Looking for insurance? Here’s my compilation of the best travel insurance reviews for seniors that’ll help you insure your next adventure.
Looking for insurance? Here’s my compilation of the best travel insurance reviews for seniors that’ll help you insure your next adventure.
Under each heading you’ll get a quick description that include my senior travel insurance reviews. They list some of best travel insurance companies and what each company offers and have links so that you can get a personalized quote.
Why no numbers on this site? I know, cost is a huge factor in choosing your insurance policy, but many criteria go into determining the price of an insurance plan. Also, companies change their prices too frequently. To get the most accurate, up-to-date coverage and costs, simply click the links and you’ll get a quote that takes all your specific details into account.
And because Women on the Road’s readers are a global group, I’ve tried to provide companies that cover you all. Some are only for US residents traveling abroad, others are for Europeans, and yet others are global and cover you wherever you’re from!
If you want to compare all these plans quickly and easily, please see the comparison chart below.
BEST TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR SENIORS: A COMPARISON CHART
NAME (AGE LIMIT)
COUNTRY
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS
CANCEL FOR ANY REASON
Globelink (89)
EU, plus some Commonwealth citizens who live there
Some free, others at extra charge
No
BEST TRAVEL INSURANCE REVIEWS FOR SENIORS
Europesure
If you’re part of the EEA and under the age of 79, Europesure offers a special policy for senior travellers over 65. The plan includes medical expenses cover of 7,500,000 Euros, as well as cancellation and delay cover, lost or stolen baggage and delayed baggage cover, and personal liability cover. Going on a skiing vacation? Upgrade your plan and you’ll even get avalanche cover! Interestingly this policy covers some “occasional” hazardous activities (read the fine print), but winter sports require an upgrade. Unfortunately for those with preexisting conditions, Europesure offers no coverage for accidents or emergencies caused by the condition, and you also cannot purchase cancel for any reason coverage.
Pros
✓ Worldwide coverage
✓ Comprehensive policy
✓ Some hazardous activities included
✓ Winter sports upgrade available
Cons
✕ Only for EEA residents
✕ Only for those between 65 and 79
✕ No preexisting condition waiver upgrade
Globelink
If you live in the EU or UK, GlobeLink offers great coverage up to age 89, with 50 pre-existing conditions covered with your standard travel insurance plan. If you are an Australian, New Zealander or South African currently residing in the EU or UK, you are also eligible for cover. You can get non-standard preexisting conditions considered for coverage after a medical evaluation (but it’ll cost you), and add on other coverage including adventure activities, golf, winter sports, and cancellation. You won’t find “cancel for any reason coverage,” but you can top up your cancellation cover.
Pros
✓ Worldwide coverage
✓ Adventure, golf and winter sports upgrade
✓ 50 pre-existing conditions covered on standard plan
✓ Coverage for EU residents
✓ Covers Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans in the EU
✓ Cancellation cover upgrade
Cons
✕ No ‘cancel for any reason’ upgrade
✕ Some pre-existing conditions may not be covered
✕ No cover after age 89
RoamRight
When it comes to travel insurance for USA residents, I really love the variety of plan choices you get with RoamRight. Besides providing coverage for those over the age of 65 with no upper age limit, you can get everything from a no-frills basic plan to cover nothing but trip cancellation to a comprehensive travel insurance plan that you can upgrade to include “cancel for any reason” coverage (and that means ANY reason!). If you’re main concern is medical coverage, they also offer a medical-only plan. If you travel a lot, their annual/multi-trip plan includes coverage for trip cancellation. It appears that you can travel just about anywhere in the world with RoamRight, so long as you live in the United States.
