What does travel Insurance for seniors cover?
Relax knowing that you're covered.
Like any travel insurance, depending on the policy, seniors travel insurance should cover you for a range of different situations you may encounter while travelling. Generally speaking, seniors travel insurance should cover you for things such as:
- Medical treatments, emergencies and evacuation costs while overseas
- Cover for pre-paid travel bookings if there's a cancellation
- Lost, stolen or damaged luggage
- Additional accommodation and travel expenses due to severe weather or other events
- Cover for accommodation and meals if your scheduled transport is delayed
- A death or disability benefit if you suffer an accident on your trip (death due to illness may not be covered, depending on the policy)
- 24-hour emergency assistance
- Cover for other family members, like grandchildren (age restrictions typically apply)
You should look carefully at what else may be included (or excluded) from any travel policy you're considering as a senior, including any cover limits.
Travel insurance for seniors: how can it protect you?
Medical, accident & evacuation cover
If you hurt yourself (or someone else) in an accident or suffer an injury or illness on your trip, overseas medical care can be expensive, and the right travel insurance policy can cover you for hospital bills and legal liability. In the event of a medical emergency that requires you to be flown home for specialist treatment, expenses can be unexpectedly high, so it's important to consider travel insurance that covers this.
Trip cancellation & delay cover
Travel insurance can cover you for any expenses if something goes wrong and delays your trip, forcing you to cancel flights and hotel bookings. Likewise, if things don't go to plan on your trip, and a natural disaster or unexpected illness forces you to cancel bookings or extend your stay, travel insurance can help reimburse you for these and other expenses related to your delay.
Luggage loss or damage cover
Few things can ruin a trip faster than finding that your luggage has not joined you at your destination. If your bags are lost and you're stranded without essentials, you may need to replace clothing, toiletries and other personal items. If you travel with high-value items, you may decide to opt for a policy with a higher limit for loss, theft or damage of your personal property.
What are the different types of travel insurance for seniors?
Depending on your travel needs and personal situation, you might want to consider a basic or a comprehensive travel insurance policy. You may also want something that covers you for a single vacation or a policy that spans multiple trips, if you plan extensive travel.
Basic cover typically covers you for things such as medical emergencies and accidents, loss of luggage and cancellations. Cover levels tend to be at the lower end of the scale.
Comprehensive cover usually covers you for higher amounts and may include additional features and services.
Depending on the provider, any of the policy types below can offer basic or comprehensive cover:
Single trip policy is limited to one trip – typically when you've specified the duration of your trip and the country or countries you’re visiting.
Annual/multi-trip policy covers you if you take multiple trips within a year, regardless of the destinations – although exclusions can apply for specific locations. If you're a regular traveller, this type of policy may be worth considering, as it could work out to be a more cost-effective option.
Domestic policy applies when you are travelling within New Zealand. 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, as you should be covered by NZ's health system.
Cruise policy, or cruise cover is typically designed to protect you against the cost of things such as medical treatment and/or evacuation at sea; trip cancellation due to illness, injury or emergency at home or lost luggage.
Some cruise ships won't let you board without cruise-specific insurance, so you might want to check with your holiday provider before booking to see what cover you need.
Even if you don't leave New Zealand or Australian waters, without cruise-specific medical insurance, you might be liable to pay for any onboard medical treatments or emergency evacuations.
What does seniors travel insurance not cover?
Most travel insurance has the same cover exclusions regardless of the policy holder's age. These include:
Failing to take due care
Putting yourself or your possessions at risk, for example leaving your bags unattended in a busy area.
Unreported items
You should report any lost possessions to your insurance provider as soon as possible, and any thefts to the local police force, as you might need a police report to verify your claim.
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.
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. We look at this in more detail below.
How much does travel insurance for seniors cost?
How much you pay for travel insurance as a senior depends on a range of factors determined by you and your travel plans, and premiums are likely to vary from one provider to another.
As older Kiwis 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 check with SafeTravel about 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 highlighted as "do not travel" by SafeTravel.
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 required 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.
Pre-existing medical conditions: your insurer may charge a higher premium in return for covering pre-existing medical conditions, see below.
Are there age limits for travel insurance for seniors?
Most travel insurance providers don't set age limits for their comprehensive travel insurance policies, although age limits can apply for basic or medical-only cover.
However, if your 85+ the cost of insurance can become very expensive, to cover the increased risk of medical claims.
Travel insurance for seniors with pre-existing medical conditions
When you're booking any travel insurance as a senior, it's important to declare any pre-existing medical conditions.
A pre-existing condition is generally regarded as a condition for which you've sought medical advice for in the years prior to travel. Or any health problem that should have caused a sensible person to seek medical advice. But as definitions vary, it's important to discuss any possible pre-existing medical conditions with your insurance provider.
If you're not honest about revealing any pre-existing medical conditions when you take out a policy, you could 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.
But just because you have a pre-existing medical condition doesn't automatically mean that you won't be able to arrange travel insurance, as a provider may offer additional cover for your ailment.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, it's also important to research whether any medication you need can be legally taken into the country you plan to visit. Some medications regarded as perfectly acceptable in New Zealand may be listed as illegal or a controlled substance in other parts of the world.
