Best Travel Insurance for Seniors (2024)

As you reach the golden years of your life, travel should become more frequent, not the other way around. When you retire, you will have the time you have always dreamed of completing your bucket list. We recommend traveling as much as you can while you are able.

To ensure you have enjoyable and safe travels, we suggest choosing the best travel insurance for seniors with international coverage. To make your selection more manageable, we will help you identify just what type of seniors international insurance you will need and how to purchase it.

As you reach the golden years of your life, travel should become more frequent, not the other way around. When you retire, you will have the time you have always dreamed of completing your bucket list. We recommend traveling as much as you can while you are able.

To ensure you have enjoyable and safe travels, we suggest choosing the best plans with international coverage. To make your selection more manageable, we will help you identify what type of international insurance you will need and how to purchase it.

Because you are already in your senior years, you must get a check-up and review your health before purchasing travel medical insurance for seniors. To know what kind of senior travel insurance you will need, you should check your current health conditions, activities you will be participating in during the trip, and the travel duration.

Some countries have reciprocal healthcare arrangements with other nations. They may be more expensive, though, depending on the country. Generally, Medicare or other health plans do not cover emergency health care, so you need travel insurance to acquire similar benefits. It would help if you considered all of these points when shopping for senior travel insurance.

Read: Travel Medical Insurance Overview

Blue Cross Travel Insurance:An excellent option for U.S. Citizens - Learn More | Free Quote / Buy

Trawick Safe Travels USA: A great choice for visitors to the U.S. - Learn More | Free Quote / Buy

IMG Patriot Platinum: The best plan for internationals - Learn More | Free Quote / Buy

Do you need comprehensive coverage for living abroad? Read: Medical Insurance for Seniors Retiring Abroad.

We recommend the GeoBlue Voyagerplan from Blue Cross Travel Insurance. It offers excellent service to seniors, and the maximum limit of the plan is $1,000,000.

Usually, insurers limit the maximum benefit amount to $10,000 or $50,000 for 65 years old and older travel insurance plans. The GeoBlue plan does better by providing an overall higher coverage limit for travelers 65-80+.

GeoBlue Travel Insurance is also the best option for U.S. citizens seeking medical services and medical evacuation coverage for pre-existing conditions. The GeoBlue Voyager Choice plan provides coverage for pre-existing conditions to U.S. seniors who currently have a U.S. health plan, including Medicare.

This plan is a little more expensive but well worth the cost, considering the additional coverage and their excellent service.

GlobeHopper from IMG offers senior travelers excellent benefits and services at an affordable price. U.S. seniors are eligible if they are 65 years or older and actively enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B and in a Medigap Plan or Medicare Advantage Plan.

It is ideal for seniors traveling abroad on a holiday or vacation and needing coverage for potential medical expenses incurred outside the U.S.

This senior travel insurance plan includes the following benefits:

• Non-Emergency Medical Evacuation
• Felonious Battery (where the client is the victim)
• Inter-Facility Transportation
• Limited to U.S. citizens currently enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B

For pricing and coverage: Request a GlobeHopper quote

If your plans include a visit to the USA, you will want to ensure your insurance plan will cover the high costs of medical care in the USA. As high-quality medical care is available throughout the country, medical evacuation benefits may not be as high a priority. Below are two recommended plans for seniors traveling to the USA.

For visitors to the U.S. who are 65 years or older, we recommend the Trawick Safe Travels USA Comprehensive insurance plan. A maximum limit of $100,000 is available to senior visitors who are 65-79 years of age. Visitors to the U.S. who are 80 years and older are eligible for a plan with a maximum limit of $50,000.

Acute onset of pre-existing conditions is included in the Trawick Safe Travels USA Comprehensive plan. Benefits are payable up to the maximum policy limit purchased.

Request a Quote for Trawick Safe Travels USA

We also recommend the Atlas Travel Medical plan to non-U.S. senior travelers visiting the U.S. It is affordable and offers excellent service to seniors with maximum medical benefit amounts of $50,000 or $100,000 for ages 65-79 and $10,000 if you are 80 or older.

For those of you traveling outside of the US, plans are typically more affordable as healthcare costs outside of the US are less expensive. At the same time, you have other considerations, as some countries have a lower standard of care or are more remote. In those cases, you would want to ensure you have access to the best doctors and hospitals, medical evacuation services, and other related benefits.

