Travel insurance for over 85s

Yes, you need to tell us about all medical conditions when you get your quote, even if they’re well-managed or stable. That way, your policy can include cover if anything changes or if you need care while you’re away.  

It’s common to live with conditions like high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and heart problems later in life. You might not think of them as risks, but if they cause problems before or during your trip, we can only provide support if you’ve told us about them in advance.   

We make it as easy as possible to declare your conditions when you get your quote. If you’re not sure what to include, our team is always happy to help.  

When you get a quote, we’ll ask some simple, clear questions about 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 need to know 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  

• any medication you take regularly including blood thinners, inhalers, or medications for chronic conditions  

Flying in your 80s and beyond is common, and many people in this age group still travel regularly by air. Whether it’s safe for you depends on your health, the length of the flight, and any recent treatment or changes in your condition. 

If you’ve had a recent diagnosis or hospital stay, or you’re living with a heart or lung condition, it’s worth speaking to your GP before you book. They can advise on fitness to fly, help you prepare for the journey, and provide any documents the airline might need. In some cases, a fit-to-fly note is required, particularly if oxygen is needed during the flight. 

When you get a quote for travel insurance, we’ll ask about your medical history, including any tests, treatment or hospital visits in the past two years. This helps us provide cover that reflects your health and gives you the right support if anything changes before you travel. 

We offer two types of travel insurance for people over 85, 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, AMT could cover you 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 your policy type, you’ll also be able to:  

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

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

• Basic – essential 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.  

Travel insurance for over 85s should consider more than just your destination. It needs to reflect your health, your plans and what support might be needed if something changes while you’re away. 

If you’re comparing policies, it’s worth looking at: 

• whether pre-existing medical conditions are included, and how many are covered 

• what the limits are for medical expenses, cancellation, and repatriation 

• whether there’s an upper age limit for the policy or any exclusions by age 

• what kind of medical support is available while you’re abroad 

• if cover includes recent surgery, hospital stays or those on a waiting list 

• what optional extras are available, like cruise cover, extended trip lengths or gadget protection 

At Staysure, we cover over 1,300 medical conditions and don’t set an upper age limit for travel insurance. Many of our customers are in their late 80s or 90s and come to us for cover that works around their health, whether it’s a condition they’ve lived with for years, or something more recent. 

Some bank accounts include travel insurance, but most aren’t designed for people in their mid-80s and beyond. These policies often have upper age limits, sometimes cutting off at 75 or 80, and may not provide the right level of support for longer trips or more complex medical histories. 

Even when travel insurance is included with a current account, the policy documents don’t always make it easy to check what’s covered. Some limit how long you can be away, exclude common medical conditions, or don’t allow for recent hospital stays or surgery. 

Our Don’t Bank On It report found that: 

• 1 in 4 people rely on their bank’s policy, often without checking the small print 

• claims through bank insurance were 9% more likely to be rejected than those through a specialist provider 

• many bank policies exclude cover for pre-existing conditions or for travellers over a certain age 

If you're over 85, a specialist policy is more likely to reflect your current health, travel plans and the support you'd want if something changed while you were away. At Staysure, we don’t set an upper age limit and cover over 1,300 medical conditions, including many that bank insurance may not include. 

Some insurers stop offering travel insurance past a certain age. For others, it might still be available, but with limits on how long you can go for, what’s covered, or whether medical conditions are included at all. 

At Staysure, we don’t set an upper age limit. We believe travel insurance should reflect real circumstances, not arbitrary cut-offs. Whether you’re 85, 95 or beyond, you can get a quote and see what cover looks like for your trip. Explore our full range below:  

• Over 50s travel insurance  

• Over 60s travel insurance  

• Over 65s travel insurance  

• Over 70s travel insurance  

• Over 75s travel insurance  

• Over 80s 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 private treatment, 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.  

MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis recommends buying travel insurance as soon as you book your trip (ASAB). This advice could be especially important later in life, when unexpected changes are more likely. 

Buying early means you’re covered straight away for things like cancellation or unexpected illness before you travel. It also gives you time to check what’s included, ask any questions, and make sure your medical history is up to date. 

For single trips, many travellers find it best to book their policy as soon as 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.  

Travel insurance costs are based on risk. This risk tends to increase with age, especially if you have multiple medical conditions or a history of treatment. But if you’re taking a straightforward trip, there are a few ways to bring the price down. 

Here’s what can help: 

• Only declare what’s required. You’ll usually only be asked about conditions you’ve had treatment, medication or advice for in the last two years. There’s no need to list every past issue unless the questions ask for it. 

• Check the value of your trip. If you’re staying with family or keeping costs low, you may not need high cancellation cover. Tailoring this to reflect your actual booking can lower your premium. 

• Think about what you’re packing. If you’re not travelling with expensive gadgets or jewellery, reducing baggage cover can make a difference, especially if you’re already covered for personal belongings under your home insurance. 

• Review optional extras. You don’t need to include gadget cover, Cruise Plus cover or excess waiver unless they’re relevant to your plans. Every policy should reflect the trip you’re taking, not what you might take later in the year. 

• Choose single trip cover if that’s all you need. Annual multi-trip policies are convenient for frequent travellers, but they aren’t always the cheapest option if you’re only going away once. 

At Staysure, you can get a quote online or by phone and see exactly what’s included before you decide. You can also save your quote and come back to it later if you're still finalising plans.