Retirement offers the perfect opportunity to travel to places you’ve always wanted to see or to revisit some old favourite destinations.

However, the unexpected can still happen, no matter how well you’ve prepared.

If you’re looking at getting travel insurance, these are the key things for older travellers to keep in mind when considering travel insurance to help you be best prepared for if the unexpected happens while travelling domestically or abroad.

Some insurance providers will have age caps on their travel insurance, which means if you’re an older traveller, they may not cover you. 

Check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to see if the insurer has any age caps on their plans.

Older travellers often have one or more existing conditions that can result in a higher chance of requiring medical assistance while travelling. 

A trip to an overseas hospital, even for the most minor ailment, can be extremely costly. So, when considering travel insurance plans, there’s a few things you may want to check in the PDS. 

Automatic cover for existing medical conditions: If you have an existing medical condition, check in the PDS if your condition will be covered automatically. 

National Seniors Travel Insurance, for example, will automatically cover you for more than 40 existing medical conditions. (1)

Medical assessment for conditions not automatically covered: If your condition is not automatically covered, it doesn’t always mean the insurer won’t cover you – you may require further medical assessment. 

This may be by a form or an assessment over the phone or online at the time of getting your quote. During the assessment, you will likely be asked a series of questions about your medical condition, which may take around 10-20 minutes to complete. 

The insurance provider will then determine what they are prepared to cover. 

There can be several possible outcomes from this process. The insurer may agree to cover your condition for an additional premium, your condition may need to be excluded from cover, or they may be unable to provide you with cover.

Health changes: If you’ve purchased your travel cover already but have since been diagnosed with a medical condition before you’ve taken your trip, you’ll need to notify your insurance provider. 

The insurer will usually require written confirmation from your medical practitioner and could potentially impact your premium. 

Coronavirus cover: Travel has changed a lot as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and it can cause a lot of interruptions to your travel plans if you get the virus before or after departure. 

You may want to look for a plan that covers you if your plans are affected because of COVID-19, including overseas medical cover, cover for quarantine expenses and trip cancellation, and medical evacuation and repatriation. 

Following extended COVID-19 disruptions, this year has brought with it a surge in cruising with new and re-vamped cruise ships and a string of thrilling, new destinations. 

If you’re planning on cruising for part or all of your trip, you may wish to look for travel insurance that includes cruise cover.

Navigating travel insurance plans can be tricky and sometimes, you just need to chat with a travel insurance expert to help you understand it better and choose the right plan to suit your trip. 

Being able to discuss and customise your insurance requirements with a real person gives you assurance and understanding of what you will be covered for. 

Some insurers only offer online services, making it challenging. So, if speaking to a real person is important for you, look for an insurer that has a contact centre. 

If you’re a frequent traveller, it may end up being more convenient and cost-effective to select a multi-trip policy instead of taking out a new policy for each trip. 

National Seniors Travel Insurance, for example, has a 12-month plan from the nominated departure date on your Certificate of Insurance.

If you’re considering getting travel insurance, when you choose to get it can affect your final premium. 

For example, if you decide to get your travel insurance a year out from your departure date, this may result in a much higher premium than booking closer to your departure date. 

When you choose to get travel insurance will depend on how much risk you’re willing to take and how much you have to potentially lose by not taking it out earlier. 

Some travellers prefer to get it at the time of booking, while others choose to wait until the balance of their deposits are paid or even once they get within weeks or days of their departure date. 

Check the PDS for cooling-off periods in case you change your mind, as these periods can vary between providers. 

When it comes to travel insurance, the takeaway is to do your research and pick a provider that best suits you and your needs. 

No two providers are exactly alike and there are some who will customise their offerings to suit older travellers. 

Discover the National Seniors Insurance difference.

With no age limits on most plans (2) and over 40 existing medical conditions automatically covered (1), you can relax and enjoy your trip with National Seniors Travel Insurance. 

Get a quote or find out more at nationalseniorsinsurance.com.au/ travel-insurance or speak to a real person who understands you on 1300 50 50 99.