AARP Travel Insurance: Best Plans for Seniors
Key Takeaways:
- Unfortunately, AARP doesn’t sell its own branded travel insurance or offer a discount on travel insurance.
- The Department of Insurance’s pricing regulations prohibit offering discounts on insurance plans. Therefore, AARP doesn’t offer seniors a discount on travel insurance.
- The closest thing to a travel insurance discount that AARP offers is a 20% discount on MedJet air ambulance services, which is technically not insurance.
- Medjet is not a substitute for travel insurance, as it is strictly a transport service and cannot reimburse you for medical bills.
- AARP does not endorse or partner with any specific travel insurance company, although some travel insurance brands pay to advertise to AARP members.
- AARP recommends opting for comprehensive travel insurance while traveling, since Medicare does not cover medical expenses outside the U.S.
- Based on our analysis, the best alternatives to AARP travel insurance for seniors are plans from IMG, Tin Leg, and Seven Corners.
Does AARP offer travel insurance?
No, AARP does not directly offer or sell travel insurance policies.
Contrary to common belief, this non-profit organization neither underwrites nor manages travel insurance programs. AARP also does not officially endorse any specific travel insurance company.
Instead, AARP’s official travel insurance guide recommends that members use an independent comparison marketplace, like Squaremouth, when shopping for coverage.
What travel benefits does AARP offer?
While AARP doesn’t offer travel insurance, it does offer a handful of travel-related member perks:
- Discounted Medjet membership: Up to 20% off MedjetAssist and MedjetHorizon memberships (more on this below).
- Dedicated Expedia travel center: The AARP Travel Center, powered by Expedia, offers discounts on flights, hotels, cruises, and vacation packages.
- AARP Travel Rewards credit card: The AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard, issued by Barclays, offers 3% cash back on travel-related purchases.
- Savings on Rushmypassport service: Up to 15% off expedited passport processing for members who need a passport quickly.
In addition, AARP also offers a handful of free resources, ranging from destination guides to curated vacation ideas, to all members. Visit the AARP website for a full list of travel benefits.
What is Medjet Travel Protection?
The closest thing AARP offers to travel insurance is a 20% discount on Medjet memberships as part of its travel-related perks. Medjet Assist is an Air Ambulance service that provides emergency medical evacuation only.
With Medjet membership, travelers can access a medical transport service to arrange hospital-to-hospital transport if they need medical care more than 150 miles from home, domestically and internationally. Membership pricing (as of 2026) starts around $85 for a short-term plan and $275 for an annual membership.
While a Medjet membership can be helpful to some travelers, it doesn’t provide all the benefits that travel insurance offers and therefore is not an alternative to travel insurance. We recommend it only as an add-on to a comprehensive or medical-only travel insurance plan.
How does Medjet compare to travel insurance?
Medjet is a niche service that provides medical evacuation after hospitalization, but it is not exactly travel insurance, per se, and cannot substitute for comprehensive travel protection.
One of the biggest misconceptions among older travelers is that Medjet covers the full range of travel risks, but it’s important to remember that Medjet Assist is not an insurance product; instead, it’s a transportation service.
For example, Medjet does not cover:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Pre-existing conditions
- Trip cancellations & interruptions
- Delays
- Lost baggage
While Medjet may provide peace of mind for transport-only scenarios, it’s not designed to safeguard your health, trip investment, or belongings. Seniors with complex health histories or costly trips should strongly consider a comprehensive travel insurance plan for complete protection.
In fact, AARP recommends purchasing separate travel insurance, especially for international trips, because “Medicare and most Medicare Advantage plans do not cover medical care you receive when traveling outside the U.S.”
A comprehensive travel insurance policy from providers like IMG or Tin Leg will offer medical evacuation coverage up to $500,000, emergency medical coverage, and financial reimbursement for trip disruptions. You can compare these plans on Squaremouth and filter based on your medical needs, travel style, and destination.
Alternatives to AARP Trip Insurance: Top Plans for AARP Members
As an over-50-year-old AARP member, you are in the primary group to benefit the most from comprehensive travel insurance plans. While AARP trip insurance doesn’t exist, you can still find highly rated travel insurance options tailored for senior travelers.
Based on our expertise, experience, and close customer connection, here are the best alternatives to AARP Travel insurance:
| Plan Name | Award | Medical / Medevac Limits | Cancellation / Interruption Limits | Baggage Loss / Delay | Trip Delay / Missed Connection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMG – iTravelInsured Choice | Best Plan Overall | $100K / $500K | 100% / 150% of Trip Cost | $1,000 / $300 | $1,000 / $500 |
| Tin Leg – Luxury | Most Affordable | $100K / $250K | 100% / 150% of Trip Cost | $2,500 / $500 | $2,000 / $100 |
| Seven Corners – Trip Protection Choice | Best Medical Coverage | $500K / $1M | 100% / 150% of Trip Cost | $2,500 / $500 | $2,000 / $1,500 |
These comprehensive travel insurance plans go far beyond what Medjet offers by including:
- Emergency Medical coverage: This covers hospital visits, physician fees, and medication if you’re sick or injured while traveling.
