Travel Insurance For Over 80s Explained: What Does It Cover?

When you are planning a trip, you should be excited about the trip and not stressed. Primarily, whether you are preparing for a beach holiday, a mountain trip, or adventure travel, getting travel insurance is a must.

In fact, travel insurance is not a mere part of your travel. Rather, it is the thing that will offer you a safety net when things do not go as planned. However, for a lot of people, insurance is a complex and overwhelming process. It can be especially challenging while traveling with senior parents.

Therefore, it is important to get a better idea of how travel insurance works. This way, you will be able to choose something more tailored to your requirements.

Also, you will know how to avoid common pitfalls when buying a policy. Therefore, read on to know how travel insurance works.

What Does Travel Insurance Really Cover? – A Basic Overview

Unless you are traveling to countries that don’t have travel insurance, in general, a standard travel insurance policy covers you for unexpected events that could disrupt your holiday. These are actually helpful in situations like medical emergencies, canceled flights, and lost luggage, among others.

Also, in some cases, you might even have to cut your trip short due to illness. These are the big hitters that most people buy travel cover for. For instance, if you fall ill while away, your policy should cover the costs of treatment, hospital stays, and even ambulance services.

If things become serious, you may need to return home early. Hence, in those cases, repatriation cover helps cover the costs of the journey back. Then there’s your stuff. For instance, think of a situation where your bags go missing at the airport.

Also, your passport gets nicked on the way to dinner. In those cases, you will usually be able to claim help to cover replacements or emergency expenses. Apart from that, you will also find protection if someone holds you legally responsible for property damage. Additionally, it is effective in the event of an accidental injury to another person.

That said, not all travel insurance policies are similar. In fact, if you get coverage for everything, it is easy to assume that. However, it is well worth checking the fine print to ensure the details align with your travel plans.

How Does Medical Coverage Work In Travel Insurance?

Medical expenses abroad might quickly spiral out of control. This is applicable, especially in countries like the United States or Japan. Basically, in those countries, medical treatment is quite expensive.

Most travel insurance policies include emergency medical coverage. This usually covers any doctor or hospital bills, as well as medication, ambulance rides, and even extended accommodation if you’re too unwell to travel home as planned.

Apart from that, good policies also offer 24/7 helplines. This will be a real comfort if you want help in a hurry or are not sure where to turn. Moreover, if your condition means someone from home has to fly out to support you, many insurers will include or offer an add-on to cover their travel.

Also, they will cover accommodation costs. However, you will have to remember one more thing. If you have an existing medical condition, you must declare it when taking out your policy. Otherwise, you will end up with your claim rejected when you want help the most.

1. What About COVID-19 Coverage In Travel Insurance?

Honestly speaking, COVID-19 has changed the way people travel. Thankfully, many travel insurance providers have adapted their policies accordingly.

Most now include some level of coverage if you catch COVID while abroad. In this case, you might want the following:

Emergency medical treatment
The cost of extending your stay if you have to isolate
Repatriation, if you want help to fly home

In addition to that, some policies also offer cancellation coverage if you test positive before departure.

Also, it is applicable if a close family member falls ill. However, if government travel advice suddenly changes mid-holiday, that might show some grounds for a claim to recoup costs for an early return.

Please note that coverage for COVID-related incidents varies significantly between providers. Always check the wording carefully.

2. Pre-Existing Conditions: Is It A Factor To Worry About?

In general, it is difficult to declare medical conditions. However, it is a necessary thing to do. Generally, many insurance policies do not cover specific health conditions, such as diabetes, heart problems, asthma, or cancer.

Hence, if you do not declare them, your insurer might deny your claim altogether.

However, there are specialist travel insurance policies for travelers with existing health issues. Obviously, they tend to be more expensive.

This is because they provide proper cover. In fact, it is far better to be upfront than to get caught out by small print later.

This is especially true for older travelers. Travel insurance for over 80s might be trickier to find, and the premiums are typically higher, but for good reason.

As we age, the likelihood of getting medical treatment abroad increases. Also, insurers factor this into the cost. However, that does not mean you have to settle for poor cover or sky-high prices.

Meanwhile, some providers specialize in offering tailored policies for older adults. This holds true even for those with multiple medical conditions.

Repatriation: Is It Always Included?

Primarily, repatriation is a term that frequently appears in insurance documents. However, policyholders overlook it.

It simply means getting you back home safely if something goes seriously wrong. This works in situations such as medical emergencies or tragic cases, like those involving death abroad.

Moreover, it is typically included in standard travel insurance policies. However, the level of coverage and what is actually included may differ between insurers. Hence, you must always take the time to read through that section of your policy carefully.

Cancellation Cover: What Counts And What Doesn’t?

In general, most people assume they will be able to cancel their holiday and receive a refund if something unexpected happens.

The truth is that cancellation cover only applies in specific circumstances. Usually, these are the medical ones or something serious is happening at home.

You generally will not be able to claim coverage for the following cases:

If you change your mind.
Your boss cancels your time off.
If you forget to arrange transport.

In addition to that, the insurance will also not cover pre-existing medical issues. You will have to declare them. Also, it must be explicitly listed in your insurance policy.

For more expensive holidays, you may need to opt for a top-up cancellation cover. This way, you will be able to increase the amount for which you are getting protection.

Are Family Emergencies Covered?

If a close family member dies just before your trip or while you’re away, you will usually be able to claim back non-refundable expenses like accommodation and flights.

However, in most cases, insurers define “close family” quite specifically. Also, it typically includes parents, children, siblings, and grandparents. Moreover, it may not extend to distant relatives or extended family.

What Happens If Your Luggage Or Passport Goes Missing?

Lost luggage is one of the more common travel hiccups. Moreover, most policies offer coverage for this.

That said, insurers are fussy about the circumstances. If your bag was left unattended or improperly stored, your claim may be rejected.

Apart from that, policies also have limits on individual items. Hence, if you are traveling with expensive gear, such as laptops, designer clothing, or cameras, you will have to purchase extra gadget insurance.

In addition to that, the insurance also covers lost or stolen passports. This is because insurers typically cover the costs of emergency travel documents, additional accommodation, or the expenses associated with rearranged flights.

Are All Travel Insurance Policies The Same?

Not even close! There are several types to choose from. Moreover, the right one depends on how often you travel, where you’re going, and what you will be doing.

In general, single-trip policies are ideal for one-off getaways. However, the annual multi-trip cover is suitable for frequent flyers.

Hence, if you are embarking on a round-the-world adventure, a backpacker policy provides longer coverage.

Apart from that, there are even specialist policies for cruises, business travel, winter sports, golf, and more adventurous trips involving high-risk activities.

What’s Usually Not Covered?

Primarily, travel insurance is not a free-for-all. In this case, numerous common exclusions might catch people off guard.

For instance, things like high-risk sports (unless you’ve bought the right add-on), traveling against Foreign Office advice, ignoring medical guidance, or being under the influence of drink or drugs are usually excluded.

Moreover, you will also be unable to claim valuables that you left unattended. This applies to any information related to an undisclosed medical condition.

Also, if a situation was already developing when you booked your trip, like a brewing strike or civil unrest, you might not be covered either.

Get A Travel Insurance Now

Buying travel insurance is not the most exciting part of planning a holiday. However, it is still one of the most important. In fact, if you get it wrong, you might end up with some eye-watering bills.

Meanwhile, if you get it right, you will get the confidence to enjoy your trip, knowing you are getting the necessary protection.