Your cost for travel insurance will depend on the travelers\u2019 ages, state of residence, length of trip, destination and trip cost.<\/p>\n
In our analysis, travel insurance for seniors often cost around 7% to 9% of the trip costs. Remember that you\u2019re insuring only the portions of the trip that are pre-paid and non-refundable.<\/p>\n
For example, Trawick International\u2019s Safe Travels First Class plan had the lowest average price among the best plans for seniors at $385.<\/p>\n
What to Look for in the Best Senior Travel Insurance<\/h2>\n\nSenior travelers tend to have more medical issues than younger travelers, so superior medical and evacuation coverage is a must. For Forbes Advisor\u2019s ratings of the best senior travel insurance, we included only plans that provide the following.<\/p>\n
At least $150,000 in medical coverage per person<\/h3>\n
Travel medical insurance<\/a>\u00a0can pay for everything from an ambulance bill to hospitalization, X-rays, diagnostic tests and prescription medicine. Because expenses like these can add up quickly, seniors should look for a high level of coverage.<\/p>\nAt least $250,000 in medical evacuation coverage<\/h3>\n
If you need a medevac to take you to a better hospital,\u00a0medical evacuation coverage<\/a>\u00a0can pay. You can use medical evacuation insurance when you need to get to a better medical facility that can treat your condition. For example, a local rural clinic in Italy may not be equipped to handle a cardiac problem. In addition, your travel insurance company\u2019s emergency assistance team can arrange for medevac transportation, so you don\u2019t have to navigate that in a foreign country.<\/p>\nCoverage for Covid-19<\/h3>\n
Even fully vaccinated senior travelers may want to guard against a breakthrough Covid case. We included only travel insurance plans that cover Covid-related trip cancellation and medical expenses.<\/p>\n
More:\u00a0<\/b>Best Covid-19 travel insurance plans<\/a><\/p>\nCoverage for pre-existing medical conditions<\/h3>\n
Make sure your plan offers a\u00a0pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver<\/a>, which removes exclusions for conditions you already have. You generally must buy a travel insurance plan soon after your first trip deposit in order to get the waiver, such as within two or three weeks. Without the waiver, the travel insurance company will likely exclude coverage for medical issues you had 60 to 180 days before departure. (This look-back window varies by provider.) We included only plans that provide this waiver.<\/p>\nAbility to add \u201ccancel for any reason\u201d coverage<\/h3>\n
Typical travel insurance policies have lists of reasons allowed for trip cancellation claims that include common problems such as illness, injury and severe weather. For an extra level of flexibility, some plans offer a \u201ccancel for any reason<\/a>\u201d upgrade.<\/p>\nBuying this upgrade will allow you to receive partial reimbursement (often 75% of trip costs) if you cancel for a reason not listed in the base policy. For example, if you find out that your granddaughter\u2019s birthday is going to be during your trip, you could make a \u201ccancel for any reason\u201d insurance claim.<\/p>\n
This upgrade adds an average of 50% to travel insurance costs. We included only plans that have an option to add this benefit.<\/p>\n
Consider an Annual Plan<\/h3>\n
Senior travelers tend to have more medical issues than younger travelers, so superior medical and evacuation coverage is a must. For Forbes Advisor\u2019s ratings of the best senior travel insurance, we included only plans that provide the following.<\/p>\n
At least $150,000 in medical coverage per person<\/h3>\n
Travel medical insurance<\/a>\u00a0can pay for everything from an ambulance bill to hospitalization, X-rays, diagnostic tests and prescription medicine. Because expenses like these can add up quickly, seniors should look for a high level of coverage.<\/p>\n If you need a medevac to take you to a better hospital,\u00a0medical evacuation coverage<\/a>\u00a0can pay. You can use medical evacuation insurance when you need to get to a better medical facility that can treat your condition. For example, a local rural clinic in Italy may not be equipped to handle a cardiac problem. In addition, your travel insurance company\u2019s emergency assistance team can arrange for medevac transportation, so you don\u2019t have to navigate that in a foreign country.<\/p>\n Even fully vaccinated senior travelers may want to guard against a breakthrough Covid case. We included only travel insurance plans that cover Covid-related trip cancellation and medical expenses.<\/p>\n More:\u00a0<\/b>Best Covid-19 travel insurance plans<\/a><\/p>\n Make sure your plan offers a\u00a0pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver<\/a>, which removes exclusions for conditions you already have. You generally must buy a travel insurance plan soon after your first trip deposit in order to get the waiver, such as within two or three weeks. Without the waiver, the travel insurance company will likely exclude coverage for medical issues you had 60 to 180 days before departure. (This look-back window varies by provider.) We included only plans that provide this waiver.<\/p>\n Typical travel insurance policies have lists of reasons allowed for trip cancellation claims that include common problems such as illness, injury and severe weather. For an extra level of flexibility, some plans offer a \u201ccancel for any reason<\/a>\u201d upgrade.<\/p>\n Buying this upgrade will allow you to receive partial reimbursement (often 75% of trip costs) if you cancel for a reason not listed in the base policy. For example, if you find out that your granddaughter\u2019s birthday is going to be during your trip, you could make a \u201ccancel for any reason\u201d insurance claim.<\/p>\n This upgrade adds an average of 50% to travel insurance costs. We included only plans that have an option to add this benefit.<\/p>\nAt least $250,000 in medical evacuation coverage<\/h3>\n
Coverage for Covid-19<\/h3>\n
Coverage for pre-existing medical conditions<\/h3>\n
Ability to add \u201ccancel for any reason\u201d coverage<\/h3>\n
Consider an Annual Plan<\/h3>\n