single trip travel insurance over 50

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The Best Senior Travel Insurance for 2024

Trawick International »

Allianz Travel Insurance »

AIG Travel Guard »

Nationwide »

WorldTrips »

GeoBlue »

Why Trust Us

U.S. News evaluates ratings, data and scores of more than 50 travel insurance companies from comparison websites like TravelInsurance.com, Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip, plus renowned credit rating agency AM Best, in addition to reviews and recommendations from top travel industry sources and consumers to determine the Best Travel Insurance for Seniors and Retirees.

Table of Contents

• Trawick International
• Allianz Travel Insurance
• AIG Travel Guard

Key takeaways

• Senior travelers can benefit from a plan that offers coverage for emergency medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation first and foremost.
• Other benefits to look for include coverage for lost or delayed baggage, trip delay protection, and coverage for trip cancellation and interruption.
• Older travelers may also want to look for travel insurance plans that cover preexisting medical conditions.
• Some plans for seniors let individuals add on cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage that reimburses up to 80% of prepaid travel expenses when a trip is canceled for any reason at all.

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.

U.S. News compared more than 20 of the top travel insurance companies to find the top plan options for seniors and retirees. This list does the heavy lifting for you as you search for the best senior travel insurance, so read on to learn about the top picks.

• Trawick International: Best Overall
• Allianz Travel Insurance: Best Cancel for Any Reason
• AIG Travel Guard: Best Annual
• Nationwide: Best for Cruises
• WorldTrips: Best Budget
• GeoBlue: Best Medical

Incredibly high limits for medical expenses and emergency evacuation

Customize plan with optional CFAR coverage

Coverage is for trips up to 30 days if you're ages 80 and older

• 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
• Up to $750 in emergency dental coverage
• Up to $2,000 in coverage for baggage and personal effects
• Up to $400 for baggage delays of 12-plus hours

SEE FULL REVIEW »

High reimbursement for CFAR coverage

Coverage for preexisting conditions is offered

Relatively low limits for baggage delays

• Trip cancellation coverage up to $100,000
• Trip interruption coverage up to $150,000
• Trip change protector coverage up to $500
• Emergency medical coverage up to $50,000
• Emergency medical transportation coverage up to $500,000
• Baggage loss coverage up to $1,000
• Baggage delay insurance up to $300
• Travel delay coverage up to $800 ($200 daily limit)
• $100 per day in SmartBenefits coverage per person for fixed inconvenience payments
• 24-hour hotline for assistance
• Concierge services
• Preexisting condition coverage (must be added to plan within 14 days of first trip deposit or payment)

Year-round comprehensive travel insurance coverage

Generous limits for medical and emergency medical evacuation

Does not include trip cancellation coverage

• Up to 100% of insured trip cost for trip interruptions (maximum of $2,500 per trip)
• Up to $1,500 for trip delays ($150 per day)
• Up to $500 for missed connections caused by delays of at least three hours
• Up to $2,500 for lost baggage
• Up to $1,000 for baggage delays of 12-plus hours
• Up to $50,000 for travel medical coverage ($500 dental sublimit)
• Up to $500,000 for emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains
• Up to $50,000 for accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D)
• Up to $100,000 for security evacuation coverage

Cruise-specific coverages and benefits

High limits for medical expenses and emergency evacuation

May be expensive compared to other coverage options

• Trip cancellation coverage up to 100% of prepaid trip cost
• Trip interruption coverage up to 150% of prepaid trip cost
• Trip interruption for any reason (IFAR) coverage worth $1,000 if conditions are met
• Missed connection coverage up to $2,500 for delays of three-plus hours
• Trip delay coverage up to $1,000 for delays of six-plus hours
• Itinerary change coverage worth $250 to $1,000 (depending on reason for change)
• Emergency medical coverage up to $150,000 (secondary with $750 dental sublimit)
• Emergency medical evacuation coverage up to $1 million
• Up to $25,000 for AD&D
• Up to $2,500 in coverage for lost or stolen baggage ($1,000 maximum for special items and $500 limit per article)
• Baggage delay coverage up to $1,000 for delays of six-plus hours
• Nonmedical evacuation coverage up to $25,000

Customize your deductible and premiums

Generous medical limits for travelers ages 65 to 79

Limited medical coverage for travelers older than 80

• 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

Get comprehensive health insurance that applies overseas

Preventive and routine care included

Age limits apply for new applicants and renewals

Medical-only coverage

• Preventive and routine care
• Professional services like surgery
• Inpatient medical care
• Ambulatory and therapeutic services
• Rehabilitation and therapy

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.

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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Travel insurance

Best travel insurance for seniors in September 2024

Amy Fontinelle

Heidi Gollub

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 5:55 a.m. UTC Sep. 2, 2024

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Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy .

Tin Leg and Trawick International offer the best travel insurance for seniors, according to our analysis of plans’ cost and coverage limits.

Best senior travel insurance plans of 2024

• Tin Leg: Gold
• Trawick International: Safe Travels First Class
• Seven Corners: Trip Protection Choice
• Generali Global Assistance: Premium
• Nationwide: Prime

Why trust our travel insurance experts

Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of insurance products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.

• 840 coverage details evaluated.
• 84 rates reviewed.
• 5 levels of fact-checking.

Travel insurance quotes comparison

Top-rated travel insurance for seniors.

Best plan for seniors

Average cost for seniors, covers covid, medical & evacuation limits per person, why it made our list.

For the amount of coverage you get, Tin Leg’s Gold plan is competitively priced. It includes $500,000 in emergency medical benefits and another $500,000 in medical evacuation coverage.

Pros and cons

• Excellent $500,000 per person in primary emergency medical coverage.
• Very good emergency medical coverage of $500,000 per person.
• Eligible for pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver if conditions are met.
• “Cancel for any reason” coverage of 75% available.
• No “interruption for any reason” upgrade available.
• Hurricane and weather coverage kicks in only after a 48-hour delay.
• Lowest baggage and personal item loss coverage of our top-rated senior plans.
• Lowest travel delay coverage of our top-rated senior plans.
• No rental car coverage option.

Trawick International

Trawick International’s Safe Travels First Class policy is a relatively inexpensive option that comes with $1 million in emergency medical evacuation coverage and a high per person limit for baggage and personal items loss.

• Second-cheapest of our best senior plans.
• Best-in-class medical evacuation coverage of $1 million.
• Pre-existing condition coverage available if conditions are met.
• Baggage loss coverage of $2,000 per person is the best among our top senior plans.
• No “interruption for any reason” coverage upgrade available.
• Travel delay benefit takes 12 hours to kick in.
• Lower emergency medical benefit of $150,000 is secondary coverage.

Seven Corners

Seven Corners’ Trip Protection Choice plan has high emergency medical and medical evacuation limits, as well as rare coverage for non-medical evacuation. In addition to “cancel for any reason” coverage, you can also pay extra for “interruption for any reason” coverage.

• Excellent $1 million emergency medical evacuation coverage plus $20,000 for non-medical evacuation.
• Great “interruption for any reason” coverage of 75% available.
• The most expensive of our top-rated senior travel insurance plans.

Generali Global Assistance

Generali Global Assistance’s premium plan offers trip interruption coverage of up to 175% of your trip cost. Most top-rated competitors offer a maximum of 150%.

• Top-notch $1 million per person in medical evacuation coverage.
• Solid baggage loss coverage of $2,000 per person.
• “Cancel for any reason” coverage of 75% available.
• Baggage must be delayed for 12 hours before benefits kick in.
• Missed connection coverage of $1,000 per person only applies to cruises and tours.
• Emergency medical expense benefit is secondary coverage.

Nationwide Prime travel insurance offers an exceptional 200% coverage for trip interruption.

• If you need to cut your trip short for a covered reason, you can be reimbursed up to 200% of your prepaid trip cost.
• High travel delay coverage of $2,000 per person ($250 per day limit).
• “Cancel for any reason” coverage of 75% is available.
• Low missed connection benefit of $500 per person for cruises and tours only.
• No “interruption for any reason” coverage available.

Compare the best travel insurance for seniors

Via Compare Coverage’s website

Methodology

Our insurance experts analyzed cost and coverage data from 21 plans to determine the best senior travel insurance. For this rating, we only scored travel insurance plans that offer the option to buy “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage .

The benefits we scored out of a possible 100 points include:

Cost: 50 points. We scored the average cost for each travel insurance policy for a variety of international trips and traveler profiles.

Medical expenses: 15 points. Travel insurance plans that offer travel medical expense benefits of $500,000 per person were given the highest amount of points.

Medical evacuation: 15 points. Travel insurance plans with emergency medical evacuation benefits of $500,000 or more per person were given the highest number of points.

What is covered by travel insurance for seniors?

The best travel insurance bundles several types of insurance to provide financial protection before and during your trip. 

A comprehensive senior travel insurance plan will include the following coverage types: 

• Trip cancellation insurance . 
• Trip delay insurance.
• Trip interruption insurance. 
• Travel medical insurance. 
• Emergency medical evacuation .
• Baggage loss and delay coverage.

What’s the most important travel insurance coverage for senior travelers?

Health is a top concern for older travelers. Travel insurance for senior citizens should have high coverage limits for trip interruption, travel medical insurance and emergency medical evacuation. 

“Since Medicare doesn’t provide coverage abroad, it’s important for senior travelers to pay close attention to policies’ medical benefits, including emergency medical, medical evacuation and pre-existing conditions,” said James Clark, a spokesperson for the travel-insurance comparison site Squaremouth, the company behind Tin Leg travel insurance.

Older travelers should also pay attention to whether a travel insurance plan’s emergency medical coverage is primary or secondary.

“When traveling outside the U.S., seniors should know that it’s recommended to purchase a travel insurance plan that includes primary emergency medical coverage,” said Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection vice president, Carol Mueller.

 “Senior travelers on Medicare who purchase a travel insurance plan with secondary medical coverage will need to first try to get Medicare to cover their emergency travel medical expenses, which in many cases is limited to no coverage,” said Mueller. “Avoid the hassle and choose a travel insurance plan with primary medical coverage.”

How to choose the best senior travel insurance

Senior travelers shopping for travel insurance should look for plans with these benefits:

• Emergency medical expense coverage of at least $250,000. This pays for emergency medical expenses you incur during your trip and includes medical coverage for COVID-19. 
• Emergency medical evacuation coverage of at least $500,000. This pays to transport you to the nearest adequate medical facility for you to get the care you require when a physician says your illness or injury is severe enough to warrant it. Emergency medical evacuation coverage may also pay to fly a loved one to be with you and to fly you home for further treatment or recovery. 
• Preexisting condition coverage. Some plans include a preexisting condition waiver as long as you buy travel insurance within a certain number of days of making your first trip deposit, you insure the full value of your trip and you are medically able to travel at the time of departure. Having a waiver will give you coverage for medical conditions documented in your health history in the 60 to 180 days before you buy your plan, with some exclusions.
• Trip interruption coverage of 150%. Trip interruption insurance reimburses you for unused, prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses if your trip is unexpectedly interrupted while you’re in transit or at your destination. It can also cover travel costs associated with having to change your plans, such as needing to buy a last-minute economy ticket for a one-way flight home. Buying an extra ticket can push your claim over 100% of your original trip expenses, so it’s wise to look for a plan that reimburses up to 150%. 
• “Cancel for any reason” (CFAR) upgrade available. For an additional cost, you can sometimes add “cancel for any reason” coverage to your travel insurance plan. This typically reimburses up to 75% of nonrefundable trip expenses if you decide not to travel for a reason not covered by your policy, as long as you cancel at least two days before you’re scheduled to travel.

How much does senior travel insurance cost?

The average cost of senior travel insurance is $434 per trip , based on our analysis of rates for older travelers. For senior trips with “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage, the average cost of travel insurance increases to $629.

Travel insurance for seniors typically costs around 7% to 9% of your total prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses. Adding CFAR coverage can add 45% or more to that cost.

How much you pay for travel insurance will depend on the age of you and your fellow travelers, the length of your trip and the total of your nonrefundable trip costs.

Compare senior travel insurance rates

Average senior travel insurance costs are based on rates for international trips for travelers ages 65 and 70, with CFAR coverage and without. Travel insurance plans have different levels of benefits, which can account for price differences.

Travel smart: Find cheap travel insurance that meets your needs.

How to save money on travel insurance for seniors

Travel insurance companies don’t typically offer discounts. But if you can get a senior discount on any of your travel itself, you’ll have a smaller trip cost to insure. This will lower the cost of your senior travel insurance.

Getting quotes from multiple travel insurance providers is also a great way to save money. Every policy offers more coverage in some areas and less in others. Depending on what coverage is most important to you, certain policies will give you more value than others. 

Get the coverage you need: What does travel insurance cover?

Is CFAR worth it for senior travelers?

CFAR coverage adds to the cost of your plan, but older travelers may want to consider a travel insurance policy with both trip cancellation insurance and “cancel for any reason” coverage, said Clark.  

CFAR benefits offer maximum flexibility to cancel your plans due to illness, injury or any other reason and will reimburse a percentage of your nonrefundable trip costs, usually 50% or 75%. The only caveat is that you’ll need to cancel at least two days before you plan to travel.

When shopping for travel insurance, look for CFAR-related fine print. You often must buy CFAR within a certain number of days of making your first trip deposit, such as 14 days. You are also usually required to insure the full value of your nonrefundable trip expenses.

More travel insurance for seniors resources

• What is travel insurance ?
• What does travel insurance cover ?
• Average cost of travel insurance
• Is travel insurance worth it ?
• Best cruise travel insurance  

Best senior travel insurance FAQs

If you rely on Medicare for health insurance and you’re traveling internationally, buying senior travel insurance with excellent emergency medical insurance and emergency medical evacuation benefits is a good idea.

“One of the most important considerations for travelers with existing health issues is to find a plan that offers a preexisting condition exclusion waiver,” said Stan Sandberg, cofounder and CEO of TravelInsurance.com. 

To qualify for the waiver, you’ll usually need to purchase your trip insurance policy within seven to 14 days of making your initial trip payment. Some premium policies may extend this coverage if you buy them before or within 24 hours of making your final trip payment, he said.

Even with a waiver, medical bills related to certain excluded conditions such as dementia or depression may not be covered, so read the policy carefully to see if your preexisting conditions qualify.

More: Is travel insurance worth it?

Tin Leg’s Gold plan and Trawick International’s Safe Travel First Class plan provide the best travel insurance for seniors for the price, according to our analysis. These are the only plans to merit 5 stars in our rating.

Yes, you can get travel insurance over 80, but it will cost you more.

Yes. If you’re shopping for travel insurance over 80, for instance, you’ll pay an average of 18% of your total trip cost. That is considerably higher than the average cost of travel insurance for a 30-year-old, which is only 5%.

