Travel insurance for over 80s

What is travel insurance for over 80s?

Travel insurance for over 80s isn’t always easy to find. Some insurers set age limits or reduce cover just when you might need it most. We don’t.

Avanti has years of experience supporting senior travellers, including those in their 80s. Our specialist policies include protection for over 1,300 pre-existing medical conditions (subject to screening) and any age, plus unlimited medical expenses.*

Because good travel insurance should help you keep going – not slow you down.

What does over 80s travel insurance cover?

Here’s a quick look at when your policy won’t apply. If you’re not sure how any of these points might affect you, our friendly team can talk them through over the phone and help you understand what your cover includes.

We can usually help if you: 

• have to cancel your trip or come home early
  If illness, injury or bereavement means you can’t travel or need to cut your holiday short, we’ll help with the costs you can’t get back.
• need emergency medical treatment abroad
  If you fall ill or get injured overseas, we’ll cover hospital treatment, ambulance transport and – if needed – medical repatriation, with help from our 24-hour assistance team.
• lose your bags or passport
  If your baggage, valuables or travel documents are lost or stolen, we’ll help you replace essentials so you can carry on with your trip.
• are disrupted by bad weather or strikes
  If your flight or connection is delayed because of unexpected bad weather, strike action or a vehicle breakdown, we’ll help cover reasonable travel or accommodation costs to get you where you need to be. (This doesn’t apply if the strike or disruption was already public knowledge when you booked your trip).
• are delayed on your journey (Classic and Deluxe)
  If your flight or ferry is delayed for 12 hours or more, you’ll get a fixed payment to help with the inconvenience.
• can’t stay in your accommodation (Classic and Deluxe)
  If a fire, flood or major power cut means you can’t stay in your hotel or apartment, we’ll help arrange and pay for somewhere else.
• are admitted to hospital while abroad (Classic and Deluxe)
  If you’re kept in hospital overnight, we’ll pay a daily benefit to help with small personal costs while you recover. (If you’re injured in a mugging, an extra payment may also apply).
• are delayed by volcanic ash (Deluxe only)
  If a volcanic ash cloud grounds your flight for more than 12 hours, you’ll receive a fixed payment to help with the delay.
• accidentally cause injury or damage
  If you unintentionally injure someone or damage their belongings, your policy includes personal liability protection.
• are injured in an accident abroad
  If you need legal help after being injured overseas, we’ll cover your legal costs, so you’re not left to manage it alone.

Cover won’t apply if you:

• haven’t told us about a medical condition
  If you don’t declare a pre-existing condition, or if your health changes before you travel and you don’t update your policy, we won’t be able to cover related claims.
• travel against UK Government or medical advice
  There’s no cover if you travel somewhere the UK Foreign Office has advised against, or if your doctor says you shouldn’t travel for medical reasons.
• have an accident because of alcohol or drugs
  We can’t cover claims if alcohol or drugs directly contribute to an accident, injury or loss.
• miss a flight because of personal delays
  If you don’t leave enough time to reach the airport or check-in, we can’t pay for missed flights or connections.
• leave belongings unattended
  There’s no cover if something is lost or stolen after being left unattended – for example, on a sunbed, in an unlocked car or in a public place.
• are travelling for arranged medical treatment abroad
  Travel insurance is designed for unexpected illness or injury, not for medical procedures, tests or check-ups arranged before you go.
• booked during a known strike or disruption
  If strike action or travel problems were already public knowledge when you booked, your policy won’t apply to those delays or cancellations.
• take part in an activity that isn’t covered
  Some higher-risk activities – such as certain winter sports – aren’t automatically included unless you’ve added the right optional cover.
• are waiting for a medical procedure
  If you’re awaiting an operation or follow-up test, cancellation and curtailment claims won’t be covered unless it’s an accepted procedure shown on your validation certificate.

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Trusted travel insurance for over 80s with pre-existing conditions

97% of customers who declare a condition are offered cover with us. In fact, since 2014, we’ve helped more than 1.3 million travellers arrange cover for over 1,300 medical conditions (subject to screening).

In the rare event we can’t offer you travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, we’ll always try to point you in the right direction. We’re proud to be listed in the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) directory – a trusted source for specialist insurers who understand complex health needs. You can also contact them directly on 0370 950 1790 or visit biba.org.uk for free, independent guidance.

Some of the conditions we can often help with

Living with a medical condition shouldn’t stop you from seeing the world. Below are just some of the conditions we can cover. If yours isn’t listed, just mention it during your medical screening.

Heart and circulatory conditions

Travelling with a circulatory or heart condition like heart disease, high blood pressure or atrial fibrillation? You’re not alone.

