Cheap Travel Insurance For Seniors
Compare travel insurance for seniors with Savvy to help you find the cheapest.
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Savvy Editorial TeamFact checked
Travel insurance is vital if you’re a mature-aged traveller who spends their twilight years circling the globe or travelling the country. However, if you’re on the hunt for a cheap deal with plenty of benefits, Savvy can help.
Comparing travel insurance with us helps you find a policy which provides you with the coverage you need at a price you can afford, so start comparing with Savvy today and get peace of mind for your next holiday.
How do I find cheap seniors’ travel insurance?
Finding the right travel insurance for your holiday is essential if you’re over 65. While cheapest isn’t always best, it’s important to get a policy which is within your budget. This will allow you to reach your destination with a little extra spending money.
Making your money go further is important if you’re a traveller in their golden years living off superannuation or a pension. If you’re a mature-aged traveller in the market for a travel insurance policy for their next getaway, here are some of the simple things you can do to help you find the best deal on the market:
Compare your options with Savvy
Comparing seniors' travel insurance policies with Savvy is the key to uncovering a deal that suits you to a tee when you’re over 65. You’ll be able to do a side-by-side comparison of different providers to see which policy offers you the perfect blend of benefits, including the right medical and financial coverage.
Consider the coverage you need
Try to find a travel insurance policy which suits the type of holiday you’re wanting to take. If you’re travelling light with few bookings, you may only need basic insurance to cover your medical expenses when you’re overseas. However, some providers require you to take out comprehensive travel insurance if you’re over 70 or 75. This top-level coverage covers you for more incidentals, but will also see you pay a higher premium.
Check the excess
Certain travel insurance providers charge a more significant excess if you need to make any medical-related claims due to your age. It’s best to do your homework and price match between insurers to find an excess which is affordable if you need to file a claim against your insurance. Most insurers will let you set a higher excess in exchange for a reduced premium, which can make your travel insurance cheaper.
Buy before your birthday
One of the golden rules of purchasing travel insurance is to buy sooner rather than later. If you have a birthday approaching between now and your departure date, consider purchasing your policy now, as it could save you money. Insurance costs more the older you are, so you may be able to pay a slightly reduced premium if you get in before you turn another year older.
Consider your pre-existing conditions
If you’re one of the more than 1.8 million Australians over 70 living with a pre-existing medical condition, finding the right travel insurance can be vital to giving you peace of mind on your next holiday. Insurance companies cover you for a range of illnesses as part of their standard coverage. However, more serious illnesses often cost extra to insure against. Comparing allows you to find the cheapest coverage for your ongoing condition.
Think about the length of your trip
You can expect to pay more for your travel insurance if you’re planning a longer-than-usual holiday. Typically, longer holidays include greater non-refundable expenses, such as hotel bookings and tours. If you’re looking to cut costs, consider shortening the length of your getaway.
Consider your destinations
The destination of your next holiday will impact the cost of your travel insurance. Some countries are more expensive to get coverage for, and it’s usually down to the cost of healthcare in that country. For example, travel insurance will be more expensive if you’re travelling to America over travelling to Canada because they won’t have universal healthcare.
What does seniors’ travel insurance cover?
Whether you’re a grey nomad cruising Australia’s back roads or a mature-aged traveller trotting across the globe, getting the right travel insurance is vital to protect you at home or abroad.
When you’re choosing your policy, you’ll no doubt be looking at the benefits it can offer you. Depending on the level of coverage you choose, some of the benefits include:
- Around-the-clock assistance: If you’re involved in an emergency, you can call your insurance company 24/7 and request assistance whether you're overseas or close to home.
- Medical expenses: Sustaining an injury or falling sick overseas can be a real lowlight of your holiday. However, travel insurance companies will pick up the tab for any treatment you require, including hospital expenses, if you’re overseas.
- Pre-existing medical conditions: Depending on where you look, travel insurance companies cover between 30 and 40 different pre-existing conditions for mature-aged travellers. These can include osteoporosis, high blood pressure and glaucoma.
- Cancellation and delays: If you need to call off your holiday for a covered reason, comprehensive insurance will get you a refund on any deposits you’ve paid on non-refundable bookings such as hotels and tours.
- Lost or stolen luggage: Your travel insurance provider will reimburse the cost of any luggage or personal items which are stolen, damaged or lost while you’re on holiday if you have comprehensive travel insurance.
- Delay-related expenses: When your plane or luggage is delayed, your insurance will pay for overnight accommodation, replacement clothes and toiletries and something to eat.
- Personal liability: If you’re found liable for an accident overseas that results in the damage of property or injury to another person, most insurance providers will cover you up to $5 million.
- Rental vehicle excess: Most comprehensive policies will cover the excess on your rental vehicle if you want to hire a car on your holiday.
- Accidental death: Your insurance will pay for the cost of repatriating your body and associated funeral costs if you die overseas due to a covered incident.
While insurance companies allow most customers to take out extra coverage for skiing, motorcycling or other high-risk activities, many of these are off-limits to those over a certain age. For example, those over 75 are generally excluded from adding snow sports coverage onto their coverage.
How do I compare seniors’ travel insurance to help find the cheapest?
Several factors can influence how much you pay for your travel insurance. It’s important to compare these with Savvy to help you find a cheap policy. Some of these include:
Age limits
Travel insurance policies come with age limits which can restrict certain customers from taking out policies. Usually, these limitations affect those over 65 but they tend to vary from insurer to insurer so it’s worth comparing to make sure you have a policy with an age limit sufficient for you.
