The Best Travel Insurance for Seniors Over 80

Special Considerations When Purchasing Travel Insurance Over 80:

Traveling later in life comes with a unique set of challenges, many of which require specialized coverage.

Medical Coverage

It’s common for seniors over 80 to be traveling with chronic or pre-existing medical conditions. If you experience a medical flare up while traveling, it’s not a guarantee that your provider will reimburse related expenses as pre-existing conditions are typically excluded from coverage.

However, some travel insurance plans offer a Pre-Existing Condition waiver, which removes this exclusion from the policy and extends medical coverage to your pre-existing health issues. Always check if the plan includes travel insurance for over 80 with medical conditions, as not all providers offer it.

We recommend selecting a policy with Primary Emergency Medical coverage rather than Secondary coverage. With primary coverage, you’ll file claims directly with your travel insurance company first, rather than your domestic health insurance provider. This often leads to a quicker, more streamlined claims process.

Type of Policy

Some travel insurance providers exclude coverage to travelers over a certain age, which can leave travelers over 80 with fewer options to choose from. However, customers in this demographic still have the option to choose from various types of coverage:

• Comprehensive: This is the most popular, and most expensive, type of coverage as it provides financial protection against last-minute cancellations, medical expenses, emergency evacuations, delays, and other common disruptions.
• Travel Medical: Focused primarily on emergency medical coverage while abroad, these policies are often more affordable than comprehensive plans as they are not designed to protect your travel investments in the event of a cancellation.
• Annual: These plans cover multiple trips within a 12-month period, typically with a cap on the length of each individual trip (e.g., 30–90 days). They’re well-suited for frequent travelers who want consistent protection without purchasing separate policies for each trip.

Due to the unpredictable nature of traveling later in life, we strongly recommend comprehensive policies to all senior travelers due to the depth of coverage they provide.

Add-Ons & Upgrades

Many travel insurance providers give customers the option to enhance their coverage with optional add-ons and policy during the checkout process. For a small fee, travelers can achieve stronger coverage where it matters most, allowing them to explore the world with greater peace of mind.

Below are some of the most common ways senior travelers can improve their travel protection before departing for their trips.

• Cancel for Any Reason: Provides partial reimbursement for your insured travel expenses if you choose to cancel your trip for a reason not already covered by standard trip cancellation coverage.
• Interruption for Any Reason: Provides partial reimbursement if you choose to end your trip early for an uncovered reason.
• Rental Car Damage Protection: Covers the cost of damage to, or theft of, a rental vehicle during your covered trip.
• Coverage Upgrades: Allows you to increase coverage limits for select benefits, like Emergency Medical and Medical Evacuation, for a small fee.

What Does Over-80s Travel Insurance Cover?

Comprehensive travel insurance is designed to cover a wide range of common disruptions and emergencies that may arise while you’re away from home.

For travelers over 80, this type of coverage is especially important, as it can help offset the high costs of medical care abroad and provide peace of mind throughout your trip.

Most comprehensive plans will cover:

Trip Cancellations

Plans can change for reasons outside of your control. If you get seriously ill or injured before departing for your trip, your travel insurance policy’s Trip Cancellation benefit can reimburse you for up to 100% of your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs.

Other covered reasons to cancel a trip include an unexpected death in the family, inclement weather, terrorism, natural disasters, and civil unrest.

Medical Emergencies

One of the primary concerns among senior travelers is getting sick or injured while away from home. The cost of receiving medical attention overseas can be extremely costly, especially if you suffer a nasty fall or experience a flare up of an existing health issue.

Travel medical coverage is designed to reimburse you for unexpected medical expenses incurred during your trip, such as hospital stays, doctor visits, and prescription medication. For travelers over 80, we recommend plans that offer at least $100,000 in Emergency Medical coverage.

Medical Evacuations & Repatriation

Emergency medical transportation, such as an air ambulance, can be extremely costly. Depending on the severity of the injury and distance from a medical facility, it’s not uncommon for these services to exceed $100,000 in cost.

Almost all travel insurance policies include Medical Evacuation protection that covers the cost of emergency evacuations to the nearest adequate medical facility. Most plans also reimburse repatriation expenses in the event you or a travel companion passes away during a covered trip.

