If you choose high-level cover, seniors travel insurance can cover a wide range of travel risks and expenses, including:

• Overseas medical expenses. This includes cover for ambulance transport, hospital accommodation, medical evacuation and even repatriation back to Australia if necessary.
• Cancellation costs. If you need to cover your trip due to unforeseen circumstances, for example a serious injury or the death of a relative, travel insurance covers your cancellation fees and non-refundable deposits.
• Lost, stolen or damaged luggage. You’ll be covered for the cost of repairing or replacing your luggage and personal belongings, while benefits are also available if your luggage is delayed or misplaced by an airline.
• Travel delay. If your flight is delayed by circumstances beyond your control, travel insurance can cover your additional meals and accommodation expenses.
• Rental car insurance excess. When your hire car is crashed, maliciously damaged or involved in an accident, this benefit covers the hefty excess charged by the hire company.
• Theft. You’ll also be covered for theft of cash from your person.
• Passports and travel documents. If your passports or important travel documents are lost or stolen during your trip, seniors travel insurance can cover the cost of their replacement.

Is there a difference between a seniors policy and a 'regular' one?

There’s really no difference between a seniors travel insurance policy and any other policy. Premiums, excesses, benefits and limitations are based on an applicant’s circumstances, and seniors merely have a different set of circumstances than younger travellers.

Here are some ways your life circumstances as a senior might affect your policy:

• Pre-existing conditions. No matter what your age, insurers may charge extra for certain pre-existing conditions, place an age limit on them or not cover them at all. Seniors will probably be more affected by this than others, simply due to a longer medical history.
• Policy type. Some insurers have separate policies to account for commonalities among the senior demographic and to streamline the process. The end result doesn’t change though. You’ll be assessed based on your circumstances just as you would under a policy without the “seniors” branding.
• Price. You’ll pay more as a senior, because insurers take into account the likelihood that you’ll have to make a claim. Even without pre-existing conditions, older travellers are more likely to suffer serious (and potentially expensive) medical problems overseas - but that precisely why it's so important to get insurance that can give you peace of mind on your travels.
• Multi-trip policies. Most insurers have a maximum age limit on annual multi-trip policies, but that can be as low as 60 or as high as 80 depending on the policy.

There’s a travel insurance policy for everyone, no matter your age. You may find that a few brands won't offer travel insurance to people over the age of 65, a few more over 75, a few more over 80 and so on. But the good news is, many don't have an age limit at all. We saved you the work of researching policy age limits one by one. Just use the table below to quickly identify what policies you’re eligible for from the brands available on finder:

