What does over 50s travel insurance cover?
An over 50s travel policy will cover the same things as a standard policy. This usually includes:
- Medical treatment and return travel to the UK if you’re unwell or are injured while you’re on holiday
- Cancellation cover in case your holiday is cancelled or you're unable to go on your trip
- Baggage, personal possessions, and money cover if your items are lost or stolen
- 24-hour helpline to speak to someone in an emergency
An over 50s travel insurance policy might offer slightly enhanced medical benefits or no age limits on the cover. You may also get longer trip limits on single and multi trip policies - helpful if you have more time on your hands.
As with any policy, it’s important to check exactly what is and isn’t covered to get the best value travel insurance. Terms will vary not just between insurance companies but between policies too.
How much does over 50s travel insurance cost?
The cost of your policy can vary depending on:
- Where you’re travelling to, for example the USA is likely to be pricier than Europe
- How long you’re away for, the longer the trip is, the more you might pay
- If you have a pre-existing medical condition
- If you want to add any extras to your policy, such as golf or cruise cover
To give you an idea of how much a policy may cost you, here are the average costs of 1-week policies for the UK and some of the most popular destinations around the world1:
Destination | Average premium for 1 week1 |
---|---|
Cyprus
|
£28.94
|
Germany
|
£24.89
|
Spain
|
£27.65
|
France
|
£23.54
|
UK
|
£22.32
|
Greece
|
£24.56
|
Croatia
|
£23.78
|
Italy
|
£22.48
|
Portugal
|
£19.97
|
Turkey
|
£28.19
|
1. Confused.com travel insurance data - Average price of all over 50 premiums - January 2022 to March 2022
What should I consider when buying over 50s travel insurance?
Making sure you have the right cover in place before you travel is important. We’ve listed a few things that you’ll need to think about before buying your insurance policy:
- What policy type you need
- The length of your trip
- Where you're travelling to
- The level of cover you'll need
- How many people you want to cover
The policy type you need will depend your type of holiday and whether you’re planning on more than one trip in a year. Options include single-trip, annual multi-trip or if you’re more adventurous, a backpacker policy.
The length of your trip can affect the price and type of policy you need. For example, a standard over 50s policy might be suited for a week’s holiday or even a trip up to 31 days. If you’re planning on travelling for longer, a backpacker policy might be more suited.
Backpacker policies aren’t just for young travellers, they offer cover for trips of up to 18 months, whether you’re aged 18 or 50. We cover the different policy types in more detail below.
Where you’re travelling to not only affects the cost of your policy but may also make you think about how much cover you need. For example, if you’re planning on a shopping trip to New York, you’ll want to make sure your new must-haves are covered. Remember to include all the countries and regions you’re planning on travelling to, to be sure you’re fully covered.
The level of cover you’ll need, including cover for a pre-existing medical condition. Depending on the type of holiday you might need extras such as winter sports, business travel or cruise cover.
How many people you want to cover, particularly if you’re planning a romantic getaway or a family holiday. Family policies can include up to 2 adults and 8 children who should be under the age of 18.
What our travel insurance expert says
Believe it or not, but there aren’t many differences between a standard travel policy and an over 50s policy. The only real difference is the cost of your policy, as the risk of getting injured or becoming ill when abroad increases as you get older. That doesn’t mean to say, you can’t make a saving on a policy. The easiest way to do that is to get a quote and compare your options. It really is that simple.
Jac Morris
Travel insurance product executive
Need more help
Are there age limits for an over 50s travel insurance policy?
The only criteria for this type of policy is that you have to be over the age of 50 when you buy the policy. There aren’t any upper age limits, so you should be able to get a quote if you’re 60, 70 or 80.
Why does over 50s travel insurance cost more than standard travel insurance?
The cost of a policy goes up for over 50s because you generally have a higher chance of getting ill or having an accident while abroad. Medical treatment and repatriation costs can be very expensive, so your insurer needs to make sure you have enough cover in place in the unlikely event that you need either of these services.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, that could also affect the price of your policy. It’s important that you openly declare any medical conditions when buying your policy to make sure you’ve got the right cover in place. If you go on to become unwell or seriously ill on holiday as a result of a pre-existing condition you’ve not declared, you run the risk of being unable to make a claim for any medical expenses related to it.
Will my EHIC cover me while I'm on holiday?
If your EHIC is still valid, it’ll cover you for state-level healthcare in Europe. If you don’t have an EHIC, you can apply for its replacement, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). For more information see our guide on EHIC changes or apply for a GHIC card at NHS.UK.
What are the different types of travel insurance?
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