Older people are among the country’s most frequent travelers. According to Squaremouth, an online travel insurance marketplace, age 60 and above is the most active age group for travel, with a nearly 37% share.
If you’re a senior—and whether you’re planning the trip of a lifetime or a short getaway—you may want to consider travel insurance. Travel is costly and can be complex. New concerns, such as COVID-19, add to traditional concerns, such as losing your luggage or having a problem with a tour provider. An insurance policy can protect your travel investment and ensure you have the coverage you need when far from home.
Travel insurance for seniors can be much more expensive than for younger travelers. A quote from Nationwide was 161% more expensive for a pair of 65-year-olds than for a pair of 30-year-olds. A quote from Seven Corners was 212% more expensive for the older couple! So you do owe it to yourself to shop around and make sure the policy you choose offers the coverages you need at a price that works for your travel budget.
Compare the best travel insurance for seniors
| Company | Best for | Cost | Trip coverages | Medical coverages | Baggage coverages | Pre-existing condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spontaneous travel | $374 | 100% Cancellation; 100% Interruption; $500 Trip delay | $15,000 Medical; $150,000 Transport | $750 Loss; $200 Delay | Included | |
Annual plans | $474 | 100% Cancellation; 100% Interruption; $300 Trip delay | $10,000 Medical; $50,000 Transport | $500 Loss; $200 Delay | Included | |
Berkshire Hathaway | Cruises | $396 | 100% Cancellation; 100% Interruption; $500 Trip delay | $15,000 Medical; $150,000 Transport | $750 Loss; $200 Delay | Included |
Medical coverage | $446 | 100% Cancellation; 125% Interruption; $1,000 Trip delay | $50,000 Medical; $250,000 Transport | $1,000 Loss; $200 delay | Available with more expensive plans | |
Nationwide | Budget travel | $290 | 100% Cancellation; 125% Interruption; $600 Trip delay | $75,000 Medical; $250,000 Transport | $600 Loss; $100 Delay | Included |
Cancel for any reason coverage | $488 | 100% Cancellation; 100% Interruption; $600 Trip delay | $100,000 Medical; $250,000 Transport | $500 Loss; $500 Delay | Available with more expensive plans | |
Car damage insurance | $460 | 100% Cancellation; 125% Interruption; $500 Trip delay | $50,000 Medical; $250,000 Transport | $750 Loss; $250 Delay | Included | |
Traveling with children | $452 | 100% Cancellation; 100% Interruption; $500 Trip delay | $15,000 Medical; $100,000 Transport | $500 Loss; $100 Delay | Available with more expensive plans |
Our recommendations for the best travel insurance companies for seniors
Best for spontaneous travel: AIG Travel Guard
Spontaneous travelers
AIG Travel Guard
Spontaneous travelers
AIG Travel Guard
Cost
$374
Trip coverages
100% Cancellation; 100% Interruption; $500 Trip delay
Medical coverage
$15,000 Medical; $150,000 Transport
Baggage coverages
$750 Loss; $200 Delay
Pre-existing condition
Included
Pros & cons:
Pros:
- Pack N’ Go plan helps spontaneous travelers save money.
Cons:
- Amount of medical coverage is on the lower end.
One of the great things about retirement is the ability to get up and go when you please. If spontaneous travel is your thing, AIG Travel Guard could be a great choice. Its Pack N’ Go plan helps you save money off the company’s already competitive pricing by eliminating trip cancellation coverage.
Best for annual plans: Allianz
Annual plans
Allianz Travel Insurance
Annual plans
Allianz Travel Insurance
Cost
$474
Trip coverages
100% Cancellation; 100% Interruption; $300 Trip delay
Medical coverage
$10,000 Medical; $50,000 Transport
Baggage coverages
$500 Loss; $200 Delay
Pre-existing condition
Included
Pros & cons:
Pros:
- Wide variety of travel insurance plans, including annual plans.
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions is included with all plans.
Cons:
- Medical coverage is lower than that offered by other providers.