To be safe, senior travelers over 80 should consider travel insurance policies that include no less than $250,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage.

Travel Delays

According to the FAA, roughly 25% of all flights in the United States are either delayed or cancelled. Unexpected delays due to weather, airline issues, or other covered reasons can leave you stuck in transit and facing unplanned expenses.

Travel Delay coverage reimburses you for meals, accommodations, and essential items like toiletries or clothing if your trip is significantly delayed. We recommend plans that provide coverage for flight delays of at least 3 hours.

Missed Connections

If a delay causes you to miss a connecting flight, cruise departure, or tour, Missed Connection coverage can reimburse you for rebooking costs or alternative transportation to catch up with your trip.

This benefit is particularly useful for cruise passengers, those on tightly scheduled itineraries, or travelers taking a trip that includes multiple legs. We recommend plans that provide coverage if a missed connection delays your travel itinerary at least 3 hours.

Baggage Loss

Lost, stolen, or delayed luggage can quickly turn a trip into a headache. Baggage Loss coverage helps reimburse the cost of personal belongings if your bags are permanently lost or damaged in transit.

Most plans also include a baggage delay benefit that covers the cost of essential items if your luggage is temporarily delayed.

What Is Not Covered by Over-80s Travel Insurance?

While travel insurance offers critical protection for older travelers, it’s important to understand its limitations. Most standard policies for travelers over 80 will not cover the following:

• Known events: If a disruption, such as a hurricane, airline strike, or pandemic outbreak, is publicly known before you purchase your policy, related claims may not be eligible for coverage.
• Pre-existing medical conditions: Unless you purchase a plan with a pre-existing condition waiver, most policies will not cover medical treatment related to existing health issues. This is especially important for seniors managing chronic conditions.
• Government travel advisories or bans: If the U.S. government issues a travel advisory or ban for your destination before or during your trip, your policy may not cover cancellations or other disruptions related to that advisory.

Reading the fine print and understanding policy exclusions is especially important when traveling later in life. Comparing providers can help you find a policy that provides coverage for your entire itinerary.

How Much More Expensive is Travel Insurance Over 80?

On average, comprehensive travel insurance for travelers over the age of 80 costs $60 per day.

This figure is based on proprietary Squaremouth data that takes into account over 7,000 travel insurance sales to individuals over 80 years old in the past 12 months. On average, travelers in this demographic spend $905 on travel insurance to protect a 15 day trip.

Travel insurance premiums for seniors over 80 years old are as much as double the price of what the average senior traveler can expect to pay for comprehensive trip protection. This figure is also slightly higher than other senior age groups:

• Over 60: Premiums average $493, or $33/day
• Over 70: Premiums average $550, or $36/day
• Over 80: Premiums average $905, or $60/day

If cancellation coverage is not a priority, you may opt for a basic travel medical plan for more affordable protection. This type of policy is much less expensive, averaging just $263 per trip.

Is There Cheap Travel Insurance for People Over 80?

Yes, there are affordable travel insurance options for seniors over 80, but finding them requires a bit more research and flexibility. While travelers in this age group typically pay the highest premiums due to increased health risks and the likelihood of medical claims, it’s still possible to find budget-friendly plans with the right strategy.

Money-Saving Tips for Travelers Over 80

Here are some strategies you can deploy to get cheaper travel insurance premiums for your upcoming trip:

• Compare providers: Using a comparison site is the best way to find the best coverage at the lowest price.
  Consider travel medical insurance: If you’re not worried about losing prepaid expenses, you might opt for a medical-only policy for cheaper premiums.
• Avoid unnecessary add-ons: Skip rental car coverage, Cancel For Any Reason, or policy upgrades if they don’t apply to your trip as they may significantly increase travel insurance costs.
• Only insure non-refundable expenses: If purchasing comprehensive coverage, you should only insure trip costs that can’t be recovered if your trip is cancelled or interrupted.
• Consider secondary coverage: Primary coverage pays your claims before any other insurance, but it’s generally more expensive. Secondary coverage kicks in after you file a claim with Medicare or other health insurance and is often more affordable.