	Brand	Standard age limit	Good to know	Get quote
	1Cover	79	If you're 80 or over, you need to complete a pre-existing medical declaration form for Comprehensive and Domestic policies. Comprehensive and Domestic policies are available to travellers under the age of 79, while Essentials and Basic policies are available to travellers under the age of 74.	Get quote
	AllClear	No age limit	There is no maximum age limit, and better still, AllClear considers all pre-existing medical conditions. That's right - they don't automatically exclude any medical issues you might have.	Get quote
	American Express	89	Cover is available to travellers under 89 years of age on the Comprehensive and Ultimate Single Trip policies.	Get quote
	Australia Post	N/A	The product disclosure statement (PDS) does not mention an age limit. It's a good idea to check with the provider prior to purchase. Also note that reduced limits may be applied to travellers over 70 years of age.	Get quote
	Blue Monkey	65	Cover is available to travellers under the age of 65.	Get quote
	Boomers	74	Travellers up to the age of 74 are eligible for the Multi-Trip Plan; the Non-Medical Plan is available for all ages, and the Essentials Plans has an age limit of 59.	Get quote
	Budget Direct	100	Comprehensive and Domestic policies cover you if you are 100 years of age or under on the date of application, while Last Minute, Essential and Annual Multi-Trip levels of cover are available for travellers under 75.	Get quote
	Columbus Direct	84	If you wish to take out Columbus Direct travel insurance, you must be no more than 84 years old on the date of purchase.	Get quote
	Cover-More	84	Cover-More offers travel insurance for people up to 84 years of age.	Get quote
	Downunder (DU Insurance)	120	Plans A Plus, A and B are available to travellers of all ages. Travellers over the age of 80 may be subject to different excess amounts and claim limits.	Get quote
	Easy	70	If you're over 70 years of age at the time the Certificate of Insurance is issued, you need to complete a Travellers Medical Appraisal Form. If your application is approved, you will be advised of any restrictions that apply, and you may have to pay an additional premium.	Get quote
	Fast Cover	89	Travellers 90 years and over are subject to various conditions, depending on the policy.	Get quote
	Go Insurance	75	This policy is available to anyone aged 75 and under at the time of purchase.	Get quote
	InsureandGo	100	This insurer covers people who are 100 years of age or under on the date of application for the Silver and Gold policies. In addition, it considers all pre-existing conditions.	Get quote
	Insure4Less	65	This policy provides cover for travellers aged 65 and under.	Get quote
	iTrek	65	Cover is available to travellers aged 65 years and under.	Get quote
	No Worries	84	Cover is available to travellers under the age of 85.	Get quote
	Online Travel Insurance	74	People under the age of 74 can access Comprehensive, Domestic, Basic and Multi-Trip Plans.	Get quote
	Professionals Travel Cover	65	Cover is available to travellers aged 65 years and under.	Get quote
	Simply	79	Simply covers travellers under 79 with its Comprehensive and Australia Only policies. Travellers under 74 can get its Budget policy, and those under 64 can get its Frequent Traveller policy. If you are aged 80 or over, you will need to complete a pre-existing medical declaration form to be considered.	Get quote
	Ski-Insurance.com.au	64	Cover is available to travellers aged 64 years and under.	Get quote
	Southern Cross	No age limit	Cover is available to travellers of all ages.	Get quote
	STA	74	Cover is available to travellers under the age of 74 with the Comprehensive, Standard and Cancellation & Luggage policies.	Get quote
	Tick	100	Travellers under the age of 100 are eligible for the Domestic, Standard and Top policies, while Budget policies are available to travellers under 79 and Basic policies are available to travellers under 69.	Get quote
	Travel Insurance Direct	81	Travel Insurance Direct offers cover up to the age of 81 for its Works and Domestic policies. The Basics policy is available to travellers under the age of 76.	Get quote
	Travel Insurance Saver	79	Travellers with pre-existing conditions and/or those over the age of 80 years will need to complete a Traveller's Medical Appraisal form.	Get quote
	Travel Insuranz	70	Travel Insuranz offers travel insurance for people under the age of 70.	Get quote
	Virgin	N/A	There does not seem to be an age limit for Plan A (Comprehensive) and Plan B (Australia Only). However, it is advisable to check with the provider prior to purchase.	Get quote
	Webjet	All ages	Comprehensive, Domestic and Non-Medical Plan are available to travellers of any age. Essentials, Basic and Multi-Trip Plans are available to people under the age of 74.	Get quote
	Woolworths	79	Woolworths covers policyholders who are not older than 79 at the time of purchase of its Comprehensive, Basic or Saver policies. The age limit for Annual Multi-Trip policies is 75.	Get quote
	Worldcare	85	Worldcare provides Comprehensive and Australia Only (Plans A and B) travel insurance cover for travellers up to 85 years of age. Plans C, D and E (Budget Cover, International and Australia) have an age limit of 71.	Get quote
	youGo	99	YouGo provides cover for travellers up to the age of 99, depending on the area selected and duration of travel. Reduced limits may apply for travellers over the age of 70.	Get quote

As we age, we become susceptible to an increasing range of health problems. For senior travellers, this means that when you apply for travel insurance there’s a good chance that you will have one or more pre-existing medical conditions.

You have a duty to disclose these conditions to the insurer during the application process as this could have a bearing on their decision whether or not to offer cover, as well as help them calculate how much your premium will be. If you don't, the insurer can refuse to cover you when you make a claim, so it's better to be safe than sorry.

