Can over 70s get travel insurance?

Yes, you can get travel insurance if you’re over 70. However, some providers have age limits for their cover.

At Asda Travel Insurance, our policies have no upper age limit. So whether you're buying a single trip policy or an annual multi-trip policy, we'll be able to cover you no matter your age.

We will take any pre-existing medical conditions into consideration when you take out your policy as well. That means if you do have any conditions, we’ll need you to declare them and complete a quick medical screening. There may be an extra fee to cover your condition.

Don't forget to keep us up to date if you have any changes to your health while being covered by your policy to make sure you remain fully covered (an additional charge may be needed to cover the new condition).

What types of cover can over 70s get?

When you’re over 70, you can get:

• Worldwide Travel Insurance: covers you for trips beyond Europe.
• Europe Travel Insurance: covers you to travel within the EU.
• UK Travel Insurance: even if you’re travelling close to home, insurance is worth considering.
• Single Trip Insurance: covers you for a single trip lasting up to 30 days.
• Multi Trip Insurance: multi-trip can be more cost-effective if you’re planning on taking several trips throughout the year.

What is the average cost of travel insurance for over 70s?

The average cost of a policy for a week-long trip within Europe for over 70s is £23.75.  Price stated is for over 70-year-old with no pre-existing medical conditions on an Asda Premium cover, 1-week single trip policy to Italy and France. Price is correct as at 15/04/2024.

Those over the age of 70 will typically pay more for their travel insurance than someone younger. However, the amount you pay will vary depending on a range of factors, not just your age. Things like any pre-existing medical conditions, destination, length of the trip, level of cover you take out, and any optional extras you may require when travelling can all bump up the price of travel insurance.

What affects the cost of over 70s travel insurance?

Age is just one factor that can affect the cost of travel insurance. The following things also affect it too:

Pre-existing medical conditions

You must be upfront about any existing medical conditions you have when you take out your policy. This could mean your premiums will be more expensive, but you will be covered for medical expenses related to these conditions when you’re abroad. If you don’t disclose a condition and you try to claim for medical expenses when on holiday, you likely won’t be able to.

Destination

Where you’re travelling can affect the cost of your policy. If you’re travelling outside Europe, you’ll need worldwide cover which can be more costly. This is especially the case if you’re heading to destinations like the United States^[1] and the Caribbean^[2] where medical costs can be high.

The length of your stay

The longer you’re away, the more likely it is you’ll injure yourself or need medical treatment. Longer and more frequent trips will push up the cost of your insurance.

What you plan to do

Dangerous activities with a higher risk of injury will cost more to cover. This includes things like water sports and skiing. Make sure you’re clear about any activities you plan to do, so you know you have the right level of cover.

How to keep insurance costs down

Travel insurance for over 70s can seem expensive, but it’s important to know that there are some things you can do to try and keep the cost of your insurance down.

• Choose an annual policy over a single trip policy– annual policies tend to work out cheaper overall and will cover you for multiple trips throughout the year. Annual travel insurance could be a good option if you like to travel a lot throughout the year.
• Consider whether you need unexpected cover or not – travel insurance policies sometimes include cover for unexpected events such as natural disasters or conflicts. However, if you’re confident that you’re travelling to a country where this may not be an issue, this cover may not be necessary.
• Increase your excess – this can make your policy cheaper, however, do keep in mind that if you have to make a claim on your policy, you will have to pay the excess.

What’s included in over 70s insurance?

While not a specialist policy type, a typical insurance policy for someone over 70 should include:

• Cancelled flights and missed connections: if you miss a flight and it wasn’t your fault, you’ll likely be able to claim for the cost of buying a new ticket.
• Medical care: you’ll be covered for the cost of healthcare or medical bills if you fall ill or get injured on holiday.
• Repatriation: cover for the cost of flying home in a medical emergency.
• Luggage damage and stolen possessions: cover for the cost of replacing luggage if it gets lost or damaged in transit. You can also claim for stolen possessions when it wasn’t your fault.
• COVID-19: if you can’t travel due to illness, you should be covered for the cost of rearranging your trip.
• Missing passport or travel documents: you can claim on your insurance for replacements if you lose these important documents. Some insurers may even cover the cost of accommodation while you wait for the replacements.
• Personal liability: you can claim for the cost of legal fees if you damage property or injure someone in an accident that wasn’t your fault.

What’s not included in over 70s insurance?

