uk travel insurance for seniors

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• Travel insurance for seniors

As you get older, being able to go where you want when you want is all part of the joy. And changes in your medical needs shouldn’t stand in the way of your desire to travel.

Does it feel like getting travel insurance is holding you back? This guide looks at how to get the cover you need, including for pre-existing medical conditions, and what to look out for when you do.

Posted: 26/1/2022 | By Darren Williams

Getting travel insurance in later life

Finding the right travel insurance for seniors of any age may seem difficult at times, but it needn’t be. A handful of insurers cater specifically to pensioners and seniors, and others can give people aged over 60 the same benefits under their normal travel insurance cover.

That’s how we do it here at Post Office. You simply request a quote the same way adults of all ages do. We’ll ask you about the type of holiday you’re taking, the activities you’ll be doing and the level of cover you need. And we’ll consider all medical conditions, with a simple online screening. Then, if you're eligible for cover, we'll quote you a price.

Post Office Travel Insurance can help cover medical costs, protect against delays or cancellations, lost luggage and documents, and personal liability. There’s no upper age limit on our single-trip policies. Or, if you’re travelling more in a 12-month period, we can provide annual multi-trip cover up to 75 years of age.

Why is travel insurance important?

Most holidays pass without any problems but there’s always a a worry about what might go wrong so it’s always safer to go prepared. Travelling without insurance just isn’t worth it – fall ill in some countries and you could be liable for huge medical bills as well as the cost of getting you home.

Travel insurance is important whatever age you are when you travel. And it’s a must-have for seniors especially – whether you’re 60, 65, 70, 75, 80 or above, or anywhere in between. Getting cover in place will let you relax and enjoy your trip without worrying about how you might pay for unexpected medical treatment, lost or damaged possessions, or cancellations.

It’s important to know that, insurers tend to see older age groups as a higher risk, the cover they quote for might be more expensive, or they may not cover all things you need. It's important to do your research and make sure the price and the policy are both right for you. Read the policy documents carefully and make sure you declare all medical conditions on the medical questionnaire. We’ll look at why this is so important in the next section.

Need insurance that covers your travels in later life?

Medical cover and the ghic or ehic.

The most important thing about travel insurance for seniors and the elderly is that your health cover gives you the protection you need, such as in medical emergencies.

If you’re visiting a country in the EU, a valid UK Global Health Insurance Card (Ghic) or still-in-date European Health Insurance Card (Ehic) will let you access state provided medical healthcare for free or the same as it costs locals.

Getting travel insurance is still important, though, as it covers costs the cards don’t, such as repatriation to the UK if you need to be transported home. And, of course, it also protects you in the event of delays or cancellations, lost luggage and documents and personal liability.

T ravel insurance and pre-existing medical conditions

It’s important to make sure you have the right cover in place in case something related to your condition happens while you’re away.

To get travel insurance you’ll need to accurately declare all pre-existing medical conditions when you apply. Insurers will make a decision based on the details you give them. There are different levels of risk they’re prepared to accept, so getting declined by one insurer doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be declined by them all.

Conditions such as cancer, heart problems and diabetes will affect the policy and its price because they increase the chance of a claim. One way of managing this cost is to go with an insurer who offers specialised policies for your age group, and may be able to tailor cover to your needs.

You could also look at travel insurance for the elderly that is manually underwritten, meaning each policy considers the unique situation of the policy holder. This type of insurance is, predictably, more expensive in general than standard terms travel insurance.

At Post Office, we consider all medical conditions when you ask for a quote. This means, if you’re living with a long-term illness, you may be covered for any issues it could cause while you’re away, such as having to seek medical care or being rushed home for treatment.

If you’re in doubt or have a condition that’s particularly rare, it might be worth talking to a representative. If you have a serious condition that you’re struggling to find cover for, check the Money and Pensions Scheme (MaPS) directory of companies that may be able to help or call 0800 138 7777 .

Find out more about:

Travel insurance for people with cancer

Travel insurance for diabetics

Travel insurance and high blood pressure

Choosing the right cover

Most travel insurance for seniors will follow a standard format: do you want insurance for a single trip, for multiple trips or for a specialist trip such as a cruise or a ski break?

