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Best travel insurance for seniors in 2025

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Best travel insurance for seniors in 2025

Travel insurance is particularly valuable for seniors, who are more likely to need to delay or cancel their plans because of a health issue and to require medical care while on a trip.

Unfortunately, travel insurance policies are usually more expensive for older travelers — and some companies put age limits on who they’ll approve.

To help you navigate the terrain, we’ve picked the best travel insurance companies for seniors and shared what to look for when shopping for a plan. (See our methodology for info on how we made our selections.)

Best travel insurance for seniors

Shop for travel insurance

Best for pre-existing conditions: Travel Insured International

C&F Travel Insured International Travel Insurance

  • Policy highlights

    Single-trip and multi-trip/annual policies and cruise insurance. Add-ons include Cancel for Any Reason coverage and a travel inconvenience benefit

  • Cancel For Any Reason coverage

    Add-on to Worldwide Trip Protector Deluxe or Platinum plan that reimburses 75% of nonrefundable costs when purchased within 21 days of initial trip payment

  • Pre-existing condition waiver

    Available if policy is purchased within 21 days of initial trip deposit.

Pros

  • Lower rates than other top providers
  • Platinum plan comes with $500,000 in medical coverage
  • Add-ons include coverage for event tickets and electronics
  • Job loss is an approved reason for trip cancellation

Cons

  • Basic Essentials plan lacks much customization
  • Limited options in Montana, New York and Washington state

Who’s this for? Travel Insured International‘s Worldwide Trip Protector Platinum plan comes with a pre-existing condition exclusion waiver that can be bought within 21 days of booking your trip. Many companies only give you a window of 14 days.

Standout benefits: The Worldwide Trip Protector Deluxe plan covers up to $250,000 in emergency medical coverage with no deductible, while the Platinum plan bumps that up to $500,000.

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Best for traveling with children: Allianz Travel Insurance

Allianz Travel Insurance

  • Policy highlights

    Single-trip and multi-trip/annual policies and a rental car plan. OneTrip Prime and Premier plans include coverage for one child 17 or younger when accompanying a covered adult.

  • Cancel For Any Reason coverage

    Reimburses 80% of nonrefundable trip costs if purchased within 14 of initial trip deposit.

  • Pre-existing condition waiver

    Included if policy is purchased within 14 days of initial deposit

Pros

  • OneTrip Prime and Premier plans cover one child under 17 for free
  • CFAR coverage reimburses 80% of nonrefundable trip costs.
  • Pre-existing condition waiver included with all plans

Cons

  • Rates are higher than the national average
  • Limited options for adventure travel
  • CFAR plan must be purchased through a travel agent
  • No discounts

Who’s this for? Allianz is ideal if you’re traveling with your grandkids — the OneTrip Prime plan includes free coverage for a child 17 or younger for each covered adult.

Standout benefits: The Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) upgrade on the OneTrip Prime and Premier plans covers up to 80% of non-refundable trip costs, more than many competitors.

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Best for cruises: Seven Corners

Seven Corners Travel Insurance

  • Policy highlights

    Seven Corners offers single-trip, annual and student plans and travel medical insurance. Optional add-ons include Cancel For Any Reason and Interruption for Any Reason (IFAR) coverage and protection for rental cars, sports equipment and event tickets.

  • Cancel For Any Reason coverage

    Reimburses up to 75% of nonrefundable trip costs if purchased within 21 days of booking.

  • Pre-existing condition waiver

    Available with Trip Protection Choice plan if bought within 20 days of initial deposit

Pros

  • $2,000 limit for trip delay
  • $1 million coverage for medical evacuation
  • Interruption for Any Reason coverage available
  • Coverage available up to age 99 on most plans

Cons

  • Coverage for delayed baggage requires 12-hour delay

Who’s this for? Seven Corners‘ cruise insurance comes with extensive benefits, including up to $250 a day for missed connections, up to $5,000 for an itinerary change and $250 each time your ship is disabled or doesn’t stop at a scheduled port of call.

Standout benefits: Seven Corners covers pre-existing conditions when purchased within 20 days of making your first deposit, compared to the 14-day requirement many companies have.

