budget direct travel insurance for seniors

• Best overall
• Best for expensive trips
• Best for exotic trips
• Best for annual plans

How we reviewed travel insurance for seniors

Best travel insurance for seniors of april 2024.

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

Reaching your golden years doesn't mean your adventures have to end. In fact, in this stage of life, you'll hopefully have more time and resources to travel. But as a senior citizen, you'll want to ensure you have travel insurance that covers any health-related issues arise while you travel.

Best overall: Allianz

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Good option for frequent travelers thanks to its annual multi-trip policies
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Doesn't increase premium for trips longer than 30 days, meaning it could be one of the more affordable options for a long trip
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Some plans include free coverage for children 17 and under
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Concierge included with some plans
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Coverage for medical emergency is lower than some competitors' policies
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Plans don't include coverage contact sports and high-altitude activities
• Single and multi-trip plans available
• Trip cancellation and interruption coverage starting at up to $10,000 (higher limits with more expensive plans)
• Preexisting medical condition coverage available with some plans

Allianz Travel Insurance is one of the most widely recognized names in travel insurance, and it stands out as one of the top travel insurance providers for seniors. It offers a wide range of policies covering medical treatments overseas and emergency medical transport.

Allianz also provides options for varying trip lengths. Its annual multi-trip policies , for example, cover any trip you make during your policy period, even if they aren't yet planned, making it an excellent option for seniors who vacation multiple times per year.

Read our Allianz Travel Insurance review here.

Best for expensive trips: John Hancock

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Offers 3 travel insurance plans
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Cancel for any reason rider available
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Affordable travel insurance premiums
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Reviews of claims process are mixed
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Buyers may not get specialty coverage for sports equipment and other high value items
• Trip cancellation for 100% of the trip cost
• Trip interruption insurance for up to 150% of the trip cost
• Emergency medical coverage of up to $250,000 per person
• Medical evacuation coverage of up to $1,000,000

John Hancock Travel Insurance plans for seniors offer some of the best coverage available. It provides generous maximum benefit amounts while still offering affordable prices.

Each plan includes coverages like trip cancellation, emergency accident, and emergency medical, with the option to add benefits like CFAR (cancel for any reason). Plus, getting a free online quote is a quick and straightforward process.

Read our John Hancock Travel Insurance review here.

Best for exotic trips: World Nomads

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Coverage for 200+ activities like skiing, surfing, and rock climbing
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Only two plans to choose from, making it simple to find the right option
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. You can purchase coverage even after your trip has started
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. If your trip costs more than $10,000, you may want to choose other insurance because trip protection is capped at up to $10,000 (for the Explorer plan)
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Doesn't offer coverage for travelers older than 70
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) option
• Coverage for 150+ activities and sports
• 2 plans: Standard and Explorer
• Trip protection for up to $10,000
• Emergency medical insurance of up to $100,000
• Emergency evacuation coverage for up to $500,000
• Coverage to protect your items (up to $3,000)

World Nomads Travel Insurance is a great choice for active senior citizens under 70 who want comprehensive travel insurance. The key difference between World Nomads and many other providers is that it covers 200+ adventurous activities like scuba diving, mountain biking, surfing, skiing, and even bungee jumping. In addition, World Nomads' trip cancellation and emergency medical coverage includes COVID-19-related issues. Many other insurers are excluding that type of coverage now.

For adventurous senior citizens over the age of 70 years, World Nomads suggests working with its partner, TripAssure .

Read our World Nomads Travel Insurance review here.

Best for annual plans: Travel Guard

Trip cancellation coverage for up to 100% of the trip cost and trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Trip cancellation coverage of up to 100% of the cost, for all three plan levels
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. CFAR covers up to 75% of total trip costs (maximum of $112,500 on some plans) 
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Medical coverage of up to $500,000 and evacuation of up to $1,000,000 per person
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Includes COVID coverage 
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Above average baggage loss and delay benefits
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. High medical evacuation coverage
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Premiums may run slightly higher than competitors

Travel Guard is a well-established and highly rated name in the travel insurance industry. It offers three main coverage options to choose from, and in general its policies have above-average coverage for baggage loss and baggage delays, plus high medical evaluation coverage limits.

• Trip cancellation coverage for up to 100% of the trip cost
• Trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost
• Preexisting medical conditions exclusions waiver must be purchased within 15 days of initial trip payment
• Annual travel insurance plan and Pack N' Go plan (for last-minute trips) available

Travel Guard  offers comprehensive insurance plans for shorter and longer trips. One of its more unique offerings is its Travel Guard Annual Plan.

This annual travel insurance comes with standard coverage benefits (trip delay, baggage loss, etc.) and substantial coverage amounts, which is important for seniors who travel multiple times per year. Travel Guard also offers a preexisting medical condition waiver, meaning those with certain medical issues can still gain coverage.

Read our AIG Travel Guard Insurance review here.

Understanding travel insurance for seniors

Before diving into the specifics, it's essential to understand what travel insurance is and why it's particularly important for senior travelers. The best travel insurance offers financial protection against unexpected events affecting your trip, such as trip cancellations, medical emergencies, or lost luggage.

Types of coverage

• Medical Coverage: Ensures your medical expenses are covered in case of illness or injury.
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage: Provides reimbursement if your trip is canceled or cut short due to unforeseen events.
• Baggage Coverage: Covers loss, damage, or theft of personal items during your trip.

Benefits of travel insurance for seniors

• Peace of Mind: Knowing you're covered in case of emergencies can make your travel stress-free.
• Financial Protection: Shields you from potentially overwhelming medical costs and trip cancellations fees.
• Assistance Services: Many plans offer 24/7 assistance services, providing help whenever and wherever you need it.

Making the most of your plan

After choosing a plan, it's crucial to understand your policy fully and know what services are available to you in case of an emergency.

Understanding your policy

• Read the fine print and understand the claims process to avoid surprises.

Emergency assistance services

• Familiarize yourself with the emergency assistance services offered by your plan and keep all necessary contact information handy.

How to pick senior travel insurance

It's wise to compare several different travel insurance policies for the best coverage and pricing, as premiums vary widely between insurers and depend on factors like your age and travel destination.

That said, some of the more essential coverages to look for if you're a senior citizen include:

• Travel medical coverage - This coverage will pay for your medical bills outside the US.
• Medical evacuation coverage - If you're injured or become sick while traveling, this coverage will transport you to the nearest hospital or even back home if your condition necessitates it.
• Preexisting conditions - Coverage for known health conditions. You'll need to purchase travel insurance within a certain time period from when you book your trip to qualify for a preexisting condition waiver .
• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) - The name says it all! It'll cost extra and you'll need to purchase insurance early, but it's the most comprehensive trip cancellation coverage you can get. Note that CFAR insurance usually only covers up to 75% of your trip fees.
• Trip cancellation insurance - This coverage provides reimbursement for your prepaid and nonrefundable costs if you cannot make your trip due to an unforeseen event.
• Baggage delay insurance - This coverage will reimburse you for essentials like toiletries and clothes if your bags are delayed.
• Lost luggage insurance - This coverage will reimburse you up to a specified amount if your bags get lost en route.

Of these, the most critical to note are whether or not your policy covers preexisting conditions and the limits for travel medical insurance and emergency medical evacuation.

Some insurance companies offer a waiver that will cover preexisting conditions. You'll have to follow the requirements for adding a waiver to your policy, like insuring the entire cost of your trip. Or purchase the policy within a specific time after making your first trip deposit payments.

You'll also want to find a policy with high maximum limits for travel medical and emergency medical evacuation coverage. These types of expenses can be substantial, so you want to have appropriate coverage.

When comparing senior travel insurance options, we looked at the following factors to evaluate each travel insurance provider:

• Coverage limits: We looked at each travel insurance company's coverage amounts for benefits like medical emergencies and trip cancellation.
• Flexibility: We looked at how customizable a policy is, so you can choose what your travel insurance policy covers .
• Coverage for preexisting conditions: Preexisting conditions are one of the more critical factors for travel insurance for senior citizens, so we looked at travel insurance companies that offer the best coverage for preexisting conditions.
• Price: We compared travel insurance providers offering reasonable basic and comprehensive coverage rates.
• Benefits geared towards seniors: We compared travel insurance companies that offer solid coverage for senior citizens, like medical evacuation, COVID-19 coverage, and trip cancellation.

You can read more about our insurance rating methodology here.

Seniors should look for travel insurance policies that offer comprehensive medical coverage, including for preexisting conditions and emergency medical evacuation. They should also consider policies with higher coverage limits to ensure adequate protection. Additionally, seniors should seek travel insurance plans that provide 24/7 assistance services, as well as coverage for trip cancellations, interruptions, and baggage protection.

The cost of senior travel insurance coverage can vary depending on your age, overall health, state of residence, travel destination, and length of your trip. However, assuming all other factors are the same, you'll pay more for travel insurance at 70 than at 30.

When it comes to saving money on senior travel insurance, you should only be covering the services that you need. For example, if your plane tickets are refundable, there's no need to insure those.

Allianz is the best travel insurance for seniors due to its wide array of medical coverages and emergency medical transport. Allianz also offers multi-trip insurance policies, which could make sense for seniors who travel frequently.

Most travel insurance policies will cover travelers up to age 80, and some even offer coverage up to age 99 or 100. The older you are, the more you should expect to pay for travel insurance.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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Travel Insurance for Seniors & Retirees: 5 Top Picks

Allianz Travel Insurance »

Trawick International »

GeoBlue »

IMG Travel Insurance »

WorldTrips »

Why Trust Us

U.S. News evaluates ratings, data and scores of more than 50 travel insurance companies from comparison websites like TravelInsurance.com, Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip, plus renowned credit rating agency AM Best, in addition to reviews and recommendations from top travel industry sources and consumers to determine the Best Travel Insurance for Seniors and Retirees.

Table of Contents

• Rating Details
• Allianz Travel Insurance
• Trawick International

While anyone planning a trip overseas can benefit from having a travel insurance plan in place, older travelers need to prioritize this coverage more than others. The fact is, senior travelers and retirees have unique worries and risks to think about any time they travel far from home. These risks increase their need for travel health insurance and emergency medical coverage, as well as coverage for emergency medical evacuation that applies anywhere in the world.

Which travel insurance options work best for seniors? There are many travel insurance plans that were created with retirees in mind, although you'll want to compare them side by side. For example, you may want to look at coverage limits for medical expenses and coverage for preexisting conditions above all else.

U.S. News editors compared more than 20 of the top travel insurance companies to find the best plans for seniors. This list does the heavy lifting for you as you search for the best senior travel insurance of 2023, so read on to learn about the top picks.

• Allianz Travel Insurance: Best Annual Coverage
• Trawick International: Best Premium Travel Insurance for Seniors
• GeoBlue: Best Travel Medical Coverage for Expats
• IMG Travel Insurance: Best for Short-Term Travel Medical Coverage
• WorldTrips: Best for Flexibility

Best Travel Insurance for Seniors and Retirees in Detail

Available to senior travelers of all ages

Coverage for preexisting conditions is offered

Relatively low limits for emergency medical expenses

• Coverage for COVID-19
• Trip cancellation coverage up to $3,000
• Trip interruption coverage up to $3,000
• Emergency medical coverage up to $20,000
• Emergency medical evacuation coverage up to $100,000
• Baggage loss coverage up to $1,000
• Baggage delay insurance up to $200
• Travel delay coverage up to $600 ($200 daily limit)
• Rental car damage and theft coverage up to $45,000
• Travel accident coverage up to $25,000
• 24-hour hotline for assistance
• Concierge service
• Preexisting condition coverage (must be added to plan within 14 days of first trip deposit or payment)

Customize plan with optional CFAR coverage

Incredibly high limits for medical expenses and emergency evacuation

Coverage is for trips up to 30 days if you're age 80 and older

• Up to $15,000 in trip cancellation insurance
• Up to $22,500 in trip interruption coverage
• Up to $1,000 for trip delays ($200 daily limit for delays of 12-plus hours)
• Up to $1,000 for missed connections
• Up to $150,000 for emergency medical expenses
• Up to $1 million in emergency medical evacuation coverage
• $750 in emergency dental coverage
• $2,000 in coverage for baggage and personal effects
• $400 in baggage delay coverage
• 24/7 noninsurance assistance services

Get comprehensive health insurance that applies overseas

Preventive and routine care included

Age limits apply for new applicants and renewals

• Preventive and routine care
• Professional services like surgery
• Inpatient medical care
• Ambulatory and therapeutic services
• Rehabilitation and therapy

Get overseas medical coverage for single trips or multiple trips

Plans were created with seniors and retirees in mind

Lower maximum coverage limits for travelers ages 80 and older

Limited nonmedical travel insurance benefits

• Inpatient and outpatient medical coverage such as for physician visits, hospitalization and surgery
• Emergency and nonemergency medical evacuation coverage
• Coverage for emergency reunions
• Return of mortal remains
• Trip interruption coverage worth up to $5,000
• Lost luggage coverage worth up to $250 (up to $50 per item)
• Coverage for terrorism worth up to $50,000
• Accidental death and dismemberment coverage worth up to $25,000

Customize your deductible and premiums

Generous medical limits for travelers ages 65 to 79

Limited medical coverage for travelers older than 80

• Up to $1 million in emergency evacuation coverage
• Medical benefits like hospital room and board, chiropractic care, and more
• Coverage for repatriation of remains
• Up to $25,000 in personal liability coverage
• Up to $10,000 in trip interruption insurance
• Up to $1,000 in coverage for lost checked luggage
• Up to $100 per day in coverage for travel delays of 12-plus hours
• Up to $1,500 in coverage for bedside visits
• Up to $100,000 in coverage for emergency reunions

Frequently Asked Questions

You can purchase some travel insurance plans (but not all) if you're older than 80 years old. However, your premiums may be higher and you'll typically qualify for lower coverage limits overall. Make sure you compare the best travel insurance plans for seniors to find the right fit for your needs.

Since seniors and retirees are more likely to face a medical emergency during a trip, most travel insurance plans for seniors include coverage for emergency medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation. Coverages vary among plans, as do limits, so make sure to compare options before you book a trip overseas.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is a professional travel writer who has covered international travel and travel insurance for more than a decade. Johnson has researched and compared all the top travel insurance options for her own family for trips to more than 50 countries around the world, and she has successfully filed claims during that time. Johnson lives in Indiana with her two children and her husband, Greg, a travel agent who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states.

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65 or Older? Here Are The Best Travel Insurance Plans for Seniors

The top-rated plans all have at least $100,000 in travel medical coverage and at least $250,000 in emergency medical evacuation coverage., erica lamberg, erica lamberg's most recent stories.

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With more than a year of travel adventures lost, it’s time to consider how you’ll explore the world again. Whether you’re going across the country or around the world, travel insurance for seniors can provide a valuable safety net if a trip goes wrong. Here are the best senior travel insurance plans based on our ratings of two dozen travel insurance policies.

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All the winning travel insurance plans below include coverage for Covid in trip cancellation and travel medical benefits

Nationwide Cruise Choice Plan

Why we picked it: Nationwide Cruise Choice Plan offers superior benefits at excellent prices for senior travelers.

This plan provides $100,000 per person for emergency medical expenses and $500,000 per person for emergency medical evacuation . You will also get non-medical evacuation coverage of $25,000 per person, which covers transportation if you have to move to a safe location due to a natural disaster or civil/political unrest.

Nationwide’s Cruise Choice Plan has top-notch baggage loss coverage of $2,500 per person. Other highlights include missed connection coverage of $1,500 per person after only a three hour wait and the option to add “cancel for any reason” coverage.

