How to get travel insurance as you get older

Why can it be tricky?

Some standard travel insurance policies only cover you up to 65 years old. As you reach your 70s and 80s finding cover tends to get even harder.

This is because as we get older we’re more likely to need expensive medical care while we’re on holiday, so some insurers don’t want to take on the extra risk.

Single trip cover tends to have higher age limits than annual travel insurance policies.

While the choice may be more limited, the good news is you can still get travel insurance over 65 - in fact some insurers don’t set an age limit at all.

Who offers cover to over 65s?

The following insurers all offer policies with a maximum age limit over 65:

Insurers	Single trip max age	Annual cover max age
Chill.ie	86	75
InsureandGo	86	86
insuremytravel.ie	86	74
multitrip.com	79	75
getcover.ie	79	74

However, while these insurers will offer you a quote for your cover over 65, the price you’ll pay will vary, so shop around to make sure you’re not paying more than you need to.

Watch out for cover restrictions

Not only will your travel insurance be more expensive as you pass 65, but you may not get the same level of cover as when you were younger.

Some insurers start to restrict the cover they will offer travellers over 65, this can include:

• Reducing the maximum trip duration
• Restricting the locations you’ll be covered for
• Reducing the medical cover limits

Always check the policy documents before you take out your cover so you know exactly what you’re paying for.

Can you get cover for pre-existing conditions?

Yes, but the choice is likely to be limited and you’ll need to carefully check exactly what is and isn’t included in your cover.

Unfortunately the price of travel cover for pre-existing conditions can be high, but it could still save you thousands of euro if you fall ill or need treatment while you’re abroad.

Does having private medical care help?

Yes it can, some insurers only offer cover if you have private medical care in place, meaning you’ll have more choice and may get cheaper quotes.

Some insurers also offer a discount on your travel insurance quote if you already have private health cover.

How to get the right cover

Start by deciding what you need your travel insurance to include, and what cover you can do without.

Once you know this, get as many quotes from different insurers as you can. While the choice may be more limited, shopping around could still help you save, especially because travel insurance is more expensive when you’re older.

For more help choosing the right type of cover read our guide: how to choose the best travel insurance policy