Travel insurance for the elderly varies by insurer when it comes to upper age limits . If you are concerned about finding the best travel medical insurance for seniors over 7 0 , start with an online comparison site like Squaremouth where you only have to enter your age and trip details once to see which policies are available to you.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Amy Fontinelle has more than 15 years of experience helping people make informed decisions about their money, whether they’re refinancing a mortgage, buying insurance or choosing a credit card. As a freelance writer trained in journalism and specializing in personal finance, Amy digs into the details to explain the products and strategies that can help (or hurt) people seeking greater financial security and wealth. Her work has been published by Forbes Advisor, Capital One, MassMutual, Investopedia and many other outlets.

Heidi Gollub is the USA TODAY Blueprint managing editor of insurance. She was previously lead editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor and led the insurance team at U.S. News & World Report as assistant managing editor of 360 Reviews. Heidi has an MBA from Emporia State University and is a licensed property and casualty insurance expert.

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Best Travel Insurance for Seniors

The best travel insurance plans for seniors offer comprehensive, specialized coverage, affordable rates, and helpful customer service.

SeniorLiving.org is supported by commissions from providers listed on our site. Read our Editorial Guidelines

• Additional coverage for preexisting conditions with select plans
• Wide variety of customizable plans
• High coverage limits

• Plans available for seniors up to 99 years old
• Can be purchased as close as one day prior to departure
• Affordable plans and group discounts

• 14-day refund in most states
• Comprehensive coverage for baggage and personal items
• Excellent customer service

• Free online quotes
• Affordable cruise insurance
• Hassle-free claims process

• Our Top Picks
• 2. International Medical Group
• 3. John Hancock
• 4. Nationwide
• 5. Travel Guard
• Our Methodology

If you plan on traveling abroad or domestically , we recommend purchasing travel insurance for some added peace of mind. Travel insurance offers protection when you find yourself in an unexpected situation, such as an injury that requires emergency medical care, lost luggage, or canceled flights.

If you’re on the fence about purchasing travel insurance, we’ll go over some of the reasons why you might benefit from it. With affordable rates you’ll find that travel insurance can help reduce the stress of traveling and incurring unexpected out-of-pocket costs. Our team spent over 50 hours researching and comparing plans. We evaluated each plan using important factors like cost, customer service, plan options, amount of coverage, and more.

Let’s take a closer look at the best travel insurance providers for seniors.

Best Travel Insurance for Seniors in 2024

What we like most.

Allianz Global Assistance has been a trusted travel insurance provider for over 100 years. We chose Allianz because many of their policies offer protection for those with preexisting medical conditions. If you’re a senior with a preexisting condition, you’ll be covered if you need care or services while traveling. This coverage is only available with select plans, and there are some exclusions.

Fun Fact: Allianz is best known for their role in insuring the Wright Brothers’ first flight and the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, among many other historical milestones.

Allianz offers 24/7 assistance and a variety of plans, whether you’re planning a single trip or annual trip with many destinations. One of their most popular plans is the OneTrip Prime, which provides free coverage for children 17 and under when traveling with a parent or grandparent.

Allianz offers 10 different plans depending on how often you travel, or if you’re traveling for leisure or business. For example, their OneTrip Prime plan offers the following coverages:

• Epidemic coverage endorsement
• Trip cancellation (up to $100,000)
• Trip interruption (up to $150,000 per insured)
• Emergency medical (up to $50,000 per insured)
• Emergency medical transportation (up to $500,000 per insured)
• Baggage loss/damage up to $1,000 (per insured)
• Baggage delay up to $300 (per insured)
• Travel delay up to $800 (per insured)
• 24-hour hotline assistance
• Concierge services
• OneTrip Rental Car Protector optional upgrade
• Required to work optional upgrade
• Preexisting medical condition coverage available

Pros About Allianz

• Over 21 million insured travelers
• High coverage amounts
• High trip cancellation amounts
• Rental car coverage
• 24/7 hotline assistance for travel emergencies and assistance
• Preexisting medical condition coverage on select plans
• Wide range of travel insurance plans for leisure or business
• Free Allianz TravelSmart app for iPhone and Android

Cons About Allianz

• Up to 30 days for claim reviews
• Rental car damage and theft coverage not available to KS, TX, NY, and WA residents on an annual plan

Final Thoughts

Along with a vast selection of travel insurance plans and high coverage amounts, Allianz is great for seniors who are planning single or multiple trips throughout the year. Keep in mind that select coverages and benefits may not be available to residents in some states.

Overall, Allianz offers exceptional coverage for seniors with preexisting medical conditions, emergency medical benefits up to $50,000, and 24/7 hotline assistance for any travel emergencies or questions you may have.

Established in 1990 in Indianapolis, Indiana, International Medical Group (IMG) is known for offering quality global insurance benefits and assistance for seniors who travel internationally. One of the benefits of this company is that they offer a wide range of international medical insurance and 24/7 emergency medical assistance for travelers.

Fun Fact: IMG’s GlobeHopper Senior travel health insurance plan offers an option for the extension of coverage for seniors who wish to extend their trips. 

IMG earned our pick as the best international travel insurance for their affordable rates for longer trips, as well as comprehensive coverage for medical expenses and evacuation. We appreciate that IMG offers the GlobeHopper Senior, temporary health insurance for travelers ages 65 and up traveling internationally. This plan offers travel medical insurance coverage for as little as five days up to one year, along with maximum limits up to $1 million. Additionally, IMG offers travel medical insurance for individuals, families, and groups, including coverage for seniors with preexisting conditions. Many of the policies also have maximum limits of up to $8 million — which is one of the highest limits we’ve seen for travel insurance.

IMG offers four comprehensive plans for vacationers and business travelers. Their most popular package is the iTravelInsured Travel LX, which offers the following coverages.

• Trip cancellation: 100 percent of the nonrefundable insured trip cost
• Trip interruption: 150 percent of the nonrefundable insured trip cost
• Cancel for any reason: 75 percent of the nonrefundable insured trip cost
• Trip interruption for any reason: 75 percent of the nonrefundable insured trip cost
• Trip delay (up to $250 per day)
• Change fee (up to $300 per person)
• Frequent traveler reward (up to $75 per person)
• Rental car damage and theft coverage (up to $40,000 per covered vehicle)
• Missed trip connection (up to $500 per person)
• Traveling companion/bedside companion (up to $200 per day)
• Pet kennel ($100 per day)
• Search and rescue (up to $10,000)
• Political or security evacuation and natural disaster evacuation ($50,000 per event per person)
• Baggage and personal effects ($2,500)
• Sports equipment rental (up to $500 daily)
• Baggage delay of at least 12 hours (up to $500)
• Accident and sickness medical and dental expense (up to $500,000 per person)
• Accident death and dismemberment (up to $100,000)

Pros About International Medical Group

• Plans offered to travelers up to the age of 99
• Can be purchased up to one day before departure
• Affordable minimum trip cost to be insured
• 24/7 assistance
• Lowest price guaranteed
• Affordable plans for international travel
• Group discounts
• Higher coverage limits
• Claims filed via website or mail

Cons About International Medical Group

• Some travel insurance plans can only cover 90-day trips
• Might need to purchase separate travel medical insurance and international health insurance

IMG offers travel insurance plans for seniors up to age 99 who want to travel internationally. IMG is ideal for both vacationers and business travelers. Additionally, IMG offers 24/7 emergency travel assistance and a preexisting condition review period of 60 days. If you’re a senior going on a cruise or guided tour internationally, we recommend purchasing travel medical coverage through IMG.

As an insurance provider for over 160 years, many people trust John Hancock for their investment, retirement, financial , and insurance products. John Hancock offers streamlined travel insurance packages for older adults who plan to travel internationally with ample protection. Although on the pricier side, older adults can choose from three plans ranked Gold, Silver, and Bronze depending on how much coverage they’d like for their travels. Currently, John Hancock’s plans feature comprehensive coverage including trip cancellation, trip delays, emergency accident and sickness medical coverage, and more. They also offer high coverage options and greater protection for seniors who want 24/7 assistance.

FYI: If you purchase a travel insurance plan through John Hancock within the first 14 days of booking your trip, you can get the best coverage options. 

Depending on your unique situation, age, and duration of travel, you can customize a quote online and choose from three different plan tiers: Gold, Silver, and Bronze. The Silver plan offers the following coverages:

• Trip cancellation (up to 100 percent of trip cost)
• Trip interruption (up to 150 percent of trip cost)
• Trip cancellation for any reason (up to 75 percent of nonrefundable trip cost)
• Airline ticket change fee (minimum 1-hour delay $200)
• Missed connections ($750)
• Trip delay ($150 per day; maximum $750)
• Baggage delay (maximum $500; daily limit of $500)
• Baggage/personal effects (up to $1,000; per article: $250; maximum for property: $1,000)
• Accidental death and dismemberment (up to $100,000)
• Emergency accident and emergency sickness medical expense (up to $100,000)
• Emergency medical evacuation and medically necessary repatriation (up to $500,000)
• Repatriation of remains (up to $500,000)
• Preexisting conditions waiver
• Frequent travel loyalty (up to $200)

Pros About John Hancock

• Coverage for travelers with preexisting conditions
• Frequent travel loyalty perks
• Trip cancellation and trip interruption coverages
• 24/7 travel assistance

Cons About John Hancock

• Limited plans
• Some of the travel insurance plans can be expensive
• Need to speak with a licensed agent to get more information
• 14-day refund not available in states like IN, NH, and UT

John Hancock offers peace of mind and solid travel insurance plans for older adults who plan to travel alone or with their families. If you’re not satisfied or change your mind, you can call to cancel the purchase within 14 days of the effective date. John Hancock offers streamlined travel insurance coverage options — perfect for that cruise or international trip you’ve been dreaming about! Keep in mind that all travelers must reside in the same U.S. state to share a John Hancock policy.

Nationwide has been around since 1925, offering insurance, investing, and retirement products for individuals and businesses. Nationwide offers some of the best affordable cruise travel insurance plans for older adults that we’ve seen. If you’re planning a cruise with your family or friends, we recommend looking into three of their cruise plans: the Universal Cruise, Choice Cruise, and Luxury Cruise plans.

Did You Know? If you’re looking into other insurance policies for dental, vision, life insurance, check out our guide to insurance for seniors in 2024 .

The Choice and Luxury Cruise plans offer coverage for preexisting conditions. Plus, you can easily modify and add coverage even if you’ve already purchased a plan. One thing to remember: Not all coverage is available in all states, so you’ll have to check with a local travel insurance agent.

Nationwide offers single trip, annual trip, and cruise insurance. For cruise insurance, we recommend the Choice Cruise plan, as it’s flexible and affordable. Here’s what the plan covers:

• Trip cancellation (up to 100 percent of nonrefundable trip costs)
• Trip interruption (up to 150 percent of nonrefundable trip costs)
• Interruption for any reason ($500)
• Missed connection/trip delay ($1,500/$750)
• Itinerary changes ($200-$500)
• Emergency accident and sickness medical expense ($100,000)
• Accidental death and dismemberment ($25,000)
• Preexisting condition waiver (if purchased within 14 days of trip)
• Baggage and personal effects ($2,500 maximum, $600 maximum for special items, $300 per article limit of $500)
• Key cancellation/interruption covered reasons
• Cancel for any reason
• Non-medical evacuation ($25,000)
• Refund policy: 10-day review period

Pros About Nationwide

• Member of the US Travel Insurance Association
• Travel insurance plans for cruises, single- and multi-trips
• Hassle-free claims
• Affordable travel insurance rates
• Flexible annual trip plans start at $59

Cons About Nationwide

• Cruise plan refund policy not available in NY or WA
• Lower trip interruption limits compared to other providers (125 percent for Essential plan single trip)
• Some plans may have nonrefundable processing fees

Nationwide provides a variety of options for senior travelers, whether you’re flying to a new destination or cruising. The company has high coverage amounts, including a 10-day review period for refunds on some of its cruise plans. If your trip is canceled, you’ll be reimbursed for up to 100 percent of the nonrefundable trip cost.

As one of the world’s leading travel insurance companies, Travel Guard provides specialized coverages for older adults at affordable prices. Along with travel medical and concierge assistance, Travel Guard has responsive customer service and optional add-on coverages.

FYI: To get a preexisting medical conditions exclusion waiver through Travel Guard, you’ll have to purchase it within 15 days of the initial trip payment.

The provider offers three travel insurance plans: the Essential, Preferred, and Deluxe plans, with high coverage amounts up to $1 million. Coverage offerings include trip cancellation, baggage coverage, and travel medical expenses, along with specialized coverages such as car rental, medevac, and lodging expenses.

Travel Guard offers the following coverage for their Preferred plan — one of their most popular plans.

• Cancel for any reason (optional add-on)
• Baggage coverage (up to $1,000)
• Baggage delay (up to $300)
• Travel medical expense (up to $50,000)
• Travel inconvenience
• Medevac (up to $500,000)
• Car rental (optional add-on)
• Lodging expense (optional add-on)
• Trip exchange
• Security evac (optional add-on)
• Preexisting medical conditions exclusion waiver

Pros About Travel Guard

• One of the world’s leading travel insurance companies
• Specialized coverages
• Easy and fast claim process
• Family coverage options
• Preexisting medical condition exclusion waiver
• Cancel for any reason (up to 48 hours prior to departure)
• Travel insurance plans currently available in all states

Cons About Travel Guard

• Some plans don’t offer flight guard, security evacuation, trip saver, trip exchange, or other specialized coverages

Travel Guard offers a variety of affordable travel insurance plans for families, seniors, and those who frequently travel. If you’re looking for specialized coverages with higher coverage limits up to $1,000,000, we’d recommend looking into Travel Guard’s three travel insurance plans. Keep in mind that if you think you may need a preexisting medical conditions exclusion waiver, you’ll need to purchase it within 15 days of the initial trip payment.

Money-Saving Tip: Looking for ways to save on an upcoming trip? Check out our senior discounts guide to learn how you can save on hotels, cruises, transportation, and more!

For travelers looking for higher coverage limits, you can get up to $750 to $2,500 for baggage coverage and up to $100,000 for travel medical expense coverage. One of the perks of purchasing travel insurance through Travel Guard is that they are available in all states. You can also purchase an annual plan if you are looking for coverage for multiple trips throughout the year.

Our Methodology: How We Chose the Best Seniors Travel Insurance

When choosing the best travel insurance providers, we considered the following criteria.

• Coverages: We chose travel insurance providers that offer the best comprehensive coverage with higher limits for trip cancellations, emergency medical transportation, and baggage delay.
• Specialized coverages: We focused on companies that have optional or additional specialized coverages like car rentals or accidental death and dismemberment.
• Preexisting medical conditions: Our list features some providers that offer preexisting medical condition waivers.
• Cruise coverage: The companies on our list offer cruise coverage along with traditional travel insurance.
• Financial standing: It’s important to choose a provider with an excellent financial portfolio. We selected providers with above-average ratings by reputable ranking agencies.
• Customer service: We assessed the ease of use of navigating each insurance provider’s mobile app and claims processing center. We also evaluated how easy it was to obtain free online quotes and contact customer service.
• Affordability: The providers on our list offer budget-friendly coverage for seniors over the age of 65 and their families.

Comparing the Best Travel Insurance for Seniors

To give you a better idea of prices, we researched the average costs of travel insurance for older adults from each of our top providers. We obtained quotes for 65-year-olds on a two-week trip to Italy with an $8,000 travel budget.

