Cheap travel insurance for the over 50s over 60´s, over 70´s, over 80´s

99% of all medical conditions covered for £2.99 single trip

One in four people travel without any form of travel insurance, and the over-50´s are particularly at risk. Travel insurance is not compulsory but by purchasing the right policy for you and your family, you can avoid unexpected medical expenses, and protect yourself against cancellations and lost baggage.

Make sure your travel insurance provider covers pre-existing medical conditions and always use a regulated UK company. The amount of cover can vary from policy to policy, and if you want peace of mind on holiday, it pays to shop around.

Look for a company who puts the emphasis on outstanding customer care, low prices and comprehensive cover. Whether you are going on holiday for a week or you want cover for up to 18 months, you need to know that you are covered for any eventuality. Travel insurance for the over 50s and the over 65s is essential, and whatever your medical condition, you can be covered by long term travel insurance or a single trip policy.

Travel insurance forums giving information about how to pick a good travel insurance company can be found easily on the internet, and cheap holiday insurance for the elderly is available from Staysure. Affordable annual multi trip travel insurance can be booked online in just a few minutes, and you should always use a company who understands the importance of customer care.

Cheap travel insurance for the over 50´s, over 60´s, over 70´s, over 80´s and the over 90´s should be affordable and easy to book. Quick payouts are essential, and cover can include cheap cruise insurance, plus European and worldwide travel insurance cover.
Single trip travel insurance cover starts at just £2.41, and multi-trip insurance from just 8p a day.

10 Top tips to consider before booking medical travel insurance include:

1. Is travel insurance an optional extra?

Never consider travel insurance to be an optional extra, as it is a vital part of any holiday plans. Medical travel insurance policies normally cover accidents, illness and loss, but make sure your policy also provides compensation for delays and cancellations, and covers damaged or lost luggage. Also make sure you are provided with a helpline for use in emergencies.

Don´t automatically plump for the cheapest option, before you check if the policy suits your requirements. Although medical travel insurance for the over 50´s is not a legal requirement, you should still read all the terms and conditions thoroughly of any policy, so that in the event of any claim you know what to do. Every holiday travel insurance policy is different, and you need to find the right one for you. Basic policies for example will not suit you if you take a lot of high value items on holiday, such as expensive sunglasses and jewellery. Make sure your travel insurance policy covers everything you want it to and if you are looking for winter sports insurance cover, shop around for the best inclusive policy.

2. Am I better off with a single trip policy or annual multi-trip cover?

Single trip travel insurance may appear cheaper, but it is only cost-effective if you take two or less trips every year. Annual travel insurance or multi-trip cover may also cover you during domestic and overseas holidays, which makes it a more complete policy.

Check the maximum number of days you can be covered for before you travel as some policies may limit the duration of days you can be covered. Check out the reviews of medical travel insurance companies, and only use those who include over 200 pre-existing medical conditions at no extra cost. Also check the countries you can travel to as there may be some excluded countries. Comprehensive medical travel insurance should cover most worldwide destinations and European ones, including: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Ireland, Albania, Israel, Poland, Andorra, Italy, Portugal, Austria, Kosovo, Rumania, Belarus, Latvia, Russia, Belgium, Lithuania and Serbia.

Over 35% of travellers book their insurance at the last minute, which explains why so few people find the appropriate cover to suit their requirements, and simply go for the cheapest option. Up to 25% of people have never bought travel insurance, and often think they can claim on their home insurance for certain items. This may be true, but if you make a claim on your home insurance it will bump up your annual premium, and a travel insurance policy will save you money and hassle.

3. Exclusions for medical travel insurance for the over 50s

It is important to check for any ´exclusions´ before you book your medical travel insurance, particularly if you are over 50. You must declare the following information to your medical travel insurance company:

• You have previously been refused travel insurance or it has been cancelled or any special terms imposed

• You have any criminal convictions for fraud, dishonesty or deception during the past five years

• You have had more than 3 travel insurance claims in the last three years

• You have already started the trip you want cover for

• You are taking a cruise ship holiday, which may not be covered by basic policies

• You are travelling without at least one adult named on the policy
• You have any pre-existing medical conditions

You may want additional cover which cheap holiday insurance will not include, such as flight cancellations or additional flights should you need to come home early from a world trip. If you are planning to take part in adventurous sports, such as bungee jumping, (not in the top ten list of things to do for the over-50´s but you never know), skiing or horse riding, you may need to enquire about additional cover.

4. Compare travel insurance quotes and get the best over 50s cover

Before you travel, make sure you have compared quotes with several travel insurance companies, to find the best one for you. Once you have chosen the best over 50s travel insurance cover, keep a separate note of your policy numbers in case you need to make a claim, and leave additional copies of details with a family member in the UK. This way, if you are unfortunate to suffer an accident or injury abroad, it will be easy for you or your family to contact the insurers.

Bear in mind that if the Government has advised against travelling to certain countries or areas, and you go anyway, your insurance will become void.

Remember to keep all valuables, passports, money and insurance documents in the safe at your hotel or holiday accommodation, and keep all important policy numbers and document copies in a separate place.

