Do I need senior travel insurance?
Maybe your kids have flown the nest, and you’ve got more time on your hands to travel the world. Or maybe you've got a bit of extra cash in the piggy bank and want to treat yourself!
Either way, you deserve to travel in style – and safely.
Having travel insurance means you have a safety net if something goes wrong while on holiday.
Whether that’s emergency medical expenses, lost baggage or cancelled flights, travel insurance is there to protect you.
What does senior travel insurance cover?
Travel insurance is there to protect you if the worst happens. Here are just some of the key benefits our cover includes. Remember, policy limits and exclusions apply, so always check your policy book carefully.
Emergency medical expenses
We cover reasonable and necessary emergency medical treatment costs if you get ill or injured in an accident abroad.
Delayed or missed departure
If you're delayed or miss your transport due to unforeseen circumstances, we'll cover reasonable costs for accommodation and travel.
Lost or stolen personal belongings
If your belongings are lost, stolen or damaged accidentally (or deliberately by someone else), you can claim up to your policy limits.
Cancelling or cutting your trip short
We'll cover costs up to your policy limit for things like deposits or parking fees if you need to unexpectedly cancel or cut your trip short.
Personal liability and legal assistance
We'll support you with legal costs to help you claim damages or compensation for injury, illness or death during your trip.
Personal accident cover
If you have an accident abroad and are seriously injured, we’ll pay out up to £25K, depending on your level of cover.
This is just a snapshot of what we cover. Like all insurance, there are some policy limits and exclusions to be aware of.
For full information, head to our travel insurance page or check your policy book.
What doesn't senior travel insurance cover?
- Flights cancelled or delayed for any reason other than severe weather, strike, or mechanical breakdown (unless you've bought extra cover)
- Claims related to flights that don't start or end in the UK (connecting flights), unless you've bought extra cover
- Cancelling your trip because you've changed your mind
- Pre-existing conditions you've not declared
- Claims related to death or illness of someone not on the policy linked to conditions they had when you bought your policy
- Lost or stolen items you've left unattended
- Claims where you can't give us evidence, for example, a police report or receipts
- Being denied entry because you don't have passports or the correct visas
- Extreme sports, winter sports or cruise trips unless you've paid for the additional cover
- Circumstances that aren't specified in your policy
This list isn't exhaustive and doesn't include exclusions for our specialist travel insurance like cruise and winter sports.
For more information on what is and isn’t covered, read our policy book.
Choose from three levels of cover
| Admiral | Admiral Gold |
Admiral Platinum |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Excess | £100 | £75 | £50 |
| Emergency medical treatment and repatriation | £10M | £15M | £20M |
| Cancellation or cutting your trip short | £1.5K | £3K | £5K |
| Personal belongings | £1K | £2K | £3K |
| Money and documents | £300 | £400 | £500 |
| Personal accident | £10K | £15K | £25K |
| Personal liability | £3M | £3M | £3M |
| Legal assistance | £20K | £20K | £30K |
| Catastrophe cover | £1K | £1.5K |
What's excess?
Excess is the amount of money you pay to your insurance provider if you need to make a claim on your travel insurance. This applies to each insured person for each type of claim you make.
Senior travel insurance with pre-existing medical conditions
It's a fact of life but unfortunately, we're more prone to getting ill as we get older.
And that means there may be certain things you need to let us know about when it's time to buy travel insurance, to make sure you're fully covered.
This could include things like:
- cancer
- diabetes
- high cholesterol
- heart disease
- coronary angioplasty
- stroke
- asthma
- high blood pressure
What's a pre-existing condition?
We define a pre-existing condition as an illness or injury that:
- has been identified by a medical professional
- is under investigation by a medical professional
- is known to you before your policy starts or when you book a trip (whichever is later)
You can declare your pre-existing conditions when you get a quote to see if we can cover them.
It's really important that you tell us about your pre-existing conditions and give us the right information. If you don't, we could cancel your policy or not pay for any claim you make, even if it's not related to the condition.
Head to our travel insurance and medical conditions page for some in-depth information on what you need to declare and why.
MoneyHelper directory
If we can't cover your medical condition, you can use the MoneyHelper directory to find a specialist insurer who might be able to cover you if you've been:
- refused travel insurance or had your policy cancelled
- offered cover with a medical exclusion that you can't remove from your policy
- quoted a price for a travel insurance policy with high medical costs
MoneyHelper makes it easier to find and compare policies you can afford that cover your condition and medical needs. Access the MoneyHelper directory online or call MoneyHelper on 0800 138 7777 (phone lines are open Monday to Friday 8:00am - 6:00pm, excluding bank holidays).
Visit the MoneyHelper DirectoryWhat are the different types of travel insurance policies?
