- Both products are underwritten by Astrenska Insurance Limited (FCA reference 202846), and both use Collinson to administer claims.
- Post Office travel insurance is arranged through Post Office Management Services Limited (FCA reference 630318); Saga travel insurance is arranged through Saga Services Limited (FCA reference 311557).
- Saga restricts the lead policyholder to people aged over 50; Post Office sets no such minimum on the lead traveller.
- Post Office runs three tiers, Core, Extra and Max, with emergency medical cover of 5 million, 10 million and 15 million pounds. Saga runs Essential, Standard and Plus, ranging from 2 million to 20 million pounds.
- Both state they cover a wide range of pre-existing medical conditions subject to declaration and acceptance.
Post Office and Saga at a glance
Post Office and Saga are two long-standing UK travel insurance distributors that, on the surface, look like very different propositions. Post Office is a general high-street brand whose travel cover is open to a broad age range. Saga positions itself specifically around travellers aged over 50 and over, with the lead policyholder required to be over 50.
Underneath the branding, the two products are closer than they appear. Both are underwritten by the same insurer, Astrenska Insurance Limited, and both route claims through Collinson. That shared back-end means much of the difference a buyer experiences sits in the tier names, the published cover limits, the excess structure and the eligibility rules rather than in who ultimately pays a claim.
Post Office travel insurance is distributed by Post Office Management Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under reference 630318. Saga travel insurance is distributed by Saga Services Limited, registered in England and Wales (company number 732602) and authorised and regulated by the FCA under reference 311557, with a registered office at 3 Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG.
Cover limits compared
The clearest practical difference is in how each brand structures its tiers and headline limits. Post Office uses three levels: Core, Extra and Max. Saga uses Essential, Standard and Plus.
On emergency medical and repatriation, Post Office publishes 5 million pounds on Core, 10 million pounds on Extra and 15 million pounds on Max. Saga publishes a wider span: 2 million pounds at the Essential end (and 2 million pounds for UK trips) rising to 20 million pounds on the Plus level, with Standard sitting at 5 million pounds for single trips and 10 million pounds on annual cover. A traveller comparing entry-level tiers should note that Post Office Core starts at 5 million pounds of medical cover while Saga Essential starts at 2 million pounds, although the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not set a fixed minimum figure here.
On cancellation, Post Office sets 1,000 pounds on Core, 3,000 pounds on Extra and 5,000 pounds on Max. Saga is tailorable from up to 1,000 pounds at Essential to up to 20,000 pounds at Plus per person, a noticeably higher ceiling for travellers booking expensive trips. On personal baggage, Post Office publishes 1,500 pounds on Core, 2,000 pounds on Extra and 3,000 pounds on Max, with single-item limits of 150, 200 and 400 pounds respectively.
It is worth checking the policy excess as well as the headline limits. Post Office applies an excess that falls as you move up the tiers: 150 pounds on Core, 125 pounds on Extra and 75 pounds on Max for most sections. A higher cover limit on a cheaper tier can be offset by a larger excess deducted from each claim.
Age limits and eligibility
This is where the two brands diverge most sharply. Saga is built around older travellers: the lead policyholder must be over 50, and Saga states there is no upper age limit. Other travellers added to a Saga policy can fall outside that age band. Post Office does not impose an over-50 requirement on the lead traveller, which makes it the more obvious starting point for younger adults, families and mixed-age groups buying a single policy.
For travellers in their 50s, 60s and 70s, both brands are open for business with no upper age cut-off published on their current pages. The decision at that point turns less on eligibility and more on cover limits, pricing and how each handles declared medical conditions.
Pre-existing medical conditions
Neither product covers pre-existing conditions automatically. Post Office states that this insurance does not automatically provide cover for medical conditions you are already experiencing when you buy, or for conditions experienced in the past, and that a claim arising from an existing condition is excluded unless the condition has been declared and accepted in writing. Saga states it covers many pre-existing medical conditions and asks for disclosure of conditions from the previous 12 months, or five years for serious or long-term health issues, and reports having covered more than 1.45 million people with diagnosed pre-existing conditions.
The FCDO guidance is consistent for both: declare existing conditions, pending treatment or tests so that you are covered if related complications arise during the trip, because failing to declare can invalidate the policy. Travellers with conditions should request a written confirmation of acceptance before relying on cover.
Because both products share an underwriter and claims administrator, a declined medical declaration on one brand does not automatically mean the other would assess it differently. Always declare conditions in full and keep the written acceptance.
Pricing structure
Both brands price by destination, trip length, traveller age and declared medical history rather than by a single flat rate, so a like-for-like figure only emerges from an individual quote. Saga periodically runs promotional discounts, which can move the comparison materially for the duration of any such offer. Post Office applies a 14-day cooling-off period during which a policy can be cancelled for a full refund if no trip has started and no claim has been made or is intended, with annual multi-trip cancellation extended up to the policy start date.
Because the headline limits differ by tier, the most reliable comparison is to match the cover you actually need (for example, a specific medical limit and cancellation ceiling) and then run both quotes on that basis rather than comparing the cheapest tier of one against the most expensive of the other.
Claims handling
Here the two brands are effectively identical at the point of a claim. Both Post Office and Saga use Collinson to administer claims on behalf of the underwriter, Astrenska Insurance Limited. The Post Office policy wording directs medical repatriation and early-return situations through an assistance line and requires authorisation before additional travel or accommodation costs are incurred. Travellers should keep receipts, obtain a medical certificate from the treating practitioner abroad where a claim involves cutting a trip short, and contact the assistance line before arranging their own return travel.
If a complaint about either product is not resolved to the customer's satisfaction, eligible customers can refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Which traveller each suits
Saga's structure points toward older travellers who want a single brand built around the over-50s market, a higher cancellation ceiling on its Plus tier (up to 20,000 pounds) and a top medical limit of 20 million pounds. Post Office's structure suits buyers who fall outside the over-50 eligibility, mixed-age groups buying one policy, and those comparing a clearly published three-tier ladder with a transparent excess that drops as cover rises.
Given the shared underwriter and claims handler, the choice between them is less about who stands behind the policy and more about matching the specific cover limits, age eligibility and any live discount to the trip being booked. A traveller should price both at the same required cover level before deciding.
If you find it difficult to get cover because of a pre-existing condition, the Money and Pensions Service operates a travel insurance directory of specialist providers via its MoneyHelper service. Visit the MoneyHelper travel insurance directory or call the Money Helper Customer Contact Centre on 0800 138 7777 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm).
Are Post Office and Saga travel insurance underwritten by the same company?
Yes. Both products are underwritten by Astrenska Insurance Limited, which trades as Collinson Insurance in the Post Office policy wording and holds FCA reference 202846. Collinson also administers claims for both brands.
Does Saga only cover people over 50?
The lead policyholder must be over 50. Other travellers added to the policy can be of any age, and Saga states there is no upper age limit on its cover.
What is the highest medical cover on each?
Post Office publishes up to 15 million pounds of emergency medical and repatriation cover on its Max tier. Saga publishes up to 20 million pounds on its Plus tier, with 2 million pounds on Essential and 2 million pounds for UK trips.
Which has the higher cancellation limit?
Saga's Plus tier offers up to 20,000 pounds of cancellation cover per person, compared with 5,000 pounds on Post Office Max, 3,000 pounds on Extra and 1,000 pounds on Core.