- Baggage coverage is lower than that offered by other providers.
If you travel a lot, you might consider purchasing an annual travel insurance plan. This provides coverage for all your travels in a 12-month period. And a great company to check with would be Allianz, which offers four levels of annual plans (in addition to five single-trip plans). With so many plan choices, you can likely find a policy that works for your coverage needs and budget.
Best for cruises: Berkshire Hathaway
Cruises
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance
Cruises
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance
Cost
$396
Trip coverages
100% Cancellation; 100% Interruption; $500 Trip delay
Medical coverage
$15,000 Medical; $150,000 Transport
Baggage coverages
$750 Loss; $200 Delay
Car rental?
Upgrade available
Pros & cons:
Pros:
- Available travel insurance plan with cruise-specific coverages.
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions is included with all plans.
Cons:
- Medical coverage is lower than that offered by other providers in our review.
If you’re planning to take a cruise, you’re not alone. The cruise industry is booming. Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance offers a cruise package that accounts for the financial risk of booking a cruise, including coverage for missed connections, cruise disablement, and cruise diversion. The plan also includes medical coverage and emergency evacuation coverage at higher levels than what is available with the company’s most economical travel insurance plan.
Best for medical coverage: Generali
Medical coverage
Generali Travel Insurance
Medical coverage
Generali Travel Insurance
Cost
$446
Trip coverages
100% Cancellation; 125% Interruption; $1,000 Trip delay
Medical coverage
$50,000 Medical; $250,000 Transport
Baggage coverages
$1,000 Loss; $200 delay
Pre-existing condition
Available with more expensive plans
Pros & cons:
Pros:
- Up to $250,000 of medical expense coverage is available.
- Medical evacuation coverage is among the highest.
Cons:
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions not available with its most economical plan.
If you’re traveling internationally, you’ll want to pay close attention to your travel insurance medical coverage. The fact is, U.S. private health insurance does not typically provide coverage outside of the country and neither does Medicare. So if you become ill or get injured while traveling, you’ll need to rely on your travel insurance to cover the costs of any medical care.
Generali’s most economical plan provides a generous $50,000 worth of medical coverage. This can be bumped up to $150,000 by choosing its mid-range plan or $250,000 with its top plan. The company also provides $250,000 of coverage for medical evacuation, which is among the highest levels of coverage in the plans we reviewed.
Best for budget travel: Nationwide
Budget travel
Nationwide Travel Insurance
Budget travel
Nationwide Travel Insurance
Cost
$290
Trip coverages
100% Cancellation; 125% Interruption; $600 Trip delay
Medical coverage
$75,000 Medical; $250,000 Transport
Baggage coverages
$600 Loss; $100 Delay
Pre-existing condition
Included
Pros & cons:
Pros:
- Lowest cost plan in our review.
- High level of medical coverage.
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions is included with all plans.
Cons:
- Cancel-for-any-reason (CFAR) coverage is only available with its most expensive plan.
ons is included with all plans.
Nationwide is another company that offers multiple plan options (including annual), ensuring you find the coverage you need at a price that works for your budget. The company was also the lowest-cost provider in our review, making it a good choice for budget travel.
And with Nationwide, low cost doesn’t mean less coverage. Its $75,000 of medical coverage and $250,000 of medical evacuation coverage are on the high side.
Best for cancel-for-any-reason coverage: Seven Corners
Cancel for any reason coverage
Seven Corners
Cancel for any reason coverage
Seven Corners
Cost
$488
Trip coverages
100% Cancellation; 100% Interruption; $600 Trip delay
Medical coverage
$100,000 Medical; $250,000 Transport
Baggage coverages
$500 Loss; $500 Delay
Pre-existing condition
Available with more expensive plans
Pros & cons:
Pros:
- Optional CFAR coverage reimburses up to 75% of prepaid expenses.
- Medical coverage available with the most economical plan is the highest of any in our review.
Cons:
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions is available only with more expensive plans.