Recommended travel insurance coverage for seniors over 80:

Travel insurance becomes increasingly important as we age, and for travelers over 80, having the right coverage can make all the difference in an emergency. At this stage of life, certain benefits are especially critical, while others may be optional based on your trip and health profile.

A comprehensive travel insurance plan will include all the necessary coverage you need to adventure with peace of mind. Here are the must-have travel insurance benefits for travelers over 80:

• Trip Cancellation: Choose a plan that covers all of your prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses.
• Emergency Medical: Look for a policy that covers at least $100,000 in unforeseen medical expenses.
• Medical Evacuation: Opt for plans that include at least $250,000 in coverage for emergency evacuation services.
• Pre-Existing Condition: If you have an existing health issue, you should purchase a policy that offers a pre-existing condition waiver within its respective time-sensitive period.
• Travel Delay: Consider plans that provide coverage after delays of 6 hours or less.

What is the Maximum Age for Travel Insurance?

While there’s no universal maximum age limit for travel insurance, each provider sets their own restrictions for who is eligible for coverage. Age limits can vary significantly between providers and plans.

Some travel insurance companies cap eligibility at 70, 75, or 80, meaning travelers above that age won’t qualify for coverage under certain policies. However, other insurers do offer coverage with no maximum age, making it possible for travelers well into their 80s or even 90s to get insured.

Details regarding maximum age limits can be found within each policy’s Certificate of Insurance.

FAQs: Over 80 Travel Insurance

Does Travel Insurance for People Over 80 Cover Pre-existing Conditions?

Yes, travel insurance can cover pre-existing conditions as long as you meet certain criteria.

First, you must find a plan that offers a pre-existing condition waiver. These plans can be found using the “Pre-Existing Condition” filter when comparing quotes within the Squaremouth marketplace.

Next, you must meet the waiver’s eligibility criteria. This typically includes purchasing the policy within 10-21 days of making your initial trip payment and insuring 100% of your prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses. Most providers also require that you be fit to travel on your trip’s departure date.

Is Over-80 Travel Insurance Necessary if I Have Medicare?

Yes, travel insurance is still strongly recommended if you are over 80 and traveling overseas, even if you have Medicare.

That’s because Medicare typically does not cover medical care outside of the United States. While some Medicare Advantage or Medigap plans may offer limited international coverage, it’s often capped at low reimbursement limits and may not include emergency evacuation or trip protection.

For travelers over 80, this gap in coverage is especially risky. If you become ill or injured abroad, you could face thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of dollars in out-of-pocket costs without a dedicated travel insurance plan.

Can I Get Travel Insurance for a Cruise Over 80?

Yes, many travel insurance companies offer policies that can protect a cruise, even if you are over 80 years old. The best way to find these plans is to enter in your cruise details into a travel insurance comparison site. From there, you will be shown a list of reliable policies that can provide trusted trip protection both on land and at sea.

Can Trip Insurance for Over 80s Cover Golf Rounds?

Yes, there are a variety of travel insurance benefits that can help protect your golf vacation. In order to get the best coverage, you may need to purchase a policy designed for sports and activities.

These plans can include a wide-range of unique benefits, such as:

• Sports Accident Coverage: Covers medical costs if you get injured while participating in a covered sport or activity.
• Sports Fees: Reimburses your green fees if your trip is significantly delayed or you’re forced to cancel your trip for a covered reason.
• Sports Equipment Loss: Reimburses the cost of your clubs or other sports equipment that gets lost, damaged, or stolen during a trip.
• Sports Equipment Delay: Covers the cost of rental clubs if your golf bag is delayed en route to your final destination.
• Concierge Services: A dedicated support number available through some providers that can help arrange golf tee times, purchase event tickets, and make dinner reservations.

Do I have to pass a medical test to get travel insurance over 80?

No, you do not have to pass a medical test to get travel insurance if you’re over 80. Travel insurance policies, regardless of age, are issued without requiring a physical exam or medical screening.

However, in the event you file a medical claim, you may need to prove that you were physically fit to travel prior to departing for your trip. Visiting a doctor or licensed physician prior to your trip and getting a note that says you are fit to travel is always a smart decision when traveling later in life.