We have different options for travel insurance, so you can pick what's best for you and your travel plans.
Single trip insurance
This covers you for one trip that lasts up to 365 days.
It's for travellers between 18 and 100, depending on where you're heading!
Annual trip insurance
Annual multi-trip insurance covers you for 12 months and includes an unlimited number of trips that last up to 31 days each.
It's for travellers aged between 18 and 90, depending on where you're planning to head to.
Family travel insurance
Looking to get away with the whole family? A family travel insurance policy could be right for you.
It covers up to a maximum of two adults and five children who live at the same address - whether that's children, step-parents, aunts, uncles or cousins!
Is travel insurance for over 60s more expensive?
Not necessarily. The cost of policies depends on a lot of different factors, including:
- where you’re going
- how long you’re going for
- what you’re going to get up to
Most travellers in their 60s will find there's not much difference in the cost of their insurance, but there may be some restrictions on what's included in their cover.
Travel insurance if you’re over 70 can sometimes cost a little bit more, but it’s always different from person to person.
This is because there’s a higher chance that people that age might have health issues or need more complicated medical cover.
Upgrade your cover
Looking for more? We’ve got plenty of add-ons and upgrades designed to tailor your cover to suit you.
Cruise cover
Whether you fancy a European cruise or a luxury Mediterranean tour, our cruise cover add-on is there to protect you.
As well as everything you get with standard travel insurance, it covers you for missed port departure or cabin confinement.
You won't be covered for any part of a cruise holiday if you haven't bought the add-on.
Gadget insurance
You may be taking a few gadgets on holiday with you - for example, your mobile phone, a camera, maybe an iPad or a Kindle.
Our gadget cover add-on gives you peace of mind that your high-value tech is protected while you're on holiday.
Winter sports insurance
Fancy hitting the slopes? Our add-on will protect you and your equipment while on your trip.
It's important to note that we have some age restrictions on our winter sports cover.
We don't cover:
- anyone over 75 years old for winter sports trips within Europe
- anyone over 70 years old for winter sports trips outside of Europe
Travel tips for over 60s, 70s and 80s
Itching to go? Here are a few things to think about before you set out on your next trip.
Travelling with medication
Different airlines and countries have different rules about travelling with medication or medical equipment.
Check out our in-depth guide to find out more about how to travel safely with everything you need.
Travelling with medication safely
Planning holiday activities
You may have a few excursions booked, like a boat trip for instance.
It's important to follow all the safety advice given. Also, make sure you do your research that the company you're booking the activity through are reputable.
A guide to sea safety
Avoiding slips, trips and falls
One of the most common claims we see is for people slipping or falling while on holiday.
Read our guide on how to stay safe and aware and avoid any nasty accidents.
Stay safe on holiday
Prep your money
Wherever you're headed, it's a good idea to be clued up on the currency and to get some travel money prepped.
Our guide covers what you need to know about exchange rates, spending your money abroad, and some common mistakes to avoid.
How to get the best exchange ratesTravel resources
Head to our travel resource hub or tap the links below for guides and information on travelling and travel insurance.
Your questions answered
Still got questions? Don't worry, check out some of our most asked questions and their answers below.
How can I get cheaper senior travel insurance?
There are a few ways to get cheaper travel insurance for older people:
- Choose the right policy type - if you're planning multiple trips in the next year, an annual travel insurance policy is usually cheaper than buying a single trip policy for each trip.
- Check your home insurance - it's important to protect your personal belongings abroad, but many home or contents policies cover your things away from home.
- Combine your policy - it might be cheaper to buy group or family travel insurance if you're travelling with your family or your partner.
Is there an upper age limit for older people?
If you're looking for elderly travel insurance, the maximum age limit is:
- up to 90 years for annual multi trip policies
- up to 100 years for single trip policies
But the age limit and level of cover we can offer will depend on your personal information and the holiday details.
Get a quote or get in touch for more information.
Am I covered by winter sports insurance if I'm over 70?
It depends where you're heading.
We don't cover:
- anyone over 75 years old for winter sports trips within Europe
- anyone over 70 years old for winter sports trips outside of Europe
Do I need travel insurance if I have a GHIC/EHIC?
Likely, yes.
While the GHIC and EHIC are useful for getting reduced or free medical care, they aren't a stand-in for travel insurance.
They won't cover necessarily all the medical costs you need, including repatriation.
Plus, you may still need cover for other things, like lost luggage or delayed flights.
What countries am I covered to travel to?
We break down travel into three zones:
- Europe
- Worldwide excluding USA, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico
- Worldwide including USA, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico
You won't be covered if you travel to any country that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advise against travelling to.