Cover for single or multiple trips

One of the first things to think about when choosing a policy is how often you’re likely to travel in a 12-month period. Different policy types may suit depending on the answer:

• Single trip travel insurance is designed for people who want to take one trip within any given year. If it’s likely you’ll only travel once in that time, it may be the most cost-effective option
• Annual multi-trip travel insurance  tends to suit people who travel two or more times within a year. It can be better value for those who go away frequently

Do you need a more specialist type of cover?

For some holidays, such as cruises or skiing trips, you may need to buy a policy add-on or specialist policy that will cover the specific activities or risks involved:

• Cruise cover  costs a little extra but offers extra protection at sea, like emergency rescue and cabin confinement; cruising without it may invalidate your travel insurance policy
• Sports and higher-risk activities: while lots of activities may be covered by regular policies some, such as golf and extreme sports , may need extra protection for you, other people and the equipment used.

Always check what activities your policy does and doesn’t cover. If your travel insurance and any add-ons you’ve bought with it don’t cover it you might want to think twice about getting involved and risking an accident

• Winter sports travel insurance : if activities such as skiing are still your thing, they’ll of course need some extra cover for the higher risk of injury involved, and the safeguard equipment and property in the event of accidental damage

Some providers also offer cover for unexpected events like local unrest and natural catastrophes such as volcanic eruptions or tsunamis. Check the risks in your destination on the UK government’s foreign travel advice page. Or, if you’re going to a country that you know well, you may decide this cover is unnecessary.

Check policies for any age limits

Whichever policy type you choose, check carefully to see how long you are covered for each trip. Since older people tend to go on longer holidays, it’s important to know if there are any trip limits.

Travel insurers can set upper age limits depending on the kind of activity you want to do while away. For instance, you’re less likely to find ski cover if you’re in your 70s and 80s. That’s not to say it doesn’t exist; you just might need to find a specialist provider.

The older you get, the more restrictions there may be on how long you can travel and stay covered. For instance, while younger people may be able to get covered for up to a year, people in their 70s might be limited to 90 days, and those in their 80s to fewer days still.

This will differ between insurers, so it’s worth knowing what you can get covered for before making a purchase.

As an example, Post Office Travel Insurance has the following age limits:

• Single-trip policies : if you’re up to and including 70, you can qualify for the longest possible trip of 365 days. If you’re between 71 and 75, the maximum length of your trip drops to 90 days. And if you are 76 or above, the longest trip you'd be covered for is 31 days
• Multi-trip policies : the maximum age for our Economy, Standard and Premier level multi-trip policies is 75. Although you can take as many trips as you like within the policy year, there’s a maximum duration for each individual trip. The limit varies depending on the cover level chosen. It’s 17 days for Economy and Standard cover, and 31 days for Premier. On some policies the limit can be extended to 31, 45 or 60 days for an additional premium.

Policy details to look out for

When you compare travel insurance for senior travellers from different providers, check to see if you have cover for things such as:

• Medical emergencies
• Repatriation (getting you back home)
• Lost, stolen or damaged luggage
• Lost or stolen cash
• Medical transfers
• Cancellation or curtailment (cutting your trip short)
• Personal liability
• Legal protection

Not every policy will include all of these. Comprehensive travel insurance should cover most of them, but always double check, and be aware of how much you’re covered for in each case.

Does your policy cover the cost of your holiday if you need to cancel it? For older travellers, there’s an increased chance you might fall ill or be unable to make your trip. Ask before you buy what would happen if you had to cancel, and what you could claim back.

Interested in travel insurance?

Common questions, what should senior travel insurance cover.

Travel insurance for seniors should include medical cover that suits the needs of older travellers, so you can call on it in emergencies such as injury or if you fall ill while you’re away.

Other things commonly covered by a travel insurance policy include cancellation and curtailment, and loss of belongings. If you buy travel insurance at the time you book your holiday, then you’re covered from that point onward. This means that if you have to cancel your holiday before leaving due to bad traffic, unexpected illness or a family bereavement, you could make a claim.

Some providers offer travel insurance tailored specifically to travellers in senior age groups. However, normal travel insurance policies are often available to customers well into their 80s. This might be better value and will still offer emergency medical cover. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide if you need specialist cover or if what is provided on a standard policy is right for you.

What is travel insurance for over 65s, over 70s and over 75s?

As we get older insurers see us as higher risk on our travels because we’re more likely to suffer health problems while we’re away, which usually increases the cost of insurance. But there’s another reason why travel insurance for seniors is usually pricier: older people tend to be more adventurous and often choose to travel to more far-flung, exotic places.