What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

Many travel insurance plans cover the following benefits, with options for specialized or add-on coverages:

• Trip cancellation: Receive a reimbursement if you need to cancel your trip.
• Trip interruption: If your trip is interrupted, you can get reimbursed for the nonrefundable amount of your trip and the cost of transportation per insured person.
• Travel delay: You can get reimbursed a certain amount per day if your trip is delayed for a specified period of time.
• Cancel for any reason: Receive a refund for a portion of your trip expenses if you need to cancel your trip due to a death in the family or other situation.
• Baggage delay: If your baggage is delayed for a specified period of time, you may receive reimbursement for the hours delayed and if you need to purchase specific items due to the delay.
• Emergency medical: If you have dental or medical emergencies while traveling, this benefit can cover these expenses.
• Car rental: As an add-on, you can get car rental insurance to help cover the cost of rental car damages and other expenses if you get into an accident.
• Medical evacuation: Also known as medevac, this optional coverage provides emergency medical transportation if you need to be airlifted.
• Accidental death and dismemberment: If you die during your travels as a result of accidental death or dismemberment, your beneficiary would receive certain benefits.
• Repatriation of remains: If a traveler passes away during your trip, this benefit will cover the cost of returning them home.
• Preexisting medical condition waiver: Some insurance carriers offer coverage for those with preexisting medical conditions.

How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost for Seniors?

Based on our research after obtaining online quotes from five different travel insurance providers, we found that the average cost of travel insurance is $655.23 per insured person when you plan to spend around $8,000 for an international trip. While this might seem steep, travel insurance can help you avoid thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses during an emergency. According to Forbes, the average cost of travel insurance is roughly six percent of your overall trip costs and is dependent on the amount you plan to spend on your trip.

Tips for Choosing the Best Travel Insurance for Seniors

When planning a trip, it’s important to compare travel insurance quotes to make sure you get the best deal. It’s better to plan ahead and enjoy the rest of your trip knowing you’ve purchased the best travel insurance for your needs. We’ve compiled a list of tips on how to choose the best travel insurance below:

• Coverage: Many insurance providers will highlight one of their best value plans to help you stay under budget. If cost is your main concern, choose a plan that offers the minimum coverage with the option of adding additional coverage if needed.
• Preexisting conditions: Not all providers offer preexisting conditions waivers, so it’s important to research and inquire about this if you’re so affected.
• Discounts: Agencies like AARP may offer senior discounts and travel savings if you’re a member. Consider these discounts on top of your travel insurance purchases.
• Medical expenses: Look into comprehensive travel insurance plans that offer substantial medical coverage. Some plans may require you to purchase separate travel medical insurance.
• Compare providers: Get quotes from multiple providers and compare rates and coverage. Think about the benefits that are the most important to you, along with your budget, and choose a plan accordingly
• 24/7 assistance: Some companies offer 24/7 assistance, which is essential when traveling in different time zones. Also, check to see if your provider offers concierge services.

Frequently Asked Questions About Seniors Travel Insurance

Travel insurance helps protect you and your loved ones if you experience a health emergency while traveling. It can also protect and help reimburse you if your trip gets canceled, or you lose your baggage during the trip.

Medicare does not offer health care services that you receive outside of the U.S. This is why it’s important to purchase a travel insurance policy for more coverage.

Some insurance providers won’t offer coverage for preexisting conditions, losses due to war, or inability to afford the trip.

AAA. (2021). Pandemic Prompts More Americans to Consider Travel Insurance .

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• Best overall
• Best for expensive trips
• Best for older travelers
• Best for affordability
• Best for annual plans
• Why You Should Trust Us

Best Travel Insurance for Seniors of September 2024: Travel Insurance Coverage & Tips for Seniors

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate travel insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

Reaching your golden years doesn't mean your adventures have to end. In fact, in this stage of life, you'll hopefully have more time and resources to travel. But as a senior citizen, you'll want to ensure you have travel insurance that covers any health-related issues arise while you travel.

Best Senior Travel Insurance Companies of 2024 Summary

• Best overall: Allianz Travel Insurance
• Best for expensive trips: John Hancock Travel Insurance
• Best for age limits: TravelSafe Insurance
• Best for affordability: GeoBlue Travel Insurance
• Best for annual plans: Travel Guard

Top Travel Insurance for Seniors Comparison

Your health gets more unpredictable as you age, which makes travel insurance more important for seniors. Unfortunately, it's also more expensive. The best travel insurance for seniors won't have too steep of a price hike compared to rates for younger travelers. It will have high coverage limits for emergency medical coverage, trip cancellations, and and emergency medical evacuation. It's also important that your travel insurance offers pre-existing condition waivers , ideally at no extra cost to the traveler. 

Here are our picks for the best travel insurance coverage for seniors in 2024.

Best Senior Travel Insurance Overall

Allianz travel insurance.

Allianz is one of the most widely recognized names in travel insurance, and it stands out as one of the top travel insurance providers for seniors. It offers a wide range of policies covering medical treatments overseas and emergency medical transport.

Allianz also provides options for varying trip lengths. Its annual multi-trip policies, for example, cover any trip you make during your policy period, even if they aren't yet planned, making it an excellent option for seniors who vacation multiple times per year.

Read our Allianz Travel Insurance review .

Best Senior Travel Insurance for Expensive Trips

John hancock travel insurance.

John Hancock plans for seniors offer some of the best coverage available. It provides generous maximum benefit amounts while still offering affordable prices.

Each plan includes coverages like trip cancellation, emergency accident, and emergency medical, with the option to add benefits like CFAR (cancel for any reason) . Plus, getting a free online quote is a quick and straightforward process.

Read our John Hancock Travel Insurance review .

Best Senior Travel Insurance for Age Limits

Travelsafe insurance.

TravelSafe is a great choice for older travelers, even among seniors, insuring travelers up to 100 years old. TravelSafe also offers pre-existing condition waivers for all its tiers when you purchase your policy within 21 days of your initial trip deposit. With a great deal of flexibility, travelers don't have to worry about eligibility when purchasing travel insurance with TravelSafe. TravelSafe even has two tiers of coverage devoted specifically to golfers. 

Read our TravelSafe travel insurance review .

Best Senior Travel Insurance for Affordability

Geoblue travel insurance.

GeoBlue is a travel insurance provider that specializes in travel medical insurance . Because it doesn't offer much trip protection or travel inconvenience coverage, it can charge cheaper premiums than its competitors, earning it a spot among the best cheap travel insurance .

GeoBlue's policies cover travelers who are under 95 years old, offering sizeable coverage for emergency medical treatments (up to $1 million) and medical evacuations (up to $500K). It's worth noting that while coverage for pre-existing conditions are available, it costs extra.

Read our GeoBlue Travel Insurance review .

Best Senior Travel Insurance for Annual Plans

Travel guard.

Travel Guard offers comprehensive insurance plans for shorter and longer trips. One of its more unique offerings is its Travel Guard Annual Plan.

This annual travel insurance policy comes with standard coverage benefits (trip delay, baggage loss, etc.) and substantial coverage amounts, which is important for seniors who travel multiple times per year. Travel Guard also offers a pre-existing medical condition waiver, meaning those with certain medical issues can still gain coverage.

Read our AIG Travel Guard Insurance review .

Understanding Travel Insurance for Seniors

Before diving into the specifics, it's essential to understand what travel insurance is and why it's particularly important for senior travelers. The best travel insurance offers financial protection against unexpected events affecting your trip, such as trip cancellations, medical emergencies, or lost luggage.

Types of coverage

• Medical Coverage: Ensures your medical expenses are covered in case of illness or injury.
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage: Provides reimbursement if your trip is canceled or cut short due to unforeseen events.
• Baggage Coverage: Covers loss, damage, or theft of personal items during your trip.
• Pre-existing condition coverage:  Can mean two different things: coverage for trip cancellations as a result of pre-existing conditions or medical expenses as a result of pre-existing conditions. Either way, policy must be purchased within a certain time frame from when you booked your trip, usually two or three weeks.

Benefits of travel insurance for seniors

• Peace of Mind: Knowing you're covered in case of emergencies can make your travel stress-free.
• Financial Protection: Shields you from potentially overwhelming medical costs and trip cancellations fees.
• Assistance Services: Many plans offer 24/7 assistance services, providing help whenever and wherever you need it.

Making the most of your plan

After choosing a plan, it's crucial to understand your policy fully and know what services are available to you in case of an emergency.

Understanding your policy

When you purchase a travel insurance policy, you'll be able to see a description of benefits, which is a long document that describes the exceptions and limitations to your coverage. You should carefully review this document so you're not blindsided by unexpected claim denials. 

For example, if you're canceling a trip because unexpected work, you may not be eligible for coverage if you haven't worked at your company for long enough. Additionally, you should review your policy to ensure that your pre-existing condition is covered, as companies often have very specific language around what qualifies as a covered pre-existing condition.

Emergency assistance services

Most companies offer a 24/7 concierge service that can help you navigate situations that arise during your trip, even issues beyond the scope of your policy. They can advise you on how to navigate these situations in accordance with your policy and make sure you acquire the necessary documentation when you need to file a claim down the line.

How to Pick Travel Insurance as a Senior Traveler

It's wise to compare several different travel insurance policies for the best coverage and pricing, as premiums vary widely between insurers and depend on factors like your age and travel destination.

That said, some of the more essential coverages to look for if you're a senior citizen include:

• Travel medical coverage - This coverage will pay for your medical bills outside the U.S.
• Medical evacuation coverage - If you're injured or become sick while traveling, this coverage will transport you to the nearest hospital or even back home if your condition necessitates it.
• Pre-existing conditions - Coverage for known health conditions. You'll need to purchase travel insurance within a certain time period from when you book your trip to qualify for a pre-existing condition waiver .
• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) - The name says it all! It'll cost extra and you'll need to purchase insurance early, but it's the most comprehensive trip cancellation coverage you can get. Note that CFAR insurance usually only covers up to 75% of your trip fees.
• Trip cancellation insurance - This coverage provides reimbursement for your prepaid and nonrefundable costs if you cannot make your trip due to an unforeseen event.
• Baggage delay insurance - This coverage will reimburse you for essentials like toiletries and clothes if your bags are delayed.
• Lost luggage insurance - This coverage will reimburse you up to a specified amount if your bags get lost en route.

Of these, the most critical to note are whether or not your policy covers pre-existing conditions and the limits for travel medical insurance and emergency medical evacuation.

Some insurance companies offer a waiver that will cover pre-existing conditions. You'll have to follow the requirements for adding a waiver to your policy, like insuring the entire cost of your trip. Or purchase the policy within a specific time after making your first trip deposit payments.

You'll also want to find a policy with high maximum limits for travel medical and emergency medical evacuation coverage. These types of expenses can be substantial, so you want to have appropriate coverage.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Senior Travel Insurance

When comparing senior travel insurance options, we looked at the following factors to evaluate each travel insurance provider:

• Coverage limits: We looked at each travel insurance company's coverage amounts for benefits like medical emergencies and trip cancellation.
• Flexibility: We looked at how customizable a policy is, so you can choose what your travel insurance policy covers and how much coverage you receive. We also looked at the age limits for a company's policy. 
• Coverage for pre-existing conditions: Pre-existing conditions are one of the more critical factors for travel insurance for senior citizens, so we looked at travel insurance companies that offer the best coverage for pre-existing conditions.
• Price: We compared travel insurance providers offering reasonable basic and comprehensive coverage rates. We also looked at how travel insurance companies price senior travel insurance compared to travel insurance for younger travelers.
• Benefits for seniors: We compared travel insurance companies that offer solid coverage for senior citizens, like medical evacuation, COVID-19 coverage, and trip cancellation.

You can read more about Business Insider's travel insurance rating methodology .

Best Senior Travel Insurance FAQ

Seniors should look for travel insurance policies that offer comprehensive medical coverage, including for pre-existing conditions and emergency medical evacuation. They should also consider policies with higher coverage limits to ensure adequate protection. Additionally, seniors should seek travel insurance plans that provide 24/7 assistance services, as well as coverage for trip cancellations, interruptions, and baggage protection.

When it comes to saving money on senior travel insurance, you should only be covering the services that you need. For example, if your plane ticket and hotel stay are refundable, there's no need to purchase trip cancellation. Seniors can also look into multi-trip insurance, which can save you money if you're planning multiple trips in a year.

All travel insurance companies included in this guide offer coverage for pre-existing medical conditions as long as you buy your policy within the qualifying period from when you placed your trip deposit.

The best travel insurance for seniors is Allianz due to its wide array of medical coverages and emergency medical transport. Allianz also offers multi-trip insurance policies, which could make sense for seniors who travel frequently.

Most travel insurance companies will have an age limit, often only insuring people 80 years old and younger. However, many of the insurance companies in our guide have higher limits or no age limit at all.

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Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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Insurance benefits underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: 2 Mid America Plaza, Suite 200, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181), rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233), rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101-C series or 101-P series, depending on your state of residence and plan chosen. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) are the 2nd and 3rd highest, respectively, of A.M. Best's 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Plans only available to U.S. residents and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Travel Insurance are marks of AGA Service Company dba Allianz Global Assistance or its affiliates. Allianz Travel Insurance products are distributed by Allianz Global Assistance, the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance benefits and assistance services. Any Non-Insurance Assistance services purchased are provided through AGA Service Company. Except as expressly provided under your plan, you are responsible for charges you incur from third parties. Contact AGA Service Company at  800-284-8300 or 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233 or [email protected] .

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11 Best Travel Insurance Companies in August 2024

Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

If the past few years have shown us anything, it’s that travelers need to be prepared for the unexpected — from a pandemic to flight troubles to the crowded airport terminals so many of us have encountered.

If you don't have sufficient travel insurance coverage via your credit card , you can supplement your policies with third-party plans.

Whether you’re looking for an international travel insurance plan, emergency medical care or a policy that includes extreme sports, these are the best travel insurance providers to get you covered.

How we found the best travel insurance

We looked at quotes from various companies for a 10-day trip to Mexico in September 2024. The traveler was a 55-year-old woman from Florida who spent $3,000 total on the trip, including airfare.

On average, the price of each company’s most basic coverage plan was $126.53. The costs displayed below do not include optional add-ons, such as Cancel For Any Reason coverage or pre-existing medical condition coverage.

Read our full analysis about the average cost of travel insurance so you can budget better for your next trip.

However, depending on the plan, you may be able to customize at an added cost.

As we continue to evaluate more travel insurance companies and receive fresh market data, this collection of best travel insurance companies is likely to change. See our full methodology for more details.

Best insurance companies

Types of travel insurance

What does travel insurance cover, what’s not covered, how much does it cost, do i need travel insurance, how to choose the best travel insurance policy, what are the top travel destinations in 2024, more resources for travel insurance shoppers.

Top credit cards with travel insurance

Methodology

Best travel insurance overall: berkshire hathaway travel protection.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

• ExactCare Value (basic) plan is among the least expensive we surveyed.
• Speciality plans available for road trips, luxury travel, adventure activities, flights and cruises.
• Company may reimburse claimants faster than average, including possible same-day compensation.
• Multiple "Trip Delay" coverage types might make claims confusing.
• Cheapest plan only includes fixed amounts for its coverage.

