Tommy Lloyd
Author: Tommy Lloyd, Managing Director

Tommy has over 15 years experience within the insurance industry, and his primary focus is helping travellers find the right cover for their medical conditions.

Originally posted: 20th Oct 2022

What is over 50s travel insurance?

Over 50s travel insurance refers specifically to single trip or annual multi-trip travel insurance cover for people aged over 50. 

According to statistics from Finder, people aged over 55 are deemed the most cautious age group in the country as far as travel insurance is concerned, with only 14% of travellers over 55 opting to go without travel insurance (compared to around 40% of 18 – 34-year-olds!).

In fact, more than 80% of customers who compared cover with us in 2019 were over 50. 

So this tells you exactly how important travel insurance is to people aged over 50 - and just how many of these people trust Medical Travel Compared to help them find the right cover!

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Why do you need over 50s travel insurance?

The obvious benefit to buying travel insurance is that you won’t be left out of pocket if any unforeseen circumstances arise while abroad. Just because you haven’t had any unfortunate incidents whilst on holiday in the past doesn’t mean you won’t in the future.

Travel insurance can cover you in the event of illness, cancellation, and a wide variety of other things - depending on your policy. 

Having a specialised over 50 travel insurance policy can therefore provide you with the peace of mind you need to enjoy your holiday.

What does over 50s travel insurance typically cover?

First of all, it’s important to keep in mind that cover varies from provider to provider - but broadly speaking, travel insurance covers the following things (regardless of your age):

  • Cancellation
  • Medical expenses & repatriation
  • Theft/loss of belongings
  • Personal accident

Travel insurance for people aged over 50 might include things like mobility aids cover, for instance - or you could even add on winter sports cover, gadget cover, or cruise travel insurance cover to your policy depending on the nature of your trip.

Getting over 50 travel insurance with medical conditions

At Medical Travel Compared, we’ll help you compare medical travel insurance cover from the best providers - all in one place. 

This means that you can find cover for your pre-existing medical conditions - and you can tell us all about them before using our simple online tool to compare the most relevant quotes. Travelling with a medical condition can be daunting, but it needn’t be with the right level of cover behind you. With proper travel insurance for over 50s with medical conditions in place, you can rest assured that even in the case of medical emergencies abroad, you’ll be protected.

Once you’ve purchased travel insurance, you can start benefiting from it right away - with access to a 24-hour emergency medical assistance line.

Dr Sarah Jarvis, MBE

What is a pre-existing medical condition?

Dr Sarah Jarvis is the Clinical Director of the Patient Platform, an active medical writer, broadcaster, and the resident doctor for BBC Radio 2.

A pre-existing medical condition means a condition that you have been diagnosed, or treated for, prior to you taking out your travel insurance policy. This may be a health condition you have now or one that you no longer suffer from, but have had in the past. Whilst you’ll need to tell us about most pre-existing health conditions if you have been diagnosed or treated for them (including repeat prescriptions) within the last 2 years, some conditions, such as heart or respiratory-related conditions, we’ll need to know if you’ve ever had them.

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Are there different levels of over 50s insurance cover?

Yes, some providers will offer a different level of cover to others.  

This is usually reflected in the cost of travel insurance - with the more expensive policies generally including more comprehensive coverage limits. 

Again, you should always remember that this will vary from provider to provider - but the best thing about Medical Travel Compared is that you can compare cover quickly and easily before you purchase.

You dictate where you need to be covered by entering your destination(s), duration of each trip, pre-existing medical conditions - and of course, your age. 

You can even upgrade cover across single trip travel insurance and annual multi-trip policies by taking advantage of our optional extras:

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Over 50s travel insurance tips

Before purchasing travel insurance, you should always ensure you’ve considered everything you need. 

This may include: 

  • Declaring your pre-existing medical conditions
  • Carefully read policy documents to check exactly what’s covered
  • Selecting the right type of policy (single trip if you are only going one trip and annual multi-trip if you have several trips planned)

It’s also wise to check exactly when cancellation cover applies. For example, on single trip policies, this usually begins from the date you purchased cover, but for annual multi-trip cover, it only comes into effect from the start date of each trip.

Compare deals to get the best over 50s cover

Our straightforward online quote comparison tool enables you to compare deals for over 50s cover without any hassle whatsoever. 

Once you’ve listed your personal details including age, all you need to do is tell us about your trip and any pre-existing conditions before comparing quotes. 

We work with the very best and most reputable providers - so you can be sure you’re in good hands. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

There is a wide range of cover available for over 50s - across all of the specialist providers we work with. Our online quote comparison tool enables you to define exactly what type of cover you need before purchasing.

It is simple and quick to do! After you've told us about your trip details and answered some medical history questions you can add your pre-existing conditions, one by one, for each traveller. You'll only need to enter your details once, it's all online and there's no need to call, or provide details of your conditions in writing.

This refers to a series of questions you’ll be asked once you declare your pre-existing medical conditions. This helps us form a better understanding of your medical history, so we can provide you with the most relevant quotes.
Broadly speaking, this varies from provider to provider. For example certain providers might have certain specific exclusions - such as duration of cover per trip. Either way, you should always check the providers full list of exclusions before purchasing.

* Price is based on 1 traveller aged 53, who has no medical conditions and is travelling to France for 7 nights. The price is correct as of October 2023. Prices may vary according to your individual requirements.


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If we're unable to help you find cover for a pre-existing medical condition, the Money Helper Directory has listings of companies that may be able to assist you. Further details can be found on their website.

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