Again, for US seniors traveling abroad, the GeoBlue Travel Insurance plan is a great option. It will provide medical services, medical evacuation, repatriation, and coverage for pre-existing conditions.This plan is a little more expensive but well worth the cost, considering the additional coverage and their excellent service.

The IMG Patriot Platinum International plan is a great option for seniors seeking medical coverage while traveling outside of their home country but will not be in the US. IMG Patriot Platinum International does not provide coverage inside the U.S.

Patriot Platinum offers a policy maximum of $2,000,00 to seniors up to age 69, $100,000 to seniors 70-79, and $20,000 to seniors 80 and older.

For seniors aged 70 or older, there are additional considerations when buying travel insurance plans. Personally, you may have different priorities that you are looking for in your coverage. For plan benefits and costs, you will find increasing limits on the coverage benefits (lower medical benefits per trip) and increasing costs. Please review the table above for specific costs estimates and coverage limits.

Best Travel Insurance for Seniors Aged 70+

For US Citizens Traveling Abroad

For Travel to the USA or Globally

As a senior traveling overseas, you may already have some health issues or medication you must monitor daily. If you have travel insurance and get injured or sick while on vacation, your senior travel insurance will cover your medical needs.

Please note that Medicare does not cover healthcare services outside the U.S. and its territories. There may be exceptions to this regarding Medicare benefits in Canada and Mexico, but only in certain circ*mstances.

Overseas Medical Insurance can guarantee coverage for any sudden injuries or accidents, and it can also ensure compensation if you need to interrupt your trip.

A note from the CDC: "Many health plans, including Medicare, will not pay for services received outside the United States. Also, consider purchasingmedical evacuation insurance, which will pay for emergency transportation to a hospital."

Many of our clients ask us: "What is the best travel insurance for seniors?" and "What benefits are included in a senior travel insurance plan?" People often have different priorities, so we are happy to provide a variety of options.

Frequently, trip cancellation is a priority, while others are more concerned with medical evacuation or repatriation benefits. The good news is you can have them all in one plan. None of these benefits individually add high costs to your plan, so trying to get one or the other to save a little money is not always the best option.

We advise clients to get a quality plan with comprehensive coverage for all bases. To help you choose the best travel insurance for seniors, make sure the following benefits are in your policy:

• Emergency Evacuation
• Repatriation of Remains
• Hospital Room and Board
• Ambulance Services
• Trip Interruptions or Delays
• Loss of baggage or personal items
• Accidental Death Coverage

Related: Staying Healthy While Traveling as a Retiree

Most travel insurance companies provide basic – and sometimes limited – plans for seniors, with some simply covering them under their regular plans. Before applying for senior travel insurance, check which age bracket you fall under for specific plans. Age is a significant factor in determining premiums and benefits.

Next, you will need to confirm that your travel insurance plan covers the countries where you will be traveling. Some plans may only provide coverage in select countries.

Another thing to remember when buying senior traveler insurance is the maximums and deductibles of the plan. Some travel insurance companies offer reduced maximums or higher deductibles, depending on your health condition. The higher the risk that you will claim coverage, the more expensive the insurance plan will be.

There are three basic types of travel insurance that you need to know: emergency medical coverage, trip cancellation insurance, and 24-hour telephone assistance. Know the difference between each one to identify which is the best fit for your needs. Focus on the fine print and check the exceptions, exclusions, and free-look period of the policy.

We recommend that you compare the best travel insurance for seniors listed here and review the plans. It is advisable to get a free quote from us using the links above.

Make sure you compare possible plans side-by-side to get the best deal suited to your needs. Buying senior travel insurance can be time-consuming, but it does not have to be stressful. If you have questions that need clarifications, you can contact us, and we will be happy to guide you.

Blue Cross Travel Insurance:An excellent option for U.S. Citizens - Learn More | Free Quote / Buy

Trawick Safe Travels USA: A great choice for visitors to the U.S. - Learn More | Free Quote / Buy

IMG Patriot Platinum: The best plan for internationals - Learn More | Free Quote / Buy

Atlas Travel Medical: Great for International / Non-U.S. Citizens - Learn More | Free Quote / Apply

Globe Hopper Senior Plan: Affordable plan for U.S. Citizens on Medicare A&B - Learn More | Free Quote

Author: Joe Cronin, Founder and President of International Citizens Insurance. Mr. Cronin, a former expat, is an authority in the areas of international travel, and global health, life, and travel insurance, with expertise in advising individuals and groups on benefits for today's global workforce. Follow him on LinkedIn or Twitter.