What does over 50s 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
- 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.
As with any policy, it’s important to check exactly what is and isn’t covered to get the best value over 50s travel insurance. Terms will vary between different policies and insurance companies.
How much does over 50s travel insurance cost?
The cost of your policy can vary depending on:
-
Where you’re travelling, for example, 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 the UK and some of the most popular destinations around the world1:
Destination | Average premium for 1 week1 |
---|---|
Cyprus
|
£28.92
|
Germany
|
£24.83
|
Spain
|
£27.61
|
France
|
£23.51
|
UK
|
£22.31
|
Greece
|
£24.56
|
Croatia
|
£23.71
|
Italy
|
£22.45
|
Portugal
|
£19.92
|
Turkey
|
£28.18
|
1. Confused.com travel insurance data - Average price of all over 50 premiums - 2nd May 2022 to 2nd November 2022
What should I consider when buying over 50s travel insurance?
Make sure you have the right cover in place before you travel. Here's some things to think about before buying your over 50s travel insurance policy:
- What policy type you need
- The length of your trip
- Where you're travelling
- The level of cover you need
- How many people you want to cover
The policy type you need depends on the type of holiday and if you’re going 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 determine the type of policy you need. For example, a standard over 50s travel insurance policy may be suited for a week or month’s holiday. If you’re travelling for longer, a backpacker policy might be better.
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.
Where you’re travelling affects the cost of your policy and the cover you need. For example, for a shopping trip to New York, you’ll want to cover your purchases. Always include all the countries and regions you’re travelling to, to be sure you’re fully covered.
The level of cover you 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 family holiday. Family policies can include up to 2 adults and 8 children 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.
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