If you have a pre-existing condition and you’re worried that it could impact your ability to get travel insurance, here’s what you should know:

• Some travel insurance brands only provide cover for health conditions up to a certain age. Some insurers in Australia exclude applicants over the age of 75 from receiving cover for pre-existing conditions.
• Each brand may have different rules for different pre-existing medical conditions. For example, some brands will not cover you for stroke if you had a stroke within the last two years, while some other brands will not cover you if you've had any incidents within the last five years.
• You may need to provide additional medical evidence. Some medical conditions, such as cataracts, glaucoma and high blood pressure, are often automatically covered. To get cover for other conditions, you may have to complete a medical declaration as well as pay an additional premium.
• Failure to disclose can cause big problems. Don’t be tempted to ‘forget’ to disclose a pre-existing condition just so you can save a few dollars on the cost of cover. If you later need to make a claim due to this condition, your claim will be rejected and the insurer may decide to cancel your policy.

• What is a pre-existing condition?

  What is a pre-existing condition?

  A pre-existing condition is generally defined as:

  • An ongoing medical condition or symptom of the condition that the applicant is aware of, or complications related to the condition
  • A medical or dental condition that is currently being treated or has been treated by a certified medical professional

  • Pregnancy
  • Conditions that the policyholder treats with prescribed medication
  • Conditions that the policyholder has had surgery on in the past

  Check the PDS to see how your insurer defines pre-existing conditions.

• What pre-existing conditions are normally excluded?

  What types of pre-existing conditions are usually excluded?

  Conditions that are covered and excluded by seniors travel insurance policies vary between insurance brands. Make sure you know what you’re covered for prior to submitting your policy application. However, you typically cannot get cover for:

  • Any condition for which you have been given a terminal prognosis and a life expectancy of less than two years
  • Any condition for which you have been hospitalised in the past two years
  • Any condition for which you have undergone surgery in the past six weeks
  • Any type of cancer or secondary cancer
  • Any condition for which you require oxygen
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Mental illness (conditions on mental illness vary greatly between insurers, so it's critical to have a clear understanding of the terms and conditions of this exclusion)
  • Chronic or recurring pain
  • HIV or AIDS
  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

  Finally, keep in mind that certain medications may also be excluded from cover. For example, many insurers won’t cover you if you take a blood-thinning prescription medication such as Warfarin.

• Can I still get a policy if I have an excluded condition?

  Can I still get a policy if I have an excluded condition?

  Yes. You will still be eligible to purchase a policy and take advantage of the benefits it provides, but you will not be covered for any claims that arise due to your pre-existing condition.

• Check in with your doctor. Book in for a check-up to make sure it’s safe for you to travel. Not only will your doctor be able to detect any health problems that could cause issues during your trip, but they can also provide tips and advice on how to travel safely.
• Make sure your vaccinations are up to date. Check to see what (if any) vaccinations you will need before your trip. Once again, your doctor is the best person to advise you on this.
• Changes to medication. Check with your doctor to see if you need to adjust any of your medications based on your destination. For example, some medications that are legal in Australia may not be available overseas, while diabetics should check to see if they need to adjust their insulin dosage to account for different time zones.
• Doctor's statements. If you are taking medication for a pre-existing condition, you may require a written referral from your doctor to avoid any difficulty with customs officials.
• Buying medication overseas. Beware of buying prescription medication from different countries overseas as the strength of those medications and recommended dosages may be different to what you are usually prescribed. Whenever possible, make sure you have enough medication (including some extra in case of unexpected delays) to cover the entire trip duration.
• Avoid Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). Prevent DVT and its potentially life-threatening complications when flying by strolling up and down the aisles when possible, performing foot and leg stretches while seated, staying hydrated and avoiding alcohol.
• Take care of yourself. Don’t plan a jam-packed itinerary that will have you hurrying from one destination to the next. Give yourself some time to relax, recover from the effects of jet lag and avoid pushing yourself too hard.

Do I need specialised cruise insurance as a senior?