- Most expensive plan in our review.
COVID-19 remains a concern for many seniors. Most plans’ standard trip cancellation coverage doesn’t pay if you decide to cancel because COVID has flared up at your destination. For that kind of flexibility, you need cancel-for-any-reason (CFAR) coverage. CFAR can be added to Seven Corners’s most economical plan for an extra fee ($204 in our quote). It provides reimbursem*nt of up to 75% of your non-refundable, prepaid expenses if you decide to cancel because of concerns about COVID or any other reason not covered by your trip cancellation coverage.
Best for car damage insurance: John Hanco*ck
Car damage insurance
Travelex Travel Insurance
Car damage insurance
Travelex Travel Insurance
Cost
$460
Trip coverages
100% Cancellation; 125% Interruption; $500 Trip delay
Medical coverage
$50,000 Medical; $250,000 Transport
Baggage coverages
$750 Loss; $250 Delay
Pre-existing condition
Included
Pros & cons:
Pros:
- $50,000 car rental coverage available with all plans
- Optional cancel-for-any-reason coverage available with all plans for 50% of the plan cost
Cons:
- John Hanco*ck’s plan is one of the more expensive in our review
If your international trip includes driving, you’ll want to be sure you have coverage in case something happens to your rental car. While your personal car insurance policy may include coverage for driving a rental in the U.S. and Canada, it likely provides no coverage in other countries. (Be sure to talk to your agent or car insurance company before you travel to understand what your policy does and doesn’t cover.)
Most of the companies in our review offer optional rental car coverage; this includes John Hanco*ck. Its generous $50,000 of coverage is available with even its cheapest travel plan, at an affordable $9 per day. That can help cover the cost of any damage that occurs while you’re out exploring.
Best for traveling with children: Travelex
Traveling with children
Travelex Travel Insurance
Traveling with children
Travelex Travel Insurance
Cost
$452
Trip coverages
100% Cancellation; 100% Interruption; $500 Trip delay
Medical coverage
$15,000 Medical; $100,000 Transport
Baggage coverages
$500 Loss; $100 Delay
Pre-existing condition
Available with more expensive plans
Pros & cons:
Pros:
- Children can be covered for no additional cost with the Travelex Select plan.
- Can upgrade to include car rental coverage.
Cons:
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions is not available with its most economical plan.
What better way to spoil your grandchildren than to take them on vacation? If you’re traveling with minor children, consider Travelex for your insurance needs. The Travelex Select plan includes free coverage for children under age 17, provided their costs do not exceed those of the adults on the policy.
Methodology
We reviewed plans from several leading travel insurance companies, relying on information gathered from company websites. Our review focused on trip coverages, medical expense coverages, and baggage coverages. We also noted which companies offered options such as coverage for pre-existing conditions and cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage. Be sure to check your policy to confirm which coverages and features are available with your plan.
Our cost information is based on quotes for each company’s lowest-cost policy. We quoted two 65-year-old travelers for a five-day trip to Hawaii in December 2023 valued at $8,000. These costs are provided for comparison purposes only. Your travel insurance costs will vary based on factors such as your number of covered travelers, destination, plan choice, and optional coverages.
How to choose the best travel insurance for seniors
Choosing travel insurance as a senior means paying attention to many of the same features and benefits as any other shopper. However, there may be some aspects of a policy that you’ll want to pay particular attention to, depending on your needs. Always be sure to review your policy documents carefully to understand what your policy does and doesn’t cover.
Here is a rundown of the main features of a travel insurance policy:
Trip coverages
The standard trip coverages are trip cancellation and trip interruption. These help reimburse your costs if you have to cancel or cut short your trip due to an illness, accident, or other reason outlined in the policy. These coverages typically apply if a family member becomes ill, prompting you to cancel or cut short your trip—but check how “family” is defined, if you’re worried about a cousin or someone else not in your immediate family.