Under the direction of chair and CEO Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has been around since 2014. Its plans provide numerous opportunities for travelers to customize coverage to their needs.

At $135 for our sample trip, the ExactCare Value (basic) plan from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection offers protection roughly $10 above the average price.

Want something cheaper? Air travelers looking for inexpensive, less comprehensive protections might opt for a basic AirCare plan that includes fixed amounts for its coverage .

Read our full review of Berkshire Hathaway .

What else makes Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection great:

Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waivers available at nearly all plan levels. 

Plans available for travelers going on a cruise, participating in extreme sports or taking a luxury trip.

ExactCare Value (basic) plan was among the least expensive we surveyed.

Best for emergency medical coverage: Allianz Global Assistance

Annual or single-trip policies are available.

• Multiple types of insurance available.
• All plans include access to a 24/7 assistance hotline.
• More expensive than average.
• CFAR upgrades are not available.
• Rental car protection is only available by adding the One Trip Rental Car protector to your plan or by purchasing a standalone rental car plan.

Allianz Global Assistance is a reputable travel insurance company offering plans for over 25 years. Customers can choose from a variety of single and annual policies to fit their needs. On top of comprehensive coverage, some travelers might opt for the more affordable OneTrip Cancellation Plus, which is geared toward domestic travelers looking for trip protections but don’t need post-departure benefits like emergency medical or baggage lost.

For our test trip, Allianz Global Assistance’s basic coverage cost $149, about $22 above average.

What else makes Allianz Global Assistance great:

Annual and single-trip plans.

Plans are available for international and domestic trips.

Stand-alone and add-on rental car damage product available.

Read our full review of Allianz Global Assistance .

Best for travelers with pre-existing medical conditions: Travel Guard by AIG

Travel Guard by AIG

• Offers last-minute coverage.
• Pre-Existing Medical Conditions Exclusion Waiver available at all plan levels.
• Plan available for business travelers.
• Cancel For Any reason coverage only available for higher-level plans, and only reimburses up to 50% of the trip cost.
• Trip interruption coverage doesn't apply to trips paid for with points and miles.

Travel Guard by AIG offers a variety of plans and coverages to fit travelers’ needs. On top of more standard trip protections like trip cancellation, interruption, baggage and medical coverage, the Cancel For Any Reason upgrade is available on certain Travel Guard plans, which allows you to cancel a trip for any reason and get 50% of your nonrefundable deposit back as long as the trip is canceled at least two days before the scheduled departure date.

At $107 for our sample trip, the Essential plan was below average, saving roughly $20.

What else makes Travel Guard by AIG great:

Three comprehensive plans and a Pack N' Go plan for last-minute travelers who don't need cancellation benefits.

Flight protection, car rental, and medical evacuation coverage, as well as annual plans available.

Pre-existing medical conditions exclusion waiver available on all plan levels, as long as it's purchased within 15 days.

Read our full review of Travel Guard by AIG .

Best for those who pack expensive equipment: Travel Insured International

Travel Insured International

• Higher-level plan include optional add-ons for event tickets and for electronic equipment
• Rental car protection add-on for just $8 per day, even on lower-level plan.
• Many of the customizations are only available on the higher-tier plan.
• Coverage cost comes in above average in our latest analysis.

Travel Insured International offers several customization options. For instance, those going to see a show may want to add on event ticket registration fee protection. Traveling with expensive gear?Consider adding on coverage for electronic equipment for up to $2,000 in coverage.

Be sure to check which policies are available in your state. You will need to input your destination, residence, trip dates and the number of travelers to get a quote and see coverages.

What else makes Travel Insured International great:

Comprehensive plans include medical expense reimbursement accidents, sickness, evacuation and pre-existing conditions, depending on the plan.

Flight plans include coverage for missed and canceled flights and lost or stolen baggage.

Read our full review of Travel Insured International .

Best for adventurous travelers: World Nomads

World Nomads

• Travelers can extend coverage mid-trip.
• The standard plan covers up to $300,000 in emergency evacuation costs.
• Plans automatically cover 200+ adventurous activities.
• No Cancel For Any Reason upgrades are available.
• No pre-existing medical condition waivers are available.

Many travel insurance plans contain exclusions for adventure sports activities. If you plan to ski, bungee jump, windsurf or parasail, this might be a plan to consider.

Note that the Standard plan ($72 for our sample trip), while the most affordable, provides less coverage than other plans. But it can be a good choice for travelers who are satisfied with trip cancellation and interruption coverage of $2,500 or less, do not need rental car damage protection, find the limits to be sufficient and do not need coverage for certain more adventurous activities.

What else makes World Nomads great:

Comprehensive international travel insurance plans.

Coverage available for adventure activities, such as trekking, mountain biking and scuba diving.

Read our full review of World Nomads .

Best for medical coverage: Travelex Insurance Services

Travelex Insurance Services

• Top-tier plan doesn’t break the bank and provides more customization opportunities.
• Offers a plan specifically for domestic travel.
• Sells a post-departure medical coverage plan.
• Fewer customization opportunities on the Basic plan.
• Though perhaps a plus for domestic travelers, keep in mind the Travel America plan only covers domestic trips.

For starters, basic coverage from Travelex Insurance Services came in at $125, almost exactly average for our sample trip.

Travelex’s plans focus heavily on providing protections that are personalized to your travel style and trip type.

While the company does offer comprehensive plans that include medical benefits, you can also choose between cheaper plans that don’t provide cancellation coverage but do offer protections during your travels.

Read our full review of Travelex Insurance Services .

What else makes Travelex Insurance Services great:

Three comprehensive plans available, two of which cover international trips.

Offers a post-departure plan geared exclusively toward disruptions after you leave home.

Two flight insurance plans available.

Best if you have travel credit card coverage: Seven Corners

Seven Corners

• Annual, medical-only and backpacker plans are available.
• Cancel For Any Reason upgrade is available for the cheapest plan.
• Cheapest plan also features a much less costly Interruption for Any Reason add-on.
• Offers only one annual policy option.

Each Seven Corners plan offers several optional add-ons. Among the more unique is a Trip Interruption for Any Reason, which allows you to interrupt a trip 48 hours after the scheduled departure date (for any reason) and receive a refund of up to 75% of your unused nonrefundable deposits.

» Jump to the best cards with travel insurance

The basic coverage plan for our trip to Mexico costs $124 — right around the average.

What else makes Seven Corners great:

Comprehensive plans for U.S. residents and foreigners, including travelers visiting the U.S.

Cheap add-ons for rental car damage, sporting equipment rental or trip interruption for any reason.

Read our full review of Seven Corners .

Best for long-term travelers: IMG

• Coverage available for adventure travelers.
• Offers direct billing.
• Claim approval can be lengthy.

While some travel insurance companies offer just a handful of plans, with IMG, you’ll really have your pick. Though this requires a bit more research, it allows you to search for coverage that fits your travel needs.

However, travelers will want to be aware that IMG’s iTravelInsured Travel Lite is expensive. Coming in at $149.85, it’s the costliest plan on our list.

Read our full review of IMG .

What else makes IMG great:

More affordable than average.

Many plans to choose from to fit your needs.

Best for travelers with unpredictable work demands: Tin Leg

• In addition Cancel For Any Reason, some plans offer cancel for work reason coverage.
• Adventure sports-specific coverage is available.
• Plans have overlap that can be hard to distinguish.
• Only one plan includes Rental Car Damage coverage available as an add-on.

Tin Leg’s Basic plan came in at $134 for our sample trip, adding about $8 onto the average basic policy cost. Note that you’ll pay a lot more if you shop for the most comprehensive coverage, and there are eight plans to choose from for trips abroad.

The multitude of plans can help you find coverage that fits your needs, but with so many to choose from, deciding can be daunting.

The only real way to figure out your ideal plan is to compare them all, look at the plan details and decide which features and coverage suit you and your travel style best.

Read our full Tin Leg review .

Best for booking travel with points and miles: TravelSafe

• Covers up to $300 redepositing points and miles on eligible canceled award flights.
• Optional add-on protection for business equipment or sports rentals.
• Multi-trip or year-long plans aren’t available.

Selecting your travel insurance plan with TravelSafe is a fairly straightforward process. The company’s website also makes it easy to visualize how optional add-on elements influence the total cost, displaying the final price as soon as you click the coverage.

However, at $136, the Basic plan was among the more expensive for our trip to Mexico.

What else makes TravelSafe great:

Rental car damage coverage add-on is available on both plans.

Cancel For Any Reason coverage available on the TravelSafe Classic plan.

Read our full TravelSafe review .

Best for group travel insurance: HTH Insurance

HTH Travel Insurance

• Covers travelers up to 95 years old.
• Includes direct pay option so members can avoid having to pay up front for services.
• A 24-hour delay is required for baggage delay coverage on the TripProtector Economy plan.
• No waivers for pre-existing conditions on the lower-level plan.

HTH offers single-trip and multitrip medical insurance coverage as well as trip protection plans.

At around $125, the Trip Protector Economy policy is at the average mark for plans we reviewed.

You can choose to insure group trips for educators, crew, religious missionaries and corporate travelers.

What else makes HTH Insurance great:

Medical-only coverage and trip protection coverage.

Lots of options for group travelers.

Read our full review of HTH Insurance .

As you shop for travel insurance, you’ll find many of the same coverage categories across numerous plans.

Trip cancellation

This covers the prepaid costs you make for your trip in cases when you need to cancel for a covered reason. This coverage helps you recoup upfront costs paid for flights and nonrefundable hotel reservations.

Trip interruption

Trip interruption benefits generally involve disruptions after you depart. It helps reimburse costs incurred for flight delays, cancellations and plenty of other covered disruptions you might encounter during your travels.

This coverage can cover the costs for you to return home or reimburse unexpected expenses like an extra hotel stay, meals and ground transportation.

Trip delay coverage helps cover unexpected costs when your trip is delayed. This is another coverage that helps offset the costs of flight trouble or other travel disruptions.

Note that many policies have a total amount a traveler can claim, with caps on per diem benefits, too.

Cancel For Any Reason

Cancel For Any Reason coverage allows you to recoup some of the upfront costs you paid for a trip even if you’re canceling for a reason not otherwise covered by your standard travel insurance policy.

Typically, adding this protection to your plan costs extra.

Baggage delay

This coverage helps cover the costs of essential items you might need when your luggage is delayed. Think toiletries, clothing and other immediate items you might need if your luggage didn’t make it on your flight.

Many travel insurance plans with baggage delay protection will specify how long (six, 12, 24 hours, etc.) your luggage must be delayed before you can make a claim.

Lost baggage

Used for travelers whose luggage is lost or stolen, this helps recoup the lost value of the items in your bag.

You’ll want to make sure you closely follow the correct procedures for your plan. Many plans include a maximum total amount you can claim under this coverage and a per-item cap.

Travel medical insurance

This covers out-of-pocket medical costs when travelers run into an emergency.

Because many travelers’ health insurance plans don’t cover medical care overseas, travel medical insurance can help offset out-of-pocket health care costs.

In addition to emergency medical coverage, many plans have medical evacuation or repatriation coverage for costs incurred when you must be taken to a hospital or return to your home country because of a medical situation.

Most travel insurance plans cover many trip protections that can help you be prepared for unexpected travel disruptions and expenses.

These coverages are generally aimed at protecting the money you put into your trip, expenses you incur because of travel trouble and costs incurred if you have a medical emergency overseas.

On top of core coverages like trip cancellation and interruption and travel medical coverage, some plans offer add-on options like waivers for pre-existing conditions, rental car collision damage waivers or adventure sports riders. These usually cost extra or must be added within a specified timeframe.

Typical travel insurance policies offer coverage for many unforeseen events, but as you research to select a plan, consider your needs. Though every plan differs, there are some commonly excluded coverages.

For instance, you typically can’t get coverage for a named storm if you bought the coverage after the storm was named. In other words, if you have a trip to the Caribbean booked for Sept. 25 and on Sept. 20 a hurricane develops and is named, you generally won’t be able to buy a travel insurance plan Sept. 21 in hopes of getting your money back.

Many plans also don’t cover activities performed under the influence of drugs or alcohol or any extreme sports. If the latter applies to you, you might want to consider a plan with specific coverages for adventure-seekers.

For numerous plans, a few other situations don’t qualify as an acceptable reason to cancel and make a claim, such as fear of travel, medical tourism or pregnancies (unless you booked a trip and bought insurance before you became pregnant or there are complications with the pregnancy). This is where a Cancel For Any Reason add-on to your coverage can be helpful.

You can also run into trouble if you give up on a trip too soon: a minor (or even multihour) flight delay likely isn’t sufficient to cancel your entire trip and get reimbursed through your plan. Be sure to review what requirements your specific plan has when it comes to canceling a trip, claiming trip interruption, etc.

Travel insurance costs vary widely. The final price of your plan will fluctuate based on your age, length of trip and destination.

It will also depend on how much coverage you need, whether you add on specialized policies (like Cancel For Any Reason or pre-existing conditions coverage), whether you plan to participate in extreme sports and other factors.

In our examples above, for instance, the 35-year-old traveler taking a $2,000 trip to Italy would have spent an average $76 for a basic plan to get coverage for things like trip cancellation and interruption, baggage protection, etc. That’s a little less than 4% of the total trip cost — lower than average.

If there were multiple members in a traveling party or if they were going on, say, a rock-climbing or bungee-jumping excursion, the costs would go up.

On average, travel insurance comes to about 5% to 10% of the trip cost. However, considering many of the plans reimburse up to 100% of the trip cost (or more) for disruptions like trip cancellation or interruption, it can be a worthwhile expense if something goes wrong.

It depends. Consider the following factors that might affect your decision: You’re young and healthy, all your bookings are refundable or cancelable without a penalty, your flights are nonstop, you’re not checking bags and a credit card you carry offers some travel protections . In that case, travel insurance might not be necessary.

On the other hand, if you prepaid a large chunk of money for a nonrefundable African safari, you’re going on a Caribbean cruise in the middle of a hurricane season or you’re going somewhere where the cost of health care is high, it’s not a bad idea to buy a travel insurance plan. Here’s how to find the best travel insurance coverage for you.

If you’re thinking of booking a trip and not planning to buy travel insurance, you may want to consider at least booking refundable airfare and not prepaying for hotel, rental car and activity reservations. That way, if something goes wrong, you can cancel without losing any money.

Selecting the best travel insurance policy comes down to your needs, concerns, preferences and budget.

As you book, take a few minutes to consider what most concerns you. Is it getting stranded because of flight trouble? Having the ability to cancel for any reason you see fit without losing money? Getting sick or injured right before departure and needing to postpone the trip? Injuring yourself or falling ill while overseas?

Ultimately, you want a plan that protects you, your money and the large investment in your trip — but doesn’t cost too much, either.

Medical coverage. If your priority is having adequate medical coverage abroad, you might want to look for plans with high limits for medical emergencies and medical evacuation.

