Travel Medical Insurance for Seniors: 4 Questions to Ask

If you're a U.S. resident with older relatives overseas, you may want to have your loved ones come for a visit. As you plan out everything you'll do together, be sure to keep them safe with travel insurance designed specifically for seniors traveling to the U.S.

Purchasing travel medical insurance might not be the most exciting part of planning their visit, but it's essential for making sure your guests have a safe, special trip.

So, what's the best travel health insurance for people over 60 years of age? That depends on the answers to four important questions.

1. How is their overall health?

When comparing visitors health insurance plans, think about the overall health of your elderly guests. If they're more susceptible to sickness or injury, you should purchase a stronger policy plan. Though it may be more expensive, it'll give them more extensive coverage. However, if your relative has good health, you may want to choose a lower-cost coverage plan. This would cover unexpected emergency issues like accidents or injuries.

2. What's on their itinerary?

When deciding on the right travel health insurance for seniors, consider what they plan to do during their U.S. visit. If the traveler is more likely to stay indoors and doesn't want to participate in strenuous activities, you may choose a limited coverage plan. But a visitor who's likely to be more active will need a comprehensive coverage policy, with a higher policy maximum.

3. How long will they stay?

The longer the visit, the more important it is that your visitor have travel medical insurance with a higher policy maximum. A senior that's only visiting for a week might not need the same coverage as if they were staying for a month.

4. What can you and/or your elderly guest afford?

Based on their age and annual income, senior citizens looking for travel insurance coverage will have different policy maximums. In general:

  • For people in their 70s, the policy maximum amount is restricted to $50,000 for comprehensive plans and limited coverage plans only cover up to $75,000.
  • For people above 80, the policy maximum is even less. For comprehensive coverage plans, the maximum policy amount is just $15,000, and for limited coverage plans, it's $70,000.
  • Insurance premiums are higher for the elderly. Remember though, going without travel medical insurance in the U.S. may end up being much more expensive.

The answers to these questions will help you find the best travel insurance for your loved one. What exactly are the travel medical insurance options for seniors? Unfortunately many insurance companies are reluctant to give higher policy maximums and flexible benefits for people over the age of 70. Many non-U.S. travel insurance companies decline to issue a policy for people over 70 years old without a medical exam. Even U.S.-based travel medical insurance companies offering insurance coverage impose a lot of restrictions.

In general, the older a person gets, the higher their risk of illness and injury. Because of this, it's important to get good coverage even if it means paying a little more up front. The good news is that excellent travel medical insurance options for older people do exist. There are a number of exciting plans on the market.

Recommended Travel Insurance Plans for Senior Travelers to the U.S.

For travelers ages 70-79, CoverAmerica-Gold is an excellent solution for a trip abroad. CoverAmerica-Gold provides comprehensive coverage including acute onset of pre-existing conditions coverage for travelers to the United States. For more information on this policy, visit CoverAmerica-Gold insurance.

Please refer to the following articles to learn more about age-specific plan information and possible recommendations based on the age group:

If you have any specific questions about our policies for senior travelers, please contact our Customer Success Team.