Compare senior travel insurance

Keen to go exploring? Maybe you want to make the most of your retirement with a trip overseas or you have kids or grandkids to visit in another country. Whatever your reason for travelling, you might have considered getting seniors travel insurance. Here at Mozo we compare multiple travel insurance policies available for travellers aged over 70. You can also scroll down to read more frequently asked questions about how seniors travel insurance works and what it covers

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senior travel insurance

Senior travel insurance comparisons on Mozo - last updated 19 March 2024

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  • Mozo Expert Choice Badge
    International Travel Insurance
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    Yes
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    $5,000 limit per policy with option to increase limit

    Get protection in a few simple steps with Freely travel insurance all in the palm of your hand. Freely Travel offers 24/7 emergency and medical support, 24/7 customer service. Plus, you can tailor your policy so you only pay for what you need, and adapt your cover in near real time. Add-ons such as car rental excess, snow sports or other activities also available. Receive 10% off your travel insurance policy with promo code: MOZO10. T&Cs apply, go to site for full detail.

    Details
  • Mozo Expert Choice Badge
    Comprehensive
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    No
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    Unlimited

    Enjoy unlimited medical cover and 24/7 emergency assistance services when you travel. Get unlimited cover for cancellation fees and prepaid travel expenses. Cover for luggage and travel documents. $5,000,000 personal liability cover.

    Details
  • Mozo Expert Choice Badge
    Top
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    Yes
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    Unlimited

    Be covered for international overseas and medical expenses. Emergency medical assistance 24 hours/365 days a year. Cover for cancellation fees and lost deposits. Cover for luggage and personal money. Dependents covered free of charge (conditions apply). Limited COVID cover available. Cancellation cover for COVID claims limited to $3,500.

    Details
  • Comprehensive
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    No
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    Choose $0 to Unlimited

    Australia Post International Comprehensive Travel Insurance covers overseas medical expenses, cancellation costs and more (T&Cs apply). Optional extras like cover for existing medical conditions and winter sports available. 24/7 emergency support. Get a quote in minutes. Reduce your premium with variable excess. Policies may not be available to all travellers. Australian Postal Corporation ABN 28 864 970 579 (AR No 338646) is the distributor of Australia Post Travel Insurance.

    Details
  • Mozo Expert Choice Badge
    Comprehensive
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    Yes
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    Choose $10,000 to Unlimited

    Backed by the NIB, one of Australia’s largest travel insurance providers, Travel Insurance Saver brings you peace of mind on your travels. Compare three tiers of insurance cover, featuring benefits like 24 hour emergency assistance, emergency medical cover, luggage cover, cancellation cover and more.

    Details
  • Mozo Expert Choice Badge
    International Comprehensive Single
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    Yes
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    Choose $2,500 to Unlimited

    Enjoy the security of single trip cover on your next holiday with Southern Cross Travel Insurance. Get 24 hour emergency assistance, cover for cancelling or changing your journey before you leave, protection for lost, stolen or damaged goods as well as cover to replace lost or stolen cash, banks or travel documents. Be in to win 1 of 5 $1,000 cash prizes! T&Cs Apply. Offer ends 30 September 2023.

    Details
  • Mozo Expert Choice Badge
    Standard
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    No
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    $25,000

    Get the security of unlimited medical cover and 24/7 emergency assistance services when you travel. Get cover for cancellation fees and prepaid travel expenses. Cover for luggage and travel documents. $2,500,000 personal liability cover.

    Details
  • Basic
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    No
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    No

    Details
  • Comprehensive
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    Yes
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    Unlimited

    Know that you have some protection for your holidays with Fast Cover's worldwide 24-hour emergency assistance. Cover is available for emergency medical and hospital expenses, cancellation costs, lost luggage and more. 25-day money back guarantee when you buy a policy and provided that you have not started your trip, made a claim or used your policy to obtain a visa. Cancellation cover for COVID claims limited to $5,000.Please refer to Fast Cover’s PDS for more information on what their Comprehensive Travel Policy offers as well as terms, conditions, exclusions and limits that apply.

    Details
  • Explorer
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    Yes
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    Choose up to $40,000

    Enjoy the benefits of unlimited emergency medical treatment abroad for up to 12 months. Funeral expenses abroad for up to $20,000. Optional cover for cancellation or trip interruption (T&Cs apply). Emergency Assistance team is available 24/7 to support you in the event of an emergency while travelling.

    Details
  • Mozo Expert Choice Badge
    Medical Only
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    No
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    No

    Travel with peace of mind with unlimited medical cover and 24/7 emergency assistance services. Get cover for overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses. $2,500,000 personal liability cover.