If you are looking for an upgrade, it’s worth taking a look at Nationwide’s Cruise Luxury plan.

Potential drawbacks: Travel delay coverage of $750 per person is low compared to top competitors.

Trawick International Safe Travels First Class Plan

Why we picked it: Trawick’s International Safe Travels First Class plan has excellent prices for seniors and a wide range of solid benefits.

The plan comes with $150,000 per person in emergency medical expenses and $1 million per person in medical evacuation coverage. You’ll also get $2,000 per person in baggage loss coverage and $1,000 per person for missed connections (cruises and tours only).

The plan has good travel delay coverage of $1,000 per person but only after a 12-hour delay. And if you’re the type of traveler who wants the ultimate flexibility, you can add “cancel for any reason” coverage to your policy.

Potential drawbacks: Baggage delays and travel delays are only reimbursed after a 12-hour delay. That’s a long time compared to some top competitors that require only six hours (or less).

Related: Best Senior Travel Insurance Plans Of 2021

AXA Assistance USA Gold Plan

Why we picked it: Great prices for senior travelers make AXA’s Gold plan an attractive option.

The plan comes with $100,000 per person in emergency medical expenses and $500,000 per person for emergency medical evacuation. You’ll also get non-medical evacuation coverage of $50,000 per person in case you need to move to safety because of a natural disaster or civil/political unrest.

AXA’s Gold plan has good baggage loss coverage of $1,500 per person. It has generous missed connection coverage of $1,000 per person if you miss your cruise or tour. The plan also includes concierge services.

Potential drawbacks: AXA’s Gold plan does not offer optional “cancel for any reason” coverage.

Cat 70 Travel Plan

Why we picked it: Superior coverage for medical expenses at very competitive prices for seniors makes the Cat 70 plan a solid choice for senior travelers.

Cat 70’s Travel plan pairs a whopping $500,000 per person in emergency medical expenses with $500,000 per person in emergency medical evacuation coverage. Travelers seeking trip cancellation flexibility can add “cancel for any reason” coverage.

Potential drawbacks: Compared to some top competitors, reimbursement is on the lower end for travel delay ($500 per person), lost baggage ($500 per person) and baggage delay ($200 per person after 24 hours).

HTH Worldwide TripProtector Classic Plan

Why we picked it: Excellent prices for seniors make the TripProtector Classic plan worthy of consideration.

TripProtector Classic comes with $250,000 per person in emergency medical expenses and $1 million per person in emergency medical evacuation coverage. The plan includes good travel delay benefits at $1,000 per person after a six-hour delay.

Senior travelers looking for even better benefits (at a higher cost) may want to upgrade to the Worldwide TripProtector Preferred plan.

Potential drawbacks: Baggage delay benefits might be insufficient at $200 per person after a 12-hour delay and you won’t have the option of adding “cancel for any reason” coverage.

Tin Leg Gold Plan

Why we picked it: Tin Leg’s Gold plan offers ample medical benefits at competitive prices for seniors.

With $500,000 per person for emergency medical expenses and $500,000 per person for emergency medical evacuation coverage, Tin Leg’s Gold plan has some of the highest medical benefits among top competitors.

You will also have the option to add “cancel for any reason” coverage.

Potential drawbacks: Reimbursement is low compared to top competitors for travel delay ($500 per person), baggage delay ($200 per person after a 24-hour delay) and baggage loss ($500 per person).

USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services Ruby Plan

Why we picked it: USI Affinity’s Ruby plan has solid medical benefits and very competitive prices for seniors who are traveling.

The plan comes with $250,000 per person in emergency medical expenses and $500,000 per person for emergency medical evacuation. If you want the flexibility to cancel your trip, you’ll have the option to add “cancel for any reason” coverage.

Potential drawbacks: Baggage delay ($300 per person) and baggage and personal items loss ($1,000 per person) are lower than top competitors and might be insufficient for senior travelers looking for higher coverage amounts.

Tips for Seniors Buying Travel Insurance

Travel insurance can be essential for many types of trips, but seniors are particularly vulnerable to travel-related problems. Most notably, travelers age 65+ should consider a travel insurance policy with medical insurance and medical evacuation benefits.

Understand Insurance Needs When Traveling Abroad

With the vaccine rollout and countries relaxing border restrictions, you may be thinking about taking that river cruise to Portugal or a wine tour in France.

It’s important to know that when you travel outside the United States a domestic health insurance plan will not generally travel with you. This includes Medicare.

A key focus for seniors should be travel insurance with high limits of travel medical insurance, says Jeremy Murchland, president of travel insurance company Seven Corners. “Some plans on the market limit coverage to only $25,000 or $50,000,” he says. “Depending on the type of care needed, this may not be enough to cover the cost.”

“Most Medicare plans will not cover a person outside of the U.S. or U.S. territories,” explains Gail Manganite, lead customer advocate for InsureMyTrip, a travel insurance comparison provider. She notes that there are some Medigap and supplemental plans that offer health coverage outside the U.S., but deductibles and copayments will still apply.

Find out if your current health insurance includes emergency medical coverage outside the country and what restrictions apply. Then you’ll know how much travel medical insurance you need to fill the gap.

If you want top-notch coverage, look for travel insurance plans that offer $500,000 in medical coverage.

Get Medical Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions

You don’t want a pre-existing condition to flare up during a trip, but in case it happens, have a travel insurance plan that covers it. You do this by getting a pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver.

The availability of this important waiver is time-limited:  You’ll have to add it to a travel insurance plan within a specified number of days from the date you make your first trip payment. For example, Seven Corners’ RoundTrip Choice plan covers pre-existing conditions if you buy it within 20 days of the date of your initial trip payment.

But your plan might have a window of only 14 days to get pre-existing conditions covered.

Plan for Medical Evacuation Coverage

If you require an emergency airlift back to the United States, it could easily cost $100,000 or more for private, emergency transport. Emergency medical evacuation insurance pays to move you to a medical facility with appropriate and necessary care if the facility where you are located is unable to provide the level of care needed for your medical condition, says Murchland.

You can find travel insurance plans with up to $1 million in coverage for emergency medical evacuation.

Be Aware of “Cancel for Any Reason” Coverage

“Cancel for any reason” coverage is an add-on that you can tack on to some travel insurance plans. It will add about 40% to your travel insurance cost but gives you the widest flexibility to cancel the trip for any reason and get some reimbursement (typically 50% or 75%).

Without it, you’ll receive trip cancellation reimbursement only if you cancel for a reason listed in the base policy, such as an illness or injury that forces you to abandon travel plans. “Cancel for any reason” coverage will give you the option to cancel for reasons like a sudden fear of flying or simply changing your mind.

Consider Customer Service Options

Murchland says to pick a travel insurance company that has services that match your comfort level.

“For example, Seven Corners has found that a higher percentage of seniors wish to discuss a travel insurance plan over the phone and, in some cases, want assistance selecting a plan and executing a purchase,” he says. “In today’s world of chat bots and email, this is an important consideration for seniors who would prefer to talk with a person.”

Stay on Top of Your Insurance Timeline

Buying a travel insurance plan early and taking the time to read it can pay off later. In addition, a travel insurance agent can help you understand what the policy covers and find plans that fit your travel insurance concerns. It’s wise to:

• Buy your plan early (shortly after you make your first trip deposit) so you don’t miss out on key benefits like pre-existing conditions coverage.
• Review your plan information well before your trip . Understand what reasons are covered for trip cancellation insurance claims. If you want broader coverage, consider adding “cancel for any reason” coverage, which also needs to be added shortly after your first trip payment.
• Feel comfortable asking questions to ensure you understand your plan and how it works.
• Keep in mind that travel insurance plans offer 24/7 travel assistance help . If you run into trouble during your trip, make use of the professional help available for language translation, finding a pharmacy and much more.

Methodology

Using data provided by Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison provider, we evaluated 24 travel insurance plans that have at least $100,000 in travel medical coverage and at least $250,000 in emergency medical evacuation coverage. Scores were based on:

• Travel insurance rates (50% of score) for a range of travelers age 65 and older, for trips in a variety of lengths, destinations and costs.
• Coverage benefits (50% of score) including travel medical expenses, cancel for any reason availability, Covid coverage, medical evacuation, baggage delay, baggage loss, missed connection, non-medical evacuation, travel delay.

Erica Lamberg is a personal finance and travel writer based in suburban Philadelphia. She is a regular contributor to USA Today, and her writing credits include NBC News, U.S. News & World Report, Business Insider, Oprah Magazine and Creditcards.com . 

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Travel Insurance

Best travel insurance for seniors in April 2024

Amy Fontinelle

Heidi Gollub

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 4:00 a.m. UTC April 1, 2024

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Tin Leg and Trawick International offer the best travel insurance for seniors, according to our analysis of plans’ cost and coverage limits.

Best senior travel insurance plans of 2024

• Tin Leg: Gold
• Trawick International: Safe Travels First Class
• Seven Corners: Trip Protection Choice
• Generali Global Assistance: Premium
• Nationwide: Prime

Why trust our travel insurance experts

Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of insurance products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.

• 840 coverage details evaluated.
• 84 rates reviewed.
• 5 levels of fact-checking.

Top-rated travel insurance for seniors

Best plan for seniors

Average cost for seniors, covers covid, medical & evacuation limits per person, what you should know.

For the amount of coverage you get, Tin Leg’s Gold plan is competitively priced. It includes $500,000 in emergency medical benefits and another $500,000 in medical evacuation coverage.

Pros and cons

• Excellent $500,000 per person in primary emergency medical coverage.
• Very good emergency medical coverage of $500,000 per person.
• Eligible for pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver if conditions are met.
• “Cancel for any reason” coverage of 75% available.
• No “interruption for any reason” upgrade available.
• Hurricane and weather coverage kicks in only after a 48-hour delay.
• Lowest baggage and personal item loss coverage of our top-rated senior plans.
• Lowest travel delay coverage of our top-rated senior plans.
• No rental car coverage option.

Trawick International

Trawick International’s Safe Travels First Class policy is a relatively inexpensive option that comes with $1 million in emergency medical evacuation coverage and a high per person limit for baggage and personal items loss.

• Second-cheapest of our best senior plans.
• Best-in-class medical evacuation coverage of $1 million.
• Pre-existing condition coverage available if conditions are met.
• Baggage loss coverage of $2,000 per person is the best among our top senior plans.
• No “interruption for any reason” coverage upgrade available.
• Travel delay benefit takes 12 hours to kick in.
• Lower emergency medical benefit of $150,000 is secondary coverage.

Seven Corners

Seven Corners’ Trip Protection Choice plan has high emergency medical and medical evacuation limits, as well as rare coverage for non-medical evacuation. In addition to “cancel for any reason” coverage, you can also pay extra for “interruption for any reason” coverage.

• Excellent $1 million emergency medical evacuation coverage plus $20,000 for non-medical evacuation.
• Great “interruption for any reason” coverage of 75% available.
• The most expensive of our top-rated senior travel insurance plans.

Generali Global Assistance

Generali Global Assistance’s premium plan offers trip interruption coverage of up to 175% of your trip cost. Most top-rated competitors offer a maximum of 150%.

• Top-notch $1 million per person in medical evacuation coverage.
• Solid baggage loss coverage of $2,000 per person.
• “Cancel for any reason” coverage of 75% available.
• Baggage must be delayed for 12 hours before benefits kick in.
• Missed connection coverage of $1,000 per person only applies to cruises and tours.
• Emergency medical expense benefit is secondary coverage.

Nationwide Prime travel insurance offers an exceptional 200% coverage for trip interruption.

• If you need to cut your trip short for a covered reason, you can be reimbursed up to 200% of your prepaid trip cost.
• High travel delay coverage of $2,000 per person ($250 per day limit).
• “Cancel for any reason” coverage of 75% is available.
• Low missed connection benefit of $500 per person for cruises and tours only.
• No “interruption for any reason” coverage available.

Compare the best travel insurance for seniors

Via TravelInsurance.com’s website

Methodology

Our insurance experts analyzed cost and coverage data from 21 plans to determine the best senior travel insurance. For this rating, we only scored travel insurance plans that offer the option to buy “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage .

The benefits we scored out of a possible 100 points include:

Cost: 50 points. We scored the average cost for each travel insurance policy for a variety of international trips and traveler profiles.

Medical expenses: 15 points. Travel insurance plans that offer travel medical expense benefits of $500,000 per person were given the highest amount of points.

Medical evacuation: 15 points. Travel insurance plans with emergency medical evacuation benefits of $500,000 or more per person were given the highest number of points.

Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver: 20 points. Travel insurance plans that cover pre-existing medical conditions if the policy is purchased within a required timeline received points.

What is covered by travel insurance for seniors?

The best travel insurance bundles several types of insurance to provide financial protection before and during your trip. 

A comprehensive senior travel insurance plan will include the following coverage types: 

• Trip cancellation insurance . 
• Trip delay insurance.
• Trip interruption insurance. 
• Travel medical insurance. 
• Emergency medical evacuation .
• Baggage loss and delay coverage.

What’s the most important travel insurance coverage for senior travelers?

Health is a top concern for older travelers. Travel insurance for senior citizens should have high coverage limits for trip interruption, travel medical insurance and emergency medical evacuation. 

“Since Medicare doesn’t provide coverage abroad, it’s important for senior travelers to pay close attention to policies’ medical benefits, including emergency medical, medical evacuation and pre-existing conditions,” said James Clark, a spokesperson for the travel-insurance comparison site Squaremouth, the company behind Tin Leg travel insurance.

Older travelers should also pay attention to whether a travel insurance plan’s emergency medical coverage is primary or secondary.

“When traveling outside the U.S., seniors should know that it’s recommended to purchase a travel insurance plan that includes primary emergency medical coverage,” said Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection vice president, Carol Mueller.

 “Senior travelers on Medicare who purchase a travel insurance plan with secondary medical coverage will need to first try to get Medicare to cover their emergency travel medical expenses, which in many cases is limited to no coverage,” said Mueller. “Avoid the hassle and choose a travel insurance plan with primary medical coverage.”

How to choose the best senior travel insurance

Senior travelers shopping for travel insurance should look for plans with these benefits:

• Emergency medical expense coverage of at least $250,000. This pays for emergency medical expenses you incur during your trip and includes medical coverage for COVID-19 . 
• Emergency medical evacuation coverage of at least $500,000. This pays to transport you to the nearest adequate medical facility for you to get the care you require when a physician says your illness or injury is severe enough to warrant it. Emergency medical evacuation coverage may also pay to fly a loved one to be with you and to fly you home for further treatment or recovery. 
• Preexisting condition coverage. Some plans include a preexisting condition waiver as long as you buy travel insurance within a certain number of days of making your first trip deposit, you insure the full value of your trip and you are medically able to travel at the time of departure. Having a waiver will give you coverage for medical conditions documented in your health history in the 60 to 180 days before you buy your plan, with some exclusions.
• Trip interruption coverage of 150%. Trip interruption insurance reimburses you for unused, prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses if your trip is unexpectedly interrupted while you’re in transit or at your destination. It can also cover travel costs associated with having to change your plans, such as needing to buy a last-minute economy ticket for a one-way flight home. Buying an extra ticket can push your claim over 100% of your original trip expenses, so it’s wise to look for a plan that reimburses up to 150%. 
• “Cancel for any reason” (CFAR) upgrade available. For an additional cost, you can sometimes add “cancel for any reason” coverage to your travel insurance plan. This typically reimburses up to 75% of nonrefundable trip expenses if you decide not to travel for a reason not covered by your policy, as long as you cancel at least two days before you’re scheduled to travel.

How much does senior travel insurance cost?

The average cost of senior travel insurance is $434 per trip , based on our analysis of rates for older travelers. For senior trips with “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage, the average cost of travel insurance increases to $629.

Travel insurance for seniors typically costs around 7% to 9% of your total prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses. Adding CFAR coverage can add 45% or more to that cost.

How much you pay for travel insurance will depend on the age of you and your fellow travelers, the length of your trip and the total of your nonrefundable trip costs.

Compare senior travel insurance rates

Average senior travel insurance costs are based on rates for international trips for travelers ages 65 and 70, with CFAR coverage and without. Travel insurance plans have different levels of benefits, which can account for price differences.

Travel smart: Find cheap travel insurance that meets your needs.

How to save money on travel insurance for seniors

Travel insurance companies don’t typically offer discounts. But if you can get a senior discount on any of your travel itself, you’ll have a smaller trip cost to insure. This will lower the cost of your senior travel insurance.

Getting quotes from multiple travel insurance providers is also a great way to save money. Every policy offers more coverage in some areas and less in others. Depending on what coverage is most important to you, certain policies will give you more value than others. 

Get the coverage you need: What does travel insurance cover?

Is CFAR worth it for senior travelers?

CFAR coverage adds to the cost of your plan, but older travelers may want to consider a travel insurance policy with both trip cancellation insurance and “cancel for any reason” coverage, said Clark.  

CFAR benefits offer maximum flexibility to cancel your plans due to illness, injury or any other reason and will reimburse a percentage of your nonrefundable trip costs, usually 50% or 75%. The only caveat is that you’ll need to cancel at least two days before you plan to travel.

When shopping for travel insurance, look for CFAR-related fine print. You often must buy CFAR within a certain number of days of making your first trip deposit, such as 14 days. You are also usually required to insure the full value of your nonrefundable trip expenses.

More travel insurance for seniors resources

• What is travel insurance?
• What does travel insurance cover?
• Average cost of travel insurance
• Is travel insurance worth it?
• Best COVID travel insurance
• Best cruise travel insurance  

Best senior travel insurance FAQs

If you rely on Medicare for health insurance and you’re traveling internationally, buying senior travel insurance with excellent emergency medical insurance and emergency medical evacuation benefits is a good idea.

“One of the most important considerations for travelers with existing health issues is to find a plan that offers a preexisting condition exclusion waiver,” said Stan Sandberg, cofounder and CEO of TravelInsurance.com. 

To qualify for the waiver, you’ll usually need to purchase your trip insurance policy within seven to 14 days of making your initial trip payment. Some premium policies may extend this coverage if you buy them before or within 24 hours of making your final trip payment, he said.

Even with a waiver, medical bills related to certain excluded conditions such as dementia or depression may not be covered, so read the policy carefully to see if your preexisting conditions qualify.

More: Is travel insurance worth it?

Tin Leg’s Gold plan and Trawick International’s Safe Travel First Class plan provide the best travel insurance for seniors for the price, according to our analysis. These are the only plans to merit 5 stars in our rating.

Yes, you can get travel insurance over 80, but it will cost you more.

Yes. If you’re shopping for travel insurance over 80, for instance, you’ll pay an average of 18% of your total trip cost. That is considerably higher than the average cost of travel insurance for a 30-year-old, which is only 5%.

Travel insurance for the elderly varies by insurer when it comes to upper age limits . If you are concerned about finding the best travel medical insurance for seniors over 7 0 , start with an online comparison site like Squaremouth where you only have to enter your age and trip details once to see which policies are available to you.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Amy Fontinelle has more than 15 years of experience helping people make informed decisions about their money, whether they’re refinancing a mortgage, buying insurance or choosing a credit card. As a freelance writer trained in journalism and specializing in personal finance, Amy digs into the details to explain the products and strategies that can help (or hurt) people seeking greater financial security and wealth. Her work has been published by Forbes Advisor, Capital One, MassMutual, Investopedia and many other outlets.

Heidi Gollub is the USA TODAY Blueprint managing editor of insurance. She was previously lead editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor and led the insurance team at U.S. News & World Report as assistant managing editor of 360 Reviews. Heidi has an MBA from Emporia State University and is a licensed property and casualty insurance expert.

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• Travel Insurance

https://money.com/best-travel-insurance-for-seniors/

Best Travel Insurance for Seniors

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Customizable plans to choose from for single travelers and groups

• Protects your cruise, domestic & international travel plans
• Cancellations, medical, COVID, baggage, and death policies available
• Up to $1 million in emergency medical evacuation coverage  

Medical, cancellation, and baggage coverage

• Travel concierge services with premium plans
• Emergency evacuation and medical repatriation
• Offers cancellation coverage due to terrorism and natural disasters

Largest selection of policies with Covid-19 coverage

• Coverage for Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Travel Delay, Medical Emergency & Evacuation and Pre-Existing Conditions
• Award-winning customer service with an A+ BBB rating
• Reviewed by 47,691 customers with an average rating of 5 stars

Over 190 years of experience – Travel Smarter™  with Generali Group

• Enjoy quick resolutions with your own global 24/7 travel assistance team
• Coverage for all types of trips: domestic, international, cruises, vacation rentals, and more
• Covid-19 illness coverage including lodging
• Up to $250,000 in medical coverage and $1 million in evacuation  

Pre-Existing Conditions and Cancel For Any Reason Coverage Available

• 28 Covered Reasons for Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption
• Up to $1MM for emergency medical evacuation
• Customizable standard & comprehensive coverages

Coverage for trip cancellations, interruptions, medical emergencies, and more

• Lost, stolen, damaged, or delayed baggage costs
• 'Cancel for any reason' policy available
• Travel Accident Insurance for non-US citizens

Trip cancellation insurance for U.S. and non-U.S. residents

• Coverage for trip cancellations, delays, medical emergencies, and more
• Group travel products available 
• Top-rated cruise insurance plans, adventure travel insurance and International Student Insurance available   

The best travel insurance for seniors — much like the best travel insurance companies overall — offers comprehensive trip protection, medical expenses and emergency evacuation coverage, and baggage protection if your luggage is stolen or lost.

Senior travelers may need more extensive medical coverage, especially for preexisting conditions, and our selection of travel insurance options for older people reflects this priority. Check out our top picks below.

Our Top Picks for Best Travel Insurance for Seniors

• Nationwide – Best for Cruise Travel Insurance
• Seven Corners – Best for Group Travel Insurance
• Travel Insured International – Best for Multi-Trip Travel Insurance
• HTH Travel Insurance – Best for Medical Coverage
• IMG Travel Insurance – Best for High Dental Coverage
• Faye – Best for 100% Digital Travel Insurance
• John Hancock – Best for Trip Delay Coverage
• WorldTrips – Best for Upgrades & Add-ons
• Best Travel Insurance for Seniors Reviews

Best for Cruise Travel Insurance: Nationwide

• Plans tailored to cruise travel
• 24-hour emergency assistance
• Trip cancellation coverage in case of bankruptcy or default of the travel supplier
• Cancel for any reason only available with Luxury Cruise plan
• No add-on coverage options

Why we chose it: We chose Nationwide because it offers travel insurance plans with exclusive benefits for cruise travel.

Nationwide stands out for offering three cruise travel insurance plans: Universal, Choice and Luxury. In addition to trip cancellation and medical coverage, all three plans include cruise-exclusive benefits such as missed connection coverage, shipboard service disruption coverage and prepaid excursion reimbursement.

The top-of-the-line Luxury plan provides the best coverage and benefit limits, including:

• Up to $150,000 for medical expenses
• $1 million maximum for emergency medical evacuation
• Preexisting medical conditions waiver when you purchase insurance within 14 days of trip payment

The Choice plan includes:

• A maximum of $100,000 for medical expenses
• 100% trip cancellation coverage
• 150% trip interruption coverage of non-refundable trip costs

The most basic plan – Universal – offers:

• 125% trip interruption coverage of non-refundable trip costs
• $75,000 for accident or medical expenses

If you're concerned about unexpected incidents causing you to miss a prepaid excursion after your departure, Nationwide provides a prepaid excursion reimbursement of $250, $500 or $1,000, depending on the plan tier. This coverage applies to missed excursions due to fire, mechanical failures or other covered issues.

You may claim your trip cancellation or interruption coverage if inclement weather prevents you from reaching the cruise's point of departure or if you must work during the trip.

Best for Group Travel Insurance: Seven Corners

• Easy enrollment for groups of 10 or more
• 24/7 multilingual travel support
• Optional sports and golf equipment rental up to $5,000
• Preexisting conditions waiver only available with the Choice Trip Protection plan
• Medical benefit maximum of $10,000 for people 80 and older

Why we chose it: We picked Seven Corners as the best option for group travel insurance because it offers both trip protection and medical-only insurance plans for groups of 10 or more.

Seven Corners offers comprehensive travel insurance for groups of 10 people or more. The Basic and Choice group plans make enrollment easier by allowing one group member to buy the insurance, rather than have each traveler enroll individually. You can choose between comprehensive trip protection plans or just medical coverage, with the option to customize one or more traveler’s coverage based on their individual needs. The comprehensive Basic and Choice plans include trip cancellation, bag delay and medical coverage.

The Basic plan provides a maximum medical coverage of $100,000, while Choice’s maximum is $500,000. These plans also offer trip cancellation, interruption and delay coverage, but where Seven Corner stands out is its add-ons. Specifically, the optional “cancellation for any reason” and “interruption for any reason” add-ons, which cover up to 75% of non-refundable trip costs.

Seven Corners’ travel medical plans are also called Basic and Choice. Both plans include trip interruption coverage up to $5,000. Older adults between the ages of 65 and 79 can choose between $50,000 or $100,000 for their maximum medical benefits. However, for people 80 or older, the medical benefit maximum is limited to $10,000.

With the medical plans, you can choose a deductible between $0 to $5,000. Seven Corners’ travel medical plans also offer coverage of adventure activities such as jet skiing, kayaking and surfing as an add-on.

Best for Multi-Trip Travel Insurance: Travel Insured International

• Single trip or annual multi-trip plans
• $500 pet kennel coverage maximum
• Optional interruption for any reason coverage of up to 75% of trip costs
• Annual plan not available for residents of Missouri, Montana, New York, Pennsylvania or Washington
• Natural disaster evacuation coverage only available with the premium plan

Why we chose it: We selected Travel Insured International as the best multi-trip travel insurance for seniors because it offers frequent travelers an annual plan that includes trip protection and medical coverage that is valid on multiple trips.

If you plan on making several trips in the coming year, Travel Insured International’s annual multi-trip plan offers trip protection and medical coverage, saving you the hassle of having to purchase insurance for each trip.

The company offers $100,000 for accident and sickness expenses per trip and $100,000 for medical evacuations. The plan also allocates $2,500 per trip for bag loss or theft and has a trip delay benefit of $5,000 per trip ($200 per day) for delays of 12 hours or longer.

The cost of the base annual multi-trip plan is $94 a year and increases with any upgrades you add on. These can include:

• Trip interruption - 150% of trip cost
• Trip cancellation - 100% of trip cost
• Cancel for any reason - 75% of trip cost
• Medical evacuation benefit - $400,000
• Rental car coverage - $50,000 per vehicle

If you’re looking for single-trip insurance, Travel Insurance International has two plans — Worldwide Trip Protector and Worldwide Trip Protector Edge. The lower-tier Edge plan has a maximum medical and sickness benefit of $10,000, while the higher tier offers $100,000.

In addition to offering the same coverage as the Edge plan, the top-tier Trip Protector plan offers an itinerary change benefit, a pet kennel benefit (in case of delays) and a natural disaster evacuation benefit of up to $150,000.

Best for Medical Coverage Travel Insurance: HTH Travel Insurance

• Worldwide access to health services via the mPassport app
• 24/7 global medical assistance
• Trip interruption coverage of up to 200% of tour cost
• Some plans require travelers to have an existing primary health plan
• Dental care benefit of $500 is lower than the industry average
• Cancel for any reason not available to New York or Washington residents

Why we chose it: We picked HTH Travel Insurance as the best medical coverage travel insurance because it includes full coverage for doctor visits, diagnostics labs and X-rays.

HTH Travel Insurance offers two travel medical insurance plans — one for travelers with a primary health insurance plan and one for travelers who don’t have health insurance. Both plans allow customers to choose between four medical benefit options ($50,000, $100,000, $500,000 or $1,000,000) and four deductible options ($0, $100, $250 or $500).

The plan for travelers with primary health insurance includes:

• 100% coverage for medical services such as doctor visits, labs and X-rays
• 100% in-patient services such as prescription drugs and ambulatory surgery
• Up to $500 for dental care
• $500,000 maximum for medical evacuations

For travelers who don’t have primary health insurance, the plan covers:

• 100% in-patient services such as ambulatory surgery
• Up to $300 for dental care
• 50% coverage for prescription drugs

A highlight of this plan is that it includes a benefit of up to $25,000 for hazardous activities, which covers skiing or scuba diving accidents.

Besides travel medical coverage, HTH Travel Insurance offers three trip protection plans — TripProtector Economy, TripProtector Classic and TripProtector Preferred. All three plans include trip cancellation, trip delay and trip interruption coverage. The trip interruption coverage covers up to 200% of trip costs, the highest percentage out of all the companies on our list. These plans also offer emergency medical coverage up to $75,000 in the Economy plan, $250,000 in the Classic plan and $500,000 in the Preferred plan.

Best for High Dental Coverage: IMG Travel Insurance

• Dental coverage limit of up to $1,000
• Plans for airline and cruise travel
• Up to $500,000 in primary medical coverage available
• Budget plan offers secondary medical coverage
• "Cancel for any reason" add-on is only available on one plan
• Limited add-on options

Why we chose it: IMG Travel Insurance offers comprehensive travel insurance and excellent health care benefits that include $1,000 in dental coverage with every plan. This dental limit is somewhat of a rarity, as most of the plans we surveyed cap dental coverage at $750.

IMG Travel Insurance sells plans for both airline and cruise travel, as well as plans tailored to adventure sports enthusiasts and budget-conscious travelers who just need the essentials.

All of its travel insurance plans cover up to $1,000 for dental injuries abroad (like infections or broken teeth) as well as take-home prescriptions and supplies.

IMG's most popular plan, iTravel Insured SE, is a great for senior travelers who want comprehensive coverage through benefits such as:

• A $250,000 per person maximum for medical expenses
• A $500,000 per person maximum for emergency evacuation and repatriation
• Up to $1,500 in baggage and personal effects coverage with a per-item maximum of $250
• Rental car damage and theft coverage at no extra cost

On the other hand, those looking for added peace of mind may consider the iTravel Insured LX plan. It features IMG's highest possible coverage for each category: $500,000 per person for medical expenses, $1,000,000 for expatriation and emergency evacuation and $500,000 per person for baggage and personal effects, with a per-item maximum of $250.

This plan is great for pet owners as well — you'll qualify for trip cancellation or trip interruption if your pet gets sick or injured and you need to delay the trip or return home early. The policy also covers up to $500 for additional pet kennel expenses if your return is delayed.

