Travel insurance for over 85

Finding travel insurance can be a bit tricky as an older traveller. However, there are still options available to you in your golden years. The right travel insurance can cover overseas medical expenses, emergency transport back to Australia, lost or stolen passports and luggage, and more.

What types of travel insurance cover are available?

For overseas trips, many insurers offer a choice of the following levels of cover:

• Comprehensive cover. This type of policy covers trip cancellation, overseas medical and hospital expenses, luggage and personal belongings, cash and travel documents, travel and luggage delays, accidental death, personal liability, rental vehicle insurance excess, alternative transport arrangements and a whole lot more.
• Mid-range cover. This type of policy offers a number of the same cover features as a comprehensive policy but with a lower limit. These policies may not provide all the same benefits as comprehensive cover, but will usually protect against trip cancellation, overseas medical expenses, luggage and personal belongings and travel delays.
• Basic cover. Basic travel insurance is an inexpensive option as it only offers a very limited range of cover, such as overseas medical expenses and personal liability.

Can I get travel insurance with pre-existing conditions?

It is possible to get travel insurance with a pre-existing medical condition if you’re over 85. Pre-existing conditions are usually defined as an illness or injury you had prior to taking out a travel insurance policy.

Most insurers will require you to complete a medical questionnaire so they can assess the chance of needing to pay for a medical event while you’re overseas, and identify pre-existing medical conditions. From there, they will typically handle any pre-existing conditions in one of the following ways:

• They will offer you standard travel insurance cover
• You'll be offered cover, but without medical cover for your condition
• You'll be offered insurance at a higher cost
• The provider sets certain exclusions, restrictions or a higher policy excess
• You'll be turned down for insurance

The definition of a pre-existing condition

There may be differences between insurers. For example, one provider might define any surgery in the last 12 months as a pre-existing condition, while another will want to know about any surgery in the last 2 years. Generally, however, a pre-existing medical condition can be defined as any of the following:

• Any medical condition or illness of which you are aware
• Any condition for which treatment, medication or advice or has been received or prescribed
• Any chronic or ongoing illness or health condition, including dental ones.
• Any surgery you have received recently
• Any symptoms that you know about but have not yet been diagnosed
• Any condition that you should be seeing a doctor about

Pre-existing conditions that may be covered

Insurers will make exceptions for health issues that technically qualify as pre-existing conditions, but can be safely managed with medication, or aren’t causing further health complications. These can include:

Sometimes conditions might apply to these. In the case of diabetes, for example, you will often need to have been diagnosed more than 12 months ago so the insurer knows the condition is “stable”.

Pre-existing conditions that the insurer will want to know more about

If you have these, or other issues, the travel insurance provider might ask for more information and give you an additional questionnaire to fill out.

• Heart problems, or if you have a pacemaker
• Epilepsy
• Any recent surgery
• Lung disease
• Some types of diabetes
• If you have suffered from deep vein thrombosis, a stroke or other issues

Pre-existing conditions that are usually not covered

When a condition is not covered, the insurer will not pay out for claims related to it, even if the conditions of policy say they will. Conditions which are typically not covered include:

• Cancer
• Diagnosed terminal illnesses
• Chronic lung disease
• Chronic pain
• Mental illness, including dementia and related conditions
• Congestive heart failure

The exact pre-existing conditions in each category, and whether or not they are covered, vary depending on the insurer and the nature of the condition. It is important that you discuss these with your insurer to understand exactly what is covered.

• Conditions in the top category are more likely to be covered at no extra cost, or only a small price increase, because they are not as dangerous as the others.
• Conditions in the bottom, most severe, category are unlikely to be covered, but if they are they will typically cost a lot more.

What else impacts the cost of my cover?

Travel insurance premiums are influenced by a range of factors, including:

The length of your trip.

The longer your journey, the more your cover will cost.

Where you're going.

From natural disasters to political instability, some areas of the world are classified as riskier destinations and you'll have to pay more for cover there.

What you're doing.

Do you want to go skiing or parasailing? If so, don't be surprised if you have to pay more for cover. to take out extra cover.

Travel warnings.

If there is an advisory issued against the country you're travelling to, you will usually have to pay more for cover.

Your pre-existing conditions.

As mentioned above, you may need to pay extra if an insurer agrees to cover your pre-existing medical condition.

Raising your benefit limit.

If you want additional cover for valuables such as laptops and mobile phones, you may need to pay extra to raise the limits of your cover.

Receive quotes if you are over 85

Frequently asked questions

• Is there an upper age limit for travel insurance?

  While some insurers may impose an upper age limit, many providers offer travel insurance for those over 85 and even into their 90s. The availability of cover often depends on your health, the destination and the length of your trip. Policies for very old travellers typically require a medical assessment. It is always important to compare options and check the Product Disclosure Statement for any specific age restrictions.

• Does travel insurance for over 85s cover emergency medical evacuation?

  Comprehensive travel insurance policies for over 85s typically include cover for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation. This is a crucial benefit given the potential for higher medical risks as you age. It ensures you can be transported to the nearest appropriate medical facility or even back to Australia if deemed medically necessary. Always confirm the specific limits and conditions related to emergency evacuation in your chosen policy's Product Disclosure Statement.

• What happens if I forget to declare a pre-existing medical condition?

  Failing to declare a pre-existing medical condition can have serious consequences. If you make a claim related to an undeclared condition, your insurer may refuse to pay out. In some cases, your entire policy could be deemed invalid leaving you without cover for any aspect of your trip. It is always vital to be completely honest and declare all medical conditions, treatments and medications when applying for travel insurance. This ensures your policy remains valid when you need it most.

• Can I get travel insurance for a very long trip if I am over 85?

  Getting travel insurance for extended trips as a traveller over 85 can be more challenging but it is still possible. Many insurers have maximum trip duration limits which may be shorter for older age groups. You may need to look for specialist long stay travel insurance providers or consider purchasing multiple single trip policies if allowed by the insurer. Always check the maximum trip duration carefully and be prepared for higher premiums due to the increased risk associated with longer travel times.

• Is domestic travel insurance available for people over 85?

  Yes, domestic travel insurance is available for people over 85. While Medicare covers medical expenses within Australia, domestic travel insurance can provide cover for other unexpected events. These include trip cancellation, lost luggage, rental car excess and personal liability. The same principles apply as with overseas travel insurance regarding age, pre-existing conditions and policy costs. It is always wise to compare domestic policies to find one that suits your travel plans and health needs.

Written by

Richard Laycock

Editor

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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. Richard studied Media at Macquarie University and The Missouri School of Journalism and has a Tier 1 Certification in General Advice for Life Insurance. See full bio

Co-written by

James Martin

Journalist

James Martin was the insurance editor at Finder. He has written on a range of insurance and finance topics for over 7 years. James often shares his insurance expertise as a media spokesperson and has appeared on Prime 7 News, Insurance News, 7NEWS and The Guardian. An experienced journalist, James' work has featured in publications including The Irish Times, Companies100 and In Business. He holds a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification, both of which meet the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio

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James has written 167 Finder guides across topics including:

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