Best Travel Insurance for Seniors and Retirees: 5 Top Picks
While anyone planning a trip overseas can benefit from having a travel insurance plan in place, older travelers need to prioritize this coverage more than others. The fact is, senior travelers and retirees have unique worries and risks to think about any time they travel far from home. These risks increase their need for travel health insurance and emergency medical coverage, as well as coverage for emergency medical evacuation that applies anywhere in the world.
Which travel insurance options work best for seniors? There are many travel insurance plans that were created with retirees in mind, although you’ll want to compare them side-by-side. For example, you may want to look at coverage limits for medical expenses and coverage for preexisting conditions above all else.
This list compiled by U.S. News does the heavy lifting for you as you search for the best senior travel insurance of 2023, so read on to learn about the top picks.
The Top Travel Insurance for Seniors
U.S. News editors compared more than 20 of the top travel insurance companies to find the best plans for seniors:
For more information on how travel insurance for seniors works, scroll down to the FAQ section at the bottom of this page.
Recommended plan: AllTrips Prime
Pros:
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Available to senior travelers of all ages
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Coverage for preexisting conditions is offered
Con:
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Relatively low limits for emergency medical expenses
There are several reasons seniors and retirees need travel insurance, according to Allianz, including the fact that Medicare doesn’t cover you if you become injured or face a medical emergency overseas. The company also points out that medical emergencies become more common as you age, and that travelers above the age of 65 can secure coverage that includes preexisting conditions.
While Allianz offers a range of single-trip and annual plans for travelers of all ages, including retirees, U.S. News suggests the AllTrips Prime plan for older travelers who plan to take several different trips over the course of a year. This premium travel insurance plan is available to travelers of all ages, and it covers all eligible trips within a period of 365 days.
Coverages that come with the Allianz AllTrips Prime plan include:
- Coverage for COVID-19
- Trip cancellation coverage worth up to $3,000
- Trip interruption coverage worth up to $3,000
- Emergency medical coverage worth up to $20,000
- Emergency medical evacuation coverage worth up to $100,000
- Baggage loss coverage worth up to $1,000
- Baggage delay insurance worth $200
- Travel delay coverage worth up to $600 ($200 daily limit)
- Rental car damage and theft coverage worth up to $45,000
- Travel accident coverage worth up to $25,000
- 24-hour hotline for assistance
- Concierge service
- Preexisting condition coverage (must be added to plan within 14 days of first trip deposit or payment)
It’s worth noting that, even though this plan provides 365 days of travel insurance coverage, it only applies to trips that last up to 45 days.
Recommended plan: Atlas Travel
Pros:
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Customize your deductible and premiums
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Generous medical limits for travelers ages 65 to 79
Con:
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Limited medical coverage for travelers older than 80
WorldTrips is another highly rated travel insurance company that offers coverage options for seniors and retirees. The company recommends its Atlas Travel plan for older travelers who need travel medical insurance since it can apply to eligible doctor visits, required hospitalizations and other types of medical care you might need if you face a medical issue during a trip overseas.
The Atlas Travel plan lets travelers customize their deductible (between $0 and $5,000) per coverage period based on their needs. However, limits for various types of coverage vary by age. For example, travelers up to age 64 can get between $50,000 and $2 million in medical coverage per illness, while travelers ages 65 to 79 are eligible for only $50,000 or $100,000 in medical coverage. Meanwhile, travelers over the age of 80 qualify for a total maximum of $10,000 in emergency medical coverage.
This plan also comes with varying limits for treatments like outpatient physical therapy and accidental death and dismemberment benefits. Travelers can also qualify for:
- Up to $1 million in emergency evacuation coverage
- Medical benefits like hospital room and board, chiropractic care, and more
- Coverage for repatriation of remains
- Up to $25,000 in personal liability coverage
- Up to $10,000 in trip interruption insurance
- Up to $1,000 in coverage for lost checked luggage
- Up to $100 per day in coverage for travel delays of 12-plus hours
- Up to $1,500 in coverage for bedside visits
- Up to $100,000 in coverage for emergency reunions
Recommended plan: Safe Travels First Class
Pros:
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Customize plan with optional CFAR coverage
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Incredibly high limits for medical expenses and emergency evacuation
Con:
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Coverage is for trips up to 30 days if you’re age 80 and older
Trawick International offers quite a few travel insurance plans that are available for individuals of any age, and this includes its single-trip and annual plans. The Safe Travels First Class plan is a good option for luxury travelers, as well as for seniors who want to customize their coverage with cancel for any reason (CFAR) protection.