Complex travel itinerary. If your itinerary has lots of flight connections, prepaid hotels and deposits for activities you can’t get back, prioritizing a plan with the best coverage for trip cancellations or interruptions may land at the top of your list.

Travel uncertainty. If you’re on the fence about a trip and have nonrefundable reservations, you may want to select a plan with a Cancel For Any Reason coverage option, which can help you recoup about 50% to 75% of the costs. This helps provide peace of mind, placing the decision on whether to travel entirely in your hands.

Car rentals. If you’re renting a car, a collision damage waiver is often worth looking into.

The following destinations are the top insured destinations in 2024, according to Squaremouth (a NerdWallet partner).

The Bahamas.

Costa Rica.

Antarctica.

In 2022, travelers spent about 25.53% more on trips than they did before the pandemic.

As of December, NerdWallet analysis determined travel prices are 10% higher than pre-pandemic. Each statistic makes a strong case for protecting your travel investment as you plan your next trip.

Bookmark these resources to help you make smart money moves as you shop for travel insurance.

What is travel insurance?

CFAR explained.

Is travel insurance worth getting?

10 credit cards that provide travel insurance.

We used the following factors to choose insurance providers to highlight:

Breadth of coverage: We looked at how many plans each company offered plus the range of their standard plans. 

Depth of coverage: We considered two data points to get a sense of how much each company pays out for common travel issues — the maximum caps for trip cancellation and trip interruption claims.

Cost: By looking at the costs for basic coverage across multiple companies, we determined an average cost for shoppers to benchmark plan prices against.

Customizability: While standard plans can cover a lot of ground, sometimes you need something a little more personal.

Customer satisfaction. Using data from Squaremouth when available, and Google Reviews as a backup, we can give kudos to companies with better track records from their clients.

No, it doesn’t necessarily get more expensive the longer you wait to purchase. However, as you put off buying insurance, you may lose access to potential plans and coverage options.

In general, buying travel insurance within a few days to two weeks of prepaying or making an initial deposit for your trip is your best bet. Assuming you’re not booking last-minute, this will provide you with access to the widest possible range of coverage options. It also helps prevent any medical conditions or storms that pop up between booking and buying a plan from ending up as excluded situations, which won’t be covered by your plan.

But, generally, many plans do allow you to buy coverage quite close to your departure date.

To get the most out of your travel insurance plan, buy it soon after making your initial prepayment or deposit to ensure you have access to the biggest menu of plans possible.

Select a plan that’s comprehensive enough to cover the travel scenarios you’re most concerned about or likely to encounter but not too expensive or laden with protections you’d never likely need.

Whatever your coverage, thoroughly review the plan so you understand what’s covered and what’s not, plus how to adhere to the plan’s rules for making a claim.

Travelers frequently use phrases like “trip insurance” and “travel insurance,” as well as “trip protection,” interchangeably, but they do mean different things, according to Stan Sandberg, founder of insurance comparison site TravelInsurance.com.

Trip insurance, or trip protection, generally refers to predeparture (or preevent) coverage if you need to cancel. You may see these plans sold by airlines, online travel agencies or even ticketed event sellers.

“You could refer to it as the portion that protects the investment in the trip,” Sandberg says.

A travel insurance plan typically includes that — plus more comprehensive benefits to protect you during your trip, from medical coverage to trip delay and lost baggage protections, and many more elements, depending on the plan.

Though travel insurance is typically not required for international trips, your personal circumstances will play a key role in whether it’s a good investment.

For instance, young, healthy travelers with few prepaid trip expenses embarking on a relatively risk-free trip may not see a need to buy a plan.

Older travelers with complicated itineraries who are visiting destinations where they could potentially fall ill or get injured — or who could encounter bad weather or some other disrupting factor along the way — may want to buy coverage.

Consider a few key questions:

How well would your health insurance plan cover you if you needed to visit a hospital overseas?

How much did you prepay for a hotel or rental car?

How much money would you be out if weather or some other flight issue derailed your itinerary?

Could you afford an unexpected night in a city where you have a connecting flight?

Do you already have a credit card that provides some travel protections?

Your answers to these questions can help you decide whether you need travel insurance for your international trip.

In general, buying travel insurance

within a few days to two weeks of prepaying or making an initial deposit

for your trip is your best bet. Assuming you’re not booking last-minute, this will provide you with access to the widest possible range of coverage options. It also helps prevent any medical conditions or storms that pop up between booking and buying a plan from ending up as excluded situations, which won’t be covered by your plan.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

On a similar note...

MarketWatch Guides is a reviews and recommendations team, independent of the MarketWatch newsroom. We might earn a commission from links in this content.  Learn More

Best Senior Travel Insurance

Alex Carver is a writer and researcher based in Charlotte, N.C. A contributor to major news websites such as Automoblog and USA Today, she’s written content in sectors such as insurance, warranties, shipping, real estate and more.

Tori Addison is an editor who has worked in the digital marketing industry for over five years. Her experience includes communications and marketing work in the nonprofit, governmental and academic sectors. A journalist by trade, she started her career covering politics and news in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her work included coverage of local and state budgets, federal financial regulations and health care legislation.

Here’s a breakdown of how we reviewed and rated the best travel insurance companies

Top 9 Best Senior Travel Insurance Companies of 2024

Here are our picks for the top travel insurance companies for U.S. seniors. All companies we’ve ranked as our top picks offer pre-existing conditions coverage or a waiver.

• Faye: Our top pick for seniors
• Travelex : Best for budget travelers
• Nationwide Travel Insurance : Best for baggage coverage
• Generali Global Assistance : Best for trip interruption coverage
• Seven Corners Travel Insurance : Best for visitors to the USA
• HTH Travel Insurance : Best for group travel
• WorldTrips Travel Insurance: Most affordable comprehensive coverage
• Allianz: Best for concierge services
• International Medical Group : Best for medical coverage

Compare The Best Travel Insurance Companies for Seniors

It’s important to balance coverage with cost when searching for a senior travel insurance policy to ensure you get the best deal possible. See the table below for the average price of a travel insurance plan based on quotes we gathered from our top company picks. We’ve also included our recommended plans for seniors, availability of COVID-19 coverage and Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings across each provider.

* Average costs are based on quotes our team gathered from each provider using four different traveler profiles, ranging from 70 to 81 years old.

** The BBB scores for the travel insurance companies listed above are accurate as of August 2024.

The Best Senior Travel Insurance in Detail

Why We Picked Faye for Senior Travelers

We chose Faye as our top pick for senior travelers. While it offers only one plan, the company includes $250,000 worth of primary medical coverage on all its policies and has a pre-existing conditions waiver to help seniors cover chronic medical conditions. To qualify for this pre-existing coverage waiver, you must purchase your policy within 14 days of your initial trip deposit and be medically able to travel at the time of plan purchase. Faye’s policies also provide $500,000 in emergency medical evacuation coverage, which could benefit older travelers if they have a complex health condition or are traveling to a remote area.

Pros and Cons

Coverage and cost.

Faye offers the following add-on options:

• CFAR coverage
• Rental car damage or theft
• Adventure and extreme sports protection
• Vacation rental damage protection

We gathered quotes directly from Faye to better understand the cost of a travel insurance policy for seniors. Based on the quotes we gathered, the average cost of senior travel insurance is $337.

Why We Picked Travelex for Senior Travelers

Travelex is our top choice for budget travelers due to its flat-rate coverage, which starts at $60 for U.S. travel. While the provider is one of the more expensive options for senior travelers, it’s worth considering because of its primary medical coverage. If you become hospitalized outside of the U.S. , Medicare won’t pay for most injuries and illnesses. A travel insurance plan that offers secondary coverage may leave you with a major medical bill after a serious accident. Travelex’s Travel Select plan allows seniors to upgrade their primary medical coverage with additional medical and emergency evacuation coverage, providing peace of mind while abroad.

• Trip cancellation: 100% of non-refundable costs
• Trip interruption: 100%–150% of non-refundable costs
• Baggage: $100–$200 for delays and $500–$1,000 for losses
• Medical expenses: $15,000–$50,000
• Medical evacuation: $100,000–$500,000

You can choose from the following add-on coverage with Travelex:

• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage (up to 75% of trip costs)
• Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) and medical benefit upgrades
• Car rental collision

We gathered quotes directly from Travelex to learn more about the average cost of a travel insurance policy for seniors through the company. Based on these quotes, Travelex’s average cost is $585.

Nationwide Travel Insurance

Why We Picked Nationwide for Senior Travelers

We named Nationwide as the best for baggage coverage thanks to its generous coverage limits across various plans. We particularly like Nationwide’s Luxury Cruise plan, as it features several inclusions that benefit senior travelers at an affordable price. Trip interruption coverage includes up to 200% of your trip cost, and you can qualify for a pre-existing conditions waiver up to 21 days after your initial deposit. While medical limits are lower than most competitors, Nationwide’s general and cruise-specific coverages present a viable option for older travelers.

• Trip interruption: 125%–200% of non-refundable costs
• Baggage: $100–$600 for delays and $500–$2,000 for losses
• Medical expenses: $75,000–$150,000
• Medical evacuation: $250,000–$1 million

Nationwide offers the following add-ons, but available coverage may vary by plan.

• AD&D coverage (available on all plans)
• Rental car coverage options (Essential and Prime plans)
• CFAR coverage (Prime Plan, Cruise Choice and Luxury plans)

We gathered quotes directly from Nationwide to better gauge what a travel insurance policy costs for seniors. Based on the quotes collected by our research team, a senior travel insurance plan with Nationwide costs $407 on average.

Generali Global Assistance

Why We Picked Generali Global Assistance for Senior Travelers

We named Generali Global Assistance best for trip interruption coverage, as it provides up to 175% reimbursement through its Premium plan when most insurers only offer up to 150%.  This coverage could be ideal for seniors worried about cutting their trip short due to an unforeseen event. We like how Generali’s policies include around-the-clock travel assistance, and its Premium plan offers generous medical coverage of up to $250,000. In addition, Generali’s medical coverage does not have a lower cap for dental coverage, which is a benefit if you experience a dental abscess or another major dental emergency on vacation.

• Trip interruption: 125% – 175% of non-refundable costs
• Baggage: $200–$500 for delays and $1,000–$2,000 for losses
• Medical expenses: $50,000–$250,000

Generali offers fewer add-on options than other insurance providers we reviewed, including:

• Rental car accident insurance (offers up to $25,000 with the Standard and Preferred plans)
• CFAR insurance (available with the Premium plan only)

Note that the Premium plan includes rental car coverage as standard so the add-on is not available to those customers.

We gathered quotes directly from Generali to learn about the cost of a travel insurance policy for seniors. Based on these quotes, seniors can expect to pay $298 for a Generali plan.

Seven Corners Travel Insurance

Why We Picked Seven Corners for Senior Travelers

Seven Corners is our pick for visitors to the U.S., as the provider offers travel medical policies to international travelers planning a trip to the States. As an older traveler, you may focus on comprehensive medical care and evacuation protections when buying travel insurance. Seven Corners offers a broad selection of medical insurance policies, with travelers 65 to 79 years old provided up to $100,000 in medical coverage. Travelers 80 years and older can receive $10,000 in coverage, which is an age many other providers exclude from enrollment entirely. Seven Corners also offers medical evacuation coverage up to $1 million, which can benefit those traveling to a remote area.

• Baggage: $500  for delays and $500–$2,500 for losses
• Medical expenses: $100,000–$500,000

With Seven Corners, you can choose from the following add-ons:

• CFAR insurance
• Event ticket registration fee protection
• Interrupted for any reason (IFAR) coverage
• Rental car collision waiver ($35,000 maximum)
• Sports and golf equipment rental coverage

Our research team collected quotes from Seven Corners using various senior traveler profiles. We found that a senior traveler can expect to pay $388 on average.

HTH Travel Insurance

Why We Picked HTH for Senior Travelers

If you’re a senior traveling with a group, you might consider buying coverage through a travel insurance provider offering benefits when you purchase two or more policies at once. We named HTH Travel Insurance best for group travel because its policies have a 10% discount for groups of travelers over 65 and include medical limits of up to $1 million. Nationwide underwrites policies in most areas, and you may qualify for up to 200% of trip interruption coverage and primary medical benefits.

• Trip interruption: 100% of non-refundable costs (up to $1,000)
• Baggage: $500 for losses and delays
• Medical expenses: $50,000–$1 million
• Medical evacuation: $500,000

You can add the following coverage to your group insurance plan:

• CFAR insurance (must purchase within 10 days of your first trip deposit)
• Rental car damage (not available in Oregon, New York or Texas)

Based on quotes our research team gathered from HTH Worldwide,  senior travelers can expect to pay $437 on average .

WorldTrips Travel Insurance

Why WorldTrips is Great for Senior Travelers

Our team named WorldTrips as the provider with the most affordable comprehensive coverage. We like how it offers three general plans with up to $250,000 in emergency medical coverage. In addition, its policies are competitively priced, with an average cost of $206 per senior traveler. This can make it a more appealing choice for seniors looking for well-rounded coverage on a budget. WorldTrips is also notable for its range of add-on options, being one of the only travel insurance companies we reviewed to offer multiple tiers of CFAR reimbursement options.

• Trip interruption: 125%–150%  of non-refundable costs
• Baggage: $200–$600 for delays and $2,500 for losses

WorldTrips offers the following add-on options, which vary in availability by plan choice:

• CFAR coverage (50% or 75% reimbursement rates available)
• IFAR coverage
• Adventure sports medical coverage waiver
• Medical evacuation (doubles the standard coverage limit)
• Rental car damage and theft

Our team collected quotes for a variety of senior trips directly from WorldTrips to learn more about what seniors pay for travel insurance on average. In our review, we found the average senior traveler will pay a total of $276 for a travel insurance policy from WorldTrips.

Allianz Global Assistance

Our team named Allianz Travel Insurance as the best travel insurance company for concierge services. The Allianz OneTrip Prime and OneTrip Premier plans both include access to 24/7 concierge assistance around the world. We like how this service provides personalized information about your destination as well as individual assistance communicating with emergency and medical professionals during a crisis. In non-emergency situations, Allianz’s concierge service can help you make the most of your time abroad by booking reservations, tee times and other local add-ons.

• Baggage: $200–$600 for delays and $500–$2,000 for losses
• Medical expenses: $10,000–$75,000
• Medical evacuation: $50,000–$1 million

Allianz currently offers the following add-on options, with choices varying by plan:

• Rental car protection
• CFAR upgrade (reimburses up to 80% of trip expenses)

After collecting a range of quotes from Allianz, we concluded the average senior traveler will pay about $551 for insurance. This is higher than the national average our team calculated, especially in light of Allianz’s lower medical coverage limits.

International Medical Group

Why IMG Is Great for Senior Travelers

If you’re looking for more extensive medical coverage, you can find a number of policies available through International Medical Group (IMG). Named best for medical coverage by our team, the company offers inclusive international policies, with up to $8 million in medical coverage on single-trip plans. It also provides GlobeHopper Senior plans explicitly tailored to senior travelers by not enforcing a maximum age restriction. IMG makes it easier for seniors to customize coverage than other companies we’ve researched, allowing you to skip baggage and delay-related coverage if you solely want medical insurance.

