Five tips for selecting travel insurance for travellers over 60 

Travelling as we get older can be extremely rewarding and liberating and above all lots of fun! With more time, experience, disposable income, and often the freedom to explore at your own pace, travel becomes less about fitting it in and more about immersion and enjoyment. Read on for 5 tips for selecting travel insurance for travellers over 60.

To enjoy the benefits of travelling as we get older, it is important to ensure you are protected just in case of a mishap or accident. It is crucial to choose the right travel insurance that is suited to your individual needs.  

Getting the right cover is especially valuable for older travellers. It provides security and confidence to comfortably travel at a stage of life when health and flexibility must be considered at all times. As we age, the probability of needing medical care while travelling increases, and treatment overseas can be extremely expensive without the proper cover. Travel insurance helps protect us against unexpected costs such as emergency medical treatment, hospital stays, trip cancellations due to illness, and the need to return home early.

The most common travel insurance claims are: 

• Flight delayed more than 12 hours. 
• Received medical treatment. 
• Lost, damaged or stolen luggage. 
• Flight or tour cancelled. 
• Missed a connecting flight. 
• Lost, damaged or stolen cash or personal items. 
• Forced to cancel trip before departure. 

 

When planning any trip the first item to consider is travel insurance (no matter how old you are).

Here are five tips to help older travellers select a travel insurance policy that offers the right balance of protection, value and peace of mind. 

 

1. Read the Product Disclosure Statement 

The Product Disclosure Statement will be the most useful part of any insurance policy to articulate exactly what will (or won’t) be covered. Pay particular attention to the table of benefits, policy cover section, general exclusions, definitions and claims section. Medical expenses overseas can be extremely costly. When comparing insurance policies, look for generous medical and hospital cover, including ambulance services and emergency repatriation to your home country. If travelling to a remote location it is important to investigate policies that include emergency medical evacuation, which covers transporting a traveller from a remote or inadequate facility to the nearest suitable hospital.  

2. Pre-Existing Conditions 

Older travellers are likely to have some manageable medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, joint replacements or arthritis. These must be declared when purchasing insurance as failing to do so could void your policy. Look for insurers that specialise in travel insurance for older travellers and offer cover for pre-existing conditions, either as standard or for an additional premium. While this may increase the cost, it ensures you are protected if something related to your condition occurs while travelling.  If you’re not sure, the best thing to do is contact the insurer to ask whether they’ll cover your condition automatically or whether you need to do an assessment. 

 

3. Limitations of cover  

There are limitations to all insurance policies and it is important to read the fine print to be aware of these. Some policies have age limits or alternatively require an additional fee for travellers over a particular age.  Some policies also have specific reduced medical limits for older travellers and limitations for medical cover especially if there are pre-existing conditions so ensure you read the details. 

As we get older unforeseen circumstances such as illness, family emergencies and accidents can impact pending travel. Securing a policy early and ensuring it covers cancellation can protect the money you have invested if you need to cancel a planned trip. When choosing your policy ensure the total cost of the trip is covered and check the eligible reasons for cancellation carefully. 

4. Practical extras  

Policies can have a lot of extras either included or available to purchase in addition to the base policy. These can include cover for lost or stolen medication, mobility aids, glasses or hearing aids, access to 24/7 medical assistance services, and the option for a family member to travel to you if you are hospitalised overseas. These features can make a significant difference during challenging times.  

It is also useful to look into extra cover for valuable equipment that you may be travelling with such as camera gear, laptops, phones, i-pads and specialised medical equipment. These items can often be covered through simple add-on fees depending on the item. Check the policy details and if not included, purchase extra cover to ensure these valuables are covered in case of loss, theft or damage. 

 

5. Be clear on your itinerary, activities and experiences 

Different trips can require different coverage. Whether you are taking a relaxing beach holiday, a cultural city break, or an active adventure such as hikes or snorkelling – your insurance should match your travel plans. Check that any activities you intend to take part in on your trip are covered.  Some policies exclude certain sports or excursions, modes of transport and physical activities. Having a clear understanding of what you are planning to do, or desire to do on your trip will ensure you are able to select a suitable policy. 

The best travel insurance for older travellers is not necessarily the cheapest, but the one that provides comprehensive medical protection, coverage for pre-existing health conditions, and flexibility if plans change. Taking time to read the policy details and choosing a plan designed for your age group will help ensure your travels are memorable for the right reasons. 

  

SOME HANDY HINTS FOR TRAVEL INSURANCE 

• Book a few extra days beyond your trip’s return date just in case your travel is delayed for any reason. 
• Consider annual insurance policies, they can cover multiple trips, domestic and international travel and can be very cost effective for regular travellers. 
• Be aware that you can earn frequent flyer points for some policies, check the company partners. 
• Take a copy of your insurance in print form on your trip, save a copy to your phone and pin the policy in your emails. This will help you find it quickly when needed. 
• Add the international contact number of your insurer to your phone contacts before you leave. 
• Some credit cards offer insurance which is a great benefit from your bank, it is important to check the inclusions as each card often has differing levels of cover. 
• Your insurance providers for car, home or health may also sell travel insurance. Check for multi policy offers and discounts for existing customers.  
• You may consider a higher excess to lower the cost of the policy.
• This article from Smart Traveller has heaps of great tips on choosing the best policy for your trip

Happy to help answer your questions about your upcoming travels – whether it’s flight research, packing advice or suggestions on how to choose travel insurance.

If you’re craving an adventure, check out all the Upcoming Tours or contact Penny if you’d to organise a custom trip for your own group or family.