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Best for quick claims response: Faye

Faye Travel Insurance

  • Policy highlights

    One single-trip plan with optional add-ons for pet care, adventure sports and damage to vacation rentals

  • Cancel For Any Reason coverage

    Up to 75% reimbursement of nonrefundable trip costs if purchased within 14 days of initial trip deposit.

  • Pre-existing condition waiver

    Available if policy is purchased within 14 days of initial trip deposit.

Pros

  • $4,500 per person trip delay coverage after six hours.
  • 100% digital claims process
  • Can add coverage for pet care and vacation rental damage

Cons

  • Only one plan is available
  • Rates are higher than some competitors

Who’s this for? If a lost or delayed luggage claim is approved, Faye will send funds directly to your phone’s digital wallet on Apple Pay or Google Pay. Most other claims are processed within 48 hours, according to the company.

Standout benefits: Faye offers add-ons for rental cars and pet care, including up to $2,500 for veterinary bills.

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Best for travelers over 80: GoReady by Aegis

GoReady Travel Insurance by Aegis

  • Policy highlights

    Single-trip and multi-trip/annual policies and cruise plans. Add-ons include Cancel For Any Reason, Cancel For Work Reasons, increased medical benefits and coverage for rental cars, sports equipment and missed connections.

  • Cancel For Any Reason coverage

    Reimburses 75% of nonrefundable trip costs if purchased within 14 days of booking (GoReady Choice plan has $7,500 limit)

  • Pre-existing condition waiver

    Included with most plans if purchased within 14 days of initial trip deposit (Add-on for basic GoReady Choice plan)

Pros

  • Cancel For Work Reasons upgrade has 100% reimbursement rate
  • Offers cruise insurance plans
  • 15-day free look period to get full refund

Cons

  • Go Ready Choice plan must be bought within one day of booking trip for CFAR coverage
  • Downgraded financial strength score by A.M. Best

Who’s this for? Unlike some insurers, GoReady by Aegis doesn’t have an age limit for coverage. Plus, its waiver for pre-existing conditions is an optional add-on, so you’re not paying for coverage if you don’t need it or you’re outside the qualifying period.

Standout benefits: Aegis’s GoReady Choice plan allows you to supercharge medical care coverage from $50,000 to $500,000 per person.

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More on our top travel insurance companies for seniors

Travel Insured International

Travel Insured International has three single-trip plans and one multi-trip policy, all of which can be bought up until departure. (Coverage will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. the following day.) In most cases, Platinum and Deluxe policies include primary coverage — so you can submit for reimbursement without having to go through another provider first.

Travel Insured International Worldwide Trip Protector Essential

Age limit: None

Trip cancellation/interruption: Covered up to 100%

Trip delay: Up to $100 per day after a delay of 12 hours, with a $500 limit.

Delayed/lost baggage: $200 per person for bags delayed more than 12 hours, $250 per item for lost bags ($750 limit)

Medical coverage and evacuation: $50,000 in primary medical coverage and $200,000 for evacuation/repatriation.

Pre-existing conditions waiver: Available with Worldwide Trip Protector Plan if purchased within 21 days of initial deposit.

Cancel For Any Reason: Add-on with Worldwide Trip Protector plan that covers 75% of nonrefundable trip costs if bought within 21 days of booking.

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Allianz Travel Insurance

Allianz offers three tiers of single-trip policies, plus multi-trip plans and coverage for travel medical insurance and rental cars. The OneTrip Prime plan includes a Required to Work upgrade that covers trip cancellation and interruptions due to job-related emergencies. 

Allianz Travel Insurance OneTrip Prime

Age limit: Basic plan is limited to travelers 75 and under, comprehensive plans are available with no age cap

Trip cancellation/interruption: Up to $100,000 for trip cancellation and $150,000 for interruption

Trip delay: Up to $200 per day after a delay of five hours with a $800 limit.

Delayed/lost baggage: $300 for baggage delayed more than 12 hours, $1,000 limit for lost bags.

