Travel Insurance After 65: Medical Costs, GHIC and Existing Conditions Explained

A medical emergency abroad can cost thousands of pounds. For older travellers, finding suitable travel insurance may also become more complicated because age, destination and existing medical conditions can affect the cover available.

Before travelling, it is important to understand what a policy may cover, what must be declared and where exclusions could leave an unexpected gap.

Who Pays for Medical Care Abroad?

If you become ill or injured overseas, you may need hospital treatment, private medical care or assistance returning to the UK.

Depending on the policy, travel insurance may include cover for:

• Emergency medical treatment
• Hospital and ambulance costs
• Medical repatriation to the UK
• Additional accommodation or transport
• Emergency assistance services

Every policy has limits and exclusions. Some insurers may also require authorisation before non-emergency treatment is arranged.

When comparing policies, check the medical cover limit, excess, destination restrictions and whether repatriation is included.

Is a GHIC Enough for Your Trip?

A UK Global Health Insurance Card can provide access to medically necessary state healthcare during a temporary stay in certain countries. However, a GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance.

A GHIC generally does not provide the same protection as a travel insurance policy for:

• Private medical treatment
• Medical repatriation to the UK
• Trip cancellation or interruption
• Lost or delayed luggage
• Missed departures
• Every healthcare cost abroad

Travellers should understand what a GHIC provides and consider whether additional travel and medical insurance is appropriate for their trip.

Does Travel Insurance Change After 65?

Travel insurance can become more expensive or more difficult to compare as age increases. Some standard policies have age limits, while specialist policies may be designed for travellers over 65, 70, 75 or 80.

Older travellers may want to compare:

• Single-trip and annual multi-trip policies
• Maximum age limits
• Emergency medical cover
• Cruise and long-stay cover
• Cancellation limits
• Policy excesses
• Medical screening requirements

The cheapest policy is not necessarily the most suitable. A low-cost policy may have higher excesses, lower cancellation limits or exclusions that are important for the planned trip.

What About Pre-Existing Medical Conditions?

A pre-existing medical condition can include an illness, diagnosis, symptom, treatment or medication that existed before the policy was purchased.

Insurers may ask about conditions such as:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Heart or circulatory conditions
• Respiratory conditions
• Cancer history
• Recent surgery or hospital treatment
• Changes in prescribed medication

This does not mean every condition will be excluded. Depending on the insurer and medical screening, cover may be available at an additional cost or with specific conditions.

Medical information should be answered accurately. Failing to declare relevant information could affect a future claim.

What If Illness Forces You to Cancel?

Some policies may cover cancellation if an insured traveller becomes unexpectedly ill before departure. Cover depends on the reason, policy wording, medical declarations and cancellation limit.

Before buying a policy, compare the total cost of flights, accommodation, cruises and prepaid activities with the cancellation limit offered.

Also check whether the policy covers:

• Cancellation due to an insured traveller’s illness
• Cutting a trip short after departure
• Illness involving a close relative
• Additional travel or accommodation costs
• Unused excursions and prepaid bookings

Not every reason for cancelling a trip is covered.

Compare Travel Insurance Options

The right policy depends on age, destination, trip length, medical history and the activities planned.

Explore the related topics and sponsored results below to compare travel insurance for older travellers, declared medical conditions, emergency medical expenses and different types of trips.

This article provides general information only. Cover, eligibility, prices, medical screening, limits and exclusions vary by insurer and policy. Always review the policy documents and declare relevant medical information before purchasing.