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Over 50s travel insurance

Compare travel insurance for over 50s

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Get over 50s travel insurance from £6.002

  • Get a free eSIM with up to 2GB of roaming data when you buy travel insurance3

  • Find cover for your whole family from up to 431 insurers

  • Compare different types of policies including single-trip, annual and backpackers travel insurance

1Correct as of February 2025
2The cheapest price for single-trip travel insurance. Based on 1 adult aged 50 with no pre-existing medical conditions, travelling in Spain for 1 week. Confused.com data, January 2025.
3eSIM comes with pre-funded credit and the amount of data received in exchange, will vary based on the specific country you select. Compatible devices only. T&C's apply.

We compare 43 trusted travel insurance companies1 to find you our best deals

How to compare over 50s travel insurance quotes

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Tell us about you and your trip

We need to know a few details about you and anyone you want to include on the policy. We also need to know where you're travelling and for how long.

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Let us know about any medical conditions

If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, you should declare them when you buy insurance. If you don't, your insurance may be invalid.

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Compare quotes

We'll show you a list of quotes from up to 431 travel insurance providers. Compare the policy details and prices to find the cover that's most suitable for you.

1Correct as of February 2025

The differences between over 50s travel insurance and standard travel insurance

Over 50s travel insurance is designed to meet the needs of travellers over the age of 50. Some insurers offer specialist policies, tailored to this age group.

Standard travel insurance is available if you're over 50. But specialist policies might include additional cover that isn't typically included as standard with travel insurance. For example:

  • Higher cover levels
  • No upper age limit

The main difference for over 50s travel insurance is the price. Generally, travel insurance gets more expensive as you get older. This is because the older you are, the higher your risk of injury or illness.

You might also find your choice of insurers is more limited, especially if you have a pre-existing medical condition.

What does travel insurance cover?

Exactly what's covered varies between policies and insurers. So, it's important to check the policy documents before you buy insurance to make sure you're getting the right cover for you. But here's what you can typically expect from travel insurance:

  • Medical cover can cover your medical bills if you need emergency treatment during your holiday.
  • Repatriation cover can cover the cost of transporting you home.
  • Cancellation cover can cover your costs if you need to cancel your holiday due to an insured reason.
  • Disruption cover can cover your costs if your travel plans are impacted by bad weather, strikes or mechanical failure.
  • Baggage cover can cover the cost of replacing your belongings if your luggage is lost, stolen or damaged.

There are also some restrictions to look out for, such as:

  • Travelling against FCDO advice. If the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against travelling to your destination, your insurance won't cover you.
  • Undeclared pre-existing medical conditions won't be covered, so you should ensure you declare any medical conditions when you buy your insurance.
  • Known events, such as natural disasters, won't be covered if they're considered 'known' when you buy your insurance.
  • Changing your mind. Cancellation cover only applies to insured events. So, you won't be able to claim for the cost of your holiday if you simply change your mind.
  • Incidents that occur under the influence. If you're injured, injure a third party or damage their property while you're under the influence of drugs or alcohol, your insurance won't cover your associated costs.

Free eSIM with up to 2GB of roaming data when you buy travel insurance**

With roaming charges making an unwelcome return, eSIMs are a convenient option when travelling. eSIMs are non-physical and are embedded into most newer smartphones; meaning you won’t have to put anything physical into your device, it should already be there.

How does it work?

Simply buy your travel insurance, claim your free eSIM, and install it onto your device at the tap of a button. Your eSIM with 2GB of roaming data will kick in on a local mobile network when you get to your destination.

Find out more about eSIMs
Image of a mobile asking you to claim your eSIM reward
**eSIM comes with pre-funded credit and the amount of data received in exchange, will vary based on the specific country you select. Compatible devices only. T&C's apply.

Policy add-ons available with over 50s travel insurance

A typical travel insurance policy won't cover everything. But, you can choose to add extra cover to tailor your insurance to your holiday. These come at an added cost, so make sure you carefully consider whether you need them. Let's take a look at some of the policy add-ons you can opt for.

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Cruise cover

Cruise insurance covers the unique things that can go wrong during a cruise, like missed ports, cabin confinement and unused excursions due to bad weather or illness.

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Business cover

Business travel insurance covers items you're carrying for business purposes. This could include gadgets, like a company phone or laptop, or even business cash you're travelling with.

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Winter sports cover

Winter sports travel insurance covers things like piste closure, lost ski passes and damaged equipment while you're taking part in activities like skiing or snowboarding.

