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Over 50 travel insurance

What is over 50s travel insurance?

It’s simply travel insurance that covers you in your 50s. There’s nothing particularly different or specialist about travel insurance for over 50s. Prices won't really be all that different compared to someone in their 20s or 30s.

You might see price increases or fewer insurers if you have a pre-existing health condition, but this would be the same for someone of any age. There’s no upper age limit with these policies, so you might see less insurers in the results only when you get into your 80s or 90s.

Insurance naturally goes up in price the older you get for travel, but being in your 50s, you don’t really have to worry too much in terms of price and availability of insurers.

What does travel insurance cover?

An over 50s travel policy will cover the same as a standard policy. This may include:

Medical treatment and return travel to the UK if you’re unwell or are injured on holiday
Cancellation cover if your holiday is cancelled or you can't go on your trip
Baggage, personal possessions and money cover if your items are lost or stolen

An over 50s travel insurance policy might offer slightly enhanced medical benefits or no age limits on the cover.

It’s important to check exactly what is and isn’t covered to get the best value cover. Terms will vary between different policies and insurance companies.

What doesn't it cover?

Common exclusions for over 50s travel insurance include

Travelling against FCDO advice. When travelling, always follow the latest government advice.
Failure to declare any pre-existing medical conditions. If you have a medical condition, you should get a pre-existing conditions insurance quote to make sure you're covered on your trip.
Incidents involving alcohol or drugs.
Activities or sports, unless you've included them as extras. Let your insurer know if you're doing anything such as skiing or adventure sports.
Waiting too long to report an incident. You need to declare any lost or stolen personal possessions usually within 24 hours. But this should be detailed in the policy.

Make sure you're familiar with all the exclusions on your policy before you travel, and always make sure you're honest when getting a quote.

How much does over 50s travel insurance cost?

The cost of your policy varies depending on:

Where you’re travelling - for example, travelling to the USA is likely to cost more than Europe
How long you’re away for - the longer the trip, the more you're likely to pay
If you have a pre-existing medical condition
If you want to add any extras to your policy, like golf or cruise cover

Here are the average costs of 1 week policies for some of the most popular destinations around the world:¹:

Destination	Average premium for 1 week¹
USA	£22.54
UAE	£10.85
Australia	£6.51
Turkey	£8.23
Spain	£7.35

1. Confused.com travel insurance data - Average price of all over 50 premiums based on a 1 week trip in August

We compare 39 trusted travel insurance companies to find you our best deals

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What are the main types of over 50s cover?

There are several types of cover to choose from, each designed to suit a different type of trip. They include:

Single trip travel insurance

Covers you for 1 trip to a single destination. Depending on the insurer this could be up to a month or longer.

Learn more about single-trip travel insurance

Annual travel insurance

Sometimes known as multi-trip, this type of cover is for people who make multiple trips in a 12-month period. It usually covers you for an unlimited number of trips in a year, but each trip is usually limited to 31 days. Some travel insurance providers offer policies that cater for longer individual trips.

Learn more about annual travel insurance

Backpacker travel insurance

Could be useful if you're planning on going travelling around multiple countries. These policies cover you for between 1 and 18 months and may be ideal sabbaticals from work or early retirement.

Learn more about backpacker travel insurance

Business travel insurance

Provides cover for your laptop and other business equipment while abroad, as well as any company money that’s lost or stolen.

Learn more about business travel insurance

What optional extras are available?

To get the right level of cover for your trip, you can add optional extras to your policy:

Golf cover insures your equipment. This isn't always available with over 50s cover, so check your policy.
Cruise cover covers your cruise for unscheduled stops or missing a port. It also covers you for medical emergencies on board and cabin confinement.
Specialist sports cover includes water and winter sports.
Gadget cover can help if the cover limit on a standard policy isn’t high enough for your gadgets.
Single item cover for those travelling with items that exceed the single item limit, like a watch or jewellery.

Compare over 50s travel insurance quotes

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What information do I need for an over 50s travel insurance quote?

To get a quote we'll need information about:

The dates you’re travelling
The country or countries you’ll be visiting
Any pre-existing medical conditions

For annual trips, you don’t need to include specific travel dates or holiday details as you may not have booked them all. But you do need to specify the parts of the world you want to include.

Can I get a quote with a serious pre-existing medical condition?

Yes, you can still get a quote with us for over 50s travel insurance if you have a medical condition. We have a range of insurers who offer quotes for many declared serious medical conditions. Bear in mind that you may find fewer results, though, depending on your situation. We may ask if you’ve seen a doctor in the last 2 years and whether you’re currently waiting for any tests or investigations.

These conditions include:

Cancer
Stroke
Serious heart conditions
Respiratory conditions
Terminal conditions

You must tell your insurer about any conditions or illness so they can confirm if any claims relating to them will be covered. Cover for some conditions could make your policy more expensive. If you don’t tell your insurer about a medical condition, this could invalidate a claim and you could be left with a hefty bill.

Not all insurers offer cover for pre-existing medical conditions. If you’re unable to find suitable cover, the Money and Pension Service (MaPS) has also set up a directory of insurers willing to cover customers with pre-existing medical conditions. You can phone them on 0800 138 7777 for free impartial advice.

What our travel insurance expert says

''There aren’t really any differences between a travel policy in your 30s and 40s and one your 50s and beyond. The only real difference is perhaps a minimal price difference, as the risk of getting injured or becoming ill when abroad increases as you get older.''

''The easiest way to do stay covered is to get a quote and compare your options.''

Matthew Harwood Home & lifestyle insurance expert

Will my EHIC or GHIC cover me while I'm on holiday?

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) work only in Europe and only to a minimal extent. Since the UK left the EU in 2020, your EHIC doesn't cover you if it’s expired. You need to have a valid EHIC or apply for a GHIC to get state-level medical treatment.

But these cards don't replace travel insurance. You should still have a travel insurance policy with the right level of medical cover included.

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