Visiting Thai temples or African game parks is always a wonderful experience, but the medical costs should anything happen to you will usually be higher than if you were travelling in Europe. If you’re in an age group that’s over 65, 70, 75 or 80, these costs are likely to become higher still, as specialist care and travel arrangements may be more complex the older you get.

Can I get travel insurance if I’m over 80 years old?

The simple answer is yes, you can. There are lots of policies on the market that cater to older travellers, either as part of their regular travel insurance product or with specialist products tailored to older age groups.

The reason that people over 80 might need a special policy when they travel is they have a different set of risks. While nobody expects you to be engaging in too many extreme sports in your 80s, there are other risks that need to be accounted for, like illnesses or pre-existing medical conditions.

At Post Office, while we don’t offer a specialist travel insurance policy for over 80s there’s no upper age limit on our single-trip policies. You can get a quote and we’ll consider all medical conditions.

Can I travel with someone else on a travel insurance policy?

If you’ll be travelling with a companion such as a friend, partner or family member, it’s important to check if they’ll be covered too. Many seniors travel insurance policies are just for individuals and a companion may need to take out their own cover. You may also need separate policies for younger passengers if you plan to travel with your grandchildren .

When should I buy travel insurance?

It’s a good idea to buy your travel insurance as soon as your holiday is booked.

It will cover you for cancellation or anything that might prevent you from travelling, like redundancy, unexpected illness, injury or even bereavement before you make your trip.

The right time to get covered may differ depending on the kind of break you book. Read our guide to when to buy travel insurance to find out more.

Any travel advice for seniors going on holiday?

Before you go

• Ideally before you book, check you’re traveling with a reputable firm. This is a good way to avoid being in a situation where you will be put at risk in the first place. Check the  Association of British Travel Agents  (ABTA) to make sure that your trip is safe and well-managed by a trusted firm
• Take a copy of your medical notes, including your emergency numbers
• Check with your doctor or on the NHS travel pages  to see if you need any travel vaccinations or medication before you go
• Make sure there’s no Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice against travel to your destination. If there is, travelling against it could invalidate your travel insurance
• If you’re travelling to Europe, apply for a  UK Global Health Insurance Card (Ghic)  to get free or discounted medical care
• Make sure your  passport is still valid and  apply for a new passport  if you need to. Some countries like you to have at least six months left on your passport to allow you entry
• Inform your bank about your travel plans so you can use your cards abroad – some banks will stop your cards when they’re used abroad in an anti-fraud measure
• When packing medicines, it’s important to check what you can take on a plane as there are limits on liquids which can include medication. Bring extra prescription medication with you in case of delays, and keep spares of any glasses or hearing aids in a separate bag in case you lose your normal set

Read our pre-travel and packing checklists to make sure you don’t forget anything important. And find out how to pack a suitcase with everything you need and nothing you don’t.

During your trip

• Keep your hand luggage light and check your bags in at the airport to make getting around much easier
• On your flight, drink plenty of water and keep moving as often as you can
• Try and book outside of the peak seasons. This will also help you find cheaper deals
• Check your hotel for accessibility if you have difficulty getting around. Check the AgeUK advice on accessible holidays  for more details
• Make sure you know the address of a local doctor and pharmacy near to where you’re staying

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Travel Insurance for Seniors

Why do I need Seniors Travel Insurance?

What does our seniors travel insurance cover .

Our Single Trip and Annual travel insurance policies both offer different levels of cover, so you can choose the policy that’s best suited to you.

It is important to note that you will not be covered for pre-existing medical conditions at the present time. We have paused this offering from the 5th May 2021, while we make some improvements to our online booking process. However, please browse our offerings in the future, as we will be reintroducing cover for pre-existing medical conditions once the updates are complete.

When you choose our Bronze level of cover as part of our Single Trip or Annual insurance policies, you’re insured for: 

• Cancelling or cutting short your trip, including pre-paid travel and accommodation expenses.
• Emergency medical expenses such as hospital fees, repatriation (returning you home), inpatient benefit, funeral costs and dental costs if taken ill or injured during your trip.
• Delayed personal possessions, including the cost to replace essential items temporarily lost by the transport provider on your outward trip.
• Personal accident cover to compensate you, if you have a more severe accident during your trip.
• Missed departures, including extra transport and accommodation costs to continue your trip if you miss your outward or return transport.
• Delayed departures, including a benefit after a major delay to the outward or the return transport at the departure point, or the costs to abandon your trip before you leave the outward departure point.
• Personal liability cover for damages or injuries you cause to a person or their property.
• Legal expenses such as legal costs and representation to claim compensation from a third party responsible for your death, injuries or illness.
• Loss of passport, including the costs to get temporary documents on your trip and a refund of the value of the period remaining on the lost passport.
• Personal possessions cover for if your items are lost, stolen or damaged.
• Personal money, including cash, traveller’s cheques and travel tickets that have been lost, stolen or damaged.

