks for your question. There may be providers willing to offer you cover but generally cancellation cover of this type is for relatives under the age of 85. Unfortunately, many insurers don’t have this information readily available, so you’ll need to contact the insurers you’re interested in and ask them specifically.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
I am over 80 years old with no pre existing health problems and require health cover only to travel to Europe and Morocco. I will be away for 79 days.
Hi Doreen,
Thanks for your question.
You may compare quotes from our travel insurance for over 80s by simply entering your travel details. Please make sure to read the eligibility criteria, features, and details of the policy, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statement of the policy before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you. If necessary, speak to the insurance brand to verify any details.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard