What is seniors travel insurance?
Specific seniors-only travel insurance policies aren't available in Australia, so if you're an older traveller, look for insurance that takes your needs and circumstances into account.
Depending on your age and health, insurers may apply different eligibility criteria, and they’ll generally require you to declare any pre-existing medical conditions. You might also be asked to complete a medical assessment before being offered cover, and some policies have age limits for certain benefits.
That doesn't mean finding the right cover is difficult, but it does mean it's worth comparing policies carefully to know you’re getting a policy that protects you. Looking at what's covered, age restrictions and whether pre-existing medical conditions can be included may help you choose a policy that suits your travel plans.
What are the different types of travel insurance for seniors?
The travel insurance that's right for you will depend on you and your plans. Factors such as your destination, the length of your trip, and whether you expect to travel once or several times a year can all influence the type of cover you need.
Whether you're taking a once-in-a-lifetime holiday, heading off on a cruise, or planning multiple trips throughout the year, there are several types of travel insurance policies to choose from.
- Basic cover: Typically covers you for things such as medical emergencies and accidents, loss of luggage, and cancellations.
- Comprehensive cover: Generally offers higher benefit limits and a wider range of inclusions, like rental vehicle excess cover, and cover for additional travel-related events, depending on the policy you choose.
Depending on the provider, any of the policy types below could offer basic or comprehensive cover:
- Single trip policy: covers one trip, based on the duration of your trip and the country or countries you’re visiting.
- Annual/multi-trip policy: covers you for multiple trips within a 12-month period, regardless of the destinations, although exclusions can apply for specific locations. If you’re a regular traveller, this type of policy could offer better value than purchasing separate cover for each trip.
- Domestic policy: Applies when you are travelling within Australia. Check for any limits or restrictions, especially if you’re considering a trip close to home. Domestic travel insurance usually doesn’t cover medical expenses; you should be covered by Medicare or your private health insurance.
- Cruise policy, or cruise cover: Designed to protect you against the cost of things like medical treatment and evacuation at sea, trip cancellation due to illness, injury or emergency at home, or lost luggage. Some insurers include cruise cover as an optional extra, while others offer it as a standalone policy or include it automatically.
According to Smartraveller, some cruise ships won’t let you board without cruise-specific insurance, so check with your holiday provider before booking. It’s also worth noting that Medicare and your private health insurance may not cover you for medical events that come about while you’re on a cruise, even if you don’t leave Australian waters.
What does travel insurance for seniors cover?
Depending on your policy, travel insurance for seniors can cover the following situations:
- Lost or stolen luggage: If your luggage or personal items are stolen, lost or damaged, travel insurance may be able to help with replacement or repair costs.
- Medical costs: Travel insurance may cover some or all of the cost of medical treatment, hospital stays and emergency transport home.
- Natural disasters: Insurance can cover the costs if your trip is cancelled due to a natural disaster, or if you need to be evacuated from your holiday destination.
- Personal liability: Some travel insurance policies can provide cover for accidents where you are at fault.
What does seniors travel insurance not cover?
Most travel insurance has the same cover exclusions regardless of the policyholder’s age. These include:
- Failing to take due care: Your claim might be rejected if your insurer decides you didn't take reasonable care. For example, if you have your bag stolen after you left it unattended in a busy area.
- Acting unlawfully: If your claim is a result of you breaking the law, it’s likely to be rejected by your insurer.
- Riding a motorcycle or moped: If you plan to ride a moped or motorcycle while travelling, you’ll likely need extra insurance cover and to meet strict policy conditions. This may include being licensed to ride the vehicle in Australia.
- Being under the influence of drink or drugs: If your claim is a result of your intoxication, it’s likely to be rejected by your insurer.
- Pre-existing health conditions: Pre-existing health conditions are usually not covered by regular seniors travel insurance.
How much does travel insurance for seniors cost?
How much you pay for travel insurance as a senior will largely depend on you and your travel plans, and premiums are likely to vary from one provider to another.
As older Australians can also expect to pay more for cover, it can be a good idea to compare and shop around for basic or comprehensive cover before deciding on the level and type of cover that suits your needs.
Some of the factors that typically shape premiums include:
The level of cover
Comprehensive policies with more inclusions usually cost more than basic policies. While it may be tempting to opt for a cheaper level of cover, it may not be enough for your travel needs. It’s wise to consider your needs and the risks associated with your destination before booking.
Where you’re travelling
Some destinations are considered more dangerous than others by insurers. Most standard policies won’t cover you for destinations with a government ‘do not travel’ warning.
Additional cover chosen
If you want to take part in any particular activities, especially those that involve a higher risk of injury, such as skiing or water sports, these may require you to purchase a policy add-on at an additional cost.
Duration of your trip
Typically, the longer the trip, the more expensive the policy.
Your choice of provider
You might want to compare a range of insurance providers, as premiums for similar cover can vary. Canstar can help you to compare travel insurance.
Pre-existing medical conditions
Your insurer may charge a higher premium in return for covering pre-existing medical conditions.
What should seniors look for when comparing travel insurance?
Not all travel insurance policies offer the same level of cover, no matter your age or your cover requirements, so comparing more than just the premium is important. Depending on your personal circumstances, consider whether a policy includes:
- Overseas medical expenses: Receiving medical treatment overseas can be expensive, making cover for these costs one of the most important features for many travellers.
- Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation: This can help cover the cost of getting you somewhere you can receive appropriate medical care or returning you home if necessary.
- Cover for pre-existing medical conditions: If you have an existing medical condition, it’s important to check whether costs related to it are automatically covered, can be covered after assessment, or are excluded from your policy of choice.
- Trip cancellation and disruption cover: This can help if your holiday is cancelled or interrupted due to certain unforeseen events outlined in the policy’s terms and conditions and PDS.
- Cruise cover: If you're planning a cruise, check whether cruise-specific cover is included or available as an optional extra.
- 24-hour emergency assistance: Many insurers offer emergency helplines that can provide support for customers while you're overseas.
- Age limits and benefit restrictions: Some insurers have maximum ages or reduce certain benefits for older travellers, so always read the PDS carefully.
Is there an age limit for travel insurance?
Travel insurance providers may offer insurance to elderly passengers up to the age of 99, an Insurance Council of Australia spokesperson told Canstar. In reality, most providers have lower age restrictions.
For example, World2Cover limits its policies to those under 75 years of age. Insure & Go’s Cruise and basic Bare Essential policies cover travellers up to the age of 79, while Fast Cover offers travel insurance to those up to 89 years of age.
And while Southern Cross limits its cover for journey changes or cancellations to those under 85, its personal accident benefit cover is limited to travellers between the ages of 16 and 80.
Search Canstar for travel insurance policies for ages 70+ to see what may be available to suit your needs, and make sure to carefully check any travel policy documents to see what conditions may apply to any cover.
Travel insurance for seniors with a pre-existing medical condition
When you’re looking to book any travel insurance as a senior, it’s important to declare up-front any pre-existing medical conditions.
A pre-existing condition is generally regarded as a condition you have sought medical advice for in the past, or any health problem that should have caused a sensible person to seek medical advice. Some commonly disclosed conditions include:
- Heart conditions
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Asthma
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Certain cancers
- Mental health conditions
Definitions of pre-existing medical conditions vary between insurers and policies, so talk to any potential insurance provider directly about what it considers as ‘pre-existing’.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, it doesn't necessarily mean you can't get travel insurance. However, it can affect the type of cover available, how much you pay, and what you're covered for if something goes wrong while you're away.
When comparing travel insurance with a pre-existing condition, consider:
- Whether your medical condition can be covered
- Whether a medical assessment is required
- Any additional premiums you’ll need to pay
- Whether there are any medical expense limits
- Whether a policy includes medical evacuation cover
- Understanding any policy exclusions and waiting periods
- What you'll need to pay if you make a claim.
If you’re not honest about revealing any pre-existing medical conditions when you take out a policy, you may find you’re not covered in the event of a claim.
Some insurance providers may require you to complete medical screening as part of the assessment process, especially if you’ve declared a pre-existing medical condition. This could be an online or phone questionnaire, or you may need a doctor’s report or a medical examination.
You may find that cover for your pre-existing medical condition is denied following an assessment during the quote process. This means you won’t be covered for incidents relating to that medical condition.
Insider tip: Check your medication can travel with you too.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, it’s important to research whether any medication you need can be legally taken into countries you’re planning to visit. Some medications regarded as perfectly acceptable in Australia may be listed as illegal or a controlled substance in other parts of the world.
It’s also important that you take your prescription with you, in case you need to prove the medicine is for your personal use, your travel is delayed, or your baggage is lost or stolen.
How to find the best travel insurance for seniors
You should consider your travel insurance options as a senior as soon as you begin making travel plans. Use Canstar to help compare travel insurance options for seniors aged 70 or over for a range of overseas destinations and types of coverage.
If you’re unsure what cover is included in a policy, refer to the PDS or speak to the insurer directly. You can also check out Canstar’s latest Travel Insurance Star Ratings and Awards to see which providers are assessed as offering some of the most outstanding value in travel insurance.
Our most recent award winners for seniors coverage are:
- 2025 Travel Insurance Award – Seniors: 1Cover, Fast Cover, PassportCard, and Zoom Travel Insurance