Medical coverage and evacuation: Up to $50,000 in primary medical coverage, $500,000 for medical evacuation/repatriation.

Pre-existing conditions waiver: Applies if the policy is purchased within 14 days of booking.

Cancel For Any Reason: Upgrade that covers 80% of nonrefundable trip costs if bought within 14 days of deposit.

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Seven Corners

Founded in 1993, Seven Corners offers single-trip and annual plans, cruise insurance, student plans and standalone travel medical insurance. Optional add-ons include Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) and Interruption for Any Reason (IFAR) coverage and protection for rental cars, sports equipment and event tickets. Policies are underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company.

Seven Corners Trip Protection Elite

Age limit: 99 years old

Trip cancellation/interruption: Up to 100% for cancellation (up to $30,000) and 150% for interruptions.

Trip delay: Up to $1,500 per day after a delay of six hours.

Delayed/lost baggage: $600 for bags delayed more than 12 hours, $2,500 for lost bags.

Medical coverage and evacuation: Up to $10,000 in secondary medical coverage and $100,000 in evacuation coverage.

Pre-existing conditions waiver: Applies if you purchase your policy within 20 days of booking.

Cancel For Any Reason: Upgrade that covers 75% of nonrefundable trip costs if bought within 20 days of booking.

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Faye

Faye only offers one travel insurance plan with lots of room for customization, including for adventure activities, extreme sports, Cancel For Any Reason coverage, pet care, rental cars and vacation rental damage. Policies are underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company.

Faye single-trip plan

Age limit: None

Trip cancellation/interruption: Up to 100% for cancellation and 150% for interruptions

Trip delay: Up to $300 per day after a delay of six hours ($2,100 maximum).

Delayed/lost baggage: $2,000 per trip for lost baggage

Medical coverage and evacuation: Up to $250,000 in primary medical coverage and $500,000 in evacuation coverage.

Pre-existing conditions waiver: If you purchase your policy within 14 days of booking.

Cancel For Any Reason: Add-on that covers 75% of nonrefundable trip costs if bought within 14 days of booking.

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GoReady by Aegis

Aegis General Insurance Agency got into the travel insurance business in 2021 with the acquisition of April Travel Protection. As GoReady, it offers five single-trip and two multi-trip plans, with add-ons like CFAR, increased medical coverage and protection for rental cars, electronics and sports equipment. Claims must be processed by a call center specialist and can take up to 10 business days to complete.

GoReady Choice Plan

Age limit: None

Trip cancellation/interruption: 100% for cancellations (up to $50,000), 150% for interruptions (up to $50,000)

Trip delay: Up to $200 per day after a delay of six hours ($2,000 limit).

Delayed/lost baggage: $200 per day for baggage delayed more than 12 hours, $500 for lost bags.

Medical coverage and evacuation: $50,000 in secondary medical coverage, $250,000 for evacuation/repatriation

Pre-existing conditions waiver: Optional add-on available if plan purchased within 14 days of the initial deposit.

Cancel For Any Reason: Add-on that covers 75% of insured trip costs if bought within 14 days of booking.

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How much is travel insurance for seniors?

A standard travel insurance policy costs between 4% and 10% of your total nonrefundable trip costs. Optional add-ons can increase that significantly: A Cancel for Any Reason policy, for example, can raise the cost by as much as 40% or 50%.

Because insurance companies see older travelers are a higher risk, however, rates for seniors are often higher: The average cost among the providers listed here to insure a 65-year-old for a one-week $3,000 trip to the U.K. with approximately $250,000 of medical coverage and $1 million of medical evacuation coverage was $220 — or 7.3% of the total nonrefundable trip costs.

For a 30-year-old traveler, the same coverage for the same trip would cost $133, or about 4.4% of nonrefundable trip costs.

How to shop for travel insurance as a senior

Any good travel insurance policy should have robust coverage for trip cancellation/interruption and delayed or lost luggage. Older travelers should also consider plans with high coverage limits for:

  • Travel medical coverage: Medicare and other health insurance plans are usually not valid outside the U.S. This pays for unexpected medical expenses, like prescriptions, doctor’s bills and hospitalization. A good policy should have at least $100,000 worth of medical coverage.
  • Evacuation/repatriation: You may need to cut your vacation short because of an injury or health condition. Look for plans with at least $250,000 in medical evacuation coverage.