Inclusions and exclusions
The benefits of travel insurance tend to vary from policy to policy, so it’s worth shopping around so you can find a cheap policy with plenty of perks. Complete a side-by-side comparison of the various inclusions, including the many medical and financial benefits, and see which policy best suits you.
Claim limits
Certain insurers put lower claim limits on older travellers. For example, those over 75 may only be able to claim up to $5,000 if their luggage is stolen or damaged. Shop around and look at the sub-limits to find claim limits that are sufficient for your holiday.
Pre-existing conditions
Many insurers allow you to get coverage for certain lingering health conditions including epilepsy or certain types of diabetes without paying a higher premium. Compare which provider offers you the cheapest coverage for your pre-existing medical conditions.
Excesses
Some insurers make it more expensive to make a claim on your policy if you’re over a certain age. For example, excesses for those over 80 can sometimes be ten times the standard gap you’d have to pay when you need to make a claim. Shop around to help you find a cheaper excess.
Types of travel insurance
International travel insurance can offer cover for a range of events, including medical expenses, lost luggage or items, cancellation fees and more when you're overseas and a long way from home.
If you're journeying within Australia, domestic policies are designed to offer many of the same protections as international travel insurance (with the exception of medical expenses).
The most standard and common type of travel insurance, this policy can cover you for one trip starting and ending in Australia (and is available for both international and domestic travel).
As the name suggests, this type of travel insurance covers multiple trips over a 12-month period. Depending on your insurer, you may be able to take an unlimited number of trips up to 90 days each.
You don't have to have a return ticket booked to take out cover while you're overseas. One-way travel insurance enables you to access cover without a set end date, such as if you're moving temporarily.
You may need to take out specialist coverage if you're setting sail on a cruise. Fortunately, cruise insurance can cover emergency evacuation, cabin confinement and more.
Just because you're older doesn't mean travel insurance isn't still important. If you qualify for cover, seniors' travel insurance can offer greater peace of mind for included events while you're travelling.
Adding winter sports or ski cover to your policy can add protection against damage to your equipment, piste closure due to bad weather and activities such as back-country skiing, heliskiing and more.
Looking to enjoy some adventure sports on holiday? An adventure sports pack can grant you cover for a range of activities, such as hiking, scuba diving and motorcycle or scooter riding.
Jetsetting with the whole clan in tow? Some insurers offer family travel insurance, which enables you to include yourself, your partner and your dependent children under one policy to help you save.
If you're travelling interstate or overseas with your partner (or simply another friend or family member), you may be able to access a discount by taking out a joint or duo travel insurance policy.
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Top tips for buying travel insurance online
Compare online with Savvy
Use Savvy to weigh up the pros and cons of those travel insurance policies that catch your eye. Comparing products from different providers is one of the best ways to sniff out a deal that gives you the right coverage at a good price.
Cheapest isn’t always best
While the price of your travel insurance premium is important, it’s not the only factor you should consider when buying online. Cheap policies may not provide you with the coverage you need so it’s important to equally consider the inclusions and exclusions.
Read the fine print
All travel insurance products come with a Product Disclosure Statement which spells out the finer points of your policy. This is where you’ll be able to get more information on what is excluded from your policy or the inclusions you can claim.
Consider your health
If you’re a mature traveller over 70 with a pre-existing condition, it’s worth getting a check-up with your doctor before you travel. This allows you to declare any changes to your illness with your insurer, who can then discuss the best coverage for you.
Frequently asked seniors travel insurance questions
Yes – most travel insurers will allow you to include any dependent children, such as grandkids, into your policy for free. Most providers will some conditions on this, including your grandchildren not being over 20 or 25 years old and not working full-time. They also usually have to be travelling with you for the entirety of the holiday.
Yes – most basic and comprehensive policies automatically cover the cost of any medical treatment you require due to COVID-19 if you’re a mature-aged traveller, saving you money. However, only top-level coverage will provide you coverage for COVID-19-related cancellations or delays. This coverage reimburses you for the cost of non-refundable bookings if you test positive right before you’re expected to depart and need to call off your trip.
Most travel insurance providers limit annual or multi-trip policies to customers under the age of 65. However, there are some insurers on the market who sell multi-trip policies to those over 65. This may only cover you for trips within a 90-day span, though, rather than 365 days.
Many travel insurance providers won’t provide coverage for hearing aids, so it’s worth checking your Product Disclosure Statement as you may need to purchase extra coverage. If you break your false teeth, this would be covered under the emergency dental clause of your comprehensive insurance, which usually has a claim limit of $1,000.
Many cruise operators won’t let you board without travel insurance, even if you’re only sailing locally. Domestic travel insurance can provide protection for any cancellations or lost luggage while you’re cruising in Australian waters. It can also cover you if you need medical treatment aboard the ship if there’s no Medicare-accessible doctor on board.
Yes – as long as you cancel inside the cooling-off period. Most cooling-off periods range from 14 to 25 days and allow you to get a full refund on your premium. This can be useful if you find a cheaper deal and want to cancel and purchase elsewhere. If you cancel outside of this period, some insurers allow you to get a partial refund on the portion of your policy you haven’t used.
Helpful travel insurance guides
Disclaimer:
We do not compare all travel insurance brands currently operating in the market. Any advice presented above or on other pages is general in nature and does not consider your personal or business objectives, needs or finances. It’s always important to consider whether advice is suitable for you before purchasing an insurance policy.
Savvy earns a commission from our partners each time a customer buys a travel insurance policy via our website. We don’t arrange for products to be purchased from these brands directly, as all purchases are conducted via their websites.
Before purchasing your policy, we recommend you refer to the provider’s PDS for any further information on the terms, inclusions and exclusions.