Pros
✓ Cancel for any reason upgrade
✓ Hazardous activities upgrade
✓ Pre-existing condition waiver upgrade
✓ Worldwide coverage (including trips within the US)
✓ No upper age limit
✓ Tiered plans to get you only the coverage you need: Travel and medical insurance
✓ Multi-Trip coverage available that covers cancellation, evacuation and lost baggage
Cons
✕ Only for US residents
Staysure
Just like World First, Staysure offers great coverage for those with preexisting conditions who live in the United Kingdom, considering all kinds of ailments including cancer, heart conditions and diabetes. They’ll cover you no matter what age you are, so long as you choose a single trip plan. Staysure also offers a variety of “additional cover” options, from winter sports coverage, to connecting flight coverage, to gadget cover, to coverage for golf equipment. This makes their plans a bit more a la carte than most insurance policies, but that can help you build a policy that fits your needs. Although they offer a more expansive cancellation coverage upgrade, they don’t offer “cancel for any reason” upgrades. Nervous about terrorist activity? You can purchase additional Terrorism Cancellation Cover: “If your trip is scheduled to start within 42 days after the terrorist event & the location of your booked accommodation must be within 40 miles of the event.”
Pros
✓ Winter activities upgrade
✓ Preexisting condition waiver upgrade (with medical screening)
✓ Worldwide coverage
✓ No upper age limit
✓ Coverage upgrades for golf equipment, connecting flights, gadgets and more
✓ Additional terrorism cover
Cons
✕ Only for UK residents
✕ No cancel for any reason upgrade
TRAVELEX
Travelex is a broad, inclusive travel insurance that has no age limit and covers pre-existing conditions. Its tiered offering provides as much coverage as you need, with plenty of options you can add on to basic coverage. A number of cancellation options are available, including a ‘cancel for any reason’ upgrade. Primary coverage is automatic, which means your claims are paid with no deductibles. Travelex covers your emergency medical expenses as well as emergency evacuation. Its terrorism coverage allows you to cancel if a terrorist incident occurs at your destination within 30 days of your trip. Finally, you get 15 days to decide – if for any reason you’re not completely satisfied (before your trip), you’ll be reimbursed the cost of your policy
Pros
✓ Preexisting condition coverage
✓ Worldwide coverage
✓ No upper age limit
✓ Primary coverage with no deductible
✓ Cancel for any reason upgrade
✓ 24/7 travel assistance and concierge service
Cons
✕ Only for US residents
USA Assist
Even though the name is misleading, USA Assist offers medical and comprehensive travel insurance plans for residents of the world. There are very few companies that offer travel insurance from anywhere to anywhere (within reason), so if you’re someone who isn’t home often, they might be your kind of insurance agency. Plus their $1,000,000 medical emergency limit on their best plan is quite amazing. Unfortunately, they don’t offer any upgrades for hazardous sports (read the fine print to understand what they consider a covered activity), preexisting condition waivers, or cancel for any reason coverage. That being said, they have no upper age limit, so if you’re a healthy person who isn’t planning on cancelling or scuba diving, you might be in luck. Plus, you can get medical insurance for up to 180 days of travel.
Pros
✓ Worldwide coverage
✓ Buy insurance from any country
✓ No upper age limit
Cons
✕ No hazardous activities upgrade
✕ No preexisting condition waiver upgrade
✕ No cancel for any reason upgrade
World First
As long as you’re under the age of 100 and live in the United Kingdom, World First can cover you — and your preexisting medical conditions — including cancer, diabetes and heart problems. You’ll have to undergo a medical screening process, but they even offer a special high blood pressure insurance. You can travel from the UK to any place in the world that’s not on the FCO’s “do not travel” list. World First offers “activity packs” to cover your hazardous activities, although more than 150 adventure types are already covered standard (so read the fine print). The downside is that you can’t purchase cancel for any reason coverage. That being said, I loved that timeshares and travel paid for with air miles or redeemable vouchers are covered with WorldFirst, as this is rare in the industry. Are you a golfer? You can get special golf travel insurance that covers your clubs and more. Asking for a quote is really the only way to get a good rundown of what each tiered plan includes.