You should also look for companies that offer:

  • Waiver for pre-existing conditions: If you have a chronic illness or are still recovering from an injury, make sure you choose a provider that covers pre-existing conditions and find out what the requirements are.
  • Cancel For Any Reason policies: A Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) policy allows you to cancel for any reason not covered by standard travel insurance. Most limit how close to your departure date you can cancel (usually no less than 48 hours) and you’ll only get between 50% and 75% of your total outlay back. But it can be a worthwhile addition if your situation is unpredictable.
  • High age limits: Many travel insurance companies have age limits for coverage, some as low as 65. Make sure any provider you’re considering has a policy you can qualify for.
  • 24/7 customer support: Your travel insurance provider should be available to help you navigate an emergency at any time of day. Some companies will even help you find first-rate medical help in the area.

Does travel insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

Typically, travel insurance policies don’t reimburse expenses relating to a health condition if you exhibited symptoms or were treated during the provider’s “look-back period,” which is usually between 90 and 120 days, but can be as long as six months.

Some plans do offer a pre-existing condition exclusion waiver, which allows ongoing illnesses to be covered if:

  • You were medically able to travel when you bought your policy
  • You enrolled shortly after making the first deposit on your trip (typically within 14 to 21 days)
  • All eligible prepaid nonrefundable trip expenses were insured

Some conditions are not covered even with a waiver, including pregnancy, dementia, mental illness and substance abuse disorders.

Is there an age limit for travel insurance?

Some companies do impose an age limit on travel insurance policies or on certain activities. But it’s possible for travelers of any age to find a policy that pays for emergency medical expenses, travel inconveniences, cancellations and more.

Age is a factor in the cost of travel insurance, however. A travel insurance aggregator site like SquareMouth can get you quotes from multiple companies ad let you compare them side-by-side.

SquareMouth Travel Insurance

  • Cost

    The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

  • Policy highlights

    While not an insurer itself, SquareMouth is a travel insurance marketplace where you can compare costs and coverage options from dozens of providers. It offers annual and single-trip policies from top providers including Berkshire Hathaway, Tin Leg and Generali.

  • 24/7 assistance available

Pros

  • Includes more than 30 travel insurance companies
  • You can compare providers side-by-side on the website
  • SquareMouth doesn’t add additional markups or fees
  • Carriers that don’t adequately address a customer complaint are removed

Cons

  • Doesn’t provide travel insurance policies of its own

Senior travel insurance FAQs

Will Medicare cover me if I travel to a foreign country?

Medicare only covers health care you receive in the U.S. and won’t pay for treatment abroad. A travel insurance policy can help you pay for emergency medical expenses and even evacuation.

What is the best travel insurance for seniors?

When should you buy travel insurance?

Standard travel insurance is usually available immediately after you pay for your trip until the day before departure. Buying early, however, extends how long your policy is valid. There are some time-sensitive benefits, too: CFAR policies and pre-existing condition exclusion waivers, for example, are usually only available within 14-21 days of making your first deposit.

How much is travel insurance for seniors

While a standard travel insurance policy averages 4% to 10% of total nonrefundable trip costs, it can be considerably higher for travelers over 60. The average cost for a 65-year-old traveler among the insurers we listed here, for example, was 7.3% of trip costs, compared to 4.4% for a 30-year-old.

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Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every travel insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of travel insurance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

Our methodology  

To determine the best travel insurance companies for seniors, CNBC Select analyzed leading travel insurers based on the types of policies available, reimbursement levels, coverage limits and customer reviews from the Better Business Bureau.

We considered whether providers had age restrictions and their policies regarding Cancel For Any Reason coverage and waivers for pre-existing conditions.

We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

Our recommendations are organized by the best for pre-existing conditions, best for traveling with young children, best for cruises, best for quick claims and best for travelers over 80.

Premiums and policy structures listed for travel insurance companies are subject to change per company policies.  

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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.

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