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Seniors Travel Insurance

Getting travel insurance for seniors is easy. Compare cover even if you’re 100 years old.

Zahra Campbell-Avenell
Zahra Campbell-Avenell

Last updated:

Old man

Seniors looking for travel insurance don't need to feel limited by their age since there are plenty of brands that cover people over 80 and a few that don't have an age limit at all. Get peace of mind knowing that you can travel without worrying about overseas medical expenses, accidents or theft. Just make sure you declare any pre-existing medical conditions and any activities you plan to do, such as cruising or hot air ballooning, to make sure you're protected.

Travel insurance for seniors – Get your quote here

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What is seniors travel insurance?

Seniors travel insurance is a regular policy that has benefits more suited to senior travellers, including the following:

  • Cover for pre-existing medical conditions
  • Increased age limits
  • Cover for health care and accidents overseas
  • Cover for your grandkids if they’re travelling with you

Travel insurance for seniors with pre-existing conditions

A pre-existing condition is an ongoing medical condition that you are aware of, even if you're only aware of the symptoms. If you've been treated by a doctor, had surgery or have taken medication for any conditions or symptoms in the six months leading up to your policy's start date, you will need to declare your condition to the insurer if you want to be covered.

If you have a less serious condition, it's possible to get automatic cover (sometimes at no extra cost) for your pre-existing medical condition. If you have a more complicated medical problem, here are some brands that consider all pre-existing medical conditions through an online assessment.

Brands Age limit Policy type Maximum trip duration Apply

AllClear

 No age limit
  • Gold Plus
  • Gold
 Up to 92 days Get quote
Insureandgo logo

InsureandGo

 100 years of age
  • Gold
  • Silver
 Up to 90 days Get quote
Picture not described

Tick

100 years of age
  • Top
  • Standard
 Up to 90 days Get quote

Maximum trip duration is determined by your specific age and destination

Here are a few key points you should be aware of when searching for the right policy for seniors:

  • Cover costs more for seniors. Unfortunately, the risk of illness and injury is higher as you age, so the cost of cover also increases as you grow older. Once you reach 60 years of age, many insurers will start applying an age loading to your policy.
  • Fewer pre-existing conditions covered. Some pre-existing conditions that are automatically covered for younger travellers may not be covered for travellers 60 years or older. For example, some insurers won't cover seniors for claims that arise due to asthma.
  • Terms and conditions differ between insurers. Different insurers impose different restrictions and exclusions on cover for seniors with pre-existing conditions. For example, if you've previously suffered a stroke, some insurers will not cover you if you've had any incidents in the past five years, while others only require you to not have had any incidents in the past two years.
  • Age limits apply. Insurers impose maximum age limits on their policies, so you'll need to check the fine print to make sure you're eligible for cover. While some providers set this limit as low as 65 years of age, others will cover you up to 100 years or even older.
  • Disclose everything. Don't be tempted to save on the cost of cover by withholding information from your insurer. Disclose all the details of your pre-existing conditions when you apply for a policy.

Approved

How does medical screening for travel insurance work?

The easiest way to declare a pre-existing medical condition is to do an online medical assessment, which is the same thing as medical screening. This is usually done just before you confirm your policy to make sure you're getting the right level of cover.
Depending on your condition, you might be asked a few simple questions, but questions can get more detailed. If you don't have access to the Internet, most insurers can conduct medical screening over the phone as well.

If your condition is more serious, your insurer may require you to obtain a doctor's report, undergo a medical examination or fill out a detailed medical assessment form. Critical information required in such a document can include the following:

  • Personal details such as height, weight, age and smoking status
  • General health questions such as how mobile you are and the amount of exercise you do
  • Medical information such as pre-existing conditions (including date of diagnosis and medications prescribed) and details of recent health treatment or hospitalisation (if any)

Your insurer may also require you to have your doctor sign your assessment form before you submit it and to declare in writing whether you are considered to be fit to travel.

When declaring a pre-existing medical condition...

  • Be upfront. Tell your insurer about any condition you have or think you may have. If you make a medical claim and it's not related to a condition you've told them about, they will investigate to find out if it was pre-existing or not. If it can be proven that you've experienced symptoms, they might consider it to be a pre-existing condition.
  • Take the assessment. If the insurer isn't sure how serious the condition is, they may want you to take an assessment before they can approve you. Sometimes this is as easy as answering a few questions online. In other cases, you may need to provide medical certificates and/or do a short physical.
  • Keep your options open. Each insurer has different rules for different pre-existing medical conditions. For example, some insurers will not cover you for stroke if you had one within the last two years, while others say five years. If one insurer doesn't want to cover you, there's a good chance that another one does.

