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Over 50 Travel Insurance Australia

Over 50 and been bitten by the travel bug? Compare with Savvy and find the best travel insurance for you.

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, updated on September 4th, 2023       

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Crossing the country, or even the globe, can be a great way to make the most of life if you're over 50. Whether you're doing it in the air, on the road or across the seas, though, it's essential to have the correct travel insurance when you're holidaying in Australia or overseas. Thankfully, you can compare your options with Savvy.

By weighing up your options with us, you can narrow your choices to make it easier to choose the best travel insurance policy for your next getaway. Save time and money and start comparing with Savvy today.

What’s included in travel insurance policies if I’m over 50?

If you’re over 50, your policy will include many of the same benefits as other standard travel insurance policies. The key benefits of these types of policies for those over a certain age include:

  • Overseas medical expenses: the unexpected can happen when you’re globetrotting. If you’re injured or get struck down with an illness, your travel insurance will kick in and can cover the cost of any hospital visits, ambulance rides or medical treatment without limit. If you need medical attention in Australia, this will be covered by Medicare or your private health insurer.
  • Around-the-clock support: you can contact your travel insurance company day or night to resolve a query about your policy or make a claim if you’re in an emergency.
  • Cancellations: if something drastic occurs and you need to cancel your holiday, your provider can help you get reimbursed for any money you’ve already outlaid for flights, hotels and other pre-paid expenses.
  • Delays: if your flight, cruise or another mode of holiday transport is held up by more than 24 hours, your insurer can pay for an extra night’s accommodation, the cost of any meals and some essentials up to your sub-limit.
  • Lost or damaged bags or personal items: if your bags don’t make it onto the luggage carousel or are damaged, your travel insurer can cover the cost. This benefit is usually only automatically available with comprehensive travel insurance policies or as an optional extra with basic cover.
  • Emergency evacuation or repatriation: if you fall gravely ill at your holiday destination or there’s a natural disaster, you may have to be evacuated or repatriated to your home country. If you have travel insurance, your provider can foot the bill.
  • Personal liability: accidents can happen, so if you’re found to be personally liable for damage to someone’s property or injury to another person, you can have the expenses paid by your insurer.

If you’re travelling over 50, you’ll also be given the option of adding coverage for the excess on a rental vehicle, various ‘high risk’ activities such as scuba diving and valuable individual items (such as laptops and cameras) onto your chosen policy. Cover for these riskier activities usually has age limits, which means seniors over 70 or 75 generally can’t purchase it.

If I’m over 50, how should I compare travel insurance policies?

One of the best ways of finding a travel insurance policy that's the perfect fit for your next trip is to shop around. Comparing your options with Savvy allows you to narrow your choices to make the decision easier, which can be hard when you’re over 50 thanks to the abundance of options.

Some of the factors to consider when you’re looking for travel insurance online include:

Level of cover

It's crucial to weigh the level of protection you want against the holiday arrangements you've made when searching the market for the ideal travel insurance. For instance, basic cover may suit your needs if you're travelling on a tight budget. Compare basic and comprehensive policies from different providers with Savvy to ensure you get the best deal.

Benefits

If you're asking yourself why you need travel insurance, the answer is simple: the benefits. Travel insurance policies offer you a wide range of benefits, but these can differ slightly between providers, so it's important to compare so you can find the perfect blend. For example, some providers may not automatically cover you for the excess on a rental car, while others will.

Costs

Alongside the benefits of different policies, you're also bound to be keeping a close eye on the price of your premiums. Getting a few travel insurance quotes and price matching them with Savvy will help you find the cheapest travel insurance which also gives you the most coverage.

Excesses

Companies will more than likely require you to pay an out-of-pocket premium if you need to claim on your travel insurance. However, a lower excess may not suit you if you want to pay a lower premium. Excesses usually range from $100 to $250, but certain providers won't make you pay anything for particular events, so it pays to compare so you can find one suitable for you. It’s worth noting that excesses usually only increase substantially if you’re over 80, reaching as much as $2,000 in some cases.

Pre-existing conditions

The onset of long-term illnesses starts to happen as we age, so if you're over 50, you may be checking out your provider's list of automatically covered pre-existing conditions. They'll usually cover you for between 30 and 40 minor issues automatically, while you may have to pay extra for cover for more serious health conditions, including if you’re over 80, such as diagnosed heart conditions, so it’s crucial to check the PDS to see what will and won’t be covered.

How much will my travel insurance cost if I’m over 50?

The premiums on travel insurance tend to increase slightly once you hit 50, so you’ll probably be looking at ways to reduce how much it costs for cover if you’re taking a holiday soon.

Some of the factors which can impact the cost of your trip include:

  • Level of cover (whether you’re taking out basic or comprehensive insurance)
  • The length of your holiday (the longer the trip, the more expensive the policy)
  • The countries you choose to visit (travel to America can be more expensive because they don’t have universal healthcare)
  • Your age
  • Pre-existing conditions you need to declare
  • Any additional cover you require (such as ski cover or motorcycle riding cover, provided you aren’t a senior traveller over 70 or 75)

Types of travel insurance

International

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.

Domestic

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).

Single trip

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).

Annual multi-trip

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.

One-way

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.

Cruise

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.

Seniors

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.

Ski

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.

Adventure sports

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.

Families

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.

Couples

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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Frequently asked questions about travel insurance over 50

How do I get a quote on over 50s travel insurance?

Getting a quote on travel insurance is pretty straightforward and you can do it right here with Savvy. Generally, you’ll need to provide the following details to receive a quote:

  • The length of your trip
  • Destinations
  • Full name and date of birth
  • Whether you have any pre-existing conditions
  • If you’ve had two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine

 

If you request a quote through Savvy, you’ll be able to weigh up the pros and cons of each policy and price match to find one that suits your budget and needs.

Can I make a claim on my travel insurance while I’m overseas?

Yes – you can make a claim online or via phone, even if you’re holidaying abroad. It’s often best to make a claim as soon as possible, so the details of the claimable incident are fresh in your mind.

Can I get travel insurance if I’m over 50 and have cancer?

Yes – you can generally pay a higher premium and get cover for any medical treatment related to your cancer. However, most providers won’t cover you if you’re suffering from terminal cancer, even if you offer to pay a more substantial premium.

How late can I purchase my over 50s travel insurance policy?

You can technically purchase travel insurance right up until the moment you’ve boarded your flight. However, it’s best to purchase it as early as possible, so you’re covered for the maximum number of benefits if you need to cancel your trip at the last minute.

Can I include my children in my travel insurance policy?

Yes – you can include dependents under your policy for free in most cases. However, your children usually have to be under 25 and be with you for the entirety of the trip. Most policies allow you to include multiple people as well. For example, if you’re planning a holiday to Cuba to visit family, you will be able to include up to 25 people in your policy.

Does my travel insurance cover COVID-19-related costs if I’m over 50?

Your travel insurance should cover you for any medical treatment you require if you contract coronavirus while you’re overseas. In most cases, however, only comprehensive policies will include cover for cancellation due to a diagnosis of COVID-19.

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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.

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