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Gadget cover

Adding gadget cover to your travel insurance can cover theft, loss or accidental damage of your personal gadgets. This could include items like your mobile phone, tablet or laptop.

How much does over 50s travel insurance cost?

Travel insurance generally gets more expensive as you get older. So, you might find that over 50s travel insurance costs a bit more, especially if you opt for specialist cover. But the price is also impacted by:

  • How long you're travelling
  • Policy add-ons you include
  • Where you're travelling
  • Pre-existing medical conditions

Let's take a look at how much you might pay:

Policy type Price
Annual travel insurance
£11.804
Cruise travel insurance
£13.945
Couples travel insurance
£12.026

4The cheapest price for European annual travel insurance. Based on 1 adult aged 50 with no pre-existing medical conditions. Confused.com data, January 2025.
5The cheapest price for single-trip travel insurance with cruise cover added. Based on 1 adult aged 50 with no pre-existing medical conditions, travelling in Spain for 1 week. Confused.com data, January 2025.
6The cheapest price for single-trip travel insurance. Based on 2 adults aged 50 with no pre-existing medical conditions, travelling in Spain for 1 week. Confused.com data, January 2025.

How can I get cheaper travel insurance?

There are a few things you can do to try and find cheap travel insurance:

  • Avoid policy extras you don't need

    Not all travel insurance policies cover the same things. You might find your chosen policy includes cover that others don't. Read your policy documents carefully to understand what's included before you add extra cover.

  • Choose the right type of cover

    Planning to take a few different holidays this year? Annual travel insurance might be cheaper than buying separate single-trip policies for each trip you're going on.

  • Consider a joint policy

    Travelling with the rest of the family? It might work out cheaper to take out family travel insurance, compared to each person having their own policy. You also have the option of couples travel insurance and group travel insurance.

  • Compare insurance quotes

    The easiest and fastest way to find cheaper travel insurance is to compare quotes. When you know what cover you want, shop around and compare quotes to find suitable cover at the best price possible.

Over 50s travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions

Having a medical condition shouldn't stop you from being able to buy travel insurance. Many providers offer over 50s travel insurance for medical conditions. But, you might find your choice is more limited. It's also generally more expensive because you're at higher risk of requiring medical care during your holiday.

It's important to declare any medical conditions when you buy insurance. If you don't, you risk invalidating your policy and leaving yourself unprotected if things go wrong. If you're currently being tested for medical conditions, you might find it harder to get cover. Insurers might refuse to cover you until you have a formal diagnosis.

If you can't find suitable travel insurance, the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) brand MoneyHelper has a directory of insurers that offer cover for customers with pre-existing medical conditions. You can also get free, impartial advice from MaPS by calling 0800 138 7777.

Read our guides on travelling with medical conditions

Do I need over 50s travel insurance?

"Travel insurance isn't always a legal requirement. You should check the entry requirements of the country you're travelling to. But having a policy in place covers you against unexpected circumstances that could impact your holiday. This doesn't have to be a specialist over 50s policy though, it could be a standard travel insurance policy. Comparing quotes is the easiest way to make sure your policy offers the cover you need."
Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert
Travel insurance expert Confused.com logo

Types of travel insurance for over 50s

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

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Single-trip insurance

If you're only planning on taking 1 trip in the next 12 months, single-trip travel insurance might be the most suitable option for you.

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Annual travel insurance

If you're a frequent traveller, it might be cheaper to buy annual travel insurance to cover all your trips in the year.

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Backpackers insurance

Finally got some time for that bucket list holiday? Backpackers insurance covers longer trips with multiple destinations.

Couples travel insurance icon black on white background

Couples travel insurance

Planning a holiday without the kids? It might be cheaper to buy couples travel insurance than individual policies for you and your partner.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need travel insurance if I have an EHIC or GHIC?

The European Health Insurance Card  (EHIC) and its replacement, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) aren't substitutes for travel insurance.

The EHIC and GHIC allow you to access state-level healthcare in participating countries. THis means you pay the same price as a citizen of the country you're in. Travel insurance can cover these medical bills.

Travel insurance also covers much more than the EHIC and GHIC. For example, as well as medical treatment, travel insurance can cover lost luggage, travel cancellation and repatriation.

Is there a trip length limit on over 50s travel insurance?

Most standard over 50s travel insurance policies allow travel for up to 120 days. But this will vary depending on the policy. If you want to go on a longer trip, you might need long stay travel insurance.

Some providers might impose shorter trip lengths as you get older. Check your policy details to make sure you're covered for your whole trip.

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