Written by Tiana Lee-Collins
Reviewed by Adrian Taylor
Last updated 11/09/2023
While there isn’t travel insurance specifically for seniors, there are a number of travel insurance options that would suit a senior traveller. Here are the key things to know:
Travel insurance can help provide peace of mind that you may be financially protected if your trip goes wrong. If you’re unsure if you need travel insurance for seniors, consider:
Depending on your insurer, your level of cover and even your travel destination, policies can look very different. Before purchasing a policy, consider:
Always read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) of a policy before purchasing so you can understand the inclusions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits of your policy.
Get the inside information on travel insurance for seniors with these expert tips from our travel insurance expert, Adrian Taylor.
If your trip includes a cruise, international travel insurance with cruise cover is ideal as it includes cover for medical expenses. Even when cruising Australia on a domestic trip, an international policy that includes cover for medical expenses is ideal as Medicare benefits may not be available onboard your cruise ship.
Keep in mind the kind of cover you need for your travels. For example, if you want cover for medical expenses, cancellation fees, luggage and rental vehicle excess, a comprehensive travel insurance policy might be at the top of your list.
If you’re looking to travel multiple times a year, an annual multi-trip policy may be of more value than a single trip policy. However, age limits and your planned trip durations may affect whether you’re eligible for annual cover.
Age limits are usually an immediate concern for older Australian travellers, but it’s possible for seniors over 80 to get travel insurance. Seniors up to 99 may have a choice of policies, such as:
Not all insurers will have the same age limits and same levels of cover, so read the PDS before purchasing a policy.
Travel insurance for seniors can typically insure those up to 99 years old. However, it’s important to understand that:
You never know what might happen on your travels, so it can be a good idea to find a comprehensive policy with the following common inclusions:
If you’re a grandparent travelling with dependants, many travel partners will automatically cover dependent children for no additional cost, subject to the conditions of the policy, as long as:
Like any insurance product, each travel policy will come with some exclusions. Some of the following exclusions can apply to any travel insurance policy, whether you’re a senior or not:
Not all pre-existing medical conditions can be covered by travel insurance. When taking out travel insurance, always declare your pre-existing conditions to your insurer so they can assess if they can offer you cover. Otherwise, they may refuse to compensate you for any claim that’s related to your condition.
When you disclose your pre-existing conditions, your insurer can factor this into your policy (although an additional premium may apply). A travel insurance policy covering your pre-existing conditions can be a huge relief for travellers.
As you get older, you may need to pay a little bit more for travel insurance compared to what younger travellers are paying. However, insurers will have different rating factors, excess options and premiums. This makes it even more important to compare travel insurance quotes so you can find an affordable but valuable policy that provides travel insurance for seniors.
