Holiday insurance for over-70s is in huge demand as older generations continue to prove that age is no barrier to travelling.
According to a survey published in January 2022 by AllClear, almost four in five respondents aged between 70 and 80 planned to take between two and four holidays this year. Only two age groups recorded higher figures, 18-39 and 66-70 – the latter swelled by those just reaching retirement.
Seventy is a significant age when buying travel insurance for seniors, because some insurers put age limits on certain policies. With around two in five people between 70 and 80 telling the survey they place higher importance on travel insurance since the pandemic, it’s important to know how to find travel insurance for over-70s.
If you like, you can also choose to get a quote, whatever your age, via the Telegraph Media Group Travel Insurance Service, provided by AllClear, the specialist medical travel insurance company whose policies have no upper age limit.
What does travel insurance for over-70s cover?
In AllClear’s survey, the two most important factors cited by over-70s holidaymakers when choosing travel insurance were quality of cover and access to a 24-hour medical emergency helpline.
This may be no surprise as many in the age range travel with a pre-existing medical condition and benefit from policies that are tailored to their needs.
But what does travel insurance for over-70s cover that can give travellers the peace of mind they want? AllClear’s holiday insurance for the over-70s includes the following:
- Cover for all pre-existing medical conditions
- Superior Covid-19 cover free of charge*
- Emergency medical expenses
- Cover for travel delays
- Personal belongings
- Personal liability
- Legal protection
In addition, AllClear’s holiday insurance for the over-70s covers the cost of a friend or relative to accompany you home (on medical advice) if you fall ill with Covid-19 while abroad. AllClear’s Covid cover includes a 30 days’ extended cover if this means you cannot finish your holiday by its original scheduled date.
You can also purchase a policy that includes cancellation cover, which gives you valuable peace of mind in between booking your holiday and embarking on it.
AllClear offers cruise travel insurance as standard on Platinum policies or as an optional extra on Gold Plus. This covers cruise-specific issues such as being confined to your cabin or itinerary changes). AllClear also offers gadget cover for electronic goods and golf travel insurance, which protects your equipment and even includes hole-in-one cover.
Pre-existing medical conditions
A common concern for those looking for travel insurance over the age of 70 is getting cover for a pre-existing medical condition. This is defined by AllClear as any condition for which you are taking prescribed medication or required medical treatment or consulted a medical practitioner for.
This may include atrial fibrillation (heart condition), cancer, diabetes and stroke.
Remember to always declare all the details of your medical conditions to ensure you do not invalidate your claims – AllClear have discovered that over 1 in 20 are at risk of this.
How much is travel insurance for over-70s?
The cost of holiday insurance for over-70s varies according to a number of factors. These include destination and length of the trip, plus the age of the person being covered and any medical conditions they have because these may place them at greater risk.
The cost of treatment also varies according to country. For example, the cost of an average hospital stay in the United States for a person who has had a stroke is $20,396 to $43,652. Anyone over 70 visiting the country should take out specialist medical travel insurance and for anyone over 70 who has previously had a stroke this is highly advisable, since there is a 23 per cent chance of having a second stroke.
Tips on keeping down the cost of travel insurance for over-70s
While travel insurance for over-70s may have a reputation for being more expensive than for younger travellers, there are some tips for keeping costs down:
1. Consider how many trips you will take
If you are planning on having a few holidays, buying annual multi-trip insurance instead of a single-trip policy may be more cost-effective. You can travel as often as you like and with AllClear Gold or Gold Plus Annual Multi-trip Cover, each trip can last up to 45 days – which you can extend to up to 55 days for an added fee.
Please note: With AllClear, single-trip policies can be bought up to 12 months before you travel, while annual multi-trip policies can be purchased up to 31 days in advance. It’s worth knowing this if you opt for cancellation cover as soon as you take out a policy.
2. Apply for a GHIC
From January 2021, following the UK’s exit from the European Union, it became necessary for UK residents to apply for a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which replaced the European version (the EHIC).
The GHIC gives you the right to access emergency medical care in all EU countries but not non-EU countries that used to be covered (including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland).
However, a GHIC will not cover all medical costs, and with UK holidaymakers travelling in the EU without cover facing potential hospital bills of £2,000 for food poisoning or £14,000 for a heart attack, it makes it more important to have travel insurance for over-70s.
Do any limitations apply to travel insurance for over-70s?
AllClear travel insurance policies have no age limitations and will cover almost all pre-existing medical conditions.
You will need to select a specific region for where you are going to be travelling – for example, specifically available for those visiting Europe, Asia or Worldwide .
For single-trip insurance, you will need to select the dates of your trip. However, for annual multi-trip policies there is often a limit on the number of days you can spend on any one holiday in that year, so make sure you check the details carefully.
One exception applies to winter sports travel insurance policies, for which there is an upper age limit of 65.
Buy travel insurance for over-70s today
The Telegraph Media Group Travel Insurance service, provided by AllClear, provides access to tailored, comprehensive travel insurance for over-70s. All pre-existing medical conditions and Superior Covid cover is included in all its policies, which will give you the peace of mind you need to relax and enjoy your holiday.
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Telegraph Media Group Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of AllClear Insurance Services Limited, a company that is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
The above article was created for Telegraph Financial Solutions, a trading name of The Telegraph Media Group. For more information on Telegraph Financial Solutions click here.
* Covid-19 cover rated Superior by a leading Independent UK Consumer Champion.
