Is there a cut-off age for travel insurance?

If you’re over 65 and planning your next holiday, you may be wondering about your options for travel insurance. While some insurers may set age limits, the good news is that there is no standard cut-off point.

In fact, there are a number of specialist options, including Age Co Travel Insurance, that have no age limits. Whether you’re 70, 80 or older, you can set off on your next adventure with cover that’s right for you.

In this article, we’ll explain the factors insurers consider when assessing risk for older travellers. We will look at travelling with pre-existing medical conditions, offer tips for keeping costs down and suggest what to think about when choosing your cover.

Can you get travel insurance if you’re over 80?

Yes, it’s still possible to get travel insurance in your senior years.

Some insurers may set a cap at 65 or 70 as there is an increased likelihood of higher claims linked to age. However, specialist protection, such as Age Co Travel Insurance, has no upper age limit.

Insurers use the following criteria, among others, to determine your eligibility and cost of your travel insurance:

• Your destination. Check the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website to ensure your destination is safe. Travelling against FCDO guidance can invalidate travel insurance. Countries with expensive healthcare systems, such as the United States, can also increase the cost of your cover.
• Your travel duration. A longer trip could mean more time away from your usual medical professionals, more chances to encounter difficult situations and overall greater risk
• Your cover needs. A skiing or golf holiday or a cruise can mean increased physical activity as well as the need to transport hundreds or thousands of pounds worth of specialised equipment – all of which can represent additional risks and require extra cover
• Your pre-existing conditions. Long-term or recent medical conditions may make you more likely to claim, increasing your perceived risk and possibly the price of your premium

When purchasing travel insurance, it may be worth getting in touch directly with individual insurers to understand their terms and make sure they offer the right cover for you.

Can a traveller over 70 with pre-existing medical conditions get travel insurance?

Yes, specialist insurers can cover older travellers with pre-existing medical conditions.

What counts as a pre-existing condition?

What is considered a pre-existing condition may vary between insurers, but the term broadly refers to illnesses or injuries for which you’ve received ongoing or past treatment prior to purchasing travel insurance. 

Age Co Travel Insurance, provided by AllClear, covers over 1,300 pre-existing medical conditions,  including:

• Diabetes
• Heart conditions, such as heart disease, heart attack and atrial fibrillation
• Circulatory conditions, such as stroke or high blood pressure
• Respiratory conditions, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Chronic conditions, such as cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, disability or Crohn’s disease
• Bone and joint conditions, such as arthritis, back problems or osteoporosis
• Other conditions related to mental health, gallstones, post-operative care and undiagnosed conditions

Declaring any pre-existing medical conditions

An insurer will be able to provide more detail about what you’ll need to declare. However, many insurers do ask the following questions:

• Is anyone travelling against the advice of a medical practitioner, travelling to get medical treatment or medical advice abroad, or otherwise unfit to travel?
• Is anyone to be insured on the policy currently undergoing tests or treatment for as yet undiagnosed conditions?
• In the last 2 years, has anyone to be insured on this policy taken any prescribed medication or received medical treatment?
• Has anyone to be insured on this policy been diagnosed with a terminal illness?

Do pre-existing medical conditions always mean higher premiums?

Pre-existing conditions may make you more likely to claim, so could increase the cost of your policy. However, you should still be able to find protection and there are ways to bring the cost of your insurance down – see below.

Do I have to declare pre-existing conditions for travel insurance?

Avoiding mention of any pre-existing conditions can leave you without cover in emergency situations, as it may invalidate any related claims you may make.

So while it’s tempting to not declare a medical condition so your insurance is cheaper, it may end up far more costly in the long run.

Affordable insurance for older travellers

Here are a few things to think about if you’re looking for ways to make travel insurance more affordable:

• Compare quotes. Shop around and see what different insurers offer
• Look for annual multi-trip policies. If you travel regularly, it could be more cost effective to take out an annual policy instead of multiple single ones
• Consider taking a shorter trip. A shorter stay may be seen as less risky and the cost of your cover could be reduced accordingly
• Avoid countries with cost-prohibitive healthcare. Cover for a trip to a country with expensive healthcare, such as the US, is likely to be expensive. A claim for medical treatment there could involve significant cost

Choosing the best travel insurance for over 70s

While the best insurance will depend on your own needs and situation, here are some key features you may wish to include:

• Emergency medical cover for medical treatment if you become ill or injured
• Trip cancellation for the costs of accommodation or activities if they’re cancelled before your departure
• Personal property for the value of lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed baggage, purchasing replacement necessities if your baggage is delayed, and passports and travel documents
• Personal liability protection for your legal expenses and liability for damages if an accident during your trip has led to a claim against you
• Repatriation services for returning home early for medical treatment

Summary

Whether you’re in your 60s or 90s, understanding what you want from your cover and comparing quotes from trusted providers can help you find the travel insurance policy that’s right for you.

Before your next big trip, consider these key points for finding the protection for you and your holiday:

• While some insurers may have cut-off ages for travel insurance, many specialist insurers do not
• Age alone won’t make you ineligible for travel insurance, but it may affect your premium as older travellers can be seen as riskier to insure. Make sure you factor the cost of travel insurance in your budgeting.
• If you have pre-existing medical conditions, you may still be eligible for travel insurance with a specialist insurer. You may pay a higher premium, but you could end up paying far more for international healthcare or an invalidated policy if you deliberately don’t declare them.
• For more affordable travel insurance you should shop around, consider going on trips of shorter duration to countries with less expensive healthcare or choose annual (rather than single trip) cover.
• You may want to check whether your travel insurance would cover the costs of emergency medical care or lost or stolen baggage, but above all, make sure it fits your specific needs.