All of IMG's insurance plans offer round-the-clock non-insurance services, including but not limited to:

• Emergency cash transfers
• Medical referrals
• Help with lost passports or travel documents
• Emergency translation services
• Embassy or consulate referrals

Best for 100% Digital Travel Insurance: Faye

• Fully digital claims process
• Mobile app delivers travel updates regarding flight delays, gate changes and baggage claim
• Add-ons for pet care and adventure sports
• Some benefits aren't available in every state
• Doesn't sell policies through popular insurance marketplaces

Why we chose it: Faye travel insurance offers a highly customizable travel insurance product with a fully digital claims and reimbursement process, supported by a user-friendly webpage and a mobile app to manage your policy on the go.

Faye Travel Insurance streamlines the process of buying travel insurance through its digital platforms. Older travelers comfortable with technology can purchase and manage their policy and file claims through the mobile app, with the option to chat with a live representative 24/7.

Another standout feature is Faye Wallet, a digital wallet within the Faye app that connects to your Google Pay or Apple Pay accounts for a faster reimbursement.

Faye's international travel insurance covers health-related expenses, trip cancellation (up to 100% of trip costs), trip interruption (up to 150% of trip costs) and baggage loss or damage (up to $2,000 with $150 per-item limit). Trip protection also includes coverage for inconveniences such as delays at security check-in or expenses incurred if you arrive late to the hotel due to an eligible reason.

Medical benefits include up to $250,000 for medical expenses and $500,000 if you must be transported to another medical facility or back to your home country. Non-medical emergency evacuations are also covered up to $100,000 in the event of political unrest or an unforeseen natural disaster.

You can further customize this travel plan with the following add-ons:

• Veterinary expenses and kennel costs for companion or service pets traveling with you
• Rental car damage and theft
• Coverage for travel inconveniences such as closed attractions or inclement weather
• Cancel for any reason add-on up to two days prior to departure
• Adventure and extreme sports, regardless of age
• Repairs and replacement costs if you accidentally damage a rental you're staying in

Best for Trip Delay Coverage: John Hancock Travel

• Travel delays are eligible for coverage after just three hours
• Preexisting conditions waiver on all plans
• "Cancel for any reason" add-on available on all plans
• Baggage delay benefit requires a 12-hour delay
• No mobile app support
• No concierge services for non-emergency travel needs

Why we chose it: We selected John Hancock Travel as the best travel insurance for trip delays because policyholders can file a trip delay claim if their travels are delayed for as little as three to six hours.

While most insurers require that you wait 12 hours or more for trip delay coverage — especially if you purchase a budget plan — all three of John Hancock's travel insurance options offer solid trip delay coverage for short delays.

The Gold plan can reimburse you up to $1,000 ($200 per day) if your travels are delayed for three hours or more. The Silver plan, on the other hand, can reimburse up to $750 ($150 per day) with the same time requirements. Lastly, the Bronze plan offers the lowest coverage limit ($500) and has a slightly longer minimum delay requirement of six hours.

John Hancock's trip protection includes trip cancellation insurance, trip interruption, missed connections and airline ticket change fees. There's also coverage for expenses incurred if your traveling companion delays, interrupts or cancels their travel plans and you still go through with the trip. Benefits for luggage and personal property range from $750 to $2,500, depending on your chosen plan.

The insurer offers competitive medical expenses coverage as well, as you can see below:

• Bronze: $50,000 for medical expenses/ $250,000 for emergency medical evacuation
• Silver: $100,000 for medical expenses/ $500,000 for emergency medical evacuation
• Gold: $250,000 for medical expenses/ $1,000,000 for emergency medical evacuation

Finally, policyholders can upgrade any of John Hancock's travel insurance plans with these add-ons:

• "Cancel for any reason"
• Rental car collision
• In-flight accidental death & dismemberment

Best for Upgrades & Add-ons: WorldTrips

• Option to increase baggage coverage to $4,000
• Travel delay coverage after just five hours
• Choice of 75% or 50% "cancel for any reason" coverage
• No primary medical coverage in budget plan
• Trip interruption for any reason covers only 50% of expenses

Why we chose it: WorldTrips stands out for its supplemental coverage options. Policyholders can upgrade the basic travel insurance plan with over 10 add-ons and add new covered events to boost their coverage.

WorldTrips travel insurance offers travelers of all ages three plan options, Premier, Preferred and Economy. Customers can enhance any plan with upgrades such as:

• Adventure sports coverage
• Rental car coverage
• Pet care and destination weddings coverage
• Increased stolen and lost baggage protection
• Rental accommodations coverage if you encounter inconveniences at the place you originally booked

We found that the best plan for older travelers is the Premier plan due to its high medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation coverage:

• $150,000 for medical expenses
• $1,000,000 for emergency evacuation and repatriation

The Preferred plan offers secondary medical coverage up to $100,000 and $1,000,000 for emergency evacuation and repatriation. You can, however, pay an additional $7 to make this coverage your primary health insurance plan while traveling.

Other insurance companies we considered

Our top picks feature companies that combine great trip protection benefits with high medical coverage to suit the needs of older travelers. Many companies met this criteria, yet some fell short in other aspects, such as trip and baggage delay coverage and the number of add-ons and upgrades available.

The following companies didn't make it to our top picks, but they are still worth considering if the coverage and benefits suit your traveling needs. Read our full reviews to learn more:

• Allianz Travel Insurance Review
• Trawick International Travel Insurance Review
• Generali Global Assistance Travel Insurance Review
• Tin Leg Travel Insurance Review
• TravelSafe Insurance Review
• Travelex Travel Insurance Review
• Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance Review
• AXA Travel Insurance Review

Trip cancellation coverage

Trip interruption coverage

Primary medical coverage

"Cancel for any reason" coverage

Waiver for preexisting health conditions

Baggage maximum/per item limit

125 to 150%

$2,000 per insured

GeoBlue  

$1,000 per trip period

Trawick International

100 to 150%

$2,000/ $250

Generali Global Assistance

100 to 175%

$2,000 per person

$2,500/$300

$1,000/$250

Berkshire Hathaway

$2,5000/$250 

AXA Assistance USA

$3,000/$500

Travel Insurance for Seniors Guide

What is senior travel insurance.

Travel insurance for seniors is the same as travel insurance for any other age group, but there are some considerations for individuals aged 65 and above. Older adults should make sure their travel insurance includes a minimum of $100,000 in medical coverage and provides a waiver of preexisting conditions. The policy should also include trip interruption and cancellation benefits that cover 100% of trip costs.

Additionally, an ideal travel insurance plan for seniors includes a $500 bag delay benefit in case your airline misplaces your bag or puts it on a later flight to your destination. Seniors should also consider the policy's baggage loss benefit. An acceptable minimum benefit is $500.

Is there an age limit for travel insurance?

While travel insurance doesn’t have an age limit, some providers might impose restrictions or limits on medical coverage and other benefits based on the traveler’s age.

Seniors should note there’s a time limit for when one can get a preexisting conditions waiver. Insurance providers often require individuals to select the waiver (and purchase their policy) within 14 days of making their initial trip deposit.

How to get travel insurance as a senior

Before purchasing travel insurance, it’s important you take stock of your coverage needs . If you’re interested in a preexisting conditions waiver, make sure you follow the steps below before or within 14 days of your initial trip deposit, because insurers only offer it during this short window.

Read on for a breakdown of the steps to get travel insurance.

1. Assess your travel insurance coverage needs

Take into account any health conditions or specific needs you may have, as well as activities and plans you intend to engage in during your trip. You should also evaluate what coverage you think you may need given where you’re going.

For example, international travelers should look for a plan with medical coverage, as domestic health insurance doesn’t cover you when traveling abroad. Domestic travelers, in turn, can focus their search for coverage that reimburses any prepaid trip costs (airfare, hotel, excursions, etc.) if an emergency forces you to cancel or interrupt your trip.

2. Research travel insurance companies

Browse providers and the coverage offered. In particular, look into the provider’s benefits for medical expenses, bag delay or loss, trip cancellation or interruption and medical evacuation. These benefits focus on protecting yourself in case of an emergency and your belongings in case of loss or damage.

3. Request and compare travel insurance quotes

Once you've researched companies, request a quote from each that meets your needs and review the plan documents, paying close attention to the policy's fine print. Then, compare each coverage option to learn if the policies include the specific benefits and limits you want.

4. Declare any preexisting conditions during the application process

Next, disclose any preexisting condition to the provider to make sure that you’ll be covered if you experience flare-ups or an emergency related to the condition. Companies don’t consider a stable condition or illness like asthma as preexisting.

For travel insurance providers, a preexisting condition is an injury, illness or condition that led you to seek a medical diagnosis or treatment during what companies call a lookback period. This period is often between 60 to 90 days prior to the policy's effective date, but can go back six months.

5. Carefully read policy details and understand conditions and exclusions

Read the plan documents closely to ensure the policy aligns with your needs. As companies have strict definitions of coverage, you’ll want to make sure that you understand exactly what’s covered and how to properly use benefits when needed. Learning about the policy will also help you make a well-informed decision.

6. Purchase the travel insurance policy that works for you

Once you’ve done your research and selected the policy that’s best for you, proceed to purchase it. Don’t forget to select the preexisting conditions waiver add-on if it’s something you want.

Travel Insurance for Seniors FAQs

How much does travel insurance cost for seniors, does medicare cover me when i travel overseas, does travel insurance cover preexisting medical conditions, how we chose the best travel insurance for seniors.

We gathered sample quotes from 20 travel insurance companies using the following profile:

• Two travelers aged 65 and 70
• State of residence: Florida
• Destination: Spain
• Trip length: Two weeks
• Combined trip cost: $4,225

We then reviewed the benefits of each plan option and selected the best insurance providers based on the following metrics:

• Age restrictions: Our top picks insure travelers up to 99 years of age.
• Medical expenses coverage: Our top picks offer at least one plan option that covers $100,000+ for medical expenses and $500,000+ for emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains.
• Travel delay coverage: Delays are common in air travel, and waiting hours to file a claim is highly inconvenient. We prioritized insurers with low minimum delay times and excluded those requiring that the delay be at least 12 hours before accepting a claim.
• Baggage delay coverage: Luggage delay is another common mishap during air travel. When this happens, you want to be able to file a claim as soon as possible. We included providers that didn't make you wait any longer than 12 hours to file a baggage delay claim and skipped those that required travelers to wait as long as 24 hours to file for remuneration.
• Baggage loss or theft: Our top picks offer at least one plan option or upgrade that covers baggage loss or theft for up to $1,000 or higher.
• Trip cancellation and trip interruption: Our top picks cover 100% of prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses in case you need to cancel your trip as well as 100% to 175% of these expenses if your trip is cut short.
• Add-ons: We took special note of add-ons such as CFAR (cancel for any reason), adventure sports and car rental collision coverage as well as upgrades to existing coverage levels.
• Non-insurance services: We favored insurers that offer additional services and travel assistance for inconveniences and emergencies that can take place during a trip, including multilingual translation and concierge services.

Summary of Money's Best Travel Insurance for Seniors

Best Travel Insurance for Seniors

The best travel insurance plans for seniors offer comprehensive, specialized coverage, affordable rates, and helpful customer service.

SeniorLiving.org is supported by commissions from providers listed on our site. Read our Editorial Guidelines

• Additional coverage for preexisting conditions with select plans
• Wide variety of customizable plans
• High coverage limits

• Plans available for seniors up to 99 years old
• Can be purchased as close as one day prior to departure
• Affordable plans and group discounts

• 14-day refund in most states
• Comprehensive coverage for baggage and personal items
• Excellent customer service

• Free online quotes
• Affordable cruise insurance
• Hassle-free claims process

• Our Top Picks
• 2. International Medical Group
• 3. John Hancock
• 4. Nationwide
• 5. Travel Guard
• Our Methodology

If you plan on traveling abroad or domestically , we recommend purchasing travel insurance for some added peace of mind. Travel insurance offers protection when you find yourself in an unexpected situation, such as an injury that requires emergency medical care, lost luggage, or canceled flights.

If you’re on the fence about purchasing travel insurance, we’ll go over some of the reasons why you might benefit from it. With affordable rates you’ll find that travel insurance can help reduce the stress of traveling and incurring unexpected out-of-pocket costs. Our team spent over 50 hours researching and comparing plans. We evaluated each plan using important factors like cost, customer service, plan options, amount of coverage, and more.

Let’s take a closer look at the best travel insurance providers for seniors.

Best Travel Insurance for Seniors in 2024

What we like most.

Allianz Global Assistance has been a trusted travel insurance provider for over 100 years. We chose Allianz because many of their policies offer protection for those with preexisting medical conditions. If you’re a senior with a preexisting condition, you’ll be covered if you need care or services while traveling. This coverage is only available with select plans, and there are some exclusions.

Fun Fact: Allianz is best known for their role in insuring the Wright Brothers’ first flight and the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, among many other historical milestones.

Allianz offers 24/7 assistance and a variety of plans, whether you’re planning a single trip or annual trip with many destinations. One of their most popular plans is the OneTrip Prime, which provides free coverage for children 17 and under when traveling with a parent or grandparent.

Allianz offers 10 different plans depending on how often you travel, or if you’re traveling for leisure or business. For example, their OneTrip Prime plan offers the following coverages:

• Epidemic coverage endorsement
• Trip cancellation (up to $100,000)
• Trip interruption (up to $150,000 per insured)
• Emergency medical (up to $50,000 per insured)
• Emergency medical transportation (up to $500,000 per insured)
• Baggage loss/damage up to $1,000 (per insured)
• Baggage delay up to $300 (per insured)
• Travel delay up to $800 (per insured)
• 24-hour hotline assistance
• Concierge services
• OneTrip Rental Car Protector optional upgrade
• Required to work optional upgrade
• Preexisting medical condition coverage available

Pros About Allianz

• Over 21 million insured travelers
• High coverage amounts
• High trip cancellation amounts
• Rental car coverage
• 24/7 hotline assistance for travel emergencies and assistance
• Preexisting medical condition coverage on select plans
• Wide range of travel insurance plans for leisure or business
• Free Allianz TravelSmart app for iPhone and Android

Cons About Allianz

• Up to 30 days for claim reviews
• Rental car damage and theft coverage not available to KS, TX, NY, and WA residents on an annual plan

Final Thoughts

Along with a vast selection of travel insurance plans and high coverage amounts, Allianz is great for seniors who are planning single or multiple trips throughout the year. Keep in mind that select coverages and benefits may not be available to residents in some states.

Overall, Allianz offers exceptional coverage for seniors with preexisting medical conditions, emergency medical benefits up to $50,000, and 24/7 hotline assistance for any travel emergencies or questions you may have.

Established in 1990 in Indianapolis, Indiana, International Medical Group (IMG) is known for offering quality global insurance benefits and assistance for seniors who travel internationally. One of the benefits of this company is that they offer a wide range of international medical insurance and 24/7 emergency medical assistance for travelers.

Fun Fact: IMG’s GlobeHopper Senior travel health insurance plan offers an option for the extension of coverage for seniors who wish to extend their trips. 

IMG earned our pick as the best international travel insurance for their affordable rates for longer trips, as well as comprehensive coverage for medical expenses and evacuation. We appreciate that IMG offers the GlobeHopper Senior, temporary health insurance for travelers ages 65 and up traveling internationally. This plan offers travel medical insurance coverage for as little as five days up to one year, along with maximum limits up to $1 million. Additionally, IMG offers travel medical insurance for individuals, families, and groups, including coverage for seniors with preexisting conditions. Many of the policies also have maximum limits of up to $8 million — which is one of the highest limits we’ve seen for travel insurance.

IMG offers four comprehensive plans for vacationers and business travelers. Their most popular package is the iTravelInsured Travel LX, which offers the following coverages.

• Trip cancellation: 100 percent of the nonrefundable insured trip cost
• Trip interruption: 150 percent of the nonrefundable insured trip cost
• Cancel for any reason: 75 percent of the nonrefundable insured trip cost
• Trip interruption for any reason: 75 percent of the nonrefundable insured trip cost
• Trip delay (up to $250 per day)
• Change fee (up to $300 per person)
• Frequent traveler reward (up to $75 per person)
• Rental car damage and theft coverage (up to $40,000 per covered vehicle)
• Missed trip connection (up to $500 per person)
• Traveling companion/bedside companion (up to $200 per day)
• Pet kennel ($100 per day)
• Search and rescue (up to $10,000)
• Political or security evacuation and natural disaster evacuation ($50,000 per event per person)
• Baggage and personal effects ($2,500)
• Sports equipment rental (up to $500 daily)
• Baggage delay of at least 12 hours (up to $500)
• Accident and sickness medical and dental expense (up to $500,000 per person)
• Accident death and dismemberment (up to $100,000)

Pros About International Medical Group

• Plans offered to travelers up to the age of 99
• Can be purchased up to one day before departure
• Affordable minimum trip cost to be insured
• 24/7 assistance
• Lowest price guaranteed
• Affordable plans for international travel
• Group discounts
• Higher coverage limits
• Claims filed via website or mail

Cons About International Medical Group

• Some travel insurance plans can only cover 90-day trips
• Might need to purchase separate travel medical insurance and international health insurance

IMG offers travel insurance plans for seniors up to age 99 who want to travel internationally. IMG is ideal for both vacationers and business travelers. Additionally, IMG offers 24/7 emergency travel assistance and a preexisting condition review period of 60 days. If you’re a senior going on a cruise or guided tour internationally, we recommend purchasing travel medical coverage through IMG.

As an insurance provider for over 160 years, many people trust John Hancock for their investment, retirement, financial , and insurance products. John Hancock offers streamlined travel insurance packages for older adults who plan to travel internationally with ample protection. Although on the pricier side, older adults can choose from three plans ranked Gold, Silver, and Bronze depending on how much coverage they’d like for their travels. Currently, John Hancock’s plans feature comprehensive coverage including trip cancellation, trip delays, emergency accident and sickness medical coverage, and more. They also offer high coverage options and greater protection for seniors who want 24/7 assistance.

FYI: If you purchase a travel insurance plan through John Hancock within the first 14 days of booking your trip, you can get the best coverage options. 

Depending on your unique situation, age, and duration of travel, you can customize a quote online and choose from three different plan tiers: Gold, Silver, and Bronze. The Silver plan offers the following coverages:

• Trip cancellation (up to 100 percent of trip cost)
• Trip interruption (up to 150 percent of trip cost)
• Trip cancellation for any reason (up to 75 percent of nonrefundable trip cost)
• Airline ticket change fee (minimum 1-hour delay $200)
• Missed connections ($750)
• Trip delay ($150 per day; maximum $750)
• Baggage delay (maximum $500; daily limit of $500)
• Baggage/personal effects (up to $1,000; per article: $250; maximum for property: $1,000)
• Accidental death and dismemberment (up to $100,000)
• Emergency accident and emergency sickness medical expense (up to $100,000)
• Emergency medical evacuation and medically necessary repatriation (up to $500,000)
• Repatriation of remains (up to $500,000)
• Preexisting conditions waiver
• Frequent travel loyalty (up to $200)

Pros About John Hancock

• Coverage for travelers with preexisting conditions
• Frequent travel loyalty perks
• Trip cancellation and trip interruption coverages
• 24/7 travel assistance

Cons About John Hancock

• Limited plans
• Some of the travel insurance plans can be expensive
• Need to speak with a licensed agent to get more information
• 14-day refund not available in states like IN, NH, and UT

John Hancock offers peace of mind and solid travel insurance plans for older adults who plan to travel alone or with their families. If you’re not satisfied or change your mind, you can call to cancel the purchase within 14 days of the effective date. John Hancock offers streamlined travel insurance coverage options — perfect for that cruise or international trip you’ve been dreaming about! Keep in mind that all travelers must reside in the same U.S. state to share a John Hancock policy.

Nationwide has been around since 1925, offering insurance, investing, and retirement products for individuals and businesses. Nationwide offers some of the best affordable cruise travel insurance plans for older adults that we’ve seen. If you’re planning a cruise with your family or friends, we recommend looking into three of their cruise plans: the Universal Cruise, Choice Cruise, and Luxury Cruise plans.

Did You Know? If you’re looking into other insurance policies for dental, vision, life insurance, check out our guide to insurance for seniors in 2024 .

The Choice and Luxury Cruise plans offer coverage for preexisting conditions. Plus, you can easily modify and add coverage even if you’ve already purchased a plan. One thing to remember: Not all coverage is available in all states, so you’ll have to check with a local travel insurance agent.

Nationwide offers single trip, annual trip, and cruise insurance. For cruise insurance, we recommend the Choice Cruise plan, as it’s flexible and affordable. Here’s what the plan covers:

• Trip cancellation (up to 100 percent of nonrefundable trip costs)
• Trip interruption (up to 150 percent of nonrefundable trip costs)
• Interruption for any reason ($500)
• Missed connection/trip delay ($1,500/$750)
• Itinerary changes ($200-$500)
• Emergency accident and sickness medical expense ($100,000)
• Accidental death and dismemberment ($25,000)
• Preexisting condition waiver (if purchased within 14 days of trip)
• Baggage and personal effects ($2,500 maximum, $600 maximum for special items, $300 per article limit of $500)
• Key cancellation/interruption covered reasons
• Cancel for any reason
• Non-medical evacuation ($25,000)
• Refund policy: 10-day review period

Pros About Nationwide

• Member of the US Travel Insurance Association
• Travel insurance plans for cruises, single- and multi-trips
• Hassle-free claims
• Affordable travel insurance rates
• Flexible annual trip plans start at $59

Cons About Nationwide

• Cruise plan refund policy not available in NY or WA
• Lower trip interruption limits compared to other providers (125 percent for Essential plan single trip)
• Some plans may have nonrefundable processing fees

Nationwide provides a variety of options for senior travelers, whether you’re flying to a new destination or cruising. The company has high coverage amounts, including a 10-day review period for refunds on some of its cruise plans. If your trip is canceled, you’ll be reimbursed for up to 100 percent of the nonrefundable trip cost.

As one of the world’s leading travel insurance companies, Travel Guard provides specialized coverages for older adults at affordable prices. Along with travel medical and concierge assistance, Travel Guard has responsive customer service and optional add-on coverages.

FYI: To get a preexisting medical conditions exclusion waiver through Travel Guard, you’ll have to purchase it within 15 days of the initial trip payment.

The provider offers three travel insurance plans: the Essential, Preferred, and Deluxe plans, with high coverage amounts up to $1 million. Coverage offerings include trip cancellation, baggage coverage, and travel medical expenses, along with specialized coverages such as car rental, medevac, and lodging expenses.

Travel Guard offers the following coverage for their Preferred plan — one of their most popular plans.

• Cancel for any reason (optional add-on)
• Baggage coverage (up to $1,000)
• Baggage delay (up to $300)
• Travel medical expense (up to $50,000)
• Travel inconvenience
• Medevac (up to $500,000)
• Car rental (optional add-on)
• Lodging expense (optional add-on)
• Trip exchange
• Security evac (optional add-on)
• Preexisting medical conditions exclusion waiver

Pros About Travel Guard

• One of the world’s leading travel insurance companies
• Specialized coverages
• Easy and fast claim process
• Family coverage options
• Preexisting medical condition exclusion waiver
• Cancel for any reason (up to 48 hours prior to departure)
• Travel insurance plans currently available in all states

Cons About Travel Guard

• Some plans don’t offer flight guard, security evacuation, trip saver, trip exchange, or other specialized coverages

Travel Guard offers a variety of affordable travel insurance plans for families, seniors, and those who frequently travel. If you’re looking for specialized coverages with higher coverage limits up to $1,000,000, we’d recommend looking into Travel Guard’s three travel insurance plans. Keep in mind that if you think you may need a preexisting medical conditions exclusion waiver, you’ll need to purchase it within 15 days of the initial trip payment.

Money-Saving Tip: Looking for ways to save on an upcoming trip? Check out our senior discounts guide to learn how you can save on hotels, cruises, transportation, and more!

For travelers looking for higher coverage limits, you can get up to $750 to $2,500 for baggage coverage and up to $100,000 for travel medical expense coverage. One of the perks of purchasing travel insurance through Travel Guard is that they are available in all states. You can also purchase an annual plan if you are looking for coverage for multiple trips throughout the year.

Our Methodology: How We Chose the Best Seniors Travel Insurance

When choosing the best travel insurance providers, we considered the following criteria.

• Coverages: We chose travel insurance providers that offer the best comprehensive coverage with higher limits for trip cancellations, emergency medical transportation, and baggage delay.
• Specialized coverages: We focused on companies that have optional or additional specialized coverages like car rentals or accidental death and dismemberment.
• Preexisting medical conditions: Our list features some providers that offer preexisting medical condition waivers.
• Cruise coverage: The companies on our list offer cruise coverage along with traditional travel insurance.
• Financial standing: It’s important to choose a provider with an excellent financial portfolio. We selected providers with above-average ratings by reputable ranking agencies.
• Customer service: We assessed the ease of use of navigating each insurance provider’s mobile app and claims processing center. We also evaluated how easy it was to obtain free online quotes and contact customer service.
• Affordability: The providers on our list offer budget-friendly coverage for seniors over the age of 65 and their families.

Comparing the Best Travel Insurance for Seniors

To give you a better idea of prices, we researched the average costs of travel insurance for older adults from each of our top providers. We obtained quotes for 65-year-olds on a two-week trip to Italy with an $8,000 travel budget.

What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

Many travel insurance plans cover the following benefits, with options for specialized or add-on coverages:

• Trip cancellation: Receive a reimbursement if you need to cancel your trip.
• Trip interruption: If your trip is interrupted, you can get reimbursed for the nonrefundable amount of your trip and the cost of transportation per insured person.
• Travel delay: You can get reimbursed a certain amount per day if your trip is delayed for a specified period of time.
• Cancel for any reason: Receive a refund for a portion of your trip expenses if you need to cancel your trip due to a death in the family or other situation.
• Baggage delay: If your baggage is delayed for a specified period of time, you may receive reimbursement for the hours delayed and if you need to purchase specific items due to the delay.
• Emergency medical: If you have dental or medical emergencies while traveling, this benefit can cover these expenses.
• Car rental: As an add-on, you can get car rental insurance to help cover the cost of rental car damages and other expenses if you get into an accident.
• Medical evacuation: Also known as medevac, this optional coverage provides emergency medical transportation if you need to be airlifted.
• Accidental death and dismemberment: If you die during your travels as a result of accidental death or dismemberment, your beneficiary would receive certain benefits.
• Repatriation of remains: If a traveler passes away during your trip, this benefit will cover the cost of returning them home.
• Preexisting medical condition waiver: Some insurance carriers offer coverage for those with preexisting medical conditions.

How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost for Seniors?

Based on our research after obtaining online quotes from five different travel insurance providers, we found that the average cost of travel insurance is $655.23 per insured person when you plan to spend around $8,000 for an international trip. While this might seem steep, travel insurance can help you avoid thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses during an emergency. According to Forbes, the average cost of travel insurance is roughly six percent of your overall trip costs and is dependent on the amount you plan to spend on your trip.

Tips for Choosing the Best Travel Insurance for Seniors

When planning a trip, it’s important to compare travel insurance quotes to make sure you get the best deal. It’s better to plan ahead and enjoy the rest of your trip knowing you’ve purchased the best travel insurance for your needs. We’ve compiled a list of tips on how to choose the best travel insurance below:

• Coverage: Many insurance providers will highlight one of their best value plans to help you stay under budget. If cost is your main concern, choose a plan that offers the minimum coverage with the option of adding additional coverage if needed.
• Preexisting conditions: Not all providers offer preexisting conditions waivers, so it’s important to research and inquire about this if you’re so affected.
• Discounts: Agencies like AARP may offer senior discounts and travel savings if you’re a member. Consider these discounts on top of your travel insurance purchases.
• Medical expenses: Look into comprehensive travel insurance plans that offer substantial medical coverage. Some plans may require you to purchase separate travel medical insurance.
• Compare providers: Get quotes from multiple providers and compare rates and coverage. Think about the benefits that are the most important to you, along with your budget, and choose a plan accordingly
• 24/7 assistance: Some companies offer 24/7 assistance, which is essential when traveling in different time zones. Also, check to see if your provider offers concierge services.

Frequently Asked Questions About Seniors Travel Insurance

Travel insurance helps protect you and your loved ones if you experience a health emergency while traveling. It can also protect and help reimburse you if your trip gets canceled, or you lose your baggage during the trip.

Medicare does not offer health care services that you receive outside of the U.S. This is why it’s important to purchase a travel insurance policy for more coverage.

Some insurance providers won’t offer coverage for preexisting conditions, losses due to war, or inability to afford the trip.

AAA. (2021). Pandemic Prompts More Americans to Consider Travel Insurance .

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The Best Travel Insurance Plans for Seniors

The best travel insurance options for seniors with pre-existing medical conditions: OneTrip Prime or OneTrip Premier

Traveling when you have a chronic illness, disability, or another medical issue presents some challenges. You may wonder: “Will travel insurance protect me if a pre-existing condition affects my trip?” The answer is yes! Travel insurance can cover losses related to a pre-existing medical condition , as long as you meet certain requirements.

We define a pre-existing medical condition as an injury, illness, or medical condition that, within the 120 days prior to and including the purchase date of your travel insurance plan, caused a person to seek medical examination, diagnosis, care, or treatment by a doctor; presented symptoms; or required a person to take medication prescribed by a doctor (unless the condition or symptoms are controlled by that prescription, and the prescription has not changed). You don’t need a formal diagnosis for your illness/injury to be considered a pre-existing medical condition.

You can be covered for losses due to a pre-existing medical condition if:

• Your policy includes the Pre-Existing Medical Condition Exclusion Waiver and was purchased within 14 days of the date of the first non-refundable trip payment or deposit;
• You were a U.S. resident when the policy was purchased;
• You were medically able to travel when the policy was purchased; and
• On the policy purchase date, you insured the full non-refundable cost of your trip with us. If you incur additional non-refundable trip expenses after you purchase this certificate, you must insure them with us within 14 days of their purchase.

We know that’s a mouthful! In short, make sure you purchase your policy within that 14-day window , insure the full cost of your trip , and make sure you’re medically able to travel at that time. It may be wise to consult your doctor and get the thumbs-up that you’re good to go.

The plans we recommend most often for seniors with pre-existing conditions are OneTrip Prime and OneTrip Premier . Both include the Pre-Existing Medical Condition Exclusion Waiver along with generous emergency medical benefits, so you have peace of mind.

Expert tip: Any health conditions you have do not affect the cost of travel insurance ! In most cases, we calculate the cost of a plan based on your trip expenses and your age.

Our last piece of advice for senior travelers: Don’t stress. If you have questions about buying a plan, contact us anytime and our experts will guide you through the process. Remember, you have 15 days after purchase to cancel your plan (depending on your state of residence), as long as you haven’t filed a claim or departed on your trip.

While you’re on your trip, 24-Hour assistance is always available to help you with all kinds of travel challenges: medical emergencies, prescription refills, lost travel documents, misplaced luggage, lost or stolen personal items, pet care needs, etc.  Safe travels!

Related Articles

• The Simple Guide to Buying Travel Insurance When You're Over 65
• Buying Annual Travel Insurance Over 65
• Why Travel Insurance is Important for Seniors [Video]
• Medicare.gov

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Personal Finance

Best travel insurance for seniors for 2024.

Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created independently from TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it.

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

Our recommendations for the best travel insurance companies for seniors, best for spontaneous travel: aig travel guard.

AIG Travel Guard

Pros & cons:.

• Pack N’ Go plan helps spontaneous travelers save money.
• 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

Allianz Travel Insurance

• Wide variety of travel insurance plans, including annual plans.
• Coverage for pre-existing conditions is included with all plans.
• 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

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance

• Available travel insurance plan with cruise-specific coverages.
• 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

Generali Travel Insurance

• Up to $250,000 of medical expense coverage is available.
• Medical evacuation coverage is among the highest.
• 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

Nationwide Travel Insurance

• Lowest cost plan in our review.
• High level of medical coverage.
• 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

Seven Corners

• 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.
• 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 reimbursement 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 Hancock

Travelex Travel Insurance

• $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
• John Hancock’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 Hancock . 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

• Children can be covered for no additional cost with the Travelex Select plan.
• Can upgrade to include car rental coverage.
• 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 reimbursement 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.

Best Travel Insurance for Seniors – Plans & Cost

Home | Travel | Best Travel Insurance for Seniors – Plans & Cost

Travel insurance for seniors is a must-have if you’re doing any traveling as a senior citizen. After all, you’re probably planning more international adventures than ever now that you have the financial resources and free time. Whether you’ll be traveling with a tour group, going on a cruise, or embarking on a solo adventure, you still need to make sure that you’re covered by senior travel insurance when you go abroad.

Best Travel Insurance for Seniors – Plans & Cost

Getting coverage for pre-existing conditions is especially important at this age. If you have any kind of long-term health condition, be sure to purchase travel insurance for pre-existing conditions because, unfortunately, not every travel insurance offers this type of coverage.

Fortunately, however, all four of the best senior travel insurance plans I’ll be discussing below include pre-existing condition coverage. I’ll also explain coverage and age limits, deductibles, and extra features, including cruise coverage, so you can select the travel insurance for seniors that best suits your needs and budget.

Best travel insurance companies for seniors

In summary, these are the companies that offer the best senior travel insurance plans :

• Trawick International , the best travel insurance for seniors
• IMG , an inexpensive travel medical insurance for seniors
• AIG Travel Guard , a good basic travel insurance for seniors
• World Trips , a great travel insurance for the elderly

How much does travel insurance cost for seniors?

The price of senior travel insurance is based on a number of factors, including your age, nationality, and destination. The length and cost of your trip will also affect your senior travel insurance price.

Moreover, each company that offers travel insurance for seniors determines prices differently, so some may be more inherently expensive than others. I’ve used the example of a 70-year-old American from Pennsylvania who is going to Mexico for a week and whose trip costs $2,500 in order to generate quotes.

*choice of maximum amounts of coverage and this is the highest option with a $0 deductible

** cost used for example

1. Trawick International , the best travel insurance for seniors

If you want senior travel insurance with quality coverage for a relatively affordable price, look no further than Trawick International . Out of all the plans I compared, Trawick’s Safe Travels First Class plan offers the highest amount of coverage in all categories. Even better, it also includes cruise coverage and pre-existing condition coverage (as long as the plan is purchased within 14 days of your initial trip deposit).

Other perks of this travel insurance for seniors include COVID-19 coverage and a $0 deductible for medical expenses. You can even add CFAR coverage, otherwise known as cancel for any reason coverage  if you’d like to be able to cancel your trip for any reason that would otherwise not be covered by your insurance.

With a maximum age limit of 100 for customer coverage, the Safe Travels First Class plan is suitable for just about any senior who wants foreign travel insurance for senior citizens . However, if you’d like to save a little money, IMG may be a better choice for you, particularly if you only need travel medical insurance for seniors .

2. IMG , an inexpensive travel medical insurance for seniors

Another top-rated travel insurance for seniors is IMG ’s GlobeHopper Senior Single-Trip plan. This affordable travel medical insurance for seniors gives you the flexibility of choosing your deductible (the amount of money you have to pay before insurance will cover your medical bills) and maximum amount of coverage, so you can customize the plan to fit your needs and budget.

Seniors of any age can choose from deductibles of $0, $100, $250, $500, $1,000, or $2,500. 65- to 79-year-olds can opt for maximum coverage amounts of $50,000, $100,00, $500,000, or $1,000,000, while seniors who are 80+ can only choose between $50,000 and $100,000 worth of coverage. Generally, the higher the deductible you select, the more affordable your senior travel insurance price will be, whereas the higher the coverage amount you choose, the more expensive your travel insurance will be.

Just keep in mind that certain amounts of coverage automatically come with a deductible (for example, with $1,000,000 worth of coverage, you must have a deductible of at least $250). Additionally, you can only select a $0 deductible for plans with $50,000 or $100,000 worth of coverage.

Beyond providing flexible deductible and coverage options, the GlobeHopper Senior Single-Trip plan also offers cruise, COVID-19, and pre-existing condition coverage. However, because this plan is travel medical insurance , trip cancellation coverage is not included. This isn’t a problem if you just need travel medical coverage, but if you’d like the added security of knowing you can get reimbursed for canceling your trip, go for Trawick ’s senior travel insurance .

3. AIG Travel Guard , a good basic travel insurance for seniors

AIG Travel Guard ’s Essential plan is perfect for any retiree looking for reliable travel insurance for seniors over 65 . This plan not only provides a decent amount of coverage in all categories, but it also features a $0 deductible for medical expenses.

Moreover, the Essential plan includes COVID-19, pre-existing conditions, and cruise coverage.  Best of all, travelers of any age can purchase this plan, since customers aged 100 and over are covered.

Even with all of these benefits, you can, in fact, get senior travel insurance with a higher amount of coverage for a more affordable price with Trawick . As such, I would only recommend purchasing travel insurance for seniors from AIG if you are over the age of 100 since Trawick only covers customers up to age 100.

4. World Trips , a great travel insurance for the elderly

Travel insurance isn’t just for international travel. World Trips offers both great domestic travel insurance and international travel insurance for seniors . Their Atlas Journey Economy plan includes good coverage in all categories, a $0 deductible, and COVID-19 coverage.

Furthermore, the plan also provides cruise coverage and coverage for pre-existing conditions as long as the plan is purchased within 21 days of your initial trip payment. Even better, travelers of any age can purchase this senior travel insurance plan.

However, World Trips’ Atlas Journey Economy plan is the most expensive of the four I compared, so if you want to save money and get even better medical expense coverage, Trawick and IMG are better options.

What is the best travel insurance for seniors?

Ultimately, the best travel insurance for seniors is the plan that fits your needs, budget, and travel itinerary. Generally speaking, however, Trawick International offers the best all-around senior travel insurance plan , since it offers good value for money while still being affordable.

On the other hand, if you want affordable travel medical insurance for seniors , IMG is your best bet. No matter what plan you select, be sure to purchase at least some kind of senior travel insurance coverage before your trip. After all, having travel insurance is almost always worth it .

Enjoy your world travels!

Ascen Aynat

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7 Best Cheap Travel Insurance Companies in April 2024

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Finding the cheapest travel insurance is often a priority for travelers hoping to protect themselves and their finances while away from home.

But is it better to err on the side of affordable travel insurance or opt for a more comprehensive plan? That depends on your needs .

On average, a comprehensive plan that covers some combination of trip cancellation and interruption costs, medical coverage and baggage protection (and perhaps a number of other things) will cost you 5%-10% of what you paid for the trip, according to NerdWallet partner Squaremouth, a travel insurance marketplace.

That means a comprehensive policy for a trip that costs you $3,000 could run you anywhere between $150 and $300. Factors like the cost and length of your trip, the age of the travelers and how much protection you want can significantly influence what you pay for your plan.

Ultimately, Squaremouth recommends “the least expensive policy that offers the coverage [travelers] need.”

» Learn more: The best travel insurance companies right now

Factors we considered when picking cheap travel insurance plans

We considered a few factors as we looked for the most affordable travel insurance plans.

Price: If your goal is to find cheaper travel insurance, you want the price to be affordable.

Breadth of coverage: The best budget travel insurance is typically going to be a plan that offers a wide range of protections at an affordable cost, ensuring you’re protected with at least some coverage for a wide range of scenarios.

Uniqueness or customizability : While many travel insurance plans have similar protections, some stand out for particular coverage that can be helpful to certain travelers, like those needing to Cancel For Any Reason , those going on a cruise, or travelers with preexisting health conditions. We didn’t spring for the priciest plans with broad, deep coverage; instead, we picked those that meet a sort of budget "sweet spot" when it comes to cost efficiency.

» Learn more: Is travel insurance worth getting?

An overview of the best cheap travel insurance plans

We looked at travel insurance quotes for a hypothetical 10-day trip to Italy in October 2023. The traveler is a 40-year-old man living in North Carolina who spent $2,000 on the trip, including airfare.

Reliable but cheap travel insurance providers

1. axa assistance usa (silver plan: $70).

Why we picked it:

The $500 missed connection benefit is great for cruise and tour participants. It covers additional transportation, accommodations and meal costs when you miss a cruise or tour departure.

Full trip cancellation and interruption coverage, along with up to $25,000 for out-of-pocket medical costs and baggage coverage.

Among the lowest prices we found.

If you’re willing to spend a bit more than AXA's $70 Silver plan, a Gold plan only costs $19 more and gets you deeper coverage amounts and up to $35,000 in collision rental car insurance.

2. Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (ExactCare Value plan: $56)

Cheapest plan we found while still offering a wide array of protections.

Includes a preexisting medical condition waiver.

Add-on rental car collision coverage optional for $10 per day. You can pick how many days you want the additional coverage — it’s not all or nothing.

At $56, this plan comes in at less than 3% of the $2,000 trip cost.

3. IMG (iTravelInsured Lite plan: $77)

Treats COVID-19 like any other illness, which is to say, if your claim accepts flu, strep throat or appendicitis as an acceptable, covered condition, the coronavirus is, too.

Covers costs related to trip interruption up to 125% 

Higher than normal limits on dental expenses, at $1,000. If your teeth are your Achilles heel (or your biggest fear), this plan might be for you.

The iTravelInsured Lite plan doesn’t offer some of the bells and whistles that other plans do, like rental car coverage , Cancel For Any Reason coverage or waivers for pre-existing conditions. But you’ll have relatively solid across-the-board trip protections.

4. John Hancock (Silver plan: $93 for a mid-tier plan)

Mid-level plan (as opposed to a basic plan) at an affordable price for travelers who want more coverage without paying too much.

Includes an optional Cancel For Any Reason add-on for travelers wanting flexibility. It is a bit pricey, at half the cost of the insurance ($46.50 extra for a $93 plan).

Reimburses up to $1,000 for lost baggage , far more than many basic plans.

Add-on rental car coverage for $9 per day.

At $88, John Hancock’s basic (Bronze) plan isn’t particularly affordable. But for just $4 extra, you can tap into the benefits of a mid-tier plan at still less than 5% of the total trip cost.

5. Nationwide (Essential plan: $76)

Includes a preexisting conditions waiver.

Add-on rental car coverage for $90. 

Covers trip interruption at 125% of the trip cost while providing comprehensive emergency medical and baggage coverage.

6. Seven Corners (Basic plan: $75)

On top of standard trip protections, it includes a relatively affordable Cancel For Any Reason option for $31.50 extra.

If you plan to rent expensive sporting equipment, you might consider paying $10 extra to cover lost, damaged, stolen or destroyed gear.

COVID-19 coverage reimburses you for costs incurred if you have to quarantine .

Rental car coverage comes in at an affordable $7 per day.

Seven Corners’ Basic plan stands out because it offers a little bit of everything, appealing to athletic travelers, those who need affordable trip protections, those who want the flexibility to cancel for any reason and those still concerned about getting quarantined due to COVID-19.

7. Travelex Insurance Services (Basic plan: $71)

Straightforward: What you see is what you get. This plan’s coverage has fewer rules and caveats than many. 

While not sporting the highest coverage amounts, it offers a solid range of protections to ensure you get at least something back when your travel is disrupted or you have a medical emergency.

Offers add-on rental car coverage for $10 per day.

At $71, the Travelex Basic plan’s cost is just over 3% of the $2,000 trip’s cost.

If you want to get travel insurance at the cheapest possible rate, here’s a trick. Put $0 as your trip cost, Stan Stanberg, co-founder of comparison site Travelinsurance.com said in an email.

“When excluding trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage the cost of a travel insurance plan goes down significantly,” Stanberg said.

That means you won’t get reimbursed if you need to cancel your trip or if it gets interrupted. But you may still have access to the plan’s medical, trip delay , missed connection, baggage and other protections.

You’ll often find comprehensive travel insurance plans cost 5%-10% of your total trip cost, according to Squaremouth. This will often get you full trip cancellation and trip protection, baggage protection, emergency medical coverage and often other benefits.

Typically, the more you pay, the broader and deeper the coverage.

For many plans, you can purchase travel insurance up until you depart. However, to get access to the most protections possible, booking two days to two weeks after making your initial deposit is the best rule of thumb.

That means you won’t get reimbursed if you need to cancel your trip or if it gets interrupted. But you may still have access to the plan’s medical,

, missed connection, baggage and other protections.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-2x Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology .

Maximize Coverage, Minimize Cost: The 4 Cheapest Travel Insurance Policies

Jessica Merritt

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Best Cheap Travel Insurance for Young Travelers: Aegis Insurance

Best cheap travel insurance for families: worldtrips, best cheap multi-trip travel insurance: nationwide, best cheap cruise travel insurance: aegis insurance, best cheap travel insurance for seniors: seven corners travel insurance, is travel insurance worth it, travel insurance costs, types of travel insurance, how to get cheap travel insurance, final thoughts.

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If you’re trying to travel inexpensively, you might be hesitant to add the expense of travel insurance to your trip budget. But travel insurance — even low-cost travel insurance — can offer value far beyond its cost.

With coverage for unexpected incidents on your trip, such as delays, interruptions, or medical emergencies, travel insurance can give you a safety net when you’re far from home — without paying all that much. 

Let’s explore how much travel insurance costs, how to get the best deal, and some of the best-priced travel insurance policies.

The 4 Best Cheap Travel Insurance Policies by Type

These travel insurance plans offer a good balance of cost and value. As comprehensive travel insurance, these policies cover unexpected travel costs such as trip cancellation, delays, and travel medical coverage . 

Consider some of your options for budget comprehensive travel insurance:

Young, single travelers have the best shot at cheap travel insurance. You only need to purchase coverage for yourself; your age is an advantage for medical coverage compared to older travelers. 

We quoted a 23-year-old traveler visiting Japan, and the cheapest comprehensive travel policy was the Go Ready Choice policy $29 from Aegis Insurance . Coverage includes trip cancellation and interruption, travel delays, baggage loss or delay, missed connections, COVID-19, and medical emergencies and evacuations. You’re even covered if you’re laid off from work. Read our Go Ready travel insurance review for further details.

If you’re traveling as a family, getting a travel insurance policy that covers all your family members is best. For a family of 4 with parents in their 30s and 2 kids visiting Germany for 2 weeks, the WorldTrips Atlas Journey Preferred policy is $139 . 