In addition, if you buy our Gold cover, you’ll have some further enhanced benefit levels, as well as insurance for the financial failure of the end-supplier of your travel arrangements.

Each policy has a different benefit limit, so please read your insurance documentation thoroughly. There are exclusions that apply to our policies overall, and specific exclusions that apply to certain sections of our policies, therefore it’s important that you understand these and know exactly what you’re covered for. You should also remember that your policy will have an excess amount you’ll need to pay if you make a claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, our Single Trip travel insurance policies are only available to those aged 80 and under and our  Annual travel insurance policies to those aged 65 and under. Our Backpacker policy is only available to people aged 50 and under, so sadly it doesn’t cover senior citizens.

If you’re over these maximum ages then there’s no need to panic. You may still find a specialist insurer who can handle your seniors travel insurance policy. Visit our FAQs page for helpful advice on getting travel insurance if you’re older than our maximum age limit. 

Whether you take out a Single Trip or Annual travel insurance policy with Allianz Assistance, you can get telephone or video  consultations with a UK GP , wherever you are and whatever the time.

If you’re travelling within  Europe , then you can get a private prescription for your medication while you’re away. Your prescription can be authorised electronically, and the medication can be sent to you. Please note that you will have to pay for the cost of the medication and the cost of the delivery. The policy also excludes the cost of any medication that you were prescribed before you travelled.

From 5th May 2021, while we can still cover you under the standard sections or our travel insurance policies while on a cruise holiday, will not be able to offer the additional cover previously provided by the Cruise travel optional extra section. This is only a temporary measure while we make improvements to the booking engine of our website. Please keep an eye on the Allianz Assistance website in the future so you are aware when we are able to offer this additional cover again. Policies purchased before 5th May 2021 aren't affected and your cover won't change.

Cruising the world is a lifelong ambition for many of us, and retirement is the perfect time to set sail. Whether you’re looking to cruise around the Mediterranean, hop around the Caribbean islands or explore the Far East, very shortly you'll be able to do so with our add-on Cruise cover . With our cruise insurance for the over 65s, you can relax and watch the world go by, knowing you’ve got that extra covered. 

Terms and conditions apply.

How to ensure you have the right cover

Does your bank or credit card company provide cover.

Many bank accounts and credit cards come with some level of travel insurance cover. While some may be comprehensive, they may not cover you for everything you have planned whilst you’re away, particularly if you have adventurous plans or unusual excursions booked. 

Make sure you look into the travel insurance policy that you have before every trip, to make sure it’s suitable for you and your plans.

Purchasing a holiday using a credit card means you are often protected by Consumer Protection cover. In most cases, it allows you to get your money returned to you if your provider defaults and you cannot travel.

Are you covered by ABTA or ATOL?

If you have booked a holiday through a tour operator or travel agent, it may be worth checking if you are covered by ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) or ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s License). This type of cover means that your package holiday is protected if, for example, the travel company providing your holiday arrangements or the travel agent themselves fail financially or close down.

Your travel agents will be able to tell you if your holiday is ABTA or ATOL protected. Alternatively, use the links provided to check your cover at home.

What is an EHIC or GHIC and what can it offer you?

Choose the cover that’s right for you with allianz assistance.

Single Trip Travel Insurance

Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance

Sports and Leisure Travel Insurance

Golf Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance for Medical Conditions

Cruise Travel Insurance

Need help? Call us on: 0371 200 0428

Make a claim, policy documents.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition that we are unable cover under our own policies, you may be able to obtain an alternative travel insurance policy through one of the providers  featured in the MoneyHelper  directory  of specialist travel insurance providers for people with serious medical conditions. Do take time to study and compare the terms and conditions to ensure you have the cover you need. To contact the Money Advice Service for further details of the directory

Call: 0800 138 7777 (lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) or Email: [email protected]