Want more information on pre-existing medical conditions?

Travel insurance and pre-existing conditions Back to top

How your age affects travel insurance

From researching over 20 brands, we have found a few ways that travel insurance changes based on your age. Major differences include reduced cover limits, reduced trip durations and less cover for pre-existing medical conditions.

There's not much of a difference when it comes to travel insurance for those over 50, but we did find the following:

  • Diabetes mellitus (Type 1 and 2) is no longer automatically covered by some insurers if you're over 50
  • A slight increase in premiums

While travel insurance premiums increase as you get older, you will also notice that some insurers may start to exclude cover for more pre-existing conditions than if you were travelling in your 50s.
After looking at a few policies, we noticed that a few insurers such as Budget Direct, 1Cover, Fast Cover, Travel with Kit and Cover-More have exclusions for cover of asthma if you are over 60 years old.

After you turn 65, insurers start to get a bit picky with their inclusions and policies. This is when a price difference in premiums starts to become noticeable.

We researched a few policies and found a few restrictions and exclusions for travellers over 65.

  • You may no longer be eligible to purchase annual or frequent traveller policies with some brands. Here are a couple of brands that will still offer annual or frequent traveller policies for travellers over 65:
Brand/Policy type Conditions Apply
Budget Direct Annual Multi-trip

Budget Direct

 For trips up to 30 days, comprehensive cover for travellers under 75 years of age. Get quote
InsureandGo Annual Multi-trip

InsureandGo

 For trips up to 30, 45 or 60 days at a time. Cover is available for those up to 100 years of age, but the maximum trip duration may be restricted depending on your age. Get quote
  • You may have trouble getting cover for winter sports, which is excluded by brands like 1Cover. Here are a couple of brands that may still offer cover for winter sports if you're over 65:
Brand/Policy type Conditions Apply
InsureandGo + Winter Sports cover

InsureandGo

 This includes cover for medical attention on the slopes, equipment and other prepaid expenses. InsureandGo has this option available to those up to 100 years of age. Get quote
Travel with Kit + Snow Pack

Travel with Kit

 Cover for your winter sport activities and related expenses. Travel with Kit offers this add-on to anyone up to the age of 99. Get quote
  • You may notice that insurers will only cover you for trips up to 90 days. You can still search on our comparison tool and you'll see the brands that still offer more long-term cover.
  • Some benefits might be lessened.

According to our research, travel insurance doesn't change so much in your 70s except for the following:

  • The price of your premium may increase
  • Some inclusions may decrease

Here are some considerations if you're 75 and over while travelling. As we age, we become more at risk of health-related issues and injuries. Because of this added risk to insurers, premiums can increase. Along with increased premiums, be mindful of the following:

  • Some insurers will require you to take out comprehensive cover (which is never a bad idea no matter what age you are), which means that essential or basic policies are no longer an option. Don't worry, this won't make your search harder. Simply add your details into our search tool and only your eligible policies will appear.
  • You may also find that there are age limits to some of the optional add-ons to your policy, such as adventure and motorcycle packs.

There are still plenty of brands that insure travellers over 80. We even have insurers that can cover those over 100 years of age. Obviously, extra premiums will be payable, and you'll need to pay close attention to make sure you disclose any pre-existing medical conditions for cover. Here are some other considerations:

  • Some insurers may charge an increased excess for medical-related claims
  • Limits for cover of accidental death and cancellations may not be included or reduced

Start looking for the best travel insurance for you

Can I get domestic travel insurance for seniors?

Travelling in Australia is hugely popular for seniors. For most insurers, you can take out a domestic policy if you're travelling at least 250km away from home.

Since medical cover is not included in domestic travel insurance, it's easier for seniors to qualify for this type of policy. Handy benefits for seniors when travelling within Australia include the following:

  • Cancellation cover for accommodation and ticketed events
  • Rental car excess insurance if you're hiring a car
  • Luggage cover for theft and damage to your belongings

Domestic travel insurance

Can I get seniors travel insurance for cruises?

Yes, most seniors Cruise ship are mainly concerned with on-board medical cover and emergency evacuation, which is automatically included in a lot of travel insurance policies. Always check directly with your chosen insurer for specific details. If you need to declare that you're going on a cruise, you will be able to do so during the online application process.

