What is the Best Travel Insurance for Seniors

Traveling is an exciting and enriching experience, but as we age, it becomes increasingly important to ensure we have the right coverage and protection when venturing outside our home country. If you’re a senior planning an international trip, it’s essential to know what is the best travel insurance for seniors and understand the various options available. In our guide, we’ll explore what seniors need to know about choosing the right travel insurance, including the best international travel insurance, key factors to consider, and essential tips for purchasing coverage.

Why Travel Insurance is Important for Seniors

Travel insurance can be particularly valuable to seniors, who generally experience more health issues than younger travelers. When preparing for a trip, individuals should consider plans that cover medical emergencies, as well as the following travel insurance offerings:

Trip Cancellations

In addition to personal reasons, a trip may be canceled due to weather disturbances and other unforeseen circumstances that can leave travelers on the financial hook.

Stolen Luggage

In addition to clothing, luggage may contain medicines and other valuable items that travel insurance should cover.

Pre-existing Conditions

Those with preexisting medical conditions may need to purchase waivers in case their basic travel insurance doesn’t provide holistic coverage.

Medical Emergencies

Because seniors are more subject to medical emergencies than younger travelers, they should secure full medical coverage that pays for potential transportation costs.

Medical Evacuations

Medical coverage might not automatically pay for transportation, in the event an evacuation necessitates an emergency trip back home.

Travel Advice/Emergency Assistance

In the event of a language barrier, senior travelers may need to make toll-free calls to obtain medical advice in their native tongues.

Additional Tips

There are more important points to consider when choosing travel insurance for seniors.

If you are planning to engage in adventure activities such as hiking, skiing, or any other potentially risky activity, it would be beneficial to mention insurance policies that cover such activities. This will be especially relevant for active seniors who intend to engage in such activities during their travels.

Another point to plan for is to understand the general claims process for the travel insurance you’re set to buy. Being familiar with the process like timeframes for filing, supporting documentation requirements, and expected time for claim resolution will help you be prepared for any situation.

Reading the Fine Print

It is vital to thoroughly scrutinize policies, which often mandate the purchase of coverage at least 10 to 14 days before starting travel dates. Make sure that there is a free look period, with an option to cancel and receive a full refund. Other important fine print items include:

Exceptions

No single insurance policy covers all expenses, so it’s wise to examine the exceptions listed in the fine print to learn about hidden additional costs.

Exclusions

Exclusions restrict coverage in certain situations, such as self-inflicted injuries, trauma from extreme sports like bungee jumping, or losses incurred due to intoxication or criminal activity.

Incomplete Documentation

When filing a claim, be sure to fill out the paperwork thoroughly and accurately. Failure to do so may result in delayed or canceled coverage.

Online Brokers: A Helpful Resource for Seniors

According to Consumer Reports, online brokers offer advantages over travel agents or booking sites when it comes to purchasing travel insurance because the former lets you compare various plans and choose the most suitable one. Online brokers also feature sales reps who can present sample policies and answer individual coverage questions.

Top Online Brokers to Consider in Canada and the US

The following four popular online brokers top the list:

Canada:

HelloSafe: This site lists the most popular insurance companies and sites in Canada. You can send multiple inquiries for quotes.

USA:

InsureMyTrip: This site lets users compare hundreds of policies from 23 different carriers.
QuoteWright: Quotewright screens insurance companies before listing them, to provide an additional quality control layer. The site lists 12 insurance companies.
Squaremouth: This site offers 93 policies from 23 providers and features thousands of customer reviews.

Highly-Rated Travel Insurance Providers for Seniors

The following companies consistently offer highly-rated travel insurance offerings:

Travel Guard Travel Insurance

In addition to offering standard cancellation coverage, this company features plans that cover pre-existing conditions and full medical expenses. Users may tailor plans to meet their individual needs. This insurer has a high rating of А+. Websites: Canadian site, US site.

Travelsafe Travel Insurance

Travelsafe offers basic, classic, and classic plus full-featured plans, all of which offer both trip and medical coverage, with a full menu of options. This insurer has a BBB rating of A+. US only.

Allianz Travel Insurance

This provider covers domestic and international travel, including cruises. Coverage options include medical emergencies, trip cancellation, lost baggage, rental cars, and change fees. The company is underwritten by BCS Insurance Company, which has an A- rating, and by Jefferson Insurance Company, which has an A+ rating. Allianz has a BBB rating of A+. Websites: Canadian site, US site.