This policy covers the entire family and offers travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage , trip cancellation and interruption, medical expenses, and medical evacuation. 

While the WorldTrips Atlas Journey Preferred policy isn’t the absolute cheapest family travel insurance, it is the cheapest comprehensive travel insurance plan for families. Lower-cost policies were missing key coverage, such as COVID-19, trip interruption, and medical evacuation.

Buying an annual travel insurance plan to cover multiple trips within a year can offer savings compared to buying a new policy each time. Nationwide’s Annual Travel Pro Plan covers all your travel for a year. 

For a 35-year-old traveler from Florida, the Nationwide Annual Travel Pro Plan is $59 . That offers loss and delay coverage for your baggage, trip delay, emergency medical coverage and evacuation, and 24-hour emergency assistance. However, it doesn’t cover trip cancellation or interruption.

For more comprehensive coverage, you can opt for trip cancellation and interruption coverage starting at a $1,250 limit, with a total policy cost of $145 for an entire year.

Read our Nationwide Travel Insurance review for more information.

The Aegis Go Ready Choice policy is a good option for cruise travel insurance , offering trip cancellation and interruption coverage, medical emergencies and evacuation, and COVID-19 coverage. A single-trip policy for a 30-year-old from Florida traveling to Mexico is $30.27 .

Age is a major factor in travel insurance policy costs; seniors generally pay more for coverage than younger travelers. Still, it’s possible to get affordable travel insurance for seniors .

A Seven Corners Trip Protection Basic plan is $130 for a 75-year-old traveler from California visiting Mexico. It offers coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, medical emergencies and evacuation, and COVID-19.

If you’re looking for cheap travel insurance, you might consider not getting travel coverage at all. But if you have nonrefundable travel costs at risk, or your regular health insurance doesn’t offer coverage at your destination, it could be a costly mistake to skip out on travel insurance coverage. 

Forfeiting nonrefundable travel expenses if you need to cancel your trip could cost far more than a cheap travel insurance policy. And getting medical care, especially emergency medical treatment or evacuation, can be particularly expensive. Even a budget travel insurance policy can protect you from catastrophe when the unexpected happens on your travels.

A travel insurance policy could be as cheap as $30 for a single trip or $59 for multiple trips throughout the year, which is far less than you could lose from trip cancellation or unexpected medical expenses.

Expect to pay between 5% to 10% of your total trip cost for a comprehensive travel insurance premium. Generally, that’s about $250, though factors such as your age and destination affect how much you’ll pay for your premium. 

For example, a 35-year-old traveler pays an average of $122 for travel insurance, while a 95-year-old pays an average of $415.

The main factors influencing your travel insurance premium include:

• Policy type
• Total trip cost
• Total coverage amounts
• Travel length
• Traveler age

Learn more about travel insurance costs in our guide to the average cost of travel insurance .

Travel insurance usually covers all or most of the mishaps that can affect your travel . It can cover you whether you need to cancel your trip before leaving, if you head home early, or if you get emergency medical care at your destination. You can also get coverage for trip delays, lost or delayed baggage, rental car coverage, and more. 

But all travel insurance isn’t the same, and you can often customize plans to meet your needs . For example, if your bookings are refundable, you might not worry too much about trip cancellation and interruption coverage. However, you may still want medical coverage because your health insurance isn’t accepted at your destination. 

Generally, there are 2 types of travel insurance: comprehensive travel insurance and travel medical plans . Comprehensive travel insurance tends to cost more than travel medical plans because it offers more extensive coverage, though your actual cost depends on your chosen plan.

Comprehensive travel insurance often covers:

• Lost, stolen, or delayed baggage
• Medical emergencies
• Rental car damage
• Trip cancellation, interruption, and delays

Travel medical insurance often covers:

• Emergency medical expenses
• Medical evacuation
• Unexpected illness or injury

Comprehensive travel and medical insurance are available as single-trip or multi-trip policies . A single-trip policy covers just 1 trip, while a multi-trip policy covers all the trips you take within a defined period. It’s common to get a multi-trip policy for a full year, so these policies are often known as annual travel insurance policies .

With a travel insurance policy, you may be able to add optional coverages, including:

• Adventure sports
• Cancel for Any Reason or interruption for any reason
• Pet coverage
• Preexisting conditions

You can’t control all factors, such as your age, that influence the cost of your travel insurance policy, but there are a handful of things you can do to get the best deal on travel insurance:

• Buy Your Policy Soon After Booking: Purchasing your travel insurance policy right after you book your trip won’t necessarily be cheaper than buying it later. Still, you’ll have more policy options the sooner you book, and you’ll get more value out of your trip cancellation coverage because your nonrefundable bookings are protected once you get your policy.
• Compare Multiple Quotes: The more travel insurance plan options you can compare, the better. Get quotes from at least 3 travel insurance companies to compare your costs and coverage, and consider using a travel insurance comparison website such as Squaremouth , where you can enter your information once to get policy options from several travel insurance companies.
• Consider Your Needs: Having a good idea of what coverage you need can help you right-size your travel insurance policy. For example, you may just need basic coverage for domestic trips. In contrast, you might need more extensive emergency medical and evacuation coverage for traveling abroad to a destination with limited medical care.
• Choose a High Deductible: You’ll pay your deductible before your insurance coverage pays out. The higher your deductible, the more you’ll pay if you need to use your coverage, but your policy premium will be lower with a higher deductible.
• Choose Lower Coverage Limits: Be realistic about how much you might need your travel insurance to pay out. Do you really need $500,000 in emergency medical evacuation coverage?
• Consider an Annual Travel Insurance Policy: If you plan to take multiple trips throughout the year, the cost of your premium might be lower if you buy a multi-trip policy rather than a new policy each time you travel.
• Check Your Credit Card Benefits: Credit cards may offer travel insurance protections as a cardholder benefit. These may include trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical care and evacuation, trip delay, lost or delayed baggage, and rental car damage.
• Look for Discounts: Travel insurance companies may offer discounts for students, seniors, or members of certain organizations such as AAA or AARP .

Adding the expense of travel insurance might give you pause if you’re seeking budget travel. But the value that cheap travel insurance can offer extends beyond its cost. Travel insurance, even low-cost travel insurance, can protect you against costly financial burdens and travel disruptions. 

Understanding your coverage needs, adjusting your deductibles and coverage limits, and shopping around for the best quote can go a long way to helping you secure the best deal on travel insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest travel insurance.

The cheapest travel insurance generally only covers medical emergencies. Known as travel medical insurance, this type of travel insurance policy is typically not comprehensive and doesn’t cover common travel insurance benefits such as trip cancellation and interruption. But it is often available at a very low price and can offer value if you’re concerned about emergency medical costs while traveling.

Is the cheapest travel insurance the best travel insurance?

The cheapest travel isn’t necessarily the best — or the worst. Travel insurance with good coverage may be low or moderately priced. It’s a good idea to compare coverage levels for policies within your budget to find the best travel insurance at any price.

Do cheap travel insurance plans include COVID-19 coverage?

Travel insurance policies frequently include COVID-19 coverage, including low-priced travel insurance. Still, you should always verify your coverage to know what’s covered and what’s not.

What are the different types of cheap travel insurance?

Travel insurance generally has 2 types: comprehensive and medical insurance. Within those types, you can choose to get a single-trip or multi-trip policy that covers you for multiple trips, usually over a year. These travel insurance policies may have additional coverage options, such as Cancel for Any Reason, preexisting condition, or adventure sports coverage for an extra cost.

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About Jessica Merritt

A long-time points and miles student, Jessica is the former Personal Finance Managing Editor at U.S. News and World Report and is passionate about helping consumers fund their travels for as little cash as possible.

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I am an Australian resident. Has anyone used Budget Direct Travel Insurance and if so, could you give me any feedback either positive or negative. Same for Covermore. Minefield trying to buy travel insurance for longer than three months and both these companies have a great deal currently Soni need to buy asap.

2 replies to this topic

Julie_L thanks for your comments.

Covermore is owned and backed by Zurich Insurance. They are one of the more expensive but people who have used them have had great success with claims.

I have used SCTI previously but now they don't cover for over 30 days after a certain age. I am travelling six months or longer so they can't help. I ended up taking the Covermore policy as they ended up being cheaper than the normally lesser priced companies. Gets much harder and more expensive to buy for extended travel once you hit a certain age. Have used many in the past but this trip was harder because of my age and time travelling. It's a minefield and I don't really think any are too much better than another, Budget Direct just had a good deal going so I was wondering about them but sorted now 👍

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Please Note - If you are cruising around Australia you need to select Pacific. With Regions, variances can apply for Bali, Indonesia, Japan and Middle East. You are not required to enter stop-over countries if your stop-over is less than 48 hours.

If you don’t know where you’re traveling to within the next 12 months, choose Worldwide to ensure you’re covered no matter where you go. If you’re travelling to multiple countries choose the region that you are visiting that is furthest away (excluding stopovers less than 48 hours). In most cases you will be covered for the closer regions as well. For example, if you choose Europe, you will also be covered in the Middle East, Asia and Pacific.

Worldwide means anywhere in the world

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Asia generally means Asia and the Indian subcontinent. For some insurers this excludes Japan*

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*Note: Variances apply for Bali, Indonesia, Japan and Middle East. Check that your destination is covered once directed to your chosen insurer’s site.

How To Find The Best Seniors Insurance

There's no doubt that buying seniors  travel insurance online from a direct insurer  is the best value for money. It can be around 50% cheaper than buying through a travel agent.   Many companies have streamlined processes that make comparing quotes, confirming medical approval and purchasing your cover quick and easy.

Our  seniors travel insurance comparison  compares loads of reputable insurers with plenty of policies for the over 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond. Fill in the fields in the quote box and voila - an instant comparison of levels of cover and price.

Finding The Best Company For You

No matter what type of traveller you are, the simplest way to find the right policy is to do some research through a comparison website. This allows you to compare levels of cover along with prices.

As a senior, you should compare the level of cover provided for medical and hospital expenses. While anyone can have an accident or fall ill at any age, the stone-cold reality is that health problems can increase as we get older. With hospital beds in the USA costing thousands of dollars per day, $800 plus a day being the norm throughout SE Asia, this is one level of cover you shouldn't go without.

There are many companies that offer unlimited cover for emergency medical, hospital and evacuation.

Purchasing The Best Seniors Travel Insurance Policy

If like a number of seniors, you prefer to travel with groups or to pre-book mid to top range accommodation, ensure that your insurance policy provides a high level of cover for lost deposits and cancellation fees in case circumstances arise that makes travel impossible.

Check whether the insurer offers suitable compensation for alternative transport and travel delay, also cover for additional expenses in the instance that you or your companion are laid over.

Consider whether the policy includes extras such as assistance when you return home if you've incurred an injury or illness that leaves you in need of home-care?

Also check the claim caps or per item limits. This may not concern you if you're travelling with mid-range equipment, however, if you have a 'top of the range' camera, video equipment or laptop with you, it may be worth comparing the itemised cap on personal effects.

Clearly Assess Your Travel Insurance Needs

You may have travelled before, or this may be the trip you have dreamt of most of your life. Either way, you want to enjoy yourself completely with total peace of mind.

Choosing reliable,  comprehensive seniors travel insurance  is now hassle free and cost effective. Remember to always read the PDS to understand what is and isn't covered by your policy. Start comparing seniors travel insurance policies now!

Say no to the rental car rip-offs! Kindly refuse the extra charges to 'reduce your rental car excess' at the hire car counter. You 'auto' agree there are better options out there!  

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Natalie Smith

Having travelled to over 40 countries, studied tourism management and worked as a flight attendant for over three years, Natalie knows more than a thing or two about travel! She’s an adventure-lover, whose favourite trips have been trekking Machu Picchu and volunteering in an animal shelter in the Amazon. Qualified in Tier 2 General Insurance General Advice and specialising in travel insurance for the last five years, she in passionate about helping travellers get the most out of their holiday.

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Comparetravelinsurance.com.au is Australia’s leading comparison site solely focused on travel insurance.

Our comparison is a free service that allows users to compare quotes in a few simple steps based on limited personal criteria. Comparisons supplied are not a recommendation or opinion about the suitability of a policy for a user. Comparisons are default ranked according to price and users have the ability to sort by popular cover levels. Whilst we compare a vast range of policies, we do not compare all providers in the market. This site compares the following brands: 1Cover, AllClear, Budget Direct, Downunder, Fast Cover Travel Insurance, Insure4Less, InsureandGo, iTrek, Simply Travel Insurance, Ski-Insurance, Travel Insurance Saver, Travel Insuranz, Wise Traveller, Zoom Travel Insurance . The directors and shareholders are common with companies i-Trek Pty Ltd, Zoom Travel Insurance and 1Cover Pty Ltd including it’s subsidiary brand Ski-insurance. CoverDirect takes all reasonable care when preparing this information but does not warrant its accuracy. Pricing information is supplied by the providers who participate on this site and should be verified with the insurer before you purchase. This site links users to the website of the provider to verify quotes and access the relevant PDS to understand what is, and is not, covered by a policy prior to purchase.

CoverDirect Pty Ltd owns and operates this website under AFS Licence 383590.  Located at Level 12, 338 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia.

For further information view our FSG and Terms of Use . Contact us by calling 1300 659 411.

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• Budget Direct Travel Insurance: Is It Right For You?

• Basic plan is cheapest within its repsective tier
• Comprehensive plan provides good value for price
• Basic plan lacks trip delay and cancellation coverage
• May not appeal to travellers who want a lot of coverage

Budget Direct places an emphasis on offering among the cheapest prices on the market for its insurance products, and its two travel insurance plans are no exception. If you're seeking to spend as little as possible on travel insurance, Budget Direct could have a solution for you. To help you get a better feel for what Budget Direct's travel insurance plans are all about, we've broken down the major things you need to know.

Table of Contents

Budget Direct Basic Plan

Budget direct comprehensive plan, sports coverage, claims information.

• Budget Direct Coverage & Benefits

Budget Direct Travel Insurance: What You Need to Know

Budget Direct's two travel insurance policies, the Basic and Comprehensive plans, stand out as consistently tending to be the cheapest in their class. The Basic Plan provides baseline coverage for rock-bottom prices, while the Comprehensive Plan offers good value, boasting a fairly typical level of coverage for the industry while maintaining Budget Direct's financial products' reputation for affordability. Below, we discuss Budget Direct's two travel insurance policies, the Basic and Comprehensive plans, in detail to help you plan your next business trip or holiday.

Notable Exclusions

Budget Direct has a fairly large number of exclusions that include pre-existing conditions, expenses for non-refundable expenses unrelated to transportation or accommodation, business goods or samples and wear or tear due to climate or pest conditions. Additionally, the home contents cover only covers damage or loss due to fire. Below is a table showing some of the exclusions, but it is highly recommended to always read the policy wording to see the full list of what you will or won't be covered for.

The Budget Direct Basic Plan is notable for its tendency to be one of the cheapest, if not the cheapest, travel insurance plans you can buy in all of Singapore regardless of where you're headed or how long you're planning to be there. Its affordability makes it a good option to look at if you want to ensure at least some protection on your trip for what tends to be the cheapest price possible.