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection: This reimburses non-refundable trip costs if you cancel for a covered reason or must return home early.
- Baggage loss or delay coverage: This helps replace lost or stolen essential items if your luggage is lost, damaged, or stolen.
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions: With this waiver, having health conditions before your trip won’t limit your coverage. Remember to purchase the waiver within 14-21 days of your initial trip deposit.
- Emergency Medical Evacuation: This includes air transport to the nearest adequate medical facility or back home, often up to $500,000, with the option to add more if wanted or needed.
AARP Travel Insurance Cost
If AARP sold travel insurance, the cost would likely mirror the average price of travel insurance for seniors nationwide, since travel insurance pricing is federally regulated.
According to Squaremouth travel data, the average cost for travel insurance for senior travelers (aged 60 and up) is $28 per day, and medical-only plans are even more affordable.
Travel insurance premiums typically cost around 5-10% of your total trip cost. With this in mind, AARP-aged seniors could expect to pay $400-$450 for comprehensive coverage for their trips abroad, although cheaper options may be available.
Various factors influence the cost of travel insurance, including your age, destination, trip length, and coverage amounts.
Most comprehensive travel insurance plans also include a Free Look Period, typically 10 to 15 days after purchase, during which you can cancel your policy for a full refund. This gives AARP members a no-risk window to review coverage details and alternatives before committing.
Real World Example
A 67-year-old couple is planning a $6,000 trip to Costa Rica. They could pay $85-$275 on a Medjet membership (plus a 20% discount through AARP), but that will only cover evacuation costs. Instead, they could spend $240-$600 on a comprehensive travel insurance plan that covers evacuations, as well as additional coverage for cancellations, medical emergencies, delays, and baggage loss.
Does AARP Offer a Travel Insurance Discount for Seniors?
Many people mistakenly believe that AARP offers travel insurance or discounts for seniors or members. However, travel insurance rates are heavily regulated, meaning that no one, including AARP, can legally provide rates lower than those available to the public from each provider.
So, while AARP promotes the use of travel insurance comparison tools, AARP members do not receive preferential rates or discounts when shopping for coverage.
You may encounter ‘Special Offers’ on the AARP website, but these are paid advertisements and not legitimate discounts on trip protection.
FAQs: AARP Travel Insurance for Seniors
After evaluating all 19 providers and over 100 plans available on Squaremouth
Narrowed down 3 insurance plans for AARP members that cater to more specific coverage and trip types:
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- Best Overall Travel Insurance for Seniors: IMG – iTravelInsured Choice
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- Most Affordable Coverage for Seniors: Tin Leg – Luxury
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- Best Medical Coverage for Seniors: Seven Corners – Trip Protection Choice
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- Best Plan for Senior Cruisers: IMG – iTravelInsured Choice
We recommend that seniors purchase a policy with at least $100,000 in Emergency Medical coverage and $250,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage, and that it include a Pre-Existing Condition waiver, which can reimburse seniors who experience a flare-up of an existing health issue while traveling.
AARP, a non-profit organization dedicated to retirees, does not officially endorse any travel insurance company. Its own travel safety guide encourages members to compare plans independently based on coverage needs rather than a single branded option.
For comprehensive travel insurance tailored for seniors, consider using platforms such as Squaremouth, which allow you to compare dozens of highly rated providers. Focus on plans that offer high medical limits, coverage for pre-existing conditions, and trip protection, ensuring affiliate-driven recommendations do not sway you.
There is no AARP-branded travel insurance plan to compare, since AARP is not an underwriter or insurer. As mentioned, AARP does offer discounted Medjet memberships, but this is not viewed as a replacement or substitute for comprehensive travel insurance because it lacks coverage for medical emergencies, cancellations, and other common trip disruptions.
Since AARP doesn’t sell its own travel insurance, there’s no AARP-branded policy to evaluate for value. AARP members can do instead is compare plans built specifically for senior travelers, equipped with higher medical coverage limits and pre-existing conditions waivers. You can find a list of top-rated plans on our Best Senior Travel Insurance list.
AARP doesn’t help with individual travel planning, but it is a powerful resource that can help make trip planning easier for seniors. Using the AARP Travel Center, members can access discounted rates on travel-related expenses like hotels, flights, vacation packages, cruises, rental cars, and more. They also offer travel tips, guidance, inspiration, and planning tools for older adults ready to experience and embrace life beyond the 9-to-5.
Yes, AARP is highly respected as a non-profit organization, but it does not offer travel insurance. However, they offer advice on choosing the right insurance policy for your vacation.
Their auto and homeowners insurance products, offered through The Hartford, have mixed reviews. Their life insurance product, issued through New York Life Insurance Company for AARP members, does not require any medical procedures to be approved, which adds to its appeal. Still, it is only available for members between 50 and 74.