Travel insurance in your 60s, 70s and 80s: what to check
Travel insurance gets harder to buy and more expensive as you get older, and it's tempting to grab the first policy that says yes. But the cheapest quote is worth nothing if it won't pay out for the thing most likely to go wrong. These are the points to check before you buy.
Upper age limits
Many policies, especially annual multi-trip ones, stop at a certain age, and some insurers cap the length of each trip for older travellers. Check the age limit applies on the date you travel, not just the date you buy: if you have a birthday during an annual policy, the cover may change.
Declare every medical condition
This is where most claims go wrong. Insurers ask about "pre-existing conditions", and they mean everything: heart and blood pressure, diabetes, breathing problems, cancer treatment, and anything you're waiting for tests on. If you leave something out, the insurer can refuse a claim even if it has nothing to do with the condition you forgot.
- Have your repeat prescription list beside you when you fill in the form.
- Answer for every person on the policy.
- If your health changes between buying and travelling, tell the insurer.
Single trip or annual?
If you travel more than once or twice a year, an annual policy is often cheaper. But annual cover may have a shorter maximum trip length, so a long winter away usually needs a single-trip policy.
Cancellation cover
Check what happens if you, a travelling companion or a close relative falls ill before you go. For many older travellers, cancellation is the claim they're most likely to make, and the cover limit needs to match what you've actually paid.
If you've been turned down
Comparison websites often exclude people with serious or several medical conditions, but specialist insurers exist. The government-backed MoneyHelper travel insurance directory lists firms that cover people with serious medical conditions.
Before you buy
- Is there an age limit, and does it apply on the day you travel?
- Have you declared every condition, for everyone on the policy?
- Is the maximum trip length long enough?
- Does cancellation cover match what you've paid?
This guide is general information, not financial advice. We don't receive commission from insurers.