Cruise travel insurance is available to people over 65 and offers additional cover for losses that you may incur while on a cruise trip. Your insurer can provide additional cover for the following:

• Medical expenses incurred while at sea
• Medical allowance if you're confined to your cabin
• Cancelled excursions due to bad weather
• Cancellations due to missed cruises

More about cruise travel insurance

• Your age. As a general rule, the older you are, the more you’ll have to pay for a policy.
• How many people the policy covers. The more people you insure, the higher your premium.
• Your pre-existing conditions. If you have a pre-existing condition that isn’t automatically covered, the insurer may agree to cover it if you provide further medical information and pay an additional fee.
• Your travel plans. Where you’re travelling and how long you’ll be going for can influence the cost of cover. You may also need to purchase additional cover for your specific trip, for example if you want golf travel insurance or cruise travel insurance.
• The level of cover you choose. Comprehensive cover costs more than policies that only cover the essentials.
• Any discounts that apply. Many insurers offer discounted cover to seniors, while you may also be able to access discounts for buying online, for using special promo codes and coupons, or for holding multiple policies (e.g. car insurance, home and contents insurance and travel insurance) with the same provider.

To give you an idea of how much a policy will cost, check out the examples below.

• Travellers aged 65
• Travellers aged 70
• Travellers aged 75
• Travellers aged 80+

There’s no such thing as a singular policy that’s better than all the rest for mature travellers. Every individual has their own unique cover wants and needs, so the right policy for your trip will vary depending on where you’re going, what you’re doing when you get there, your overall health and a range of other factors. To find the best policy for your trip, follow a few simple steps:

• Consider your cover needs. Do you want basic or comprehensive cover, single or multi-trip cover, international or domestic insurance? How much cover do you want for crucial benefits such as overseas medical expenses and unexpected cancellation costs? Do you need to add any extras to your policy, for example golf or cruise cover?
• Work out your budget. The cost of cover varies widely between insurers and based on your personal circumstances, so it’s a good idea to work out roughly how much you’re willing to spend on travel insurance before hunting around for a policy.
• Do your research. Now it’s time to see what’s available. Research the different policies that are suitable for you, and make sure any policy you consider is backed by a reputable underwriter.
• Compare, compare, compare. It’s easy to compare travel insurance online. As well as the cost of cover, consider the benefits, limits and exclusions of each policy to find cover that matches your needs.

How can I save on my policy?

Cost is always a factor when considering which travel insurance policy to choose, but it shouldn't be the only factor you consider. It's important to look at what a policy covers before deciding whether it's right for you. Want to save money? The following tips could help:

• Buy direct. Travel insurance policies purchased through travel agents and airlines cost two or even three times as much as policies bought directly from the insurer, so cut out the middleman and buy cover straight from the provider.
• Buy online. Some insurers offer premium discounts if you choose to buy cover online rather than over the phone.
• Shop around. Instead of settling for the first insurer you find, compare seniors travel insurance quotes across a number of insurers to find the best value for money.
• Take advantage of discounts. Some insurers offer seniors discounts to customers over the age of 55. You could also be able to benefit from a multi-policy discount if you hold another type of cover, for example car or home and contents insurance, with the same provider.
• Use promo codes. Search for online promo codes that you can apply at the checkout to enjoy discounted travel insurance premiums.
• Choose a higher excess. If your policy comes with a flexible excess, you can adjust your excess higher and receive a lower premium in return.
• Don’t pay for options you don’t need. If you’re paying extra for optional cover, such as adventure sports cover or even increased cover for valuable items, make sure you’re paying for cover you actually need.
• Consider multi-trip cover. If you’re a frequent traveller and you’ll be taking more than one trip in the next 12 months, consider buying annual travel insurance. This policy covers all your trips for a year and is usually cheaper than buying separate cover for each trip.

Discounts available on finder

The following travel insurance brands offer cover for seniors, and an exclusive discount on finder.com.au.