    Details
  • Discovery Ultimate
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    Yes
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    Choose up to $40,000

    Unlimited emergency medical treatment abroad for up to 12 months. Funeral expenses abroad for up to $20,000. Optional cover for cancellation or trip interruption (T&Cs apply). Emergency Assistance team is available 24/7 to support you in the event of an emergency while travelling.

    Details
  • Standard Saver
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    Yes
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    $25,000

    Know that you have some protection for your holidays with Fast Cover’s worldwide 24-hour emergency assistance. Cover is available for Emergency Medical and Hospital Expenses, Trip Cancellation, Lost Luggage and more. 25-day money back guarantee when you buy a policy and provided that you have not started your trip, made a claim or used your policy to obtain a visa. Cancellation cover for COVID claims limited to $3,000. Please refer to Fast Cover’s PDS for more information on what their Standard Saver Travel Policy offers, as well as terms, conditions, exclusions and limits that apply.

    Details
  • Mozo Expert Choice Badge
    Bare Essentials
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    No
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    $2,500

    Backed by the NIB, one of Australia’s largest travel insurance providers, Travel Insurance Saver brings you peace of mind on your travels. Compare three tiers of insurance cover, featuring benefits like 24 hour emergency assistance, emergency medical cover, luggage cover, cancellation cover and more.

    Details
  • Covid Basic
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    Yes
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    $4,000

    Get cover for cancellation or trip interruption due to Covid-19 only up to $4,000 (T&Cs apply). Emergency Assistance team is available 24/7 to support you in the event of an emergency while travelling. Hospital benefit and confinement of $50 per day (up to a maximum of $500). Cover for funeral expenses abroad up to $10,000. Exclusions apply.

    Details
  • Covid Essentials
    covid medical cover
    Yes
    covid cancellation cover
    Yes
    overseas hospital
    Unlimited
    cancellation cover
    $4,000

    Travel with peace of mind with cover for cancellation or trip interruption due to Covid-19 only up to $4,000 (T&Cs apply). Emergency Assistance team is available 24/7 to support you in the event of an emergency while travelling. Hospital benefit and confinement of $50 per day (up to a maximum of $500). Cover for funeral expenses abroad up to $10,000. Exclusions apply.

    Details

^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Travel insurance Awards

*Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.

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Travel insurance resources

Reviews, news, tips and guides to help find the best travel insurance for you.

What is seniors travel insurance?

Seniors travel insurance is basically travel insurance that is tailored to the needs of travellers over a certain age. Exactly who qualifies as a senior varies from insurance company to insurance company. While some seniors travel insurance policies are available for travellers as young as 60, others are only available for people aged over 65 or 70-years-old.

How does senior travel insurance differ from regular travel insurance?

The amount of medical cover provided, as well as what pre-existing conditions are covered under the policy, are generally the main differences between seniors travel insurance and regular travel insurance. 

Not all travel insurance providers will offer cover specifically for seniors but may still have comprehensive policies available to older travellers. Whether you opt for a seniors travel insurance policy or not, any medical conditions you have should be considered. You can check what pre-existing conditions are excluded in the product disclosure statement that accompanies the insurance plan.

Coronavirus and travelling as a senior

On 1 November 2021, the Australian federal government removed its global ‘do not travel ban’. Although travel is still restricted to adults who are fully vaccinated, or who have a vaccine exemption.

This change in restrictions means that international travellers can enter some states without needing to spend 14 days in hotel quarantine. There may, however, still be restrictions in place for interstate travel and some states and territories may still have restrictions in place for people arriving from overseas.

Rules are subject to change at any time and since the do not travel global ban was lifted have already changed due to the emergence of the Omicron variant. Tighter restrictions are now in place for travellers from a number of countries in southern Africa, regardless of their vaccination status. Again these rules are subject to change again as health officials learn more about the Omicron variant and new variants emerge. It is best to keep up to date with the news and rules around travelling, if you are planning a trip.

Lastly, if you are intending to travel overseas, you will need to apply for an International Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate. According to smartraveller.org.au, the easiest way to do this is via myGov or the Express Plus Medicare app. Besides your Covid-19 vaccination certificate, you may also need to take a Covid-19 test before or after arriving at your destination. It should also be noted that hotel or home quarantine rules may still be in place in some countries, regardless of vaccination status.

What types of senior travel insurance are there?

Providers will often have a few different types of travel insurance policies for seniors to choose from. These can be:

  • Basic travel insurance: As the name suggests, this cover is designed for the essentials, such as medical emergencies, lost luggage and cancellations. Basic policies can also come with age limits, meaning people over 75, for example, may not be eligible.