This plan is available to travelers of all ages, although the maximum trip length it applies to for travelers ages 80-plus is up to 30 days. Preexisting medical conditions can be covered when plans are bought within 14 days of making an initial trip deposit. CFAR protection, for 75% reimbursement of prepaid travel expenses, can be added to the plan if travel insurance is purchased within 21 days of making an initial trip deposit.
Other major coverages included in this plan:
- Up to $15,000 in trip cancellation insurance
- Up to $22,500 in trip interruption coverage
- Up to $1,000 for trip delays ($200 daily limit for delays of 12-plus hours)
- Up to $1,000 for missed connections
- Up to $150,000 for emergency medical expenses
- Up to $1 million in emergency medical evacuation coverage
- $750 in emergency dental coverage
- $2,000 in coverage for baggage and personal effects
- $400 in baggage delay coverage
Recommended plan: Xplorer Essential
Pros:
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Get comprehensive health insurance that applies overseas
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Preventive and routine care included
Con:
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Age limits apply for new applicants and renewals
If you are a senior or retiree who spends a large portion of the year abroad and are mostly worried about travel medical coverage, GeoBlue plans are worth your consideration. This company focuses on offering travel health insurance people can use for single trips or long stretches of time spent overseas.
The GeoBlue Xplorer Essential plan can be good for retirees since it works like traditional health insurance with the exception that it applies internationally. This annual plan works for travelers who spend at least three months per year outside the United States, although it does let applicants add on short-term medical coverage for short trips in the U.S.
Unlike other travel insurance, GeoBlue international health insurance can pay for things like:
- Preventive and routine care
- Professional services like surgery
- Inpatient medical care
- Ambulatory and therapeutic services
- Rehabilitation and therapy
Annual and lifetime coverage is unlimited, although coinsurance applies in varying amounts. Preexisting conditions can qualify under specific circumstances. Deductibles also apply before coverage begins.
Note that only travelers ages 74 and younger are eligible to apply, and that policies can only be renewed up to the age of 84.
Recommended plan: GlobeHopper Senior
Pros:
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Get overseas medical coverage for single trips or multiple trips
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Plans were created with seniors and retirees in mind
Cons:
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Lower maximum coverage limits for travelers ages 80 and older
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Limited nonmedical travel insurance benefits
Maybe you’re not a full-blown expat but you are planning a few bucket list trips, or even a few years of somewhat regular travel while you still can. In that case, IMG GlobeHopper Senior coverage could be a good fit for your needs when you do travel overseas.
This travel insurance plan can be purchased on a single-trip or multitrip basis, although the multitrip option only covers trips within a single year that last up to 30 days. These travel insurance plans are only available to U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents who are at least 65 years of age. Applicants must also qualify for Medicare and be actively enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B and a Medicare Supplement plan, or in a Medicare Advantage Plan.
Coverage limits can be customized if travelers are ages 65 to 79, and the same is true for deductibles that apply. There is no coinsurance requirement. These plans also come with a maximum coverage limit ranging from $50,000 to $1 million for travelers ages 65 to 79 and a maximum coverage limit of $100,000 for travelers ages 80 and older.
Benefits in this plan include (but are not limited to):
- Inpatient and outpatient medical coverage such as for physician visits, hospitalization and surgery
- Emergency and nonemergency medical evacuation coverage
- Coverage for emergency reunions
- Return of mortal remains
Other notable benefits can include:
- Trip interruption coverage worth up to $5,000
- Lost luggage coverage worth up to $250 (up to $50 per item)
- Coverage for terrorism worth up to $50,000
- Accidental death and dismemberment coverage worth up to $25,000
Frequently Asked Questions
You can purchase some travel insurance plans (but not all) if you’re older than 80 years old. However, your premiums may be higher and you’ll typically qualify for lower coverage limits overall. Make sure you compare the best travel insurance plans for seniors to find the right fit for your needs.
Since seniors and retirees are more likely to face a medical emergency during a trip, most travel insurance plans for seniors include coverage for emergency medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation. Coverages vary among plans, as do limits, so make sure to compare options before you book a trip overseas.
Why Trust U.S. News Travel
Holly Johnson is a professional travel writer who has covered international travel and travel insurance for more than a decade. Johnson has researched and compared all the top travel insurance options for her own family for trips to more than 50 countries around the world, and she has successfully filed claims during that time. Johnson lives in Indiana with her two children and her husband, Greg – a travel agent who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states.
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