Travel insurance provides important protections for seniors that become even more crucial as we age. When traveling domestically or abroad, seniors face increased risks of medical emergencies, flight cancellations, lost luggage, and other travel mishaps. The right travel insurance policy can provide peace of mind and financial security if the unexpected happens on your trip.
Choosing adequate travel insurance is especially important for seniors over 65 because pre-existing medical conditions, age limitations, trip duration, covered locations, and covered activities can all impact your coverage and options. Not all policies are created equal when it comes to protecting older travelers. With the proper preparation and research, you can travel confidently knowing you have robust coverage in place.
Compare Policies
When choosing travel insurance for seniors, it’s important to compare policies to find the right coverage for your specific needs and trip details. Here are some key coverages to look at:
Trip Cancellation vs Trip Interruption
- Trip cancellation reimburses you if you need to cancel your trip due to an unexpected event like illness or death of a family member. It covers the prepaid, non-refundable parts of your trip.
- Trip interruption covers you if you have to cut a trip short for reasons like illness or urgent family matters back home. It reimburses for the unused, non-refundable parts of the trip.
- Make sure to check the reasons covered under each policy. Some plans may have limitations.
Emergency Medical Coverage
- This pays for medical treatment during your trip if you get sick or injured. Confirm the policy covers pre-existing conditions and review dollar limits.
- Many plans also include emergency dental care, usually with lower limits.
Evacuation Coverage
- Evacuation coverage is crucial for seniors. It pays to transport you to a proper medical facility in a medical emergency.
- Some plans cover family members’ transportation costs to be with you during treatment.
Baggage Coverage
- Plans reimburse you if bags are lost, damaged, or stolen during your trip. Review coverage limits and exclusions.
- Higher-end policies may cover items like sports equipment, jewelry, or electronics.
Review the levels of coverage in each category to find a travel insurance policy tailored to your senior trip needs.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
Seniors with pre-existing medical conditions face some key considerations when choosing travel insurance. Most policies will not cover claims related to undisclosed pre-existing conditions. Therefore, it is critical that seniors are forthright when applying for coverage.
Many providers offer waivers that will cover pre-existing conditions if they are stable for a set period of time before the policy’s effective date, often 30-90 days. These waivers allow the conditions to be covered in the event of an emergency during travel.
Without a waiver, exacerbations of pre-existing conditions like diabetes, heart disease, COPD, and arthritis would not be covered. This could leave seniors with massive medical bills if hospitalized while traveling.
Seniors should read the fine print to understand exclusions for their conditions. Some policies may decline coverage for major conditions like cancer or stroke history. Others have blanket exclusions for any condition treated in the past 60-180 days.
Being denied coverage for pre-existing conditions defeats the purpose of travel insurance. It is imperative that seniors research policies and purchase plans that offer appropriate waivers. This provides peace of mind that current health issues will not prevent claims being paid if medical care is needed during a trip.
Age Limitations
Some travel insurance policies have an upper age limit, typically around age 70-85. Once a traveler passes this age cap, they may no longer be eligible for coverage or may face much higher premiums. This can make finding affordable travel insurance more challenging for seniors.
There are a few potential alternatives for older travelers above these age caps:
- Consider a policy without an age limit. There are some providers that do not set age restrictions, though premiums may still be higher.
- Look into group or association plans. If eligible through an alumni group, professional organization, etc., their plan may not have strict age cutoffs.
- Weigh a “Cancel for Any Reason” policy. While more expensive, this allows trip cancellation without proving a medical reason. Provides flexibility if health issues arise.
- Purchase a policy with a higher age limit. Some insurers set limits around 89 years old, giving extra flexibility. Shop policies to compare age caps.
- Plan trips within your current age limits. If possible based on health, take advantage of existing coverage windows pre-renewal.
With careful shopping and alternative options, older travelers can secure plans despite age caps on standard travel insurance. Policies with higher age limits or limited medical questions also help those with pre-existing conditions.
Trip Duration
The length of your trip is a key factor in determining the right travel insurance over 65. Shorter trips of just a few weeks likely only require a basic policy, while longer trips or frequent travelers may want to consider an annual plan.
Short Trips
For trips under 30 days, a standard travel insurance policy is usually sufficient coverage. These plans cover you for that single trip during the specified travel dates. They tend to be more affordable for shorter vacations.
Long Trips
For travel lasting 30 days or more, look for policies that offer coverage for extended trips. Some providers may limit standard plans to 30 days. Extended plans give you coverage for the full duration of longer getaways like cruises or international tours. They also tend to provide more robust benefits.
Frequent Travelers
For seniors who travel often, an annual travel insurance plan could be the best option. Instead of buying a separate policy for each trip, these plans cover you for all your travels for an entire 12-month period. Annual plans provide flexibility and can save money compared to purchasing single-trip plans multiple times per year. Just be sure to pay attention to any limits on individual trip length.
When to Buy Annual Insurance
Generally, an annual plan makes the most sense if you take two or more trips per year that would otherwise require travel insurance. Take into account the total cost of single trip plans compared to an annual premium. Also consider your total number of travel days per year, as annual plans limit coverage to a certain number of days. For frequent jet-setters, an annual policy brings peace of mind knowing you are covered for the whole year ahead.
