Travel insurance doesn't cover everything. Each policy and provider will vary in what they cover. You might find that over 80s travel insurance has more exclusions than travel insurance for younger people. For example, you might be covered for shorter trip durations, like 30 days instead of 60. Some insurers also set upper age limits on their cover for high-risk activities. You should read your policy documents carefully to check what's covered.
The great news is that travel insurance for over 80s doesn’t normally limit which destinations you can travel to. All you have to do is specify where you’re travelling to when you’re buying your insurance.
If you’re buying single-trip travel insurance, this means entering the country you’re going to. If you’re buying annual travel insurance, we’ll ask which region you’re travelling to. Let’s take a look at these:
Top tip: If you've purchased a European annual travel insurance policy but decide you want to travel somewhere outside of Europe, some insurers will let you upgrade your policy to include your new destination.
We take a look at what the medical cover section of your travel insurance policy covers.
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"Turning 80 shouldn't stop you from exploring the world. Travel insurance is there to protect you if things go wrong, but, you'll need to tell your insurer about any pre-existing medical conditions when buying a policy. If you don't declare them, your travel insurance might be invalid, leaving you uncovered if you need to make a claim."
Yes, it’s possible to add cruise insurance to your policy if you’re over 80. In fact, some cruise liners won’t let you board without having cover in place.
It’ll cover you for things like cabin confinement due to illness, or missed ports due to bad weather.
It’s generally recommended that you should buy travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your holiday. That way, you’re covered for anything that happens in the lead-up that could impact your trip. For example, if you become ill and need to cancel your holiday.
Many claims are handled online these days, but insurers often have a claims line that you can call. When you make a travel insurance claim, it’s always best to have a copy of your policy documents. Keep them to hand while travelling as they normally have your insurers contact details on them.
Medical claims are sometimes handled differently to other claims. Usually, insurers have an emergency number you can phone in the event of a medical emergency. They normally ask that, if possible, you contact them before receiving any medical care.
Make a note of your policy number as you’ll need this to make a claim.
To speed up the claims process, it’s also important to keep any supporting evidence of your claim. Depending on the nature of your claim, this could include:
The FCDO recommends that you have travel insurance even if you have a Global or European Health Insurance Card (GHIC or EHIC).
The GHIC and EHIC grant you access to state-level healthcare in certain countries. But, they don’t necessarily mean your care will be free. They also don’t cover the cost of private medical care.
That’s where travel insurance can help. Having a travel insurance policy in place can help cover these costs. Travel insurance also covers a range of other eventualities, like lost luggage or trip cancellations. So, it’s worth considering a policy, even if you have a GHIC or EHIC.
It's still worth having a valid EHIC or GHIC when you travel, though. Some insurers stipulate you must use a valid GHIC alongside travel insurance when receiving medical care. As a senior traveller, you might be at higher risk of needing medical attention during your holiday. So, it's recommended that you check that your GHIC is still valid before you travel. If it isn't, you can apply for a new GHIC on the NHS website.
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Includes cover for any cancellations, green fees you've paid upfront and specialist cover for your clubs.
It will cover you for any holidays that you've got planned in Europe this year.
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