As people in many countries live longer and retire with better health, more and more seniors are traveling farther and for longer periods than ever. Whether you are an experienced traveler, or you have been waiting all your life to take this one special trip, you want your trip to be as safe and enjoyable as possible.
The primary reason to purchase senior travel insurance is to protect themselves from highly expensive medical costs that can occur with a sudden illness or injury.
Our health is more at risk when we travel, not only because our bodies are exposed to a variety of unfamiliar germs and viruses, but also because we have the opportunity to do activities we might not engage in at home.
While a handful of countries have reciprocal health care arrangements with other countries (typically in those countries where health care is subsidized by the government) health care costs are more expensive in some countries than in others.
Furthermore, emergency health care is not covered without travel insurance. So, even if you have an adequate plan at home, it’s important to cover costs that can occur while you are traveling as well.
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As with most travel insurance plans, you can choose comprehensive benefits to cover everything from medical emergencies to lost baggage and concierge services. Or, you can stick with the basics and just obtain emergency medical and evacuation, depending on your needs.
Senior travel insurance coverage that you need to consider
Of course, every plan is different, but most travel insurance plans provide a basic level of coverage including the following benefits:
- Senior travel insurance should include emergency medical, including hospital room and board, and local ambulance services
- Emergency medical reunion to bring a family member to your bedside if you are hospitalized
- Acts of terrorism that occur in destinations on the traveler’s itinerary
- Trip cancellation, interruption, and delays that can occur for a variety of reasons
- Emergency medical evacuations and repatriation
- Return of minor grandchildren traveling without their parents with the insured
- Loss of baggage and personal effects
- AD&D
- Coverage for loss or damage to rental cars
- Pre-existing medical conditions*
Senior Travel Insurance Coverage Matrix
The following table lists the providers who offer travel insurance plans to seniors. Most plans that are designed for seniors offer the same travel protection as the company’s plans for younger travelers, but in some cases with slightly reduced maximums or higher deductibles.
| Company | Plans | Benefits | Details |
| TravelGuard |
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The TravelGuard plans support all of the expected basic benefits for seniors. This plan also supports the following benefits (up to the plan limit):
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The TravelGuard plans offer some of the most comprehensive benefits, but various benefits apply to the different available plans, so check the plan details carefully to choose the right plan for you. Some of these plans come with the popular optional ‘cancel for any reason’ or ‘cancel for any work reason’ benefits as well. Children are covered at no additional cost with the Savvy Traveler plan only. |
| E-Travel Insurance Global Alert | The following plans are available to seniors:
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The E-Travel Insurance plans offer the expected basic travel insurance benefits for seniors. In addition, these plans also offer the following benefits (up to the plan maximums):
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The Preferred and Preferred Plus plan offer the optional ‘cancel for any reason’ benefit. |
| Mondial | All plans are available to seniors. | The Mondial travel plans support all of the expected basic benefits for seniors. This plan also supports the following benefits (up to the plan limit):
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The Mondial family travel plans include the ‘kids are free’ advantage for grandchildren under 17. |
| Global Underwriters | All plans are available to seniors. | The Diplomat America plan offers the following plan maximums (travelers under 60 are eligible for all plans):
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The Diplomat Long Term plan also supports:
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| HTH Worldwide | The following plans are available for U.S. seniors up to age 84 (who are residents of eligible states):
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The HTH Worldwide travel protection plans provide the basic expected benefits for seniors. Seniors must be enrolled in a primary group health plan designed as the first payer of claims (such as Medicare). In addition, these plans also offer a variety of optional benefits (up to the plan maximums), including:
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You can also purchase additional travel reimbursement services for lost passports, airline tickets, luggage, and more. |
| International Medical Group |
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Available to U.S. citizens, this plan has a $50,000 plan maximum and supports the typical coverage benefits. This plan also supports the following benefits (up to the plan limit):
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This plan includes an optional leisure sports rider, which can be applied for senior travelers. |
| FrontierMEDEXWorldwide Travel Assistance | The following plans are available to seniors up to age 80:
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The FrontierMEDEX travel plans are age-rated, so seniors will play slightly higher premiums depending on your age. These travel plans provide the basic expected benefits for seniors. These plans also support the following benefits (up to the individual plan maximums):
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This company will provide you with medical destination reports (for a fee). Plans can also be extended, when necessary or desired. |
| MedJet Assist | All plans are available to seniors up to age 75 (up to 85 with the Diamond Membership plan). | The MedJet Assist travel plans provide medical evacuation benefits only. Various membership levels are available, depending on the duration of your trip and coverage options. | A general health questionnaire and medical statement must be completed by the potential insured and their physician. |
| MultiNational Underwriters |
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The MultiNational Underwriter senior plans are available to U.S. travelers starting at age 70 (75 for the CitizenSecure Senior plan) who live or work outside their home country. These plans also support the following benefits (up to the plan limit):
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Medical pre-certification may be required; check the plan specifics. |
| RBC Insurance | The following packages are available to seniors:
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the RBC travel insurance plans support the expected basic benefits for seniors. This plan also supports the following benefits (up to the plan limit):
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A medical questionnaire is required only with the TravelCare plan if you are 85 or over. These plans can be renewed for multiple trips as annual coverage. |
| Seven Corners Insurance | All plans are available to seniors. | The Seven Corners travel insurance plans support the expected basic benefits for seniors. This plan also supports the following benefits (up to the individual plan limits):
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Optional flight accident protection can be purchased as well, along with collision damage. |
| Travelex Insurance Services |
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The Travelex Insurance Services plan support the expected basic benefits for seniors. This plan also supports the following benefits up to the individual plan limits:
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Children under 16 are covered at no extra charge with the Travel Plus and TraveLite plans. |
| TravelSafe Insurance |
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The TravelSafe Insurance plans support the basic, expected benefits for seniors. This plan also supports the following benefits (up to the plan limit):
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Optional ‘cancel for any reason’ benefit is available with these plans. |
| TravelInsured.com | All plans are available to seniors. | The TravelInsured.com plans support all the basic, expected benefits for seniors. These plans also support the following benefits (up to the plan limit):
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The TravelInsured.com plans offer a large number of optional benefits, including the ‘collision damage waiver’, the ‘cancel for any reason’ benefit, and the ‘cancel for work reasons’ benefit among others. You’ll want to look at the list of options that apply to each plan to choose the right optional benefits to add to your coverage. |
| Travel Insurance Select | The Travel Insurance Select plans are age-rated, so seniors can expect to pay a little more for the same coverage. These plans support traveling seniors:
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The Travel Insurance Select plans support the basic, expected trip insurance benefits for seniors. In addition, these plans also support the following benefits (up to the plan maximum):
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The availability of some benefits varies by state of residence, so be sure to check the plan before purchasing. |
| TripInsurance.com |
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The TripInsurance.com travel plans are age-rated, which means the plan cost and limits vary based on the age of the insured(s). Otherwise, the plan benefits are the same for everyone. | |
| USA-Assist Worldwide Protection | All plans are available to seniors, and plans are age-rated, so seniors pay slightly higher costs for the same coverage benefits. | The USA-Assist travel plans are available to seniors with the same benefits for everyone. |
The USA-Assist website displays the coverage cost by trip length and age, so it’s easy to see how much your travel coverage will cost. Plus, they guarantee the same prices for travelers over 70. |