If you prefer to have the most comprehensive cover for peace of mind, many insurers offer add-on cruise packs that can provide cover for the following:

  • Pre-paid shore excursion cancellation
  • Missed cruise departure
  • Cabin confinement
  • Missed port cover
  • Formal attire cover

Cruise travel insurance

Can seniors get annual travel insurance?

Yes, as a senior, when you're looking for annual multi-trip travel insurance, it's good to know the following:

  • Maximum age limits. While it gets harder to find an annual policy as you get older, there are some brands that offer annual policies if you're 100 years old.
  • Reduced maximum trip durations. Standard annual multi-trip policies can have a maximum trip duration of up to 90 days at a time. If you're a senior traveller, this might be reduced to 30 days.

It can be a bit harder for those over 75, but it's still possible. Here are a couple of brands that have higher age limits for annual multi-trip policies.

Policy type/ Brand Maximum age Maximum trip duration Apply
Gold Annual Multi-Trip Insureandgo Logo Up to 100 years 30 days Get quote
Gold + Gold Plus All Clear Logo No limit 31 days Get quote

Find out more about annual travel insurance

Best seniors travel insurance

While there's no best policy that fits everybody, we've based this selection on the most popular brands that seniors visit from this site. Learn about their conditions for seniors and get a quote if you think they have the right policy for you.

Brand Single trip age limit Cover for pre-existing conditions? Included cover for cruises? Apply
No age limit
  • Automatic cover for 35 existing conditions
  • Online medical screening available if your condition is not listed
 Optional add-on Get quote
Up to 100 yrs old
  • Cover for 27 existing medical conditions
  • Cover cannot be provided if your condition is not listed
Get quote
1Cover logo Up to 100 yrs old
  • All pre-existing conditions are considered
  • Online medical screening is available
Get quote
No age limit
  • All pre-existing conditions are considered
  • Online medical screening is available
Get quote

*Table last updated: November 2019 Back to top

How much does seniors travel insurance cost?

Here's the difference between the cheapest policy, the most comprehensive and the most expensive. You'll notice that the most comprehensive policy is not necessarily the most expensive. This is why it pays to compare.

Seniors travel insurance

Price based on a 75-year-old individual travelling to Europe for 30 days. Quote made in November 2019.

Cheapest travel insurance for seniors

While we all love a bargain, Price tag finding the cheapest travel insurance might not be the best option as a senior. You might find that you're saving money today, but you need to consider exactly how much coverage you will have when you travel.

Cover does get more expensive as you get older but it doesn't always have to break the bank, with cover starting from as little as $2.50 a day. Here are some ways to save:

  • Consider a specialist insurer. Some insurance providers specialise in offering cover to senior travellers. With features and benefits designed to suit older Australians, these insurers may be able to offer affordable policies to suit you.
  • Travel sooner. Once you reach the age of 60, the older you get, the more your travel insurance premiums will cost. This is merely a reflection of the increased risk of injury and illness for older travellers, so travelling sooner rather than later can help you save money.
  • Free cover for dependants. If you're planning on travelling with your grandkids, it could be worth searching for a policy that provides free cover for your dependants up to a certain age, usually up to 18-21.
  • Research and compare. No matter how old you are, the most important thing you can do when choosing travel insurance is to compare multiple policies. Look at the features, exclusions, limits and cost of a range of policies to decide which one is right for you.
  • Use discounts and coupons. Some insurers will offer you a discount if you hold multiple policies with the same provider (e.g. car insurance, home and contents insurance, etc). You can also take advantage of online discounts to save some extra money.

Our comparison tool can also help you find a cheap policy. After you add your details and search for a quote, you'll have the option to sort through the results by price. By clicking on this button, your policy options can be sorted from cheapest to most expensive.

Sorting cheapest

Start looking for cheap seniors travel insurance

Here are some coupons to use

Tick Travel Insurance Tick Travel Insurance
Exclusive

Get 7% off all Tick travel insurance policies

Only on Finder. Use this code to get a 7% discount. T&Cs apply.

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What to look for in seniors travel insurance reviews

When you're looking at travel insurance reviews, it's good to be mindful of a few things to help you make a well-rounded choice.