• Trip interruption: 125% of non-refundable costs
• Baggage: $150–$500 for delays and $750–$2,500 for losses
• Medical expenses: $100,000–$8 million

Rental car damage and theft coverage, which some companies offer as add-ons, is included with many of IMG’s plans. You can add the following optional coverages:

• Pet kennel (up to $100 per day with a max of $300 per pet)
• Pre-existing condition review

IMG’s medical insurance policies include some exclusions limiting when you can use your coverage. But you can purchase a waiver that extends coverage to medical issues resulting from adventure sports and terrorism.

Based on quotes we gathered from IMG using four different senior traveler profiles, a 70-year-old couple taking a 7-day, $4,000 trip to Mexico will pay around $428 .

How We Ranked the Best Senior Travel Insurance Companies

After reviewing dozens of travel insurance providers, we ranked the best options for senior travelers by cost, coverage and value. The following are the major factors that influenced how we ranked each company:

• Medical expense limits: Companies with higher medical expense limits ranked higher on our list, specifically providers offering medical benefits higher than $250,000.
• Primary medical coverage: Medicare does not cover most medical bills incurred abroad. Companies offering primary medical coverage scored higher than those that only offer secondary coverage.
• Emergency medical evacuation: Not every travel insurance company offers medical evacuation coverage. We ranked companies with at least $100,000 in coverage higher than those with a lower benefit amount or not offering coverage at all.
• Premium costs: Travel insurance is more expensive for seniors because insurance companies consider older adults more likely to run into a medical issue and file an insurance claim. To compare premium costs , we gathered quotes for a U.S. couple taking a trip to the United Kingdom and ranked companies based on average affordability.
• Travel assistance: We ranked companies offering 24/7 travel assistance higher than those with more limited customer service hours.

How Much Does Senior Travel Insurance Cost?

The average cost of travel insurance for seniors is $417. However, seniors can likely expect to pay anywhere from $159 to $745 for a policy. Our team analyzed average travel insurance policy costs for senior travelers by gathering quotes from multiple providers using four different traveler profiles. Based on these quotes, we found the average cost of travel insurance for seniors was about 9% to 18% of their trip’s total value.

See the table below for a breakdown of average policy costs across the traveler profiles we used to gather quotes during our research process.

The table below shows the average cost of senior travel insurance by provider, averaging each of their plan costs for all 4 traveler types highlighted above, from cheapest to most expensive.

Keep in mind your actual travel insurance policy cost as a senior will depend on factors such as your age, total trip cost, level of coverage and more. We recommend gathering quotes from at least three different travel insurance companies before settling on a plan.

How To Pick The Best Senior Travel Insurance Plan

When shopping for senior travel insurance, consider the following tips to pick the right policy for your coverage needs.

Check for Pre-Existing Conditions Waivers

Most travel insurance companies exclude pre-existing conditions from medical coverage. If you’ve had changes in your health before purchasing a policy — such as a new diagnosis or new medication — a company may consider it a pre-existing condition.

Senior travelers with chronic medical conditions or a new diagnosis can see if their travel insurance provider offers a waiver for pre-existing conditions. This waiver can prevent a travel insurance company from denying medical-related reimbursements if you have a pre-existing condition, as it keeps the provider from examining your recent medical records when reviewing a claim.

Angela Borden, a product marketing specialist at Seven Corners, encourages travelers to check on medical coverage if they have pre-existing conditions.

“Contact your insurance provider to be sure you fully understand the pre-existing conditions coverage for the plan you choose,” she said, “being prepared and having the information before you need it in an emergency can make a huge difference.”

Opt for Primary Medical Coverage

If you get your health insurance through Medicare, you may consider travel insurance providers that offer primary (rather than secondary) medical coverage. Medicare does not pay for medical care provided outside the U.S., which can make travel insurance for seniors valuable. Providers like Travelex and Faye are good options for seniors who think they may need international medical care policies with primary coverage.

According to our survey of 1,000 people who have purchased a travel insurance policy in the past, over 60% recommend that a friend buy a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes medical coverage, cancellations, baggage, etc., over a cheaper policy with less coverage.

Choose a Plan With at Least $100,000 in Medical Coverage

Travel medical insurance can protect you if you need emergency medical care while on a trip. If you’re a senior with a Medicare policy that covers your domestic healthcare needs, your policy likely will not cover medical bills you incur in another country. If you need healthcare services due to a sudden illness or injury, a travel insurance plan with medical coverage can likely protect you financially in an emergency.

We recommend senior travelers obtain at least $100,000 in medical coverage based on our review of travel insurance companies and research into emergency medical expenses. If you experience a serious medical emergency that requires hospitalization, your healthcare bills might add up quickly. Consider your financial situation, the length of your travels and other factors when deciding on the amount of coverage you’re comfortable purchasing.

Get at Least $250,000 in Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Coverage

When traveling to a location without an accessible or strong healthcare infrastructure, the need for medical evacuation increases if you have a severe accident. If you need transport in an ambulance, helicopter or another specialized medical vehicle, medical evacuation coverage can help cover transport-related bills. Repatriation benefits — often included alongside medical evacuation coverage — cover the cost of transporting your remains back to your home country in the event of death abroad.

We recommend getting emergency evacuation coverage of at least $250,000, ideally $500,000. According to Medjet , medical transport costs can range from $30,000 to over $180,000, so you’ll likely want limits that can provide you with peace of mind if you need transport during a medical crisis.

Frequent International Travelers: Consider Annual Travel Insurance

Seniors who plan to travel to multiple destinations over the course of a year might consider an annual travel insurance policy. Annual, multi-destination travel insurance covers multiple trips over a set period — typically 12 months. If you plan on traveling frequently while returning to your home base between trips, this coverage may offer a cost-effective way to protect your travels versus buying multiple single-trip policies for all your adventures. 

Keep in mind that while annual coverage is typically cheaper than buying multiple individual plans, these plans often have lower limits for emergency medical expenses. Consider what’s most important to you in a travel insurance policy before deciding on a single-trip or annual travel insurance plan.

Make Sure You Have 100% Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

Trip cancellation insurance and trip interruption coverage can reimburse prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses if your trip is canceled or interrupted for a reason listed under your policy. Qualifying expenses can include flights, hotel reservations, rental car costs, and prepaid excursions and activities. Ensuring your trip cancellation and interruption coverages provide at least 100% reimbursement can protect your wallet and peace of mind if you experience circumstances beyond your control.

Consider a “Cancel For Any Reason” Coverage Add-On

Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage is an add-on worth considering if you foresee canceling your trip for a reason not covered by a standard travel insurance policy. While a typical plan covers cancellations due to a death in the family, hospitalization, military orders or deployment, and more, CFAR coverage allows you to cancel for virtually any reason. If you use your CFAR coverage, you will receive reimbursement up to a set percentage amount of your trip as outlined in your policy.

See the table below for a comparison of CFAR coverage between our top picks for senior travel insurance providers.

According to the participants in our study over the age of 54, 60% purchased CFAR coverage, and 19% purchased Interruption for any reason (IFAR) coverage.

How To Save On Travel Insurance

If you’re concerned about the cost of travel insurance as a senior, there are ways to save money. For example, a travel insurance policy with lower coverage limits may suffice if you’re traveling somewhere low-risk to relax versus a more adventurous location.

Or, if you have a credit card with travel insurance benefits such as trip cancellation or trip interruption coverage, you can choose to purchase a separate plan that only includes travel medical coverage. This could be cheaper than a comprehensive policy. If you do not need medical coverage, you can choose to rely on credit card benefits alone to save even more money. 

Keep in mind that cheaper is not necessarily better. Make sure you’re comfortable with lower coverage limits if you choose a cheaper plan and, assuming your policy has lower limits, can pay out of pocket if needed in a medical emergency or other untimely situation. Considering your unique needs as you travel can help you better choose a plan that’s right for you.

Read more on travel credit cards: AMEX Travel Insurance and Chase Sapphire Preferred travel insurance

What Else Do Seniors Need To Know About Travel Insurance?

The following are some things to consider if you’re a senior considering purchasing traveling insurance. 

Created with Sketch Beta. COVID-19 is usually treated as a typical illness: Under most travel insurance policies, COVID-19 is treated the same as any other illness covered under the policy. If you contract COVID-19 on or before your trip, you may be entitled to a reimbursement. However, fear of a new COVID strain does not qualify you for reimbursement under standard travel insurance policies. As a senior, you may want to protect your trip with CFAR coverage if your destination may be at a higher risk of COVID-related complications. 

Created with Sketch Beta. Pre-existing conditions are often excluded: Senior citizens usually have more health concerns than younger travelers, which is partly why travel insurance costs more as you age. You may be required to provide your travel insurance provider with a list of pre-existing conditions before you are approved for coverage. Compare plan options with your health insurance coverage to find the policy that provides you with the best complementary benefits.

Why Should Seniors Buy Travel Insurance?

As a senior citizen, you may rely on Medicare as your primary form of health insurance coverage. However, Medicare does not offer coverage for most medical expenses that you could incur abroad. Without medical travel insurance, seniors could face thousands of dollars in emergency medical expenses if an accident occurs on vacation. 

Travel insurance also can provide benefits beyond medical protection. Most travel insurance policies will reimburse up to 100% of nonrefundable trip expenses, which helps protect your investments. Benefits for baggage loss, emergency evacuations and flight delays are also included in most plans. If you’re a senior living on a budget income, these protections can provide peace of mind as you travel.

Deciding on a travel insurance plan as a senior is a personal decision. Considering your travel needs can help make the decision easier, and we recommend asking yourself questions such as these before purchasing a plan:

• Am I traveling to a remote area that lacks a robust healthcare system?
• Does my trip involve multiple connecting flights or destinations?
• Am I worried about unexpected events interfering with my plans?
• Are my non-refundable costs more than I can realistically afford to lose?

If you answer yes to any of the above questions, it could be worth gathering quotes from multiple providers and comparing costs. This way, you can find a plan that suits your needs and budget while providing you with peace of mind.

When To Skip Travel Insurance

Travel insurance may not be worth it for some senior travelers. For example, some countries, such as New Zealand , provide covered emergency medical care for accidental injuries or illnesses, so you may not need travel insurance strictly for medical benefits.

Other instances where you might skip travel insurance include if you booked your trip using a credit card that provides travel benefits. Several credit cards offer travel insurance benefits such as trip cancellation and trip interruption, so check with your credit card provider to see if it provides benefits that align with your needs.

Is Senior Travel Insurance Worth It?

When you compare the price of travel insurance to the price of a potential travel emergency, it usually proves worth the cost. Even if you don’t have a pre-existing medical condition, older travelers are more likely to consider travel insurance plans with medical coverage for a sudden injury or emergency evacuation. Medicare does not cover medical expenses outside the U.S. and U.S. territories. Travel insurance also offers valuable cancellation and delay benefits, potentially saving you thousands in nonrefundable trip costs like your flights and accommodations.

Expert Tips and Insights 

Professor in Commercial Recreation and Tourism Pennsylvania State University

Dr. Bing Pan is a professor in commercial recreation and tourism in the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management at Penn State University. He adopts big data analytics to study visitor management and tourism marketing in national parks and destinations. 

Carney Family Endowed Professor in Hospitality and Tourism Management University of Massachusetts Amherst

Muzaffer (Muzzo) Uysal is a Carney Family Endowed Professor of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management – Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His current research interests center on tourism demand and supply interaction, tourism development,  and quality-of-life research in tourism and hospitality.

Professor in the Collins College of Hospitality Management California State Polytechnic University Pomona

Linchi Kwok, Ph.D., publishes viewpoints and refereed (peer-reviewed) articles in hospitality management and service marketing. His research work won several best paper awards at academic conferences. Linchi is now a professor at the Collins College of Hospitality Management at Cal Poly Pomona and a visiting professor at Sun Yat-Sen University. Before moving to Southern California, Linchi worked at Syracuse University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Texas Tech University and Marriott.

Associate Professor Emeritus Kansas State University

Gayle Appel Doll, M.S., Ph.D., is an associate professor emeritus and adjunct associate dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs at Kansas State University’s Center on Aging where she coordinates and develops research, educational and training programs and outreach activities on aging. She received her Master’s in Kinesiology and her Doctorate in Life Span Human Development, both from Kansas State University. Dr. Doll teaches gerontology courses at Kansas State University, earning the Commerce Bank Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching in 2005.

Frequently Asked Questions About Senior Travel Insurance

Can seniors over 70 get travel insurance.

Yes, plenty of travel insurance providers offer insurance plans for senior citizens. Some companies that provide trip cancellation and medical evacuation coverage for men and women over 70 include AXA, Berkshire Hathaway and Nationwide. 

What is the best travel insurance for senior citizens?

The best option to buy travel insurance as a senior citizen will vary depending on your unique needs. For example, Generali Global Assistance might be the right plan provider for you if you’re looking for an insurance provider that offers low-priced policies. On the other hand, if you have multiple health conditions and need high maximum limits on medical evacuation coverage, consider companies like Berkshire Hathaway and Nationwide. 

Do I need travel insurance if I have Medicare?

Yes, buying a travel insurance policy event is still a good idea if you have Medicare. Though Medicare might provide you with limited emergency care coverage outside the United States, it will not cover most medical evacuations. It also does not offer any reimbursement for trip costs and expenses not related to medical care. 

Can you get travel insurance with a preexisting condition?

Yes, it’s possible to buy travel insurance with a preexisting condition. However, your travel insurance may not cover injuries, symptoms, or illnesses related to conditions present before the start date of your policy.

Methodology: How We Rate Travel Insurance Companies

Our team surveyed dozens of travel insurance providers and created a scoring system to judge each company based on coverage, quality and service. We also collected sample quotes from each company, both over the phone and on the Internet, to simulate an authentic customer experience. Here are the factors we take into consideration when rating providers:

• A 70-year-old couple taking a $4,000, 7-day trip to Mexico
• A 65-year-old taking a $1,200, 5-day cruise in the Bahamas
• A 77 and 81-year-old couple taking a $5,000, 8-day trip to the Dominican Republic
• An 80-year-old taking a $3,000, 6-day cruise in Greece
• Plan availability (10%): We look for insurers with a variety of travel insurance plans and the ability to customize a policy with coverage upgrades.
• Coverage details (29%): We review the baseline coverage each company offers in its cheapest comprehensive plan. A provider with robust coverage earns full points, including baggage delay and loss, COVID-19 coverage, emergency evacuation and medical coverage, trip delay and cancellation coverage, and more. Companies also receive points for offering a variety of policy add-ons like accidental death and dismemberment, extreme sports, valuable items, cancel for any reason coverage and more.
• Coverage times and amounts (34%): We compare each company’s waiting periods and maximum reimbursement amounts for baggage, travel and weather delays. Companies that offer customers reimbursement after fewer than 12 hours of delays earn full points in this category. We also reward travel insurance providers that cover more than 100% of trip costs in the event of cancellations or interruptions.
• Company service and reviews (17%): We look for indicators that a company is well-prepared to respond to customer needs. Companies with an established global resource network, 24/7 emergency hotline, mobile app, multiple ways to file a claim and concierge services score higher in this category. We assess reputation by evaluating consumer reviews, third-party financial strength and customer experience ratings, specifically from AM Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

AM Best Disclaimer

If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at editors@marketwatchguides. com .