  • Comprehensive travel insurance: Most comprehensive travel insurance policies come with a higher age limit, sometimes up to 100-years-old. Plus comprehensive cover often includes greater cover for pre-existing medical conditions, meaning it may offer more benefits to seniors. 

  • Single trip travel insurance: Single trip travel insurance is simply insurance that covers a single holiday or trip. Cover starts and ends when the holiday/trip starts and ends.

  • Multi-trip travel insurance: Sometimes called annual travel insurance, multi-trip travel insurance is a policy that provides cover for multiple destinations over a selected period of time. This could be 30 days, 45 days or even 90 days, depending on the individual policy. 

  • Domestic travel insurance: Lastly, domestic offers cover for travel within Australia. It can be useful in case of things like last minute cancellations, delays and lost luggage. 

What is covered with seniors travel insurance?

Generally, seniors travel insurance provides cover for essentials, such as medical emergencies, personal liability, luggage and personal belongings, cancellations and delays. Of course there may be a few things you want a little more certainty about. 

A few things to consider focusing on when looking for a policy are:

  • Medical cover: When taking out a travel insurance policy, be honest about any pre-existing conditions you might have. Insurance providers will often assess what cover to provide for certain health conditions on a case by case basis. Not disclosing details about a pre-existing condition before taking out the policy, could lead to a claim being denied.

  • Cruise cover: A number of travel insurance providers offer cover tailored towards certain types of holidays, such as cruises. 

  • Sport cover: Some insurance providers may offer cover for specific holidays, e.g. skiing holidays, although these will sometimes come with an age limit, which could be around 75 years of age.

  • Pet cover: Got a furry friend who needs taking care of while you’re away? You might be pleased to know that some travel insurance providers actually provide some cover for kennel costs while you’re away. 

For anything in particular you want cover for, be sure to compare and check policies.

What pre-existing conditions does seniors travel insurance cover?

Exactly what pre-existing conditions seniors travel insurance covers will vary from policy to policy. Generally though, cover is provided for conditions such as diabetes, heart conditions and epilepsy. Although it should be noted that insurance companies will often have sub age limits for particular conditions. 

When applying for travel insurance you may be asked to disclose details of a pre-existing medical condition. Often providers will assess medical conditions individually and provide cover on a case by case basis.

More FAQs on seniors travel insurance

When should I get seniors travel insurance for my trip?

Most travel insurance providers will require that you sign up to a policy before departing for your trip. A good time to take out insurance is once you have booked and confirmed everything. The sooner you take out a policy, the sooner you will have cover for things like cancellations.

Can children and grandchildren be covered under seniors travel insurance?

Usually seniors travel insurance will cover dependents travelling with the main policyholder. To be classed as a dependent, children or grandchildren will typically have to be under a certain age. This can be around 18 to 21, but will vary depending on the policy.

What excess comes with seniors travel insurance?

What excess you pay with seniors travel insurance will depend on a number of factors. These include the individual policy in question, what excess you opt for (if there is an option) and who you are. 

While a lot of comprehensive international travel insurance plans offer cover to people aged over 80, the excess available for older travellers is likely to be higher. 

Does seniors travel insurance have a cooling off period?

Yes as is the case with most insurance, seniors travel insurance policies will generally come with a cooling off period. A cooling off period is a certain number of days or weeks from the purchase date within which you can cancel your policy and get a refund.

Although with travel insurance you will usually have to cancel before the trip starts and before any claims are made as well. Make sure you read the product disclosure statement that comes with your policy, so that you know how long the cooling off period is and what the conditions are for getting a full refund.

How do I make a claim with seniors' travel insurance?

Most insurance providers will give the option to make a claim either via their website, over the phone or by sending them an email. To make sure things run as smoothly as possible, you will want to have your policy number, proof of ID, receipts and so forth at hand when lodging the claim.

You may also want to note down your provider’s contact details before you head off, just in case you need to get in touch with them while overseas.

When should I submit a travel insurance claim?

Most insurance providers will recommend that you make a claim as soon as possible. Submitting a claim soon after the event means there will be less chance of losing important evidence such as receipts. Plus the sooner you lodge it, the sooner it will be resolved.

There may also be specific time frames in which you must submit a claim, depending on the individual policy and the claim type. For example, for things like medical or hospital emergencies especially, some providers recommend that you lodge a claim straight away. Otherwise, you may be able to submit a claim when you return home from your trip, though your window to do so might be limited to 30 days.