You won’t be covered for:

• Undeclared medical conditions: if you fail to declare a medical condition when you take out the policy and then claim for it when you’re abroad, this can invalidate your insurance.
• Some sports and activities: skiing and water sports likely won’t be included, but you should also check whether other sports like golf are covered.
• Leaving belongings unattended: if you leave your belongings and they’re stolen, it could be viewed as your fault which means you won’t be able to claim on your insurance.
• Reckless behaviour: if you cause an accident due to reckless driving or get in trouble when drunk, this won’t be covered by your policy.
• Changing your trip: simply deciding to change or cancel your holiday plans isn’t going to be covered by your insurance.

How long can I travel for if I’m over 70?

As long as you like! Our single-trip policies can cover a holiday of up to 365 days. Just let us know your travel dates and we'll give you a quote. With an annual multi-trip policy you can travel as many times as you like during the year, as long as no individual trip is over 35 days on a Value policy, 45 days on a Premium policy or 55 days if you've chosen a Superior policy.

At what age does travel insurance go up?

Some insurers might turn you down if you’re over 65, even if you’re in good health. At Asda Money, our policies have no upper age limit. You might find that your premiums start to increase around 65, but we'll be able to offer you a policy no matter your age.

Does over 70s travel insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?

You can get travel insurance when you’re over 70 with pre-existing medical conditions. You just need to be clear and disclose any conditions when you apply. If you leave something out, it could invalidate your policy if you try to make a claim. Even if it adds to your premiums, it’s important that you’re properly covered when you go on holiday.

A pre-existing medical condition is any illness, injury or disability that affects your health or wellbeing that you had before or at the time you take out the insurance. It includes physical conditions like cancer, diabetes, asthma or angina, as well as mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

What medical conditions do you have to declare for travel insurance?

When taking out a travel insurance policy, you will need to declare any medical conditions you have. If there’s anything that you’re currently being treated for or are taking medication for, then you’ll need to let your provider know. You'll also need to inform them if you have any changes to your health after taking out the policy while still being covered.

A medical condition can be any kind of illness, disability, or injury that you’re living with at the time you take out your travel insurance policy, such as diabetes or asthma. It can also be chronic conditions you may have recovered from but could still potentially cause complications, such as cancer. This means that conditions like high blood pressure count as pre-existing conditions. Mental health conditions like anxiety or depression are also viewed as pre-existing medical conditions. If you’re not sure whether a condition you have is included, speak to your insurer to ensure you have the cover you need.

Any pre-existing medical conditions you don’t declare won’t be covered by your insurance, meaning you’d have to cover any medical costs while abroad.

Cruise travel insurance

At Asda Money, we offer travel insurance for cruise holidays as an optional extra for all our policies which can cover you for:

• Missed port departure
• Cabin confinement
• Itinerary change
• Unused excursions
• Cruise interruption

These can all be especially useful when going on a cruise, as it can cover parts of your cruise you miss as a result of an accident or illness, or even missing your initial departure.

Reasons for cancellation that are covered by insurance

It can be a good idea to get travel insurance as early as possible so that you are fully covered in case anything goes wrong and you need to cancel your trip. The reasons for cancellation that are covered by travel insurance can include:

• Illness or injury to you, a close family member or someone you are travelling with
• Redundancy
• Bereavement
• Natural disasters
• Damage to your home or theft/burglary in your home
• Jury duty or court appearance
• Military redeployment

Where can I go with over 70s travel insurance?

With over 70s travel insurance, you can go almost anywhere you like. However, it’s important to know how to choose the right travel insurance policy based on where it is you’re travelling to.

Europe – If you’re travelling to Europe whether to Italy, Greece or Ireland, you may find that most insurance providers offer a Europe specific insurance policy that keeps you covered when travelling to any country in the EU. European travel insurance can often be cheaper than worldwide insurance, so if you’re not planning to go anywhere outside of the EU, this policy may be best for you.

Worldwide – Worldwide travel insurance covers you when you travel anywhere in the world, whether Dubai, Jamaica, India or Egypt. Do keep in mind that there are two categories of worldwide cover – one that includes the USA, Canada and the Caribbean and one that excludes these areas. Be sure to pick the policy that covers you for where you are planning to go.

UK – Yes, you can get cover for any holiday or vacation you take that’s just in the UK. If you’re looking for a little getaway closer to home, UK specific travel insurance is most likely the best option for you and will make sure you’re covered against the unexpected even if you’re not going very far.

Get your Travel Insurance quote today!

[1] https://www.statista.com/chart/8658/health-spending-per-capita/

[2] https://www.itij.com/latest/long-read/treatment-and-evacuation-options-caribbean