Tick Travel Insurance	Exclusive Get 10% off all Tick Travel Insurance policies	Coupon code expires 30 Apr 2021	Want to save more on your Tick Travel Insurance policy? Simply enter this code to receive a 10% discount on your cover.	Last verified 14 Feb 2018	Show code fi**** After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code
YouGo Travel Insurance Deals	Exclusive Save 10% on YouGo Travel Insurance		Get 10% off your YouGo travel insurance cover with this exclusive coupon code. Offer available for a limited time only!	Last verified 8 Mar 2018	Show code YO**** After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code
Fast Cover Travel Insurance Deals	Get 5% off travel insurance with Fast Cover		Get 5% off your travel insurance when you use this coupon code.	Last verified 6 Nov 2017	Show code CO**** After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code
1Cover	Your chance to win a $5,000 shopping spree in April!	Deal expires 30 Apr 2018	Buy a travel insurance policy by April 30 to go into the weekly draw to win $5,000 worth of Westfield Gift Cards.	Last verified 10 Apr 2018	Get deal

It’s possible to find travel insurance for people of all ages. As the table near the top of this page shows, policy age limits vary from one insurer to the next. However, there are insurers that offer cover for travellers up to the age of 90, 100 or even 120, and some providers that don’t impose any upper age limits on their policies at all. Check the relevant section for your age group below for more information on how to find cover.

• Over 60
• Over 65
• Over 70
• Over 75
• Over 80
• Over 85

• Will my seniors travel insurance policy also cover my grandchildren?

  Yes. Many insurers will automatically include cover for grandkids travelling with you provided that they’re under the age of 21, named on your policy and not working full-time.

• What types of travel insurance are available for Australian seniors?

  You can access a full range of policies including international and domestic travel insurance, comprehensive or basic cover, and single-trip or annual multi-trip cover. However, you should be aware that stricter age caps apply to some policies, for example annual multi-trip travel insurance.

• Can I get cruise travel insurance for seniors?

  Yes. You can still get cruise travel insurance if you’re over the age of 60. This type of insurance is offered as an extra-cost option by many insurers and covers you for a range of cruise-related costs, such as:

  • Medical expenses incurred while at sea
  • Medical allowance if you're confined to your cabin
  • Cancelled excursions due to bad weather
  • Cancellations due to missed cruises
  • Lost, stolen or damaged formal cruise attire

• Should I consider buying cover from a company that specialises in insurance for seniors?

  Specialist seniors insurance providers are specifically set up to meet the needs of older travellers, so you may find the application process with these providers runs more smoothly than with other companies that insure people of all ages. However, remember that these brands have the same underwriters and the same terms and conditions as other travel insurance brands, so there will often be no real difference in the cover provided.

• I may be over 65 but I’m still very active – will I still need to pay an age loading?

  Unfortunately, yes. Many insurers add a loading to your premium based on your age bracket, so unfortunately living an active and healthy lifestyle won’t lower your premium.

• When should I buy seniors travel insurance?

  We recommend that you buy cover as soon as you book your trip, as this way you can take advantage of trip cancellation cover from the moment you purchase your policy.

• Does seniors travel insurance cover me if I damage my rental car?

  Yes. Most comprehensive travel insurance policies include car rental excess cover.

• My parents are quite elderly – will travel insurance cover me if they suffer an unforeseen accident or illness and I need to cancel or cut my trip short ?

  Yes. Cover is available for trip cancellation costs and non-refundable deposits in these circumstances.

How do I get covered?

If you're ready to compare seniors travel insurance policies from Australian insurance providers online, enter your travel details into the quote form above (no personal details are required until you're ready to buy!) Always remember to look through the conditions of each policy before submitting your application to ensure that you know exactly what is and isn’t covered.

Get free quotes from 20+ Australian brands

_{*Quote based on a 7-day trip for a 65-year old going to Bali. Price shown is accurate as of February 2018. Prices are illustrative only and subject to change - for the most accurate pricing, use the quote engine above.
*The offers compared on this page are chosen from a range of products finder.com.au has access to track details from and is not representative of all the products available in the market. Products are displayed in no particular order or ranking. The use of the terms "Best" and "Top" are not product ratings and are subject to our disclaimer. You should consider seeking independent financial advice and consider your personal financial circumstances when comparing products.}