Pros
✓ Hazardous activities upgrade (with 150 sports already covered)
✓ Preexisting condition waiver upgrade (with medical screening)
✓ Worldwide coverage
✓ Coverage up to age 100
✓ Special golfer coverage
Cons
✕ Only for UK residents
✕ No cancel for any reason upgrade
✕ No coverage over 100 years old
World Nomads
I’m going to start by saying if you are under the age of 65 in the UK, 66 in Canada and Europe, and 70 in Australia, New Zealand and the US, head over to World Nomads and ignore the rest of these reviews. (If you’ve passed this age, read through to the next review.)
Why? Because I’m biased. I’ve been using World Nomads for years and I trust them – and so do National Geographic and Lonely Planet, which both endorse World Nomads.
Its founder is a former backpacker who understands the needs of independent travelers and offers something that’s well-tailored to our needs.
Pros
✓ Coverage for up to 18 months for long-term travelers
✓ You can extend your policy and file a claim online
✓ Covers most sports and adventure activities
✓ Has a corporate conscience
✓ Covers terrorist attacks at your destination within 30 days of your departure
Cons
✕ No cover for pre-existing conditions
✕ Very tight age restrictions (a few of us still manage but it’s really designed for the younger crowd)
BUYING TRAVEL INSURANCE ONLINE BY AGE
I hope these seniors travel insurance reviews have been helpful but if this is confusing, here’s a breakdown by age.
Over 60 travel insurance
If you’re looking for travel insurance for over 60s (or for travel insurance over 65 in some cases), you can get it from most normal suppliers. It might come at a premium, but you can still find cheap international travel insurance at this age. As such, my recommendation for best place to buy travel insurance is World Nomads.
Travel insurance for over 70s
Things become more challenging once you start looking for travel insurance over 70. For my American readers, consider RoamRight, which has no upper age limit. UK travellers should consider World First, which covers you till the age of 100. Residents of the US and most other countries can find coverage until any age with USA Assist, while Europesure gives EEA residents insurance until age 79. Globelink will cover EU residents until they’re 89.
Travel insurance for over 75 (and travel insurance over 80, for that matter)
It’s nice: most places that cover you once you hit 65 will offer you coverage into your 80s, as companies group senior travel insurance together. In fact, with the exception of World Nomads, Globelink (must be uinder 89) and Europesure (must be under 79), all the companies on this list will cover you at any age! So you could plan an amazing getaway for your 100th birthday party.
BUYING TRAVEL INSURANCE BY COUNTRY
Travel Insurance Canada
Canadians can find cover through USA Assist, which includes worldwide coverage up to any age, but won’t cover pre-existing conditions or adventure/hazardous sports.
Best Travel Insurance Australia
Our pick for Australians over the age of 70 is also USA Assist. Unfortunately you can’t get coverage specific to pre-existing conditions or adventure/hazardous sports, but you can travel up to any age anywhere in the world.
Travel Insurance Ireland
If you are over 66, you can get coverage from either Europesure (up to age 79) or USA Assist (with no upper age limit). If you have a preexisting condition, however, neither company have waivers available.
Travel Insurance Europe
Our pick for travel insurance in Europe over the age of 66 is Globelink, which covers you up to age 89, and covers pre-existing conditions (up to 50 of them come standard) as well as adventurous and hazardous sports Younger than 66? Consider World Nomads.
Travel Insurance New Zealand
Even though the name is misleading, USA Assist offers great travel insurance in countries across the globe, including New Zealand. You can get coverage up to any age, although there’s no coverage for preexisting conditions.
Travel Insurance United Kingdom
You’ll get coverage up to age 100, and a pre-existing conditions waiver with World First, making this our top pick for UK residents. Globelink, however, offers coverage up to age 89 and 50 pre-existing conditions at no extra charge, so it can be a great choice for those under 90.
Travel Insurance for Americans
RoamRight is a great pick for Americans travelling over the age of 70. Not only does it cover preexisting conditions, but you can even get some hazardous sports coverage.
— Originally published on 03 May 2018
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