Travel Insurance For Over 80 With Medical Conditions

Travel insurance for over 80 with medical conditions is a must-have for seniors who want to enjoy their golden years by exploring the world. 

In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about travel insurance for seniors– including why you need it and what’s included in it. 

Let’s dive in.

What is Travel Insurance For The Over 80s With Medical Conditions?

Over 80 travel insurance with medical conditions is a type of policy that provides cover for seniors – including those older than 80 (and sometimes 90)– who have pre-existing medical conditions.

What is a pre-existing medical condition?

A pre-existing medical condition is a condition that you had before the start of your cover. It can be a condition:

• You have been diagnosed with.
• You had a follow-up appointment for.
• You’ve been taking prescription medication for.

Travel insurance providers usually offer cover for the following medical conditions:

• Arthritis
• High Cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Heart Conditions
• High Blood Pressure
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Stroke
• Deep Vein Thrombosis
• Disabilities
• Alzheimer’s
• Mental Health Conditions

When Should You Buy Travel Insurance For Over 80s With Medical Conditions?

You should start looking for a good travel insurance policy as soon as you start planning your trip. 

It might take you some time to find the right insurer, and even if you immediately find an insurance provider, it’s best to shop around for affordable quotes before you settle on a deal. 

Most insurance companies will require you to disclose any existing medical conditions at the time of purchase, and some may ask you to take a medical exam.

What Does Travel Insurance For Over 80s Cover?

Over 80 travel insurance coverage varies from one provider to another; however, most of them offer protection for:

• Emergency medical expenses: You will be covered in case of emergencies, illness, or injury, and even repatriation costs to get you home, usually up to a certain amount, depending on the level of coverage you opt for. Some, like AllClear, also offer free 30-day extended cover.

• Cancellation expenses: All travel insurance policies cover cancellation costs in case of illness or death of a close relative. These types of expenses are also limited to a certain amount.

• Medication: Some policies offer loss of medication cover, which means you’ll be compensated if you lose your medication or it gets damaged.

• Medical aid and equipment: If you use a wheelchair, a hearing aid, or other medical equipment, they can be included in your cover, which means you can make claims in case of loss or damage or if they get stolen. 

• Coronavirus: Since the start of the pandemic, all insurance companies offer COVID-related emergencies and claims. Some insurers provide COVID coverage for free.

What Is Not Covered By Travel Insurance For Over 80?

Insurance providers have a few exceptions when it comes to travel insurance coverage. The most common exclusions are:

• Undisclosed medical conditions: If you try to claim for any conditions that you did not previously disclose, the provider has the right to invalidate your coverage and reject your claim.

• Negligent behaviour: If a personal item is lost due to carelessness, or you suffer an injury as a result of reckless and dangerous behaviour, your provider can refuse to cover you.

• Undeclared activities: Some activities, such as winter and water sports, may not be covered under your policy by default because they come with added risk. However, most insurance companies offer them as add-ons.

How Much Does Travel Insurance For Over 80 Year Olds Cost?

Holiday insurance for over 80s is more expensive, especially if you have pre-existing medical conditions. 

This is because the insurer needs to compensate for the risk they’re taking to insure you since you’re statistically more likely to make a claim, and your medical bills can easily rack up compared to someone who’s younger or doesn’t have any pre-existing medical conditions.  

You’ll also have to pay more if you want extra coverage for something that’s not included by default, such as a gadget cover.

Where Can You Go With Over 80 Holiday Insurance?

Insurers typically offer two different destination plans in their travel insurance policies:

• Worldwide policies will cover you in most countries around the world. Still, it’s important to check what exactly is included before you jump on the next flight because some worldwide policies come with exceptions. They generally apply to destinations like the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, mostly due to the high medical costs in these places.

• European policies cover most of the European region. Some policies also include non-European locations like Turkey, Egypt, and Morocco.

Can You Get an Annual Travel Insurance Policy?

All insurance providers offer single-trip and multi-trip policies. 

Multi-trip policies offer coverage for an unlimited number of trips in a year, up to a certain number of days. They often work out cheaper than the single-trip policies for frequent travellers. 

Things To Keep In Mind Before Taking Out Travel Insurance For Over 80s

When shopping around for travel insurance for the elderly over 80, here are some of the things you should consider: 

• 24/7 Support: In case of an emergency, you would want an insurer that offers 24/7 customer support service to help with claims. Most insurers have a helpline that’s open 24/7, but it’s best to ask your provider before you take out a policy.

• Dependents: Some providers allow travellers to add companions to their policies in case they cannot travel alone. 

• Upper age limit: The majority of insurers that provide coverage for seniors have no upper age limit, but some do not offer insurance to people over a certain age.

• Minimum coverage: Treatment expenses can vary dramatically from one location to another. You should aim for a minimum of £5 million in medical expenses, £1 million for personal liability, £2,000 for cancellation, and at least £250 for personal money compensation.

Bottom Line

Finding good travel insurance for over 80 with medical conditions can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Many insurers offer coverage for people in the later stages of life, which cover thousands of medical conditions and different cover levels to match your budget and your needs.