MarketWatch Guides may receive compensation from companies that appear on this page.
The compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear, but it does not influence the recommendations the editorial team provides. Not all companies, products, or offers were reviewed.

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Over 50s Travel Insurance

Travel insurance for over 50s.

When it comes to travelling, age really is just a number. However, it can often mean more time (and money) to spend visiting the places you’ve always dreamed of. Having over 50s Travel Insurance to cover you during your trip could give you the peace of mind needed to fully relax while on holiday. Wherever you’re heading next, you should make sure you have the best over 50s Travel Insurance in place for you, with cover for any pre-existing medical conditions and no upper age limit so you can enjoy your holiday knowing you are safeguarded with over 50s Travel Insurance .

Why Choose Just Travel Cover for Your Over 50s Travel Insurance

At Just Travel Cover, we can provide Travel Insurance for over 50s – in fact there’s no upper age limit, and we can cover hundreds of pre-existing medical conditions too. We’ll compare insurers for you to find a policy that suits your needs,  including policies that cover medical conditions and your age over 50.  There are usually bronze, silver and gold options, so you can find the best over 50s Travel Insurance for your budget and travel needs. Nobody likes to think that something will go wrong while on holiday, but it is best to be prepared. If you’re an over 50s traveller, finding over 50s Travel Insurance will ensure you’re covered.

Get Cover for Pre-Existing Medical Conditions Over 50

If you’re an over 50s traveller and have a pre-existing medical condition, we can help you find over 50s holiday insurance with medical conditions cover so you can travel with confidence. When declaring your pre-existing medical condition to your Travel Insurance provider, it is important to spare no details about your condition. By being thorough in your explanation, you can rest easy knowing your over 50s Travel Insurance with medical conditions cover is the right policy for you.

The Best Over 50s Travel Insurance for You

If you are looking for the best over 50 Travel Insurance for your travel requirements, look no further. In 2023, Just Travel Cover was awarded ‘Best Travel Insurance Provider’ at the Insurance Choice Awards, chosen by our customers! When you secure over 50s Travel Insurance with us, you can rest assured that you are securing a policy that caters to your age and medical conditions with substantial cover.

Over 50 Travel Advice

Compare over 50 travel insurance, over 50s life insurance.

We’ve teamed up with the UK’s number 1 rated Life Insurance experts iam|INSURED.

Specialising in Guaranteed Over 50s Life Insurance and Life Insurance for those with pre-existing medical conditions, iam|INSURED’s team of highly skilled experts can help find the best policy for you.

Over 50s Travel Insurance FAQs

Frequently asked questions about our Over 50s Travel Insurance.

What does over 50s Travel Insurance cover?

Over 50s Travel Insurance can protect you against medical emergencies or unexpected situations whilst you’re away. At Just Travel Cover we work with specialist insurers to make sure you are protected against the unforeseen, from losing your luggage to needing emergency medical treatment abroad, holiday insurance for over 50s will have you covered.

Where can I go with over 50s Travel Insurance cover?

Anywhere. With our over 50s Travel Insurance it is easier than ever to travel more and make sure you’re fully protected for your needs. We offer Single Trip Travel Insurance which will cover you for a trip up to 365 days and our Annual multi trip Travel Insurance offers protection for unlimited trips, with each trip up to 93 days long.

Do pre-existing medical conditions affect the cost of over 50s Travel Insurance?

Travelling at 50 or over with pre-existing medical conditions may be more expensive due to the increased chance of needing emergency medical treatment abroad – the cost varies from country to country. Having over 50s Travel Insurance that covers emergency medical cover, including pre-existing conditions, could save you thousands in medical bills.

How much does over 50s Travel Insurance cost?

The cost of over 50s Travel Insurance all depends on your own individual circumstances and needs. Travel Insurance prices will vary based on age, destination, trip length and medical history. We offer three options bronze, silver and gold from a range of insurers, to allow you to choose the best policy for you.

Is Travel Insurance for Over 50s more expensive?

There are a number of factors, such as age, destination, trip length and medical history, that can affect the amount you pay for a Travel Insurance Policy. Once you have submitted your details, we will prepare a personalised quote comparing several insurers. This will provide a full list of prices so you can choose the best over 50s Travel Insurance policy  that is suitable for your needs at an affordable price. It may be the case that your over 50s Travel Insurance is more expensive, but this will be determined by a host of other factors, so speak with one of our Travel Insurance experts today.

What pre-existing conditions do you cover for over 50s?

We offer over 50s Travel Cover for a number of medical conditions at all levels of severity, including a terminal prognosis. Some of the conditions we cover are heart conditions, high blood pressure, cholesterol, joint problems (arthritis, back pain), diabetes, cancer, mental health conditions, liver conditions, breathing conditions, circulatory conditions and disabilities, to name but a few.

It is important to declare all pre-existing conditions to ensure you are fully covered in the event of a claim. We will then work on your behalf to find a suitable over 50s Travel Insurance policy.

Simply follow our online medical screening process, call us or for any other questions, drop us a message on our online chat! We are experienced in helping people find over 50s holiday insurance with medical conditions cover, so we can help you too.

Will Just Travel Cover compare Over 50s Travel Insurance on my behalf?

Yes, we work with a panel of specialist providers here at Just Travel Cover. Once you have submitted your details online (or provided over the phone), we will show you all over 50s Travel Insurance options available to you. We have three levels of cover bronze, silver and gold, each offering varying levels of cover depending on your needs.

• Single Trip Travel Insurance for over 50s – for trips up to 365 days
• Annual multi trip Travel Insurance for over 50s – for unlimited trips (each trip up to 93 days)
• Hundreds of pre-existing medical conditions, including terminal prognosis covered
• High levels of cancellation and emergency medical expenses cover
• Travel disruption cover (subject to age and cover level)
• Lost documents, baggage, medications and medical aids cover
• Flexibility – 3 levels of cover to suit your needs
• Travel companions can be included in the same policy
• Zero excess policies available

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Over 50s Travel Insurance

Travel with confidence with Travel Insurance for the over 50's. We can cover:

Our Travel Insurance for Over 50s will cover you for any unexpected medical bills when you’re on holiday, as well as any cancellation costs before you go.

What is Over 50s Travel Insurance – and do you need it?

Over 50s Travel Insurance is specialist cover for older travellers, designed to meet your specific needs, including any medical conditions . We’ll cover you for unexpected medical costs, cancellations, delays, lost luggage and repatriation.

Travel Insurance is vital as unexpected medical bills abroad can put a sizeable dent in anyone’s finances.

• 10 Brits are hospitalised abroad each day , according to UK Government estimates.
• The cost of treatment for pneumonia in Spain can reach over £179,000 + .
• £100,000 is how much a hospital trip for a stomach bug would set you back in California, according to the UK Government.

Remember that your Travel Insurance policy is only valid if you buy it before you leave the UK.

What does AllClear’s Over 50s Travel Insurance cover?

What’s covered.

• Medical cover – AllClear policies include emergency medical cover, as well as medical costs for existing conditions. This includes prescription medication, medical emergencies and medical equipment.
• Cancellation and curtailment – Cover for your flight and accommodation costs if you unexpectedly have to cancel before you go, or need to return home early following an emergency.
• Your baggage – Protection against the cost of stolen, damaged or lost luggage and personal possessions. You can also choose to add extra cover for gadgets to your policy.
• Travel delays and missed departure – If your flight is delayed, we’ll compensate you for the time. You’ll also be covered for accommodation and transport costs if you miss your flight.
• Personal liability – Cover for your legal expenses and any liability due if you accidentally injure someone or damage their property while you’re away on holiday.
• All ages – We think Travel Insurance should be available to as many people as possible, that’s why our UK Travel Insurance policies have no upper age limit .

What’s not covered?

• Deciding not to travel – We do not provide any cover if you can travel but choose not to.
• Other regions – Your Over 50s Travel Insurance won’t cover you if you travel outside your chosen region, although you can contact us to upgrade your policy at any time. 
• Claims below the value of excess – You’re not covered for claims that fall below the value of the excess stated in your policy
• Medical conditions you fail to declare – You need to provide us with an accurate medical history when you buy Travel Insurance so we can provide you the right cover. This is especially vital for senior travellers, and those with long-term illness

We tailor all our travel policies to your specific requirements, which is why we have three different levels of policy available: Gold, Gold Plus, and Platinum.

SWIPE TO COMPARE POLICIES

* If you buy a policy which includes cancellation cover. / All these figures are per person and per trip.

AllClear’s Travel Insurance For Over 50s with pre-existing medical conditions

Our Travel Insurance for Over 50s covers you for medical emergencies while away. This means you can travel with peace of mind, knowing you do not need to worry about unexpected medical bills.

But we don’t just cover for accidents or injuries. As a Specialist Medical Travel Insurance provider , we cover over 1,300 pre-existing medical conditions. This means you’ll be covered if you need emergency medical treatment related to your condition while abroad.

Our Medical Travel Insurance offer up to unlimited cover for emergency medical treatment. With an AllClear policy, you’ll be protected, so you can relax and enjoy your holiday.

Discover our over 50 Travel Insurance with medical conditions. We cover conditions including:

• Heart Conditions – We’ll cover cardiovascular issues that affect heart function, including high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation .
• Respiratory problems – This includes conditions that are linked with, or cause breathing difficulties, like asthma and COPD .
• Chronic illnesses – Including long-term issues like Crohn’s disease , cancer , gallstones , diabetes and more.
• Musculoskeletal conditions – Conditions impacting your bones, muscles, and joints, including back problems , osteoarthritis and osteoporosis .
• Neurological conditions – Disorders affecting the brain and nervous system, including strokes , epilepsy and multiple sclerosis .
• Mental health – Including mental health concerns like depression or schizophrenia .

To ensure you’re fully covered, you must declare any medical condition during the Medical screening process. Failure to disclose when buying Travel Insurance may leave you without protection.

Find the best Over 50s Travel Insurance for your trip

Whether you’re planning to go skiing or play golf, AllClear has the right cover for you.

• Planning a long trip? Our Single Trip Travel Insurance will cover you for a single trip of up to 365 consecutive days.
• Taking multiple trips? Our Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance has you covered, no matter how many trips you do this year.
• Departing on a cruise? Protect yourself against cabin confinement, missed departures and even unused excursions with our Cruise Insurance .
• Big family holiday? Our Family Travel Insurance covers the entire family (up to 10 people) with a single policy. That means less paperwork and less hassle.
• Seeing more of the UK? Our UK Travel Insurance covers you against cancelled accommodation or any other holiday mishaps.

Countries covered by our Over 50s Travel Insurance

Our policies can cover you for trips to every destination, including:

• UK – Our UK policies cover you while on holiday in the UK. Please note that cover for medical expenses does not apply to UK trips.
• Europe – Get cover for any country in Europe, as well as Egypt, Morocco & Tunisia.
• Worldwide – Cover for any destination around the world. You can choose to include or exclude the USA, Canada and the Caribbean.

How our Travel Insurance For Over 50s works: A simple 3 step quote process

Getting Over 50s Travel Insurance is made easy with AllClear. Simply complete our quick 3-step screening process to receive your quote.

Here’s how it works.

1 . Get a quote online or by phone

Once you’re ready to start the quote process, the first step is to provide your personal details and information about your travel plans. This can be completed over the phone with one of our team members or online.

2 . Complete our simple medical screening process

Next, you need to declare any medical conditions you have and any medications you or your travel companions are taking. Be sure to answer all our medical questions and tell us everything we need to know about your current health.

This way, we can provide the cover that best suits your needs.

3 . Receive your quote

You will then get your quote(s) and can either proceed to buy or save your quote at this stage.

“Our Over 50s Travel Insurance is designed so you can keep adventuring as you get older. We’re here as your safety net, offering financial protection for all kinds of unexpected issues, from medical emergencies to lost luggage.” We’re here as your safety net, offering financial protection for all kinds of unexpected issues, from medical emergencies to lost luggage.”

Letitia Smith – Travel Insurance expert

What our customers say

Helpful friendly staff.

“I have just purchased an Annual Travel Insurance policy from this company. I have to say that the staff were friendly, patient and helpful. For the last few years, I have used a well-known company that specialises in over 50’s but their premiums are almost double those of AllClear and the cover from AllClear is as good if not better in some cases. The paperwork supplied is easy to read and understand. Well worth getting a quote from this company for your needs.” –  Steve

We’re the UK’s most trusted Travel Insurance provider 3 . We’re committed to helping you get the best possible customer service.

 Here’s what our customers had to say about us.

What our Customers Say

Age is just one factor which can affect the cost of a policy, alongside;

• Your destination.
• Your medical conditions.
• The length of your trip.

We believe that age should not be a barrier to enjoying the world, which is why our Travel Insurance policies have no upper age limit. You can keep exploring the world through your 50s, 60s , 70s and beyond .

Travel Insurance for Over 50s covers medical emergency, repatriation, valuables, loss of baggage, and cover for travel delays or missed departures.

At AllClear, we also offer additional extras such as:

• Waiting List : If you’re on a medical waiting list and have booked your holiday, upgrade to cover against any cancellation or curtailment that may occur as a result.
• Golf cover : Extra cover for golf-specific issues, including green fees and golf equipment.
• Gadget cover : Protect your most important items, from phones to laptops for up to up to £3,000.
• Excess waiver : On some of our policies you can choose to waive the excess and pay nothing in the event of a claim.

You should buy over 50s Travel Insurance as soon as you have booked your holiday. This will mean you’ll be covered if any issues arise between booking and taking your holiday.

Remember that you need to have purchased a Travel Insurance policy before you leave the UK for it to be valid.

You still need a valid Travel Insurance policy even if you have a GHIC. The GHIC, formerly known as the EHIC, is not a replacement for Travel Insurance. It covers you for some unexpected medical costs while in Europe, but it does not cover other costs, such as transport to or from a hospital, as well as lost valuables, cancelled flights or accommodation.

Yes, you need to declare all of your pre-existing medical conditions when buying your travel insurance – even if you feel as though your conditions will not cause any problems. If you don’t, you may find that your policy is invalid and be liable for all costs as a result. 

If you have pre-existing conditions, you need an over 50s Travel Insurance policy that covers them. This will impact the price of your policy.

Other things can affect the price of your policy include:

• Destination : Some destinations have higher medical costs or greater risks than others. 
• Trip length : Longer trips mean a higher chance you’ll need to make a claim. If you’re looking for a single-trip policy, the price will depend on how long your planned trip is.
• Optional extras: You can amend your policy to suit your needs by adding extra cancellation cover, or increased baggage protection. We also offer additional cover for cruises, or golf. However, adding this extra protection can impact the price of your policy.

No, your age does not limit how long you can travel on your Travel Insurance policy. However, your specific policy type does.