5. Top holiday tips and travel insurance for the over 75s

If you are planning to travel abroad, travel insurance for the over 75s is essential. You will also need a full ten year passport, even for a day trip, so check all your important documents well in advance of your travel date to make sure they are not out of date. If you need to renew your passport in the UK, contact the Identity and Passport Service on 0870 521 0410.

Some countries do have immigration requirements for a passport to remain valid for a minimum period (normally six months) beyond your date of entry to the country so check these requirements as soon as possible. Questions can be asked at the relevant Consulate or Embassy of the country you are travelling to. Make sure your over-75s medical travel insurance covers you for any eventuality, and take your time to find the right policy for you. Outside the UK you can get advice from the nearest British Embassy or Consulate if you lose your passport or have it stolen, and staff can issue standard replacement passports in most countries.

Also check visa requirements if you plan to travel outside of Europe, from the country´s Consulate or Embassy. If you are using a travel agent, they should also be able to advise you about visa requirements.

Check the Department of Health's travel advice website before you travel, as it is full of useful travel information including local sources of medical treatment. If you take regular medication, make sure you have more than enough to cover your trip, and take a small first aid kit for any minor accidents.

Most importantly, book your medical health insurance well in advance to ensure you have the right policy to suit your requirements. Don´t leave it until the last minute and don´t just go for the cheapest option without checking the terms and conditions.

6. Holiday theft and loss insurance

If you are looking for comprehensive travel insurance that will cover loss and theft of money and credit cards, check out some of the senior citizen´s travel insurance policies online. You can be covered for holiday medical travel insurance in countries worldwide and in Europe, including: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Malta, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Monaco, Croatia, Cyprus, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, Turkey and Switzerland.

Never take large amounts of cash with you but use traveller´s cheques instead. Check whether your bank will charge you for withdrawing funds abroad with a UK cash machine card. Take all your emergency number with you in case you need to cancel credit cards and bank cards. Only change your money in banks or with legal foreign exchange dealers to ensure you are not conned with the exchange rate. Leave a credit card at home with friends or family in case yours is stolen and leave details or copies of traveller´s cheques at home in case yours are lost or stolen.

7. Car hire tips abroad and travel insurance

If you plan to hire a car abroad, it is essential you take out medical travel insurance in case of accident or injury. Car hire firms will insure you to drive the vehicle but make sure you also take travel insurance cover to safeguard yourself in the event of an accident. Make sure you know the driving laws in the country you are visiting and also ensure your UK driving licence is valid and that you understand the driving laws in your destination country. On the spot fines exist in many countries for traffic offences so make sure you carry out some research about local traffic laws before you travel.

Keep up to date with the latest airline security measures and allow plenty of time to get through airport controls. Keep hand baggage to a minimum and make sure there are no sharp items in the bag to be carried on board. Once you arrive at your destination, find out where all the main services are, including the police station and medical centre. Make sure the tap water is safe to drink and if you are unsure, drink bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. Never leave belongings unattended.

8. What to do if something is stolen

Travel insurance will cover you against having items stolen, but check your policy before you travel, so you know what is and what is not covered. Cheap holiday insurance is not always the best option as it may not cover everything you would expect of a comprehensive travel insurance policy. If your money, passport or any other item is stolen you need to report it straight away to the local police and inform the holiday rep at your hotel. You will need to keep a copy of the police statement in order to claim against your insurance. If you have had a credit card stolen, contact your bank immediately in the UK to cancel it or use the emergency number. If you have had travellers cheques stolen, contact the issuing agent and for theft of tickets, contact your tour representative in the resort or the airline agent.

9. Winter sports and medical travel insurance

If you are planning a winter sports holiday, it is vital you choose the right medical travel insurance for you and your family. Snowboarding and skiing is great fun, but it can also wreak havoc with your holiday if you are involved in an accident. Most skiing accidents are caused by a third party so even if you class yourself as an expert skier, you can still come unstuck. Many basic travel insurance policies exclude winter sports so check your policy very carefully before you travel.

It is also worth checking for cover for mountain rescue costs, plus cover for prepaid expenses such as ski passes and skis or expenses incurred as a result of delays caused by avalanches or adverse weather conditions. Don´t think that just because you are on the slopes you are safe from thieves. Always keep an eye on your equipment, particularly on ski lifts and in mountain restaurants.

10. Important medical help and holiday travel insurance

Losing money abroad or having a wallet stolen on holiday can ruin your trip, but it is nothing compared to the pain of sustaining an injury or illness when you are thousands of miles from home. Not every country has a free health service, particularly outside Europe, and medical bills can run into thousands if you are suddenly taken ill. Make sure your medical travel insurance covers any eventuality, especially if you are over 65 and you already have a pre-existing medical condition. You can get holiday travel insurance cover for over 200 pre-existing conditions which will not cost you an arm and a leg. For small amounts such as paying for medicines or minor treatments, you should pay at the time and claim the expenses back later. Always keep all receipts for medical expenses and/or prescriptions. Larger claims can usually be sent directly to your insurer, as long as you contact the emergency contact number as soon as possible after the accident/illness occurs.

If you are travelling to Europe, you should obtain a European Health Insurance Card before you leave. The card will entitle travellers to reduced-cost and sometimes free medical insurance, but you are always advised to take additional medical travel insurance to safeguard you against holiday illness and injury.