  • Be critical. Remember that these reviews are usually written by the general public who will base their review on their experience. Those who write negative reviews usually have had their claims denied, but they may not fully disclose the reasons why.
  • Try to use third-party sites for reviews. Reviews posted on the insurer's website about themselves are likely to only be positive.
  • Read a few reviews. This will give you a more complete view of an insurer.
  • Be aware of reviews written by disgruntled customers. People are more inclined to write a negative review than a positive one. Read through it and take information that is helpful to your decision.

    • Watch: What you need to know about travel insurance for seniors

    How have other seniors used Finder?

    Idea

    We've helped more than 59,000 seniors aged 65 years or older compare travel insurance policies.

    List

    The most popular choice of policy for seniors are comprehensive plans.

    Like

    Seniors tend to choose 1Cover more than any other brand, but we work with more than 20 if you want to compare options.

    Stopwatch

    40% of seniors book just one or two weeks before departure, leaving any time between trip booking and policy purchasing at risk to unexpected events that could ruin their plans.

    Further reading:

    Compare seniors travel insurance today

    Frequently Asked Questions


    Picture: GettyImages
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61 Responses

  1. Avatarfinder Customer Care
    NikkiOctober 16, 2019Staff

    Hi S,

    Thanks for getting in touch! The one insured in the policy is the only person who is covered in the policy. The guardian/family member would need to have one and separate travel insurance. You can refer via our page on travel insurance – single trip here.

    You will find an online form on the page that will ask you to enter details of the trip. Enter all the information needed and click GET MY QUOTE. This will lead you to another page that shows the insurers (according to your info) that may cover you.

    You can find other filters on the left part of the page. You can compare the insurers by medical, cancellation, and excess cover, and price. To choose an insurer, simply click the GO TO SITE button to be redirected to their official website. Know that this is the stage to start your application.

    As a friendly reminder, carefully review the Product Disclosure Statement of the product before applying. You may also contact the insurance provider should you have any questions about their policy.

    Hope this helps and feel free to reach out to us again for further assistance.

    Safe travels,
    Nikki

    Reply
  2. Default Gravatar
    PeteFebruary 26, 2019

    Looking for the cheapest travel insurance to cover us for delay or cancellation or accident which may prevent us from completing the journey as per schedule. We are leaving from Gladstone and sailing out to Heron Island. Medical cover is not required as we are staying on Oz territory.

    Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JeniMarch 1, 2019Staff

      Hi Pete,

      Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.

      You’re currently at the right page. Kindly enter your details in the table like the date and destinations as well as the age of traveller/s then click on the get quote button to start comparing your options. Once the page has updated its info, at the left side of the page you may click on your needs under Required cover options and Specific cover types – for cruise cover. Once you have chosen the cheapest insurer, please click on the green go to site button or get quote button to be redirected to the insurer’s official page to learn more on their products or start your online application.

      I hope this helps.

      Thank you and have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Jeni

      Reply
  3. Default Gravatar
    BelindaDecember 17, 2018

    I would like a quote please for travel insurance cover for two of us. We are both 61; my husband, Warren, is still working. He has a National Seniors card and I have a Victorian Seniors card. We are doing a fully escorted tour of NZ, which includes flights there and back, of course, coach, rail and cruise tours [lakes and rivers]. Our travel dates from Melbourne are Tuesday 17th September, returning to Melbourne on Tuesday 8th October, 2019.
    Thanks from Belinda Smeal

    Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JohnDecember 19, 2018Staff

      Hi Belinda,

      Thank you for reaching out to finder.

      In getting a quote for travel insurance, we are on the right page. You just need to complete the details required via the form provided on this page and click on the green “Get my quote” button to see a panel of lenders that you could reach out to in taking out a travel insurance. Hope this helps!

      Cheers,
      Reggie

      Reply
  4. Default Gravatar
    janNovember 9, 2018

    Cost of travel insurance for 18 days cruising around Australia only.

    Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JeniNovember 9, 2018Staff

      Hi Jan,

      Thank you for getting in touch with finder.

      On this page, when you click on Cruise Cover tab under “What can I find on this page?” you may read more on seniors travel insurance cover cruises. Some insurers offer cover for seniors on this cruise travel insurance page. On that page, kindly input your details on the table then click on the Get my quote button to see and compare your options. If you have further enquiries on your cruise travel insurance, it is best to contact your chosen insurers as they more accurate info to answer your travel insurance queries.

      I hope this helps.

      Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.

      Thank you and have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Jeni

      Reply
  5. Default Gravatar
    JanAugust 15, 2018

    I am travelling 10/11/2019 to 25/11/2019 to South America and Antarctica. Why can I not get quotes for these dates?

    Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JhezAugust 16, 2018Staff

      Hello Jan,

      Thank you for your comment.

      You can get a quote from our quote engine within dates that are a year from the date of use. This is the reason why the dates above are not showing. You may directly get in touch with the insurer and see if they can give you a quote on those dates.

      Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chat box on the lower right corner of our page.

      Regards,
      Jhezelyn

      Reply
  6. Default Gravatar
    LynFebruary 7, 2018

    We are going on a cruise from Rome round trip to Rome then staying a week in one do I select the cruise policy or one trip policy, also is our mobility scooter covered?

    Reply
    • Default Gravatar
      Ash MunozFebruary 18, 2018

      Hi Lyn,

      Thank you for reaching out to us.

      For your cruise, you should be okay with Single Trip. You can check our Cruise Travel insurance page and enter your travel details into our panel then click on ‘Get quote now’ button to compare your options.

      Depending on the brand and level of cover you’ll take, you may or may not get cover for scooter. You must confirm this with the insurer to be sure.

      I hope this helps.

      Please do not hesitate to reach out to us again if you have additional questions.

      Cheers,
      Ash

      Reply
  7. Default Gravatar
    JohnOctober 20, 2017

    I have a condition called Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS) are there any Insurers who will not charge me extra if I use them? I don’t mean accept me but, charge me double the normal cost.

    Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JhezOctober 20, 2017Staff

      Hi John,

      Thank you for your comment.

      Sorry to hear that you have this kind of condition. Most of the insurers will see this as a pre-existing condition and a high-risk condition. Insurer will assess the nature of the condition and any current treatment you’re undergoing to determine whether or not to provide cover. Remember, each insurer has its own conditions for providing cover and will consider applications on a case by case basis.

      It is still worth comparing your travel insurance options to see what cover is available from different providers here. You may also check this page for travel insurance with pre-existing medical conditions. You just need to enter your trip details in the quote engine to compare the policies and prices from Australian brands. Once done, you’ll see the quotes from different insurance providers with the list of detailed benefits.

      Please make sure though to read the eligibility criteria, features and details of the policy, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statement PDS/T&C’s 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.

      Hope this helps.

      Regards,
      Jhezelyn

      Reply
  8. Default Gravatar
    christineSeptember 12, 2017

    We are 2 fit 64 and 68 year olds who need insurance for a 14 day cycling tour in Japan .Our existing annual policy wants to charge us an extra $638 .This seems OTT . Any suggestions ?

    Reply
    • Default Gravatar
      JonathanSeptember 12, 2017

      Hello Christine,

      Thank you for your inquiry.

      finder.com.au is a comparison service and can make general product recommendations. If you would like to compare the options available from the travel insurance for Japan, please enter your travel details into the quote comparison form located on this page.

      Please be advised that some insurers may allow you to have duo or family bundle which may include you and your partner in one policy, subject to terms. It is worth noting to review the Product Disclosure Statement as well as the relevant exclusions, as these are equally important as the cost of cover.

      Hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Jonathan

      Reply
  9. Default Gravatar
    NemJuly 4, 2017

    Female 76 and male 80 require travel insurance for a cruise Hawaii to Sydney Australia. 6 nights pre-cruise Honolulu. Male has pre-condition asthma. Female myasthenia gravis
    26 September 2017 to 20 October 2017.

    Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      MayJuly 4, 2017Staff

      Hi Nem,

      Thank you for your inquiry.

      As the travellers have pre-existing conditions, they may be able to get cover from the insurance brands listed on this page. To get a quote, please enter their travel details into the panel from that page. You can also read through the page to get a guide on how travel insurance works for those who have pre-existing medical conditions and it’s also best to speak to the insurer about their specific conditions for further advice.

      Cheers,
      May

      Reply
  10. Default Gravatar
    MichaelMarch 25, 2017

    I’m 70. In excellent health. I’m looking for an annual travel health plan to cover Usa and Europe. I’m happy to have to have a detailed health check first. I’m happy to have a very high deductible say of $5,000
    Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Avatarfinder Customer Care
      ZubairMarch 27, 2017Staff

      Hi Michael,

      Thank you for your question.

      finder.com.au is a comparison and information service and we are not permitted to provide our users with personalised financial advice or product recommendations.

      If you would like to compare annual trip policies from the travel insurance brands in our panel, please enter your travel details into the form.

      All the best,
      Zubair

      Reply
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