Travel insurance for over 60s

If you’re in your 60s, you might have a condition that feels under control – something you check in with your GP about now and then or take daily tablets for. But if it’s been treated, monitored, or discussed with a doctor in the last two years, it should still be declared when you get a quote. This includes things like gastric reflux, thyroid issues or mild arthritis. 

Some conditions – like heart conditions or circulation issues – must be declared even if they were many years ago.   

It only takes a few minutes to add these details to your policy, and you can do it online or over the phone. If you’re not sure what counts, just ask. We’re here to help. 

When you get a quote, we’ll ask some simple, clear questions to understand your medical history. This helps us shape your policy around your health – and support you properly if something goes wrong on your trip. 

We’ll ask about: 

• any conditions you’ve had treatment, tests, medication or appointments for in the past two years 

• any history of heart or circulation problems – including past heart attacks, angina, or stroke 

• any hospital stays, even if they were planned 

• whether you’ve been referred for upcoming investigations or check-ups 

You can go through the medical screening online or over the phone. If you’re unsure about anything, our team is trained to talk you through it, so you can feel confident everything’s been included.  

We offer two types of travel insurance for people over 60, depending on how often you plan to travel:  

• Single trip cover – if you’re only planning one holiday, single-trip cover might be more cost-effective than annual cover. 

• Annual multi-trip cover – if you're taking more than one trip in the next 12 months. You’ll be covered for multiple holidays, up to a set number of days per trip. 

Both options include access to our full range of cover. This can include protection for pre-existing medical conditions, depending on what you tell us during your quote. 

Once you’ve chosen the type of policy, you’ll also be able to do the following: 

Select your destination – this affects what your policy includes and how much it costs.  

Choose your level of cover – all policies come with medical cover, cancellation protection and baggage cover as standard, but you can pick the level that suits your plans: 

• Basic – cover generally, suitable for shorter trips with fewer valuables. 

• Comprehensive – a more generous level of protection. 

• Signature – our highest cover, with no excess to pay and the most extensive limits. 

Add optional extras – these help tailor your policy to the type of trip you’re taking. You might want: 

• cruise plus cover – for itinerary changes, onboard medical care, and cabin confinement. 

• winter sports and ski cover† – if you’re skiing or snowboarding. 

• golf cover – to protect your equipment and prepaid green fees. 

• gadget cover – for phones, tablets and other valuables. 

• travel disruption cover – for extra protection if your plans are affected by events like strike** or bad weather. 

The best travel insurance at this stage should keep pace with your plans.  

That means more than just covering emergencies. After all, a good policy doesn’t just cover the big risks; it gives you backup for the things that could stand in the way of your plans. 

The right policy for a traveller in their 60s will likely include: 

• clear medical cover for long-term conditions, even if they feel routine 

• support if your trip is cancelled unexpectedly, including before you travel  

• repatriation and 24/7 emergency help if something goes wrong abroad 

In your 60s, you’re unlikely to come up against strict age limits, but it’s a good time to get familiar with how things can change later on. Some insurers begin limiting cover from age 70 or 75, reducing how long you can travel for or excluding certain destinations or medical conditions.  

That’s why it makes sense to choose a provider that won’t start closing doors as you get older. At Staysure, we don’t set upper age limits on our travel insurance. Whether you’re 65, 85, or beyond, you can still get cover shaped around your health and trip.  

Explore our full range: 

• Over 50s travel insurance 

• Over 65s travel insurance 

• Over 70s travel insurance 

• Over 75s travel insurance 

• Over 80s travel insurance 

• Over 85s travel insurance 

• And beyond 

A GHIC or EHIC can be helpful, but they don’t do the same job as travel insurance – and were never designed to. 
 
These cards give you access to state healthcare in some European countries – usually on the same terms as residents. That might mean reduced-cost treatment in a public hospital, or access to emergency care without needing to pay upfront.  

But they don’t cover everything. They won’t help with getting you home after a medical emergency, or support if you’re travelling with health conditions. And they won’t step in if your trip is cancelled, your luggage is lost, or your passport goes missing. 

That’s why many travellers still choose to have both – using their GHIC or EHIC for basic medical access, and travel insurance for the rest. Together, they give you much more complete protection.  

If you still have an EHIC, you can continue to use it until the expiry date. After that, you’ll need to apply for a GHIC through the NHS or Gov.uk.  

You can find out more about the GHIC and how it has replaced the EHIC in our blog. 

If you’ve started travelling more often, or planning trips further ahead, it could be wise to get your travel insurance sorted as soon as you’ve booked (ASAB). That way, you’re not just covered while you’re away, but also for cancellations or changes in health that might happen before your holiday begins.  

For single trips, it’s often a good idea to book your policy once your travel dates are confirmed. If you’re booking something further in advance, like a cruise or a longer European break, you can take out cover up to 18 months ahead. 

For annual multi-trip cover, cancellation protection starts from the policy start date. So, if you’ve got more than one trip lined up, starting your policy early means you’ll be protected in the run-up to each one.  

A few things to keep in mind: 

• Your policy must begin before you leave the UK. 

• You can’t buy or activate a policy if you’ve already departed. 

• If your health changes after a booking, you should let us know before you travel. 

Even close-to-home holidays can take unexpected turns. Having UK travel insurance means you won’t have to face them alone.  

As long as your trip includes at least two consecutive nights in pre-booked and pre-paid accommodation, UK holidays can be included under your policy. 

While the NHS offers free medical treatment, you’ll still be covered for other costs like trip cancellation, lost or stolen bags, and repatriation – for example, if you need to be moved to a hospital closer to home after a serious incident. 

For UK cruises, you’ll still need to add Cruise Plus to your policy to get full protection whilst at sea. 

Cruising’s an exciting way to travel the world – but standard insurance might not cover everything that could go wrong at sea. Our Cruise Plus add-on is built for cruise holidays, with protection for itinerary changes, cabin confinement, and more. 

Some cruise lines require medical cover of £2 million or more. With Cruise Plus added to our Comprehensive or Signature policies, you’ll have the extra cover you need – and the reassurance to fully enjoy your time on board.  

If you’re fitting in a few rounds on holiday or heading off on a golf-focused break, our golf cover add-on can help. It protects your equipment for up to £5,000, covers hire costs if your clubs go missing, and can even reimburse prepaid green fees if illness or bad weather stops play.  
 
We’ll also pay £300 if you score a hole in one on a recognised course – just in case this is the trip it happens.