Note that these coverages typically do apply if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 prior to departure. For example, a policy would likely pay a claim you file if you need to cancel your trip because you contract COVID-19 two days before leaving home. However, these coverages typically do not apply if there’s a sudden outbreak of COVID-19 (or any other illness) at your destination, and you decide not to travel. For that situation, you’d want to add cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage. CFAR, as the label implies, provides reimbursem*nt regardless of why you cancel your plans.
Medical coverages
Travel insurance policies typically include emergency medical expenses and medical evacuation coverages. These reimburse your medical costs if you’re injured or become ill while traveling. Some travel insurance plans may deny claims if your injury happens as a result of an adventure sport or other risky activity. However, if you know you’re going to engage in one of these activities, you may be able to add this coverage as an option.
You may want to check if your policy offers a waiver for pre-existing medical conditions. This means that if you file a medical claim, the insurance company cannot examine your medical history to determine if that claim should be covered. Without this waiver, the company could deny a claim for a medical emergency related to a chronic condition.
Finally, keep in mind that private health insurance typically doesn’t provide coverage outside of the U.S. Public health insurance, such as Medicare and Medicaid, doesn’t provide international coverage either. It’s one more reason to make sure your travel insurance policy medical coverage is as robust as possible.
Baggage coverages
Having your luggage lost or stolen is a common frustration among travelers. With baggage coverage, you’ll be reimbursed if your luggage is lost, stolen, or delayed in transit. Most of the plans we reviewed provide several hundred dollars of coverage, which should help you pay to replace clothing and personal items so you can continue your travels comfortably.
Optional coverages
Depending on your needs, you may want to consider other optional coverages.
One such option is rental car coverage, which is offered by each of the providers in our review. Rental car coverage can be a much less costly option than choosing the collision and loss damage waiver offered by the rental car agent. And note that while the comprehensive and collision coverage on a personal car insurance policy often extend to rentals in the U.S., they do not extend to cars rented in other countries.
How to get international travel insurance for seniors
Travel insurance is easy to shop for and buy. All of the companies in our review offer online quotes that you can receive in just minutes. The information you need to key in to get a quote is simple: The age of everyone in your party, where you live, your travel destination and dates, and the cost of your trip.
You can also consider using services such as Travelinsurance.com or Squaremouth. These act as online insurance brokers that provide quotes from multiple insurance companies. You only need to key in your information once to get a wide range of plans and prices.
What factors determine the cost of travel insurance for seniors?
Your travel insurance cost can be affected by several features. These include:
- Number of travelers in your party.
- Traveler age.
- Destination.
- Cost of trip.
- Plan and optional coverage selections.
As with any type of insurance, you owe it to yourself to shop around. Note that there is a $198 difference between the most and least expensive plans in our review. Just make sure that you’re getting the coverage you need for your travels.
TIME Stamp: Consider buying insurance if you have travel plans
Many seniors love to travel. If you’re of that age and have travel plans, consider travel insurance. A policy provides financial protection in the event you have to cancel your trip and provides important medical coverage wherever your travels take you. Bon voyage!
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How can seniors save on travel insurance?
To save on travel insurance (at any age), shop around. You’ll find that plans vary in cost among providers.
You should also see if your credit card offers any travel insurance benefits, such as car rental insurance. You may find that your card provides coverage for the entire cost of your trip, or that you can supplement it with a basic plan from one of the insurers in our review.
What travel insurance is best for seniors?
The best travel insurance for a senior depends on the traveler’s coverage needs and budget. Each of the providers in our review offers multiple plans at different prices. They also offer options to customize coverage.
Should seniors buy travel insurance?
Seniors should strongly consider buying travel insurance before leaving home. Even the most intrepid senior traveler has heightened concerns that younger travelers may not share, such as the need for medical coverage and medical evacuation coverage, or coverage that can apply if a destination experiences a flare-up of COVID-19 or other infectious disease.
Can a 70-year-old get travel insurance?
Yes. Many travel insurance companies offer plans for those 70 and older.
The information presented here is created independently from the TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About page.