However, the Budget Direct Basic Plan achieves its low prices by providing only a minimal level of coverage. It is the only travel insurance plan on the Singapore market out of the dozens we studied that cuts out any coverage in an area that affects all travellers: trip delays and cancellations. This plan also provides significantly less coverage for personal accident/death, medical expenses, emergencies, and baggage loss, damage or delay than even the next-cheapest options such as Etiqa, DirectAsia, FWD and HL Assurance. Adventurous spirits should also keep in mind that neither of Budget Direct's travel insurance plans include coverage for any losses, damages or injuries resulting from bungee jumping or skydiving.

Furthermore, you should keep in mind that while Budget Direct Basic may in some cases be the cheapest travel insurance plan available, depending on the destination and duration of your trip, you may be able to purchase significantly higher coverage for just a few more dollars. For example, for 1-week trips to ASEAN countries, you'd only need to pay S$0.30 more to buy the cheap Etiqa Basic Plan , which provides greater coverage in every area except baggage delay. And for roughly S$2 more, you would be able to buy the Allianz Global Assistance Bronze Plan , a high-value pick that includes generous coverage in the area of travel inconvenience - including trip cancellations and delays. In these kinds of scenarios, we would encourage you to consider carefully the bang you are getting for your buck.

The Budget Direct Comprehensive Plan outshines the Basic Plan in that it preserves the Budget Direct emphasis on cheap prices while providing considerably more value for your money. Not only is it consistently the cheapest second-tier travel insurance plan on the market, but it also offers a level of coverage that generally tends to meet the industry average within this tier.

Unlike the Budget Direct Basic Plan, the Comprehensive Plan does provide coverage for trip cancellations and delays. One way to think of this plan is that, compared to its immediate competitors such as the Etiqa Economy Plan and the HL Assurance Enhanced Plan, it provides roughly the same amount of coverage for fewer bucks. As a result, we consider the Comprehensive Plan from Budget Direct to be one of the highest-value picks among the cheapest mid- or business-tier travel insurance plans.

If you're interested in a mid- or business-tier travel insurance plan for the extra cushion of protection and quality-of-life benefits it might provide over an entry-level plan, however, the Budget Direct Comprehensive Plan may not be the best choice for you. So if you're the type of person who flies business class, likes some extra legroom, and wants a travel insurance plan to match, we might recommend that you also consider the Allianz Global Assistance Silver Plan or the Aviva Travel Plus Plan .

Budget Direct automatically covers you for medical and accident expenses relating to most common sports and activities including skiing, snowboarding, scuba diving (less than 30 metres in depth and with an instructor) and trekking (below 4,000 metres). You will not be covered for extreme sports such as skydiving, hang-gliding, ice climbing, free flying, BASE jumping, parachuting, hunting and caving. There is no specific mention of golf coverage.

You must submit your claim form within 30 days of any event and have the supporting documentation based on the type of claim you are submitting, including passport, air ticket, boarding pass and travel itinerary. You can either email the form or mail it.

Details of Budget Direct Travel Insurance

Getting a great deal on travel insurance means you'll have more money left over to enjoy your vacation. Below, you'll find a summary of how budget direct compares to the industry average for premiums and coverage. If you'd like to know how it compares to other plans in more detail, we've prepared a guide to the best travel insurance in Singapore.

• Best Travel Insurance in Singapore
• Average Costs and Benefits of Travel Insurance
• How to Pick the Best Travel Insurance

Anastassia is a Senior Research Analyst at ValueChampion Singapore, evaluating insurance products for consumers based on quantitative and qualitative financial analysis. She holds degrees in Economics and International Business Management and her prior working experience includes work in the capital markets sector. Her analyses surrounding insurance, healthcare, international affairs and personal finance has been featured on AsiaOne, Business Insider, DW, Vice, Her World, Asia Insurance Review, the Australian Institute of International Affairs and more.

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General Insurance Code of Practice

We proudly comply with the General Insurance Code of Practice , so you can be sure you’ll receive the highest standard of service with the Australian Seniors team.

Benefits of choosing Seniors Travel Insurance

Pre-existing medical condition cover.

Even with certain pre-existing medical conditions, you may still be eligible for cover for selected benefits under a Comprehensive, Multi-Trip or Domestic travel insurance plan. Just use the Seniors Travel Insurance online medical assessment and get an instant answer.

Proud Allianz Global Assistance partner

To make sure you have all the support and care you need while travelling, Australian Seniors has partnered with emergency medical assistance provider, Allianz Global Assistance. Allianz Global Assistance is part of the Allianz group, which is owned by Allianz SE.

Simple claims process

Our online portal makes claiming simple and gives you the flexibility to make a claim at your convenience. You can also choose to lodge a claim while you’re still travelling or wait until after you’ve returned home.

24/7 emergency assistance

Our friendly Australia-based team is just a phone call away, offering 24/7 support.

Get a quote online today

It’s easy to compare plans and customise your cover to suit you and your trip.

Epidemics and pandemics

When COVID-19 became a global pandemic in 2020, travel was changed forever. According to the Seniors Travel Research Insights 2022 report , many seniors are still wary of COVID related safety threats, with less than 1 in 5 (18%) taking their last ‘big’ holiday within the last year. Around 2 in 3 seniors have not had a ‘big’ holiday for 3 years or more. In the report, 9 in 10 seniors stated that they would never consider travelling internationally without insurance while 58% are now more likely to get travel insurance (or more cover) now than before 2020.

While Seniors Travel Insurance has a general exclusion against epidemics and pandemics, you may still be covered for certain events. For example, if your travel is impacted by COVID-19 border closures or mandatory quarantine periods, and you're forced to shorten or cancel your trip, you may be eligible to cancel your insurance policy and get either a full or partial refund for your premium. Additionally, if you’re positively diagnosed with COVID-19 when covered by a Seniors Travel Insurance policy, and haven’t travelled against the advice or warning of an Australian Government or which was published in a reliable mass media source, Seniors Travel Insurance may cover overseas emergency assistance, overseas medical and hospital expenses, trip cancellations, additional costs such as reasonable accommodation and travel expenses, plus other selected benefits. 1

Be aware that many countries require proof of vaccination and COVID-19 testing, before they will grant entry, and some may have extra requirements. Stay up to date with all the latest international travel information from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Smartraveller website, World Health Organisation (WHO), and Department of Home Affairs.

Different levels of travel insurance plans to suit your travel needs

Depending how old you are, the length of your trip, and where you’re going, you may be offered one, two or three different plans, as set out below.

Designed to cover personal liability, luggage, unexpected trip cancellations and more for a single trip within Australia. 1 If you pay extra premiums, you can also apply to add optional Snow, Cruise and Adventure packs, increase personal item and/or valuables limits, and apply for pre-existing medical condition cover on selected benefits.

Cost-effective and designed to cover for overseas medical and hospital expenses, up to $2.5m personal liability cover, luggage, and unexpected trip cancellation for a single overseas trip. 1

Comprehensive

Designed to offer cover for a single overseas trip, this plan is designed to cover expenses which include medical, hospital and dental, personal liability, luggage and unexpected trip cancellations. It also has higher benefit limits for some benefits as well as additional benefits, and you may be able to add Snow, Cruise and Adventure packs for an additional premium, as well as increase limits for personal items or valuables and apply for pre-existing medical condition cover. 1

Covering the insured persons named on the Certificate of Insurance for multiple trips for domestic and/or international within a 12-month period, this plan has all the benefits of the Comprehensive Plan for overseas trips, and benefits of the Domestic Plan for domestic trips. 1 For an extra premium, you can apply to add Snow, Cruise and Adventure packs, as well as increase individual limits for personal items and/or valuables. You can also apply to cover a pre-existing medical condition.

Things you should know

• Terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply to each level of cover and optional packs. For full details and to decide which cover and/or optional pack  is right for you, refer to our Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) . The Target Market Determination is available here .
• A general exclusion applies to all cover if a claim arises due to not following an advice or travel alert by the Australian government or published in a reliable mass media source prior to commencement of your travel. 
• Age eligibility applies for some cover levels and additional optional packs.
• Policies have a base excess applicable to all claims apart from some benefits as listed in the PDS. You have the option to vary the base excess, however this may alter your premium.
• Some medical conditions may not be covered or be able to be accepted as a pre-existing condition. Our online medical assessment provides an instant outcome. If accepted, an additional premium and a medical excess may be applicable.
• Cover for personal liability isn’t included in the additional Adventure Pack or the Snow Pack options.

Optional cover

According to the Seniors Travel Research Insights 2022 report , 40% of seniors plan holidays with cultural, culinary and nature loving experiences. And while most seniors (65%) are motivated by the desire to relax and learn about the world, a growing percentage (11%) is driven by the desire to have new experiences, seeking all kinds of adventure on their overseas and domestic travel.

If you’re the adventurous type, you may be eligible to add one or more of the following options to your Comprehensive, Multi-Trip or Domestic plan 1 for an additional premium. 

If you’re planning a trip to the snow, a Snow Pack is designed to cover snow sport activities including skiing, snowboarding, sledding, tobogganing or tubing. It is also designed to cover overseas snow sport emergency assistance, loss or damage to equipment, and more. 1

Cruise Pack

Are you heading out to sea? A Cruise Pack is designed to cover onboard medical costs you might incur while on your cruise, ship to shore evacuation, cancellation of pre-paid shore excursions, cabin confinement and more. 1

Adventure Pack

If you love feeling the rush of adrenaline on your getaways, adding an Adventure Pack to your plan is designed to cover adventure activities such as motorcycles, mopeds and scooters, quad biking, zip lining, river tubing, animal handling (under appropriate supervision) and more. 1

Increased Item Limits Cover

Do you like taking personal items or valuables with you while on holiday? If so, you may be able to add Increased Item Limits Cover to your plan for an additional premium, so your high-value item may be covered should it be stolen, lost or damaged. 1

Cover types

Once you’ve chosen the plan that’s best suited to the specific requirements of your upcoming trip, Seniors Travel Insurance will assign one of the following types of cover to your plan so you’ll know what benefit limits will apply to you.

Cover for you and any dependants cited in the Certificate of Insurance. Named dependants must be under 25 years old, can’t be employed full-time, and must be with you for your entire journey. 1

Cover for you and another person travelling together who’ll be named on the Certificate of Insurance. They can’t be a dependant and must be with you for at least 75% of your journey. 1

Cover for you, your spouse/partner, and any dependants that are named on the Certificate of Insurance. The dependants must be under 25 years old, can’t be employed full-time, and must be with you for 100% of your journey. 1

Award-winning insurance 10 years in a row

Australian Seniors has been recognised for providing real value for the local over 50s market, winning awards for our products and service for 10 consecutive years.

Australian Seniors has won the Canstar 2023 Most Satisfied Customers Award for Home Insurance.

We’re the proud winners of the Reader’s Digest Quality Service Award in the Funeral Insurance category for 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. We have also been the recipients of the Highly Commended Trusted Brand Award in the Funeral Insurance category for 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022. In 2023, we were the winning recipient of the Trusted Brand Award in the Funeral Insurance category. We were granted the Feefo Gold Trusted Service Award in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award in 2023 and 2024.

Australian Seniors is also the ProductReview.com.au 2021, 2022 and 2023 Annual Awards Winner in the overall Insurance category, as well as the 2024 Awards Winner in the Funeral, Car and Home & Contents Insurance categories and 2020 Awards Winner in the Funeral, Car, Home & Contents, Travel and Pet Insurance categories.

Read more about Our Awards

Travel the safer way with Seniors Travel Insurance

WIN a share of $30,000 in gift cards when you buy a Seniors Travel Insurance policy by 14 July.¹

Our bi-monthly magazine gives you a wealth of new ideas to take on the world you live in, and have the time of your life along the way.    

Handy travel tips for over 50s

Read our essential travel tips to help you get the most out of your next getaway. From health, safety, leisure, and finance – here’s how to stay on top of the things that matter while you’re away. 

Life's Booming Podcast

Hosted by the ABC’s James Valentine, the ‘Life’s Booming’ podcast is available now!

Travelling soon?

Travel the safer way..

For cover during your trip, get a Seniors Travel Insurance quote today.

Tools & Resources

• Discovery Hub
• Make a claim
• Policy Documents
• Frequently Asked Questions

Travel Insurance FAQs Frequently Asked Questions

If i contract an epidemic or pandemic, such as covid-19, while travelling, am i covered.

This product has a general exclusion, with limited exceptions, against epidemics and pandemics. That means we don’t cover claims that arise from, or are related to, an epidemic or pandemic. However, you are covered under selected benefits in this product if, during your period of cover, you are positively diagnosed as suffering a sickness recognised as an epidemic or pandemic, such as COVID-19. Refer to the Product Disclosure Statement to see which benefits offer cover in the event that you contract a sickness recognised as an epidemic or pandemic, and the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions that apply.

If you have any questions call us on  1300 051 095  (Weekdays 8am-7pm AEST Saturday 8am-5pm AEST).

Can I get a refund on my travel insurance policy premium if my travel plans have been cancelled or shortened by an epidemic or pandemic, such as COVID-19?

If a COVID-19 border closure or mandatory quarantine period prevents you from travelling, or requires you to shorten your journey while travelling, you may be entitled to cancel your policy and receive a partial or full premium refund; refer to the Product Disclosure Statement for conditions.

If you have any questions or would like to apply for a refund call us on  1300 051 095  (Weekdays 8am-7pm AEST Saturday 8am-5pm AEST).

How far in advance can I purchase travel insurance?

It’s up to you when you purchase travel insurance, however, keep in mind these three things:

• You can purchase travel insurance up to 12 months in advance.
• You must purchase travel insurance before you start your journey. Your journey starts when any traveller named on the Certificate of Insurance leaves home or work in Australia to commence travel.
• Depending on the plan you choose you may have trip cancellation cover, which covers unexpected trip cancellation, rescheduling or shortening from the date your Certificate of Insurance is issued. So, consider purchasing travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked and paid for some or all of your trip as you may be covered for such events before you depart.

I'm going on multiple trips this year, do I have to purchase a travel insurance policy for each trip?

Our Multi-Trip Plan offers a high-level of cover for multiple trips to your chosen destinations within a 12-month period. Each individual trip will be limited to 15, 30 or 45 days and is chosen during your quote. This is a summary only. Terms, conditions, limits and exclusions apply; refer to the Product Disclosure Statement .

What is a general exclusion?

A general exclusion, sometimes referred to as a policy exclusion, is an exclusion that applies to all policy benefits, regardless of when the travel insurance policy was purchased. Should a general exclusion apply, your travel insurance policy will not provide cover for the specified event, activities or circumstances. Refer to the General Exclusions in the Product Disclosure Statement .

What do I do if I need emergency assistance on my trip?

Call emergency services immediately if your condition is life threatening. Call us on  +61 7 3305 7499  (overseas) or  1800 010 075  (within Australia).

If the unexpected happens while on your trip call us as soon as you can, our Australian-based case managers are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with registered nurses and doctors available when you need them. They’ll step you through the process and take care of things. If you can’t call us straight away, make sure you keep any documentation that may help with your claim, this could include, receipts, invoices, medical records or police reports, and contact us as soon as you’re able to.

Travel Insurance Discovery Hub

• Destinations

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Read more articles on Travel Insurance

• Permit numbers: NSW: TP/03357, ACT: TP 24/00506.1 and SA T24/391. New customers who buy a Seniors Car, Home, Contents, Landlords, or Travel Insurance policy by 14 July 2024 will go into the draw for a chance to win 1 of 3 x $10,000 e-Gift Cards (total prize value $30,000). Terms and conditions apply.
• Terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply.  For full details and to decide which cover is right for you, you must read our Product Disclosure Statement .

Travel the safer way

For cover during your trip, get travel insurance today.