• If you have Single Trip Travel Insurance , you can be away on a single trip for up to 365 consecutive days and still be covered.
• If you have Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance , you can go abroad multiple times a year, but each trip cannot last longer than 45 days.
• If you need to be away longer than 45 days, you’ll need our Extended Stay optional extra. This extends the cover available per trip to 50 or 55 days, depending on the level of cover you choose.

Yes, all our Travel Insurance policies include repatriation cover. If anything happens while you’re away that means you need to be flown back to the UK for treatment, you won’t be out of pocket.

Yes, you can still get Over 50s Travel Insurance if you’re on the waiting list for treatment. We would recommend getting Waiting List Cover as an optional extra for your policy. This will cover you against any cancellation or curtailment if you’re moved up the list for treatment.

Yes, you can add more people to your Travel Insurance policy, with no age limitations. With our Group Travel Insurance , we can insure between two to ten people on a single policy. You’ll just need to declare anyone in the group has pre-existing medical conditions. 

If you’ve already got a policy that you want to add people to, simply chat with us online or call us on 01708 339026.

There is no limit to how often you can travel if you have Over 50s Travel Insurance. If you have Single Trip Travel Insurance , you’ll only be covered for a single trip of up to 365 days.

If you’re planning to be away more often than once a year, we’d recommend getting Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance , as this will cover you for multiple trips throughout the year, but each trip cannot last longer than 31 days.

If you’ve purchased over 50s Travel Insurance from AllClear, you can amend your details at any time. Get in touch at the earliest possible opportunity to let us know what has changed concerning your medical condition. Before you travel, let us know of any changes to ensure that your policy is the most up-to-date and that you’re still covered.

Get the most out of your trips with our helpful guides

Get the most out of your trip with our helpful guides.

Where are you visiting?

Explore our helpful guides for tips to ensure you remember everything you need when travelling to one of the below destinations.

What activities do you have planned?

Whether you’re planning a skiing holiday or setting sail on a cruise, remember to add the cover you need to your policy for a worry-free trip.

• United Kingdom
• Cruise Travel Insurance
• Gold Travel Insurance

+ Based on real AllClear customer claims, 2023.

Written by: Letitia Smith | Travel Insurance Expert Last Updated: 6 August 2024

† Based on Trustpilot reviews of all companies in the Travel Insurance Company category that have over 70,000 reviews as of January 2024. AllClear Gold Plus achieved a Which? Best Buy.

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The Ultimate 50+ Destination Guide

Got a great reason to travel we’ve got the perfect place for you to go.

David Dudley,

Vacation spots often come preselected, whether it’s your annual week at the lake or your niece’s destination wedding. When you’ve got more leeway, though, the options can quickly start to feel overwhelming. You’ve decided you’re finally going to Europe ! But where, exactly? You want to take your sweetie on a romantic getaway , and that’s as far as you’ve gotten.

Until now. We did some digging into 10 common travel scenarios and came up with appealing destinations, all highly recommended by travel experts. Have a look and see whether one of them might satisfy your wanderlust.

Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. 

Here’s where to go when you want to ...

Travel scenarios

Travel with grandkids | First European trip | First postretirement trip | Regenerative tourism | Kick-start health | Rekindle romance | Foodie destination | Milestone journey | Accessible travel | Civil rights journey

 Entertain the grandkids: Indianapolis

Consider it a sleeper pick for Happiest Place on Earth. Indiana’s flat and unassuming capital, often gently derided as “Naptown” for its lack of urban dazzle, is surprisingly well stocked with attractions aimed squarely at an age spectrum with earlier bedtimes. Start with the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis , which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2025. Billed as the largest of its kind in the world, the four-level, 800,000-square-foot fun factory excels in hands-on learning and kid-focused curation; it’s laden with exhibits on dinosaurs, space, trains, mummies and other stuff that mesmerizes small people, plus more than 7 acres of outdoor play space capable of exhausting the most determined youngster. Five miles away, the top-ranked Indianapolis Zoo is a triple treat, with an accompanying aquarium and extensive botanical gardens. And the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, at the famed motorsports track that hosts the Indianapolis 500, offers track tours — plus, once renovations are complete in April 2025, a dizzying trove of racing cars and automotive exhibits for the budding gearhead. After a few days of this, you’ll need a nap too.

Or consider: Endless free museums and monuments in Washington  make the U.S. capital a place where kids, at least, get a lot done. Looking for all the water parks? They’re in the Wisconsin Dells.

Visit Europe for the first time: Amsterdam

If you’ve never navigated a European city, the low-key capital of the Netherlands offers a particularly approachable entry-level destination. Smaller than rival Paris and less tourist-thronged than Venice — another canal-filled city — Amsterdam is blissfully walkable, as well as famously bikeable. There you’ll find grand cultural spaces such as the Rijksmuseum (home of several Vermeers) and historic architecture that’s more charming than overwhelming. The city’s reputation for tolerance and infamous Red Light District draws its share of pleasure-seeking young feestbeest (party animals, in Dutch), while international visitors with more maturity are likely to be welcomed by a largely English-speaking populace eager to show off their city’s quieter neighborhoods, tulip-intensive parks and innovative urban cycling network. U.S. tourists will feel right at home digging into one of Amsterdam’s other great addictions: its thick-cut, twice-cooked “Flemish fries.”

Or consider: Rome, host to tourists for millennia, has got the routine down. And there are so many U.S. expats in Lisbon, Portugal , that you might feel right at home.

Take your first postretirement trip :  Seward Highway, Alaska

Nothing says “I will not be checking my email” like hitting the highways of one of the least-populated U.S. states , where cellphone service is spotty but Arctic vistas and wandering moose aren’t. If you have the time, point your vehicle toward the nation’s top-left corner and negotiate a northwest passage across Canada’s British Columbia and Yukon from the Lower 48. But don’t miss what might be Alaska’s most scenic route: the Seward Highway, which runs for 127 miles from Anchorage to the town of Seward on the state’s southern coast. Along the way, motorists can wheel past spruce forests and snow-capped mountain peaks as they traverse the rugged Kenai Peninsula; instead of drive-throughs and gas stations, prominent roadside attractions include whale-watching pull-offs, icy glacial lakes and waterfalls, and cliff faces full of sure-footed Dall sheep. For those who have left the 9-to-5 grind in the rearview and are pondering what’s next, this often-lonely route through some of the nation’s most inspiring landscapes might be the perfect place to begin the journey.

Or consider: No trucks and modest speed limits make the gentle Natchez Trace Parkway a must-see meander from Mississippi to Tennessee. For a more vigorous driving adventure, hang on to the Tail of the Dragon , a serpentine stretch of Route 129 in Deals Gap, North Carolina, that boasts 300-plus curves in 11 miles.

Give the planet a break: Costa Rica

Choosing to travel often involves a troubling trade-off: The tourism sector produces about 8 percent of the planet’s annual carbon emissions, according to one recent estimate, and that share is growing amid resurgent post-pandemic vacationing. An airline flight to Costa Rica will be just as polluting as any other, but the lush Central American country has been a leader in modeling “regenerative tourism,” ensuring that the economic benefits from hosting those who flock to coastal resorts and cloud-forest retreats will translate into environmental protections for a fragile and extraordinarily biologically diverse place. (The tiny country is home to more than 5 percent of the world’s animal and plant species.) Almost all of Costa Rica’s electricity is produced from renewable sources, and its strict conservation regime has managed to reverse the damage wrought by decades of deforestation. It’s a model powered in part by tourist dollars, as the parks and reserves that cover much of Costa Rica’s landmass are both critical carbon sinks and delightful zip-lining venues. The Costa Rican Tourism Institute recently launched a carbon tracker for visitors to calculate — and compensate for — the greenhouse gas emissions they generate during their stay.

Or consider: The waterfalls, geysers and geological wonders of Iceland are scattered around an island nation powered almost entirely by geothermal energy and hydropower. The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan halved its sustainable development fee, a daily toll for tourists that goes to fund environmental programs, infrastructure upgrades, cultural preservation and free health care and education.

Kick-start your health:   Sardinia, Italy

A recently expanded international airport may help put this rugged and rustic Mediterranean outpost more on the map for U.S. travelers. But longevity researchers have been traveling there for years. Villages in the mountainous interior are home to the world’s largest cluster of male centenarians, a demographic distinction that brought Sardinia to the attention of author and impresario Dan Buettner, who named it a “Blue Zone” because of its residents’ extraordinarily long lives. A Sardinian getaway isn’t guaranteed to give you an extended lifespan, but it probably can’t hurt, especially if you find inspiration in the formula of vigorous hillside walks, stress-reducing ocean views and plenty of (but not too much) local red wine and goat’s milk cheese. The sun-drenched island offers a less hectic alternative to the glitzy beach resorts on the Italian mainland, and it has long been a popular shadow destination for the European jet set.

Or consider : The spas of Sedona, Arizona , promise a detox in a striking desert setting. Affluent New Yorkers can escape urban stress at the luxury wellness attractions of the nearby Hudson Valley .

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Rekindle your romance :  Big Sur, California

Even if you missed (or forgot) the 1967 Summer of Love, the Bay Area retains its patchouli-fogged reputation as a hotbed of personal growth and reinvention. This famed coastal community a couple of hours south of San Francisco makes a suitably stunning backdrop for a couple seeking transcendence, or just a fresh spark. But bring your wallet: Locked between mountains and sea, Big Sur boasts a stretch of high-end hotels, resorts and retreats — including the venerable New Age self-actualization campus of the Esalen Institute — strung among the redwoods and cliffsides of California Highway 1. Exclusivity and isolation are part of its appeal; in recent years, access to this bohemian enclave has frequently been limited by a series of road-closing landslides, due to storm-driven erosion. But Big Sur is open for business again, and whether you come here to commune with nature, each other or the forces of the universe, you and your loved one will likely return home changed.

Holland America Line

Up to $200 onboard credit on select cruises

Or consider: The stuff they say about Venice ? It’s all true, especially if you catch the haunting lagoon city outside the summer crush. And the Indonesian island of Bali ’s role as a rom-com setting is equally well-earned.

Eat the meal of a lifetime:   Lyon, France

Just two hours from Paris via high-speed train, the city of Lyon feels worlds apart. Layered with architectural history that dates to the Roman Empire, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site fully equipped with a fairy-tale medieval cathedral, a plethora of ornate Baroque-era public buildings and one of the largest public squares in Europe, the 15-acre Place Bellecour. But c’mon: You are here to eat. Strategically located at the crossroads of the nation’s various culinary regions, Lyon is the undisputed capital of French cooking. It is the birthplace of nouvelle cuisine and home to a constellation of Michelin-starred restaurants, led by the flagship establishment of the late chef Paul Bocuse, L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2024. If you fail to score a reservation, the city has plenty of other options. The less formal restaurants known as bouchons are revered as pork-heavy redoubts of traditional Gallic gastronomy — think salade Lyonnaise, coq-au-vin and quenelles — while a newer generation of innovative restaurateurs has pushed this venerable foodie destination to new heights.

Or consider: For what might be the world’s best street food, try the UNESCO-recognized hawker stalls of Singapore . For life-changing mole and much more, it’s Oaxaca in southern Mexico, the nation’s much-lauded culinary capital.

Mark a personal milestone: Tromsø, Norway

When strong solar storms brought the shimmering northern lights farther south than usual in May 2024, millions of Americans caught a glimpse of an astronomical phenomenon that usually makes only rare local appearances. Should you venture deep into northern Norway between September and April, you’ve got a far better chance of witnessing the aurora borealis, especially as 2025’s “solar maximum” — a period of peak activity for sunspots and solar flares — approaches. Norwegian cities such as Tromsø, which huddles slightly more than 200 miles north of the Arctic circle, have built their tourism infrastructure around staring up at the sky. After a two-hour flight from Oslo, visitors can take a fjord cruise through the long polar night or splurge for a deluxe glamping experience in a glass “aurora hut,” where you drift to sleep beneath flickering ripples of astral radiation. A wintertime trip to the edge of the North Pole might not be for everyone, but for those intrepid enough to try, the skies above this stark and beautiful landscape might deliver a spectacle worthy of that once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Or consider: Do like Darwin and visit the Galápagos Islands . Or step inside Meteor Crater near Winslow, Arizona, to remind yourself how small we really are.

Have a wheelchair-friendly adventure:   Tokyo

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by life in the world’s largest city: Greater Tokyo holds more than 37 million people. But first-time visitors often marvel that moving around the sprawling Asian megalopolis is easier than expected, thanks to an extensive subway and rail system that stands as something of a wonder of the world. Despite the complexity and busyness of the network, abundant multilingual signage and the orderliness of both riders and facilities ease the task of finding one’s way around the maze of under- and aboveground lines. That’s especially true for riders with disabilities , as Tokyo launched a major effort to improve accessibility in the run-up to the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. The COVID-19 pandemic kept the crowds home for the events themselves in 2021, but the wheelchair-using international tourists who now pack the city’s shops, shrines and sushi restaurants are taking advantage of upgraded infrastructure. Most of Tokyo’s transit stations are accessible, and many older hotels and public attractions have been recently renovated to remove barriers and retrofit facilities for a wider variety of users.

Or consider: The gambling mecca’s explosive modern development means that much of the Las Vegas Strip and its attractions were built or renovated after the 1990 passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act. The large share of accessible sights and widespread availability of wheelchair-friendly black cabs make London a top pick.

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Reflect on the meaning of peace:   Montgomery, Alabama

When the National Memorial for Peace and Justice opened in 2018, it emerged as the newest and perhaps most challenging of the many civil rights landmarks clustered in and around Alabama’s capital city . Informally known as the National Lynching Memorial, it’s a monument to the more than 4,400 victims of racial violence from 1877 to 1950 — the first of its kind in the U.S., and a sobering stop for travelers seeking solace, illumination or inspiration in the history of the pursuit of equal rights. Despite the often-harrowing material it confronts, the 6-acre site is a place of beauty and contemplation, and it’s part of a larger complex of gardens, pavilions, a museum and a sculpture park devoted to chronicling the passage from enslavement to freedom. Nearby, there’s a jumble of signposts from that journey: The First White House of the Confederacy, a historic home that served as Jefferson Davis’ residence at the start of the U.S. Civil War, stands blocks from the Dexter Avenue parsonage where Martin Luther King Jr. lived in the 1950s. Museums devoted to the anti-segregation activism of Rosa Parks and the Freedom Riders dot the small city’s modest downtown, which is also marked by Maya Lin’s Civil Rights Memorial and its accompanying interpretive center. It’s a heady, and heavy, mix. But as Americans again struggle to find common ground, a trip to Montgomery could be a powerful reminder to your family of how much progress has been made.

Or consider: Berlin ’s transformation from a divided Cold War city to the cosmopolitan capital of a reunited Germany offers hopeful lessons. For a soul-calming respite in one of the world’s most hectic spaces, get lost in the artificial wilderness of Central Park in the middle of New York City.

To see all our coverage, visit AARP The Magazine: The Travel Issue

David Dudley is a writer and editor based in Baltimore.

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