Unlike most conditions, which only need to be declared if you’ve had symptoms, treatment or tests in the last 2 years, heart and circulation problems should always be disclosed, even if they were diagnosed a long time ago. This is because a past heart problem can make further heart or circulation issues more likely.

Cancer

Our senior travel insurance policies can include cover for a wide range of cancers – including some of the most common, such as breast, prostate, bowel, lung and skin cancer – whether you’re in remission, still attending check-ups or receiving treatment.

Breathing and lung conditions

We regularly help travellers with a wide range of breathing conditions, including asthma, bronchitis, COPD and lung fibrosis.

Digestive conditions

Many Avanti travellers live with stomach and bowel conditions such as IBS, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and acid reflux.

Neurodegenerative diseases

Our policies can include protection for neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease, as well as rarer conditions such as Huntington’s disease, Batten’s disease, spinocerebellar ataxia and spinal muscular atrophy.

Mental health conditions

Travel can do wonders for mental wellbeing. If you’re managing a condition like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), we’d love to help you see the world.

Autoimmune conditions

The Avanti team regularly arrange cover for travellers with autoimmune conditions such as arthritis, lupus, Addison’s disease and multiple sclerosis. This can include conditions managed with long-term medication or those that cause occasional flare-ups.

Kidney conditions

We often help kidney patients with conditions such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), kidney stones, renal failure, nephritis and urinary tract infections (UTIs). If you’re having regular monitoring, dialysis or waiting for a transplant, we’ll take those details into account when you get a quote.

Back and chronic pain

Chronic pain can have many causes – including autoimmune, neurological and digestive disorders – and we understand how differently it can affect each person day to day. We often cover those with conditions such as chronic back pain, slipped discs, sciatica, fibromyalgia and other long-term pain conditions.

Allergies

Allergies shouldn’t stop travel in its tracks. Whether it’s a common sensitivity or something more specific like allergic rhinitis or aspergillosis, we’ll do our best to find the right protection for your trip.

Choose your trip type

Whether you’re taking one big holiday or prefer several shorter trips through the year, our senior travel insurance offers cover to fit your plans.

• Single trip 
• Annual multi-trip 

What destinations can over 80s get cover for?

Research from Heathrow Airport shows that many people begin to travel less in their 70s and 80s. But at Avanti, we don’t believe growing older should have to mean staying put.

Our policies are here to make travel possible for longer, with cover for trips worldwide and across Europe – from Spain and Portugal to the USA, Australia and beyond.

And if your plans are a little closer to home, we can include UK holidays too. Just tell us when you get your quote, and your trip will be covered as long as you’ve booked and pre-paid for at least two nights of accommodation.

How to buy travel insurance for over 80s

Step 1

You can get a quote online or over the phone. We’ll start by asking a few quick questions – like whether it’s single trip or annual cover, your travel dates, destination and if you’re going on a cruise. 

Top tip: It’s easy to cover an individual, couple, family or group of up to nine travellers online (or up to 30 by phone).

Step 2

Next, we’ll go through a few details about your health over the past two years – including any diagnoses, symptoms, tests or treatment. We’ll also check whether you’ve had any heart, stroke or circulation-related conditions, to make sure your policy covers you properly.

Step 3

Once you’ve shared your details, we’ll talk you through your quote, whether online or over the phone. You can choose your level of cover, add any extras and confirm your policy there and then. 

Top tip: You’ll get instant access to your policy documents in My Avanti, where you can view, download or update your details any time.

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When should I buy my over 80s travel insurance?

MoneySavingExpert’s Martin Lewis often says it’s best to arrange your travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your trip (ASAB).

Buying early means your cancellation cover starts straight away. So, if something unexpected happens before you go, like a flare-up of a medical condition, a fall, or a travel companion becoming unwell, you’ll already be protected.

If you’re taking one trip, a single trip policy gives you that cover from the moment you buy. If you’re planning a few shorter breaks throughout the year, our annual multi-trip policy can make things easier. You can set the start date up to 90 days ahead, so your cover begins when your first trip does.

To learn more about how getting sorted early can protect you and your holiday, take a look at our guide on when to buy travel insurance.

Why is travel insurance for over 80s more expensive?

Travel insurance can cost more in your 80s for a few reasons, but health is often the biggest. Around eight in ten people in this age group live with at least one long-term condition, which means medical help abroad is more likely to be needed.

Insurers base prices on that likelihood to make sure your policy can cover the real cost of getting care overseas – and those costs can be high. According to GOV.uk, hospital treatment and repatriation without insurance can exceed £25,000 for a broken leg in Spain, £80,000 after a quad bike accident in Greece, or £150,000 for hospital care in the USA.

Checklist: how to get cheaper travel insurance in your 80s

• Premiums may rise as you get older, but you can still get great value travel insurance with these simple tips and tricks. Before you buy, double-check your: 

• Trip duration – shorter trips usually cost less to insure because there’s less time for something to go wrong.
• Destination – some places are more expensive to insure than others. The USA, Canada and the Caribbean have some of the world’s highest medical costs, while Europe and the UK are often cheaper to cover.
• Policy level – Avanti offers three levels of cover – Essentials, Classic and Deluxe. Essentials is the most cost-effective option for travellers looking to keep things simple.
• Luggage cover – think about what you really need to take with you. Packing lighter and setting a lower luggage limit on your policy can bring the cost down.
• Excess – a higher voluntary excess means a lower premium. Just make sure it’s an amount you’d be comfortable paying if you claim.
• Monthly payments – for annual multi-trip policies over £80, you can spread the cost. A small deposit and 11 monthly instalments can help you manage the cost of a year’s worth of travel.†
• Discounts – it’s also worth checking our current offers before you buy. You can find the latest Avanti discount codes on our discounts page.

Winner 7 years running: Best Travel Insurance

Our Best Travel Insurance award (Personal Finance Awards, 2018-2025) is based on the experiences of real people who travel with us. They’ve trusted us to help when plans change, flights are cancelled or medical emergencies happen abroad.

From updating policies to arranging hospital care or getting someone home safely, we do what good travel insurance should do – put things right.

Hear it from our happy travellers

Travellers consistently rate us Excellent on Trustpilot for how easy we make things. They mention clear information, fair pricing and friendly, knowledgeable support from our team, especially when it comes to updating medical details or managing policies online.

• “I have now gone through all your attachments and happy to let you know that you have dealt with all areas of concern. The documents have been presented in simple English. I tried 3 different providers and yours is the best. I am an active 80-year-old. As you know there are not many opportunities for us to choose from. You are providing a good service for older people like me. My bank withdrew the facilities they offered me free of charge when I reached the age of 70.” Kandaswami, 16 October 2025 
• “I used them for my travel insurance this year having dealt with a claim for my 90-year-old father last year, Avanti dealt with the claim quick and efficiently getting him back to the UK safely after a hospital stay in Tenerife.” Lisa, 13 June 2025 
• “Avanti Insurance, I salute you. My 83-year-old mother was taken ill with Pneumonia in Tenerife recently and ended up hospitalised. You were brilliant, through the whole thing, never quibbled, sent numerous emails out when the hospital couldn’t find them, including follow up with my mother before she flew home. As soon as my yearly insurance runs out I will taken my next one out with you. I have to say I will be recommending you going forward.” Sarah, 2 January 2024.

Avanti pays when it matters most

We know how important it is to feel confident that your claim will be handled quickly and fairly.

Between February 2024 and July 2025, our customers received more than £31 million, with over 18,000 claims settled.

You can expect to hear from our claims team within five working days of submitting your claim, and in most cases, Avanti strives to make a decision within five days of receiving your documents.

That’s one of the reasons Avanti has been awarded Best Insurance Customer Service by the Personal Finance Awards (2025).

Top tip: buying travel insurance for a parent or loved one

Many travellers in their 80s like to go through the quote process with a family member, and we make that simple to do. With permission, we can speak to both of you during the same call to make sure details are correct from the start.

If you’re using the online form, you can take your time and go through each step together, checking details as you go. The questions are clear and written in plain English, so it’s easy to understand what’s being asked and why.

Once your cover’s confirmed, you can check or download your documents in My Avanti.

Do you already have travel cover?

If you already have travel insurance through a bank account, credit card or another holiday provider, it’s worth checking whether it still covers everything you need.

Banks and credit cards

Packaged bank accounts and some credit cards include travel insurance, but their cover often changes once you reach a certain age. Many policies reduce medical cover or stop altogether at 65 or 70, and some limit trip length or exclude pre-existing medical conditions.

Workplace schemes and membership benefits

Some workplaces, unions and membership organisations offer travel insurance as part of their benefits. These can be useful, but they often have age limits or reduced cover for medical conditions. It’s common for premiums or eligibility to change around 65 or 70. Check any exclusions around medical screening or longer trips. 

ATOL and package holidays

Many package holidays include ATOL protection, which keeps your booking safe if your travel company goes out of business. But ATOL doesn’t cover things like medical emergencies, cancellations for health reasons or lost luggage. It’s useful for financial protection, but isn’t a substitute for travel insurance.

EHICs and GHICs

Your EHIC or GHIC gives you access to state-provided healthcare in EU countries, plus a few others like Switzerland and Australia through reciprocal agreements. It covers medically necessary treatment at the same cost as locals –sometimes free, sometimes reduced – but not private care, repatriation or cancellations.