Travel Insurance Over 65 UK: What Changes and How to Get Cover

Why cover changes after 65

The age of 65 is not a legal threshold for travel insurance, but it is the point at which many mainstream insurers begin to apply tighter underwriting. Statistically, the likelihood of needing emergency medical treatment abroad rises with age, and the cost of repatriation, which can run to tens of thousands of pounds for a stretcher transfer or air ambulance, drives the medical section of the premium. Insurers price this risk into older travellers' policies, which is why a quote at 70 looks different from one at 45 even for an identical itinerary.

Some policies set an upper age cut-off, often 65, 70, 75 or 80, above which they will not quote. Others have no upper limit but increase the premium and the medical excess. The practical effect is that an older traveller may need to look beyond the first insurer that appears, because availability and price vary sharply by age band and destination.

Destination matters more with age. A Europe trip sits in a lower medical-cost tier than the United States or Canada, where treatment costs are far higher. For an older traveller with a condition, the difference between a Europe and a Worldwide-including-USA quote can be substantial.

Medical screening and declaring conditions

Medical screening is the heart of over-65 cover. The insurer asks a series of questions about diagnosed conditions, medication, recent treatment and hospital admissions. Under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012, the traveller must take reasonable care to answer these questions accurately. Conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, cancer history and respiratory illness are commonly screened.

The outcome of screening can be that the condition is covered at no extra cost, covered for an additional premium, covered with a higher medical excess, or excluded so that claims linked to it are not paid. Where a condition is excluded, an unrelated emergency, such as a fall or an unconnected infection, is usually still covered, but anything arising from the excluded condition is not.

It is important to re-screen if health changes during an annual policy year. A new diagnosis after the policy starts should be reported, because the cover bought before the diagnosis may not extend to the new condition unless the insurer agrees. Keeping a record of the screening answers given is useful if a claim is later questioned.

What the disclosure duty means in practice

The 2012 Act replaced the old duty to volunteer information with a duty to answer the insurer's questions honestly and with reasonable care. For older travellers this is significant: a claim cannot generally be refused for failing to mention something the insurer never asked about. The risk lies in answering screening questions inaccurately, for example forgetting a recent change in medication.

The Act distinguishes between careless and deliberate or reckless misrepresentation. A careless mistake leads to a proportionate remedy: the insurer does what it would have done had it known the truth, which might mean paying a reduced claim or charging a higher premium retrospectively. A deliberate or reckless misrepresentation allows the insurer to avoid the policy entirely and keep the premium. This is why accuracy during screening protects the traveller as much as the insurer.

If a claim is declined and the traveller believes the screening was completed honestly, the insurer must issue a final response, after which the Financial Ombudsman Service can review the case at no cost. The Ombudsman looks at whether the questions were clear and whether the consumer took reasonable care.

Specialist insurers and FCA signposting

Travellers who cannot obtain mainstream cover because of a serious or complex medical condition are not without options. The FCA introduced a signposting requirement so that a firm unable to offer suitable cover must direct the consumer to a provider or directory that can help, rather than simply declining. This rule was designed to improve access to travel insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions.

Specialist medical travel insurers underwrite conditions that high-street policies decline, and some have no upper age limit. The ABI signposts these routes and supports a medical cover firms directory. For an older traveller with conditions such as a recent cancer diagnosis or heart surgery, a specialist insurer is often the realistic path to cover, even if the premium is higher.

Group or affinity policies, such as those offered through some membership organisations, can also cover older travellers, though their terms still apply medical screening. The key is to compare the cover provided, not only the headline price, because medical limits and repatriation cover are what matter most for this age group.

GHIC, repatriation and what insurance adds

The Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) entitles UK residents to state-provided healthcare in the EU on the same terms as a local resident, which may be free or reduced cost. It is not travel insurance. The GHIC does not cover repatriation to the UK, mountain rescue, private treatment, or treatment outside the EU, and it does not cover the non-medical sections of a policy such as cancellation or baggage.

Repatriation is the section that makes travel insurance essential for older travellers. Returning a patient to the UK by air ambulance, or with a medical escort on a commercial flight, can cost far more than any GHIC benefit. A comprehensive travel policy with a high emergency medical and repatriation limit is what protects against these costs.

Before travelling, it is worth carrying both the GHIC and the insurer's 24-hour emergency assistance number. The assistance line authorises treatment and arranges repatriation, and contacting it early in a medical emergency abroad helps ensure costs are covered under the policy.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an upper age limit for travel insurance in the UK?

Mainstream policies often cap quotes at 65, 70, 75 or 80, but specialist insurers cover travellers well into their 80s and beyond. There is no legal upper age limit; availability simply varies by insurer.

Why is travel insurance more expensive after 65?

The likelihood and cost of emergency medical treatment and repatriation rise with age, and insurers price this into the medical section. Destination also matters, with the USA and Canada attracting the highest medical-cost tier.

Do I have to declare a heart condition or diabetes?

Yes, if the insurer's screening questions ask about it. Under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 you must answer accurately, and undeclared conditions can lead to a declined claim.

Does the GHIC replace travel insurance?

No. The GHIC only helps with state healthcare in the EU and does not cover repatriation, private treatment, cancellation or baggage. It is a complement to, not a substitute for, travel insurance.

What if no insurer will cover my medical condition?

Under FCA signposting rules, a firm that cannot cover your condition must direct you to a specialist provider or directory. Specialist medical travel insurers underwrite conditions that high-street policies decline.

Can a claim be refused because of my age?

Age can lawfully be used in pricing and underwriting under the Equality Act 2010, but a valid claim cannot be refused simply for being older. If a claim is declined